Whew that was a long time off. I needed it bad. My dad is getting older and needs more attention. It is strange to have to start caring for your parents. So many of my peers are going though this that I have a lot of support, but it is still hard.
But I did have a lot of fun the last couple of months. I went to Bellevue WA to attend the Glass Beadmakers Conference. Got to see a cool Dale Chihuly ceiling and lots of good friends.
I am in the process of getting my Etsy site back up and running so go take a look!
I am at it again. Finding new inspirations. I googled Moroccan Pottery and got tons of cool images and designs to work into my beads.
I am still working on colors, masking techniques, and patterns. Some have worked out and others, not so much.
I will post some pictures tomorrow.
At least I hope so. It was 109 today in St. Louis. It's hard to open the blinds to get good light and then suffer the heat, so we will see.
It's been such a long time since I blogged last that I doubt anyone is even reading anymore!
I hope so!
My classes were wonderful with great students! Each and everyone of them were fantastic. I am so lucky to have such talented artists to teach.
I had a blast at the show and picked up some cool new stuff.
I got to go out to dinner with good friends and generally had a blast.
So whats next? Well I am going right outside of Seattle for the ISGB Gathering in about a month. I am so excited because I am leaving a couple of days early to just hang out and go the Olympic State Park to do some hiking and then hanging out. Hope to see Pikes Market etc.
I put my Etsy store on Vacation mode and just took it off and put some new goodies back.
Yep the loved Podlets and Dew Drops are back. I will be adding more so make sure if you are looking for something to let me know.
So good to be back.
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.
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.
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!
Whew.
I have shipped all my stuff to PISMO and am now getting ready for Bead & Button.
I am going though all my beads and making a list of things that I want to bring, new display ideas, and BEADS. I have to also prepare class handouts, order glass, make more lists and generally prepare my butt off. So here are some of the things I sent to PISMO.
And here are some beads.
