Please Vote for Beads of Courage

Beads of Courage was recently nominated for an LP&G KitchenThinkTM ideation session and has made it to the finals and they need your vote!

What the heck is that anyway? Here is how LP&G describes it:
KitchenThink is an intensive brainstorming session where we come up with a ton of creative, doable ideas to achieve a client’s goals. Our clients have found KitchenThink to be effective, very valuable and a lot of fun too. One Tucson organization will have the benefit of our thinking to come up with ways to promote their cause, raise funds, boost awareness, educate the public… whatever their greatest need is.

So, what Beads of Courage needs from you? Either email LP&G, Inc. (givesback@lpginc.com) with your desire to vote for Beads of Courage, or vote on LP&G’s Facebook page.
Doesn’t that sound fun? We hope to bring more really great things from Beads of Courage, Inc. with the help of LP&G, Inc. if we win!

(reprinted from Lori Greenberg's blog. Check her out, the beauty of her beads are only surpassed by her generosity.)

Our Tree

I tried a new color theme for our tree this year - chocolate brown, green, pheasant feathers, and lots of sparkle!

And glass, of course!

Duh

I just accidentally signed up to follow my own blog. Duh. Now how do I unfollow?

If you were the cable to my camera...

where would you be? :)

I've been long absent. My tree is up and I took pictures, which I'll post as soon as I can find that cable...

Digging in, when I should be kickin' it...

It's been typical Michigan weather lately; blustery, cool, and rainy. I enjoy this weather, but it makes me want to just curl up on the couch with dogs, my husband, and a good book. Unfortunately, it is difficult to melt glass and then sell my beads and jewelry just sitting on the couch. So, time to find some motivation and kick it into high gear!

Come see me this weekend!

This little sparkly is up on Etsy.


I'll be at the West Michigan Bead Expo in Grand Rapids. Stop by & say HI!

Had a lot of fun!

I had a great time at the Tipp City Mum Fest last weekend! I met some wonderful people, made a few sales, and laughed a LOT with my family.

Also, just listed on Etsy, Stormy Skies.

Neglected Blog

I've been very busy getting ready for the Tipp City Mum fest September 26th. By getting ready, I mean waiting til the last minute to do, well, everything. Some sick part of me feels a greater sense of accomplishment when panic is thrown into the equation.

Inspiration, Star Trek style...

My friend Suzanne sent me a link to inspirational posters, a la Star Trek. Check them out!

Julie & Julia

I had the pleasure of seeing Julie & Julia last night. It was a very enjoyable film; the two story lines were well-meshed. Although it was to be expected, Julie's constant talk of Julia got to be be bit much by the end of the film. Meryl Streep's performance was just spectacular! She was a joy to watch, and they way she expressed Julia's sheer and utter joy with not only cooking, but her life was uplifting. I've seen quite a few movies that draw me in, but this is definitely the best. It made me feel happy and joyous without being smarmy.

Creative Every Day

In my never-ending attempt to do something Creative Every Day and escape the my usual ruts, I thought I would make one post a week to summarize what I've done. Last week, I was largely creative, although it lacked variety. I made beads 4 days out of 7, and I adapted a casserole dish into a (slightly) lighter baked dish.

I'm a wild woman, so I'm sure you need a moment to catch up...

Rest in Peace, John Hughes

John Hughes passed away today at the age of 59. Much like trying to pick a favorite Metallica song, it is very difficult to choose a favorite John Hughes movie. Overall, I'd pick Breakfast Club, but my favorite character is Ducky, from Pretty in Pink. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Home Alone... The list goes on...

"Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?"

"That's why they call them crushes. If they were easy, they'd call them something else."

"We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that's all."

What are some of your favorite quotes?

A Joyful Spirit is Evidence of a Grateful Heart

I am gratfeul that I belong to an online community that supports and stands up for each other in times of adversity. Someone has been trying to discredit my fellow artisans by spreading lies and even reporting them to authorities under false pretenses. Here is a blog combatting these falsehoods. Please click on the blog, so that it can move up in the search engines.

Thank you!

Whitewater!

Ok, maybe not whitewater, but we did have fun kayaking on the Rogue River.

