Burn, Baby, Burn

Yes, I burned myself. No, not lampworking. That would have been interesting and maybe even a good story... but no such luck, the short of it is, I grabbed a hot Pyrex pan with my bare hand and then held on to it for too long. Stupid, yes... I've never done such a stupid thing and don't plan on doing it again. The good news though.... I know, I know, silver lining and all that... is I now know what to do for a second degree burn and this information might just come in handy since I do play with fire and molten glass. I thought I'd share with my lampworking friends so they can stock up, just in case.

First of all... if it's bad and ugly, you need this stuff: Burn Jel Plus by Water Jet.



This is good stuff - a modern miracle in a bottle - it cools down your burn and has a pain killer as well as anti infection stuff - seriously, it rocks. If you don't have it, soak your burn in cold water while you wait for someone to run to the drug store to get it. But really, get some now and put it in your studio next to your torch.

If it's a regular burn - a minor burn and not *that* big a deal, you'll want to just go straight to this stuff: Layla's Handmade Lavender and Calendula Soothing Salve.



This salve is d'bomb. Seriously good stuff. Makes your burns just go away - well, maybe not just like *that* - but it's healing - and works fast. It makes your burned skin soft and cool. And it smells SO good... it will put you in your happy place. But there are more reasons why you want this on hand... it's the best lip balm I've ever used. And it makes my kid stop itching his mosquito bites. And it made my gardening blister go away... I'm sure it does much more but I've only had it for a few days and these are the only emergencies I've tried it on. You can read all about it at the link above, I don't doubt it can do all that it says and more. Good stuff, I promise you'll love it!

Oh and the burn? Almost gone, I'm fine.... really, it was a big deal, serious ouch, and I thought I'd be out of commission for at least two weeks, but I'm typing again with both hands and hope to be melting glass in a couple more days, and I thank the two products above for this!

The Hedge that Beads Bought

Seriously! I've been saving my money from bead sales up and this week we went and blew it all on 20 "improved english laurel" plants. This time next year... or the year after... they will have filled in and be a nice old-fashioned laurel hedge. We also made some raised beds for veggies - filled in with the best black dirt money can buy now, but I took the photos before that happened.







Next is this pergola thing - minus the gate and without the green paint...



More pictures soon, as the garden grows :)

And then it was summer...

Summer has come early this year! The sun has been shining non-stop, pool is up, the kid is out of school and enjoying friends and swimming, the garden is growing right along and time is flying.

I don't have much to show you, but I did make this necklace for Luke's teacher's gift. There were earrings too, but they didn't make it in front of the camera before they got boxed up. Vintage lucite flowers and glass and stuff.

Gorgeous!

Andee from Germany did this to my bead - isn't it spectacular?!

Octopus Goodness

I'm always honored when another lampworker buys one of my beads - it's such a big compliment! Paula of Island Top Glass Art bought one of my Octopus beads awhile ago and turned it into this beautiful necklace. Paula, thanks for sharing!

Remember this?

Do you remember this photo? I think it was one of the first Wearable Art Friday inspiration photos ever. From several years ago... I forgot where I got it... I found it again the other day and thought hmn... yes, that looks like my beads. I guess it has stuck with me all this time.

Aren't these Great?

I knew there was something I forgot to share! Sandy bought my Butterfly Waterfall focal bead and asked for that set I made to go with it - remember? She wanted all the beads so that she could design something special for one of her friends - someone she told me was tall and stunningly beautiful and who had a style all her own. Well, she sent me photos of what she finally came up with - and I love it all - so creative! I'm sure her friend looks wonderful wearing these. Sandy can be reached at: sshacke [!at] gmail.com (change the [!at] to @ and remove the spaces!). Thanks Sandy for sharing your creations with me - it was so fun working with you!

And Another Year Goes By...

