Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Making a list and checking it twice, plus cool beads!

It's been ages since I last posted! Work has been super busy which is good. On the horizon is Bead and Button and preparing for classes and Meet the Teachers night. Make sure you come and see if you are going to be there. 


But what would a post be without eye candy. Here are some of MY favorite beadmakers that everyone should know. 

First is Kate Fowle. One of our historic beadmakers who blazed the trail for all of us. She is also drawn to nature, and many of her beads are pod like, and she was a major influence in my interpretation of pods. 

Barbara Becker Simon has always pushed the envelope for me. She has something new at her booth each year I see her. Not only are her beads killer but her jewelry design is spot on.

Harold Williams Cooney or Happy Harold is a beadmaking stud. He puts out an amazing amount of work and each piece is baller.
Since I am a cold working fool and love me a belt sander his cold working is drool worthy. My sister collected his work and when she bought a special piece Harold would write a note to  thank her for supporting him in his passion to create.

 Jim Jones is my hero. Probably one of my favorite bead artist ever
(and I tell him that every year, plus his wife Lani is not to shabby either!). He is another one of our historic beadmakers, at it for over 23 years. I would love to say he influences my work but my work doesn't even come close. Lately he has been doing Steampunk beads. They are beyond!


I have tons of others and have left out several, but I will get to them, so stay tuned.













Sunday, May 13, 2012

Happy Mothers Day Mom



 We (I) are at that age where many of us have said goodbye to our Mom's. I lost mine 10 years ago and miss her terribly. She instilled in me an passion to create. I am always thinking about the next project and plotting it out.

It doesn't have to be glass, she also gave me a love of cooking, gardening, and decorating. Her house was a thing of beauty. Each color and fabric carefully chosen. The furniture was well placed and the flow of the room carefully planned out.

And if her house was a thing of beauty her garden was spectacular.
That lady knew how to grow. Each plant was chosen with the knowledge of when it would bloom, how far it would creep, or how tall it would get. She taught me to add a touch of white so the garden could be seen at night. Growing up we always had cut flowers or roses in random vases around the house. 

Her herb garden was a cooks delight. We learned early on to go out and pick a sprig of this or a cut of that and add it to our dishes.  Vinegars where made with rosemary hints or lemon basil. I still to this day have my herb garden and every time I use it I think of her.


She was a pistol and sometime drove my sisters and I crazy, but I would give anything to have her here with me.

Happy Mothers Day Dottie.


Sunday, May 6, 2012

Busy, busy, busy....


Thought I would post some pictures of some new work.
I am having a blast with this new pod style. 
Still working hard on preparing for Bead and Button. 
I have spots left in all my classes so sign up!