I'm in a Treasury!

A Treasury on Etsy is a collection of similar goods, items, color, themes, etc that is posted by a vendor or purchaser. It is a great way to promote your favorite items; and let's face it, they're just so pretty! Kevan snagged one, and included my Califonia Goddess! Check it out!

Creative Every Day

Earlier this year, I discovered the site Creative Every Day. My life is filled with good intentions, but as the saying goes, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. I haven't been nearly creative every day. Instead of trying to be creative *every* day, I'm going to aim for a couple of times a week. I haven't had to make any beads this week, but I did try a new recipe tonight. It's just coleslaw, but hey, it's a start.

Today's cuteness

Nice weekend

I had a nice weekend with my brother, SIL, and niece. It was my niece's and brother's birthday party. Good food, wonderful people. I even sold some beads. :)

Amber Waves

Up on Etsy tonight. Going to post and run, I'm awfully tired.

Chalcedony

Nummy! Here are my first experiments with Chalcedony from the wonderful women at Gaffer Girls USA. I buy my frit from JameyLynn at Howaco, which reminds me that I need to get an order together so I can swing by her place after my hair appt Wednesday...

I have another idea for a base under the Chalcedony, but I was an idiot and forgot to put sunblock on yesterday; I am too sunburnt to torch today.

Space, the final frontier

Spent some time on the torch yesterday, and played with silver foil, rubino, and some blue transparents. I was a little heavy-handed with the rubino on the lower one, but I love the outer space feel to these.

Crazy week

It's been a crazy-busy week but I'm getting back in the groove, I made some beads today, and hopefully some of them turned out. I am doing my first outdoor show in September, just 2 weeks before the West Michigan Bead Expo. I have no idea how I am going to have enough product without quitting my job. :)

Joy

I stumbled across Kate Leiper's work the other day, and I am just enamored with her art. Her animals have the most wonderful expressions, and the details are simplay amazing. I've made her web site my home page at work, and I keep changing my desktop wallpaper. I am definitely a dog person; this guy's been up a whole day. :) I love this quote from her profile, "Whenever I read words, an image comes to mind; yet images offer a glimpse of what can’t be expressed in words."

Take a look around her site, and enjoy!

20 years ago tonight

On June 5, 1989, one day after the Chinese army's deadly crushing of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing, a single, unarmed young man stood his ground before a column of tanks on the Avenue of Eternal Peace. Captured on film and video by Western journalists, this extraordinary confrontation became an icon of the struggle for freedom around the world.

{body of snipped article here}

In the end, his identity remains a mystery, but the symbolism of his act of defiance continues to have power. "That story ... is not getting weaker because of time. Because we don't know who he is, it's actually getting stronger," says Xiao Qiang of the China Internet Project at the University of California at Berkeley. "In the long frame of history ... human freedom, courage, dignity will stay and prevail, and that's what that picture will testify [to] forever."

Destashing for a sick kitty

My friend Jamey's cat ate part of her grandson's sippy cup and had to have it surgically removed. The bill is over $600, so she will be destashing some of her lampwork beads, stones, and other jewelry-making supplies over the next couple of weeks. For her destash and Bowser's story, please click here.

Thank you for looking.

Another creation

My favorite bracelet, made with my favorite glass, Psyche.

The drought is over

Ok, not my beads, but still had fun making this set.

Several pendants...

A couple of bookmarks

Today's Word of the Day

Compassion.

Pimpin' my friends' work

Check out Melissa Selmon's art. She is a wonderful person and has simply beautiful paintings.

Pit Bull Lady Designs is a local librarian (support your local libraries!) and makes fun felted wool items, like this dragon eye.

No post would be complete without some glass goodness. This is a sample of Sandra's work. Lovely colors, and a fun person to hang around (but don't tell her I said that)

Thank you

Not ready to give it (or you) up

Last weekend, I spend three wonderful days up near Big Rapids with some wonderful and crazy women. We made beads, exchanged techniques, ate, drank, and were merry. Shortly after I arrived home, I made the comment tomy husband that I need to sersiously figure out where I am going with my beads, or just quit.

