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.

Return Air Ducting

Things are coming together! I know, it doesn't look like it, but trust me, we are one step closer to being done. Frank has been working hard all day on this and it's almost done. After I built some of the components (cut duct, pieced things together and taped up), I mostly stood around handing things to the poor guy on his back under the studio. Here is how it's looking on the inside so far - these two ducts will bring fresh air in to replace the toxic air the fan (which will be centered between them) will exhaust out. Under the studio, they run about 10 feet and have mesh to keep the rodents out.



And here, a picture looking under the studio - doesn't it look like it's about to blast off?! I'm happy this part is done, but I think Frank is estatic about it.

Studio Progress

Not too much happened all week, but today we made some big progress. I finished insulating and Frank finished the support/cross beam things in the roof and then prepped the ceiling for sheetrocking. Not very interesting BUT then we got into some good stuff. At the last minute as we were about to cut the holes in the wall for the return-air vents, I got a bright idea. Frank isn't calling it that, but I am. He's more along the lines of "pain in the butt idea", if you get my drift.

Anyway, my idea was this: instead of having the make up air come from the wall behind me while I torch, blowing cool damp air past my head on the way back out of the vent hood, why not have it right under the vent hood itself and duct it under the studio so that it's clean air coming in? Why not? Well, other than the pain-in-the-butt factor, and the more-money factor and the more-work factor... it sounds like a great idea. And so off to Home Debit I went and got all the materials needed. And Frank started cutting holes and putting it together. It's too dark to get a good photo, so I'll share a boring insulated wall one instead. I'm really excited, it's going to be so GREAT!

New Site Design - Done!

A few minor tweaks, the addition of some yummy chocolate brown that pairs nicely with the Blue Between blue, and here it is - a brand-new, easier to shop, online jewelry store!

New Site Design!

As I said earlier today, I've been working hard on my site - I want it all spiffy and pretty and running great so I can concentrate on melting glass and making new jewelry... and I was almost there (just the earrings page left to go) when all of a sudden I got the urge to give it a fresh new look.

Normally this is something that I wouldn't just "do". I'd design it, sleep on it, ask around... and then do it. But not today... I just DID IT. And now I've got major butterflies in my belly... and I can't find anyone who will tell me what they think - are my friends and family ignoring me or are they really working or in meetings? Oh, Luke said he liked it. He seemed honored that I asked him... but I'm not sure he knows what it used to look like. Ah well... let me know what YOU think, if you don't mind. Thanks!

Now:



An hour or so ago:

New Bracelets for Sale

I've been working hard on my website, trying to make it more user-friendly. I hope everyone likes the new lay out! I'm still working on the earrings page and realize I desperately need some new designs there. Stay tuned...

In the meantime, a few new bracelets have been added:

     

I love my new studio... even if it's not done yet

Inside construction began today. Frank and I built my workbench - the base of it - which will eventually be covered with my stainless steel top. I insulated part of it (extra thick insulation that will hopefully keep the fan noise out of the studio), and Frank worked on making the support beams "prettier". Yes, PRETTIER, because if you know me at all, pretty matters!

Studio: Phase 1-Done

The construction workers are all done with the studio (they still have some clean up to do.) The doors are on and even have door knobs and locks.

The rest is now up to us. Outside, we need to give her a bath, put a porch on, and she needs a skirt and some flowers planted around her. Inside, we are insulating, putting up prettier support beams, building a work bench, sheetrocking, painting, tiling the floor.... lots to do. Really a lot, but I hope to be melting glass SOON.

New Necklaces for Sale

I listed 4 new necklaces and one old one that I'm finally ready to part with. These four are on my website and a lampwork wheel necklace is on Etsy.

Vent Hood Progress

I've made a little progress on my vent hood. You can see the details on the Bead Studio Page if you like.

Power for the Studio

The electricians did their rough-in today. My studio has it's own circuit box, outlet boxes, light boxes, an in-wall heater (it will be right at my feet when I'm at the torch!) and switch boxes for the lights and blower. And a light for outside.

It's not all that exciting to look at yet - but if you are curious, you can see some of it on the Bead Studio Page.

Studio Progress

Roof is finished, including skylights. The door is hung, but something is wrong with it. Also, I bought the wrong doorknobs so they need to be returned. But close, very close. I can stain/prime/paint or whatever I'm going to do now and then put on the decorative slats so the siding matches the house. And build a porch of some sort. And.... oh it's not that close really.



The electrician is here today wiring it up and installing a wall heater. I need to call about the door problem and find out what that is all about.

I made a studio page for those of you who want to see the progress all in one place - it's going to be good for lampworkers because I'll be setting up the ventilation system and showing step by step photos of it - it's a very mysterious and confusing project for us girly artsy types who don't know what end of the fan (blower!) the air even goes in through! Check it out on my site: The Blue Between Studio.

Magnolia Tree About to Burst into Color

My Photos on Cards, etc.

I started a little cafepress store yesterday that turns my photos into greeting cards and postcards and prints... if anyone is interested, please take a look! Thanks :)

Blue Between Photography

blossoms

First daffodil from the yard...

Paintings on Etsy

I added a few of my small paintings to my Etsy store... just to see what would happen, really.

http://BlueBetween.etsy.com if you are interested! Thanks :)

More Studio Progress

Today was exciting! They got the roof up and mostly shingled. Getting close!

Snow

Woke up to this today. It's all melted though... well, just about.