Entry in the Art Bead Scene Challenge

This is my entry in the Art Bead Scene April Challenge "Taking Flight". The gorgeous glass leaf pendant is by Shirley C of Jumping Jack Glass and the glass egg bead was made by me, over a year ago. Thanks for looking!

Playing with Mud

This was actually more fun than I thought it would be - it is like preparing a giant canvas with my kind of textured base... the only thing is now it's giving me new ideas how to paint the walls... trouble, because I really just want to get it done and melt glass, not turn my studio walls into a work of art! (Though that WOULD be fun too...)

Important - Very Bad News

Well. It turns out I did not properly back up my Outlook files and so I've lost 4 years of emails, receipts, files, and contacts. And my Cirque Dreams tickets. In the grand scheme of things, it's not a big deal. But right now, I could just cry.

So... help me out please. If you are reading this and you are a friend who's contact info I should have, please email me with it so I can get both your email address and your info saved again. If you are a customer and are waiting on an email from me, or a piece of jewelry, please send me an email so we can communicate again. Thanks.

Business News

The Blue Between has had major computer problems this week. Everything was backed up and then the computer got f-disked and is starting new. Things are running better, but Outlook doesn't want to get installed and so I'm missing all my email addresses. I owe some people emails and if you are anxious about it, please email me and I'll respond through my webmail until Outlook gets fixed. Sorry for the hiccup!

The good news is while all this was going on, waiting for things to install, uninstall, install, etc... jewelry got made. Here are some of the new necklaces available for sale:











More good news - the Hill Tribe order came in and I have more starfish pendants!

Studio News

The last piece of sheetrock went up last weekend and the hole for the exhaust fan got cut. Frank's work out there is just about done, now it's my turn. I've got to mud the walls next (I'm not sanding, I refuse, so I'm going to make it look old-world and textured like a rustic old cottage), then prime, paint and then figure out the floor.

Proud Moma

Look at Luke - first T-ball game. Isn't he just a natural? Go Mets!

First run around the bases. Made it home and wasn't going to get off home base:



Pitcher:



Catcher:



In the dugout with his team:

A New Way To Do Things

I recently got Robin Atkin's Beaded Treasures Book and then splurged on 12 colors of cord and some happy resin beads to start with. Here's my first attempt at a chunky treasure/garden style bracelet using her technique. I like it a lot because it's a bit faster than the way I've been doing it, and I don't need a needle (and so don't end up with pricked and sore fingers).

Sea Shell Earrings

To go with the Sand and Sea Star Necklace.

Robin's Nest Necklace

An art bead necklace I've been working on for a couple of days. I'm not sure it's quite done, it may get another strand of seed beads. The gorgeous leaf is by Shirley Cook of Jumping Jack Glass, the beautuful etched copper clasp is by Hollie of Blind Cave Fish, and the lampwork egg is by me, made last year and hoarded all this time.

Bead Shopping

I bought some new Karen Hill Tribe beads today. Aren't they yummy?



Also, because my new Sand and Sea Star necklace is so popular (I sold it twice before I got a chance to mark it sold!) I've decided to make a few more as a sort of limited edition series. If you'd like one, place your order and I'll let you know when I can get it shipped out to you. Thanks!!

New Earrings

Two new pairs of earrings. The green and blue are for sale in the shop, the champagne ones are on hold at the moment, waiting to hear back from a customer.

Sand and Sea Inspiration

Two new ocean and beach inspired necklaces. For sale in the shop, just click on the images to view details.

More Wedding Jewelry

You can tell it's April here, the light changes about every two minutes. Sun, rain, sun, green sky, yellow sky, white sky, grey sky, blue sky and all over again. It's nice, but making it really hard to photograph jewelry. This is about the best I can come up with, the greens look kind of gold - they aren't - they are sage green and really much prettier in person. The last necklace in the series, and earrings to go with each of them:





And here are the dresses:

Magnolia Goodness

The view from my studio today. Isn't this the best? So much better than the dark cave my last studio was.



And this is the view from my bedroom window. I'm feeling very lucky today.

Studio Progress

Sheetrock has been going up!

Wedding Jewelry

I'm posting some wedding jewelry ideas for a client - her colors are sage green and lavender, her theme is dragonflies and butterflies and each piece is to be different, just like the women who will be her bridesmaids. I think these necklaces came out beautifully, but the photos... are not great - I'll re-shoot in better light soon.