Quit? What the Hell was I thinking? After a couple of days of contemplation, I realized that I can't stop making beads. Not only would I miss playing with molten glass which often saves my sanity, the loss of my friends would create a huge hole in my life.

We'll see what the rest of the year brings; hopefully I can stick to my resoultions to develop and grow my endeavors.

Respond & Rework

I got this from Julia/Art of the Firebird, who got it from Kandice Seeber, who got it from the BeadedLily’s Sketchbook blog — sounds like a fun meme!

THE RULES:
Respond and rework. Answer the questions on your own blog; replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention; add one more question of your own.

THE QUESTIONS:
What is your current obsession?
Glass

Which item from your closet are you wearing most lately?
It's al about the Ts.

What was the last thing you bought?
An organizer for my studio.

What are you listening to right now?
Heavy Metal: Slipknot, Rob Zombie, Pantera, Metallica, and the list goes on...

What are you reading?
Sadly, nothing at the moment.

What 4 words would you use to describe yourself?
Impulsive, kind, funny, caring

What is your current guilty pleasure?
Icanhascheezburger.com

What would you do if the internet was irreparably damaged and you had to find another way to connect?
My brain would explode.

Where would you go if you could travel anywhere right now?
Ireland or Spain.

What flower are you most anxious to see bloom this spring?
My poppies.

What are you most happy doing?
Reading.

Care to share some wisdom?
It can't rain all the time.

If I walked into your work space today what would you want to show me? What would you want to hide?
The few finished pieces I've made.

What makes you laugh out loud?
My dogs.

How many pets do you have, and what kind?
2 dogs: a 10 month-old lab and a 10 year-old cocker.

What are you looking forward to doing in the next 24 hours?
Seeing the Red Wings at the Joe tonight. Our seats are ON. THE. GLASS.

Link back to me if you do this meme yourself!

Burn, baby, burn!

I made beads tonight! It felt good to sit at the torch and just crank a few out. I made some pandoras last week, but this felt different. I felt creative. :)

Post-n-Run

Wow. I haven't posted since April 7th. I still have nothing much to say, so here is one of my favorite paintings.

Sometimes, I just don't get it

Art, like many things, is in the eye of the beholder. I went to Meijer Gardens this weekend to see the Butterflies are Blooming. There was also an exhibit by Jonathan Borofsky. Well, I just don't get it. I understand what he's trying to say, but it just doesn't move me.

Cult, Coven, Guild, Gathering

I would say when we get together at our monthly meeting it's all about the glass, but I'd be lying. It's really all about the food. The glass is a close second, but it comes in second nonetheless.

We had nearly 20 people at my house yesterday! I had a blast, and I am grateful to have so many friends in the glass world.

Bring it on!

I love birthdays. Let's face it, everything is better with cake. :) 39 was a little crazy, so let's see what 40 brings!

Fabulous

"The most important thing, darling, is to live a fabulous life. As long as it is fabulous, I don't care how long it is."
-- Freddie Mercury

Sold!

My friend Vonna bought my Lava Goddess today. This bead is one of my favorites, and I am thrilled she is going to a wonderful person and jewelry designer!

Ahhhh, maturity

So tonight was our first soccer game. We had our asses handed to us on a platter. 12-1. Seriously.

But I had FUN.

Now years ago, I would have been enraged at both my performance and that of my teammates (who are also coworkers). It wouldn't have mattered that many of them have never played before, or if they have, it has been a few years for them. But tonight, I saw that they tried hard, and that I tried hard. I pulled something in my ass, both hip sockets are grinding like rusty metal, and I am so exhausted I have the shakes.

But I had FUN.

Maturity. Who knew?

(Of course, make no mistake - next week I plan on making the other team cry for their mommies. :) )

ooooo, shiny!

Yes, the atrociously bad grammar kills me (in a bad way), but this is still funny! (Don't think any less of me, Suzanne!)

Hot, Hot, Hot

When the woman who makes the food says it is hot, hot, hot - believe her. My eyeballs are sweating.

Escape Fantasies, Then and Now

Throughout my life, I've often have escape fantasies. Sometimes gerneral (anywhere but here), sometimes very specific (Spain). The practical, logical part of my brain knows that problems will follow no matter where I go, but it was always fun to think of where else I could be.

