Getting Ready for My Next Show

I spent the day making jewelry, about 7 necklaces and 6 pairs of earrings.  I'm getting ready for the 2012 Northern Michigan Bead & Jewelry Show at the Cadillac Junior High in Cadillac Michigan on April 14th.  I'll be sure to post pics tomorrow!

Who You Lookin' At?

I have a wonderful group of enablers beady friends. They are creative, supportive, and crazy (I love crazy).  I also have a box of artists' business cards that I rediscovered this weekend while cleaning up my work area.  SO, I thought once a week I would give a shout out to one of my friends and to someone I don't know so well.

First up, my friend Tracy of Copper, Glass and Recycled Trash.

She makes great beads, but oh, what she can do with metal!

Today's random business card belongs to Denise Lindstrom of Denetian Glass.  Check out her website, her beads and jewelry are gorgeous!

Whatcha Doing this Weekend?

Take a short drive up to Cadillac, Michigan, and come see me at the Northern Michigan Bead and Jewelry Show. This is the second year, and there will be many great artists!

Trying to Get Back in the Groove

Crazy times. Busy at work, busy at home; no time for beads or jewelry, yet deadlines loom. Throw in a vacation and time with out of state family, and suddenly it is April. APRIL, people. *sigh* Back into the groove. Time to make jewelry, beads, and blog posts. See you all tomorrow.

Bead Cult January 2011

Only passion, great passion, can elevate the soul to great things.

-- Denis Diederot

This weekend, it was time for the purple Nikes and the Kool-Aid again. This weekend we met at Laurie's house. I think ewvery time we meet, we get louder and louder. :) I just love getting together with everyone. Everyone is as crazy as I am, and the beads and jewelry that gets passed around are always inspiring.




Beads, food, jewelry, food, good people, food, and two damn cute corgis. The above is Winston. He LOVES to play.

My Bead Soup Partner!

My Bead Soup Blog Party partner is Diane Cook of Rosa & Josie's. I don't know how I've missed her blog in the past, but I am SO glad Lori drew our names. She is a spectacular photographer and her jewelry is yummy! I have so much to do today, but tonight I plan on stalking her photos, her site, and her stores. :)

Have a great weekend, weverybody!

Getting back in the groove...

I've been taking it easy this holiday season, and by taking it easy I mean I've been very busy, just not in all the areas I would to be busy (a nasty malware infection on my laptop last week didn't help at all, either). Now that obligations have calmed down a little I will be getting back into the groove of blogging, posting work in my Etsy shop, and making jewelry.

One of the things motivating me is the upcoming Bead Soup Blog Party. I particpated in my first one last year, and I am anxiously anticipating this one! Last year my partner was Spirited Earth. I loved working with her ceramic beads. I can't wait to meet this year's partner!

2010 Hastings Summerfest

Thank you to all of my customers at the Summerfest show this weekend. I had a spectacular time! Pictures to come.

eta: Holy cow, I wasn't online for three whole days. I am never going to get caught up reading blogs. LOL

Where Have I Been?

I just realized I haven't blogged in nearly a month. I've just been enjoying the summer, and I've also been preparing for the 2010 Hastings Summerfest. I have found that I need to avoid the eye candy when I need to design. It isn't really because I'm afraid of getting others' ideas stuck in my head, but more that as I create all I can do is compare my stuff to other people's. So, when I don't look, I accomplish more.

Ah, the pathetic smell of low self-esteem. :)

A Word to the Wise, or,

What $100 Will Buy You...

Last night was my ring-making class at Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. I had a wonderful time and learned many great techiniques. It is 45 minutes away, and it is country driving. I spend the drive home keeping an eye out for deer. As I apporach home, my thoughts turn towards what I had learned that night.

Well...

Last night as I turned onto my road, I was contstructing rings and necklaces in my head. My brain was full of grandeur; glass, copper, silver. It was all good. A spectacular song came on my iPod, so I decided to drive around the block. Passed my house, turned at the next intersection with a light. Turn right. The light was red. I slowed, but did not stop.

*sigh*

BTW, failure to 'Stop & Go at a Red' is $100.

Sunshine for Sale

Just listed in my Etsy shop! A fun and bright pendant and earrings to usher in Summer!

Bead Soup Party!

I just signed up to do a Bead Soup Party over at Lori's blog. I can't wait to stretch my jewelry-making skills!

Before & After

I spent last weekend cleaning & organizing my work desk. Now the trick will be to find eveyrthing...

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.

The drought is over

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

Several pendants...

A couple of bookmarks