My escape fantasy now simply involves building a new house so I can build my glass studio exactly how I want it. :)

Art Fire Store

My Art Fire store can be found at:

http://one-earedpigbeads.artfire.com

Art Fire

I've listed my first item on Art Fire!

Updating Etsy

For the first time since October, I have updated my Etsy Shop. Next, Art Fire...

Lyrics

Dancing with the bones of my buried past.

-- DOA, Foo Fighters

Inner Demons

As my measly posts here have indicated, I have been flat-out addicted to FaceBook lately. I've never been a fan of dwelling in the past. High school - you could never, ever pay me enough money to go back. And my twirling years, those memories are all locked away tight, only popping up occasionally in scary dreams. But now that I'm on FB, I've hooked up with HS peeps and even peeps from my twirling years. No, I am not saying any of my friends on FB caused me any pain or misery in my previous lives. They just represent previous incarnations of me that I was happy to leave in the distant past. This has put me in a contemplative mood. Does time heal all wounds? Was all my misery only in my head? Am I *gasp* mature?

I raise my glass to you, Inner Demons. !Salud!

Time flies...

Wow, time flies when you sign up for Facebook. I really do hav eplans to make beads and start bloggin about them again. Really.

Facebook

And now I've joined Facebook. Suzanne, I was going to friend you, but there are a few people with your name and I couldn't figure it out...

Saving original thought

I've started another blog: http://savingoriginalthought.blogspot.com/. This is just going to be a place to post all the quotes I've been collecting over the years. I currently have 2 notebooks full of quotes.

Do you Twitter?

I signed up for Twitter yesterday. It is rather interesting. I am oneearedpig.

Quote of the Day

"It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere."
-- Agnes Repplier

Irony, party of one.

So last night at the concert (more on the concert later), there was a guy a few rows in front of us with a t-shirt that said, "If it's too loud, you're too old" on it. Thinking of how I just posted that here yesterday, I had to chuckle. Then I saw that he had ear plugs in, and I laughed out loud. Now, there is nothing wrong with protecting your hearing. I've worn ear plugs to a concert or two myself. But dude, seriously. Talk about a visual oxymoron.

Unmotivated

How sad is it that I can't even come up with a witty or thought-provoking quote for post? Bleh. Is 6:30 too early to go to bed?

A fine line between catch-phrase & ear-worm

Have you ever found yourself repeating a catch-phrase or tag-line? Lately, mine is, "Go big or go home." I can't stop using it, and it is really beginning to drive me nuts! (yeah, yeah, I know. Short drive.)

Not for the squeamish

I wandered into the living room just a little bit ago, and discovered Kaylee ripping Pig's stuffing out through his mouth. Oh, the horrors! He lost his mouth, all the stuffing in his head, and his remaining ear. I should be able to put him back together, although the inside of his mouth will be tricky. His shell is in the washing machine right now; let's hope it doesn't disintegrate.

(You can see Kaylee pouting in the background of the picture because I yelled at her. I am such a meanie.)

10 Reasons to Buy Quality Lampwork Beads

Ten Reasons to Buy Quality Lampwork Beads:
© copyright 2008, Helen Simon, www.helensharvest.com
1- It is original and unique art. No one else will own or wear it.
2- You can meet the artist in a cyber way thereby understanding your purchase. You can inquire about the inspiration. Most artists are delighted to talk about their work.
3- It will outlast quilts and even painted canvases, with proper care, perhaps for millennia. Ancient Roman beads are commonly available, even on Ebay.
4- Because of its longevity, it will enhance your portfolio, and provide inheritance for your heirs. What a lovely, thoughtful gift of art to your appreciative loved ones!
5- You can wear your art, expressing your daily mood, your ensemble often secondary to your Lampwork.
6- You can request custom work for a special occasion. Most artists are honored to help with special orders.
7- It is small, so easy to store with other precious treasures.
8- Your purchase will have inexpensive shipping because it is light.
9-Your unique Beads may inspire your original designs worthy of being published, winning contests and prizes.
10- It is FUN to buy, own, give, be inspired by, and wear.