Not since I posted... haha, just since I arrived on this planet. 40. It's just a number, right? Big whoop. Renee Zellweger just turned 40 too, same week as me. Seems she's got the same attitude, from the article I was reading today while waiting to get my haircut. Big whoop. The presents are nice though, I do admit. They keep coming and coming. Today I got cookies and a handmade quilted bag - score! Last week I got a Kindle and money to load books onto it. And smoky quartz earrings. And a really cute watch. And a perfect pedicure. And lots and lots of flowers. And a fabulous Andee bracelet - want to see? I love this thing:



So much has happened since I posted though, it feels like a year. Let's see... how am I going to catch up?

First of all, there is Shirley Cook's amazing vessel that she designed around one of my beads - isn't it fabulous? It's already sold though, so don't get too excited. But do check out her others - they are all beautiful!



What else... oh yes, I made a necklace! My mother was in town visiting and picked this bead from my stash... and I turned it into this for her:





I'm sure there's more.... besides the tulip festival (see below), surprise birthday party (don't ever do that to someone you love, folks, ok?), baseball games, gardening, a blooming magnolia taking up my whole backyard, an art room that is finally organized enough to create in... I know I'm missing something interesting to share with you... but you know what they say, memory is the first thing to go with old age... I'll think of it and be back!

A New Bead

This one is up on Esty, looking for a new home!





And this was the kind of day we had today: pure spring glory.

I'm Back!

Back from vacation, back from taking care of flu-boy Luke, back from... I don't know where, it's been awhile, hasn't it? But I'm back! And so are my beads! Here are some from yesterday, they will go on Etsy soon, and I'm making more today as well.

Spring Break!

It's spring. Spring break. At the beach. Having lots of fun... and yet, wishing I could be melting some glass in between walks on the beach and stuff... it's ok, I'll be back soon, in the meantime, the sun is out and the beach is great, and things are growing and blooming. Love this time of year.

Featured Bead Artist!

Check it out! Carolyn Jankovskis from Beading Times interviewed me last month, and now I'm the Featured Bead Artist for April! Thanks Carolyn and Beading Times!

Dreaming of Gardens

It's that time of year... I'm dreaming of green things and flowers, and digging in the dirt and worms and sprouts and bees and birds. Things are starting to pop up, shoot out, take form. They want fresh compost and weeding already, rain and sunshine... and this year I'll get that much closer to having that secret garden I dream about.

I have a vision for my front yard too. It's starting from ground zero. Right now it's an uneven plane of wood chips. But someday, some year... it will look more like this.



And this.



And maybe there will be a part that looks something like this.



Just spring dreaming...

Earth Hour 2009

It's Earth Hour - are your lights off? Ours are!

Do You See What I See?

The latest Chico's catalog came the other day and I finally got a chance to look at it. There is a sweater on the front cover that I adore. Of course it's black and white, and the gorgeous woman with short cropped blond hair is standing in front of the most beautiful blue ocean and had a big fabulous necklace and sparkly bracelet... the whole cover is WoW. It makes me want to:

1.) go buy the whole outfit (except I would probably never wear it)
2.) cut my hair short (but I know better!)
3.) color my hair blond (if I only had the guts)
4.) go to the beach (a warm tropical one, not the windy, grey, PacNW one I have right down the street)

AND... can you guess this one ???
5.) yes, go make beads. (there is a black and white focal coming from this Chico's catalog cover... it's just a matter of time!)

I couldn't find the shot on their website, but I did find several more inspiring pieces. None of them are anything I'd ever wear, really... but they all scream at me to make beads... can't you see them now? I can, and let me just say they are amazing! Now... if I can only take these images and make them work in glass... *that* is what I'll be working on next week.

The only thing left that I have to say is: who in their right mind would paint wearing a jacket like that??? Obviously they have no idea what painting does to a person's wardrobe. Or melting glass for that matter. If I have a piece of clothing that doesn't have paint on it, it's got burn marks... so yeah, I probably won't be doing #1 up there on my list, it would be a total waste of money. #2 isn't happening either. #3 could, someday... if I ever either get crazy enough or brave enough... one or the other... in the meantime, I'll just keep dreaming about #4 while I'm #5, playing with fire... melting my glass...

All That's Left of the Mess of Beads

All the beads from yesterday will have new homes very soon... all except for this mini set, called Tiger Tale. On Etsy now, thanks for looking!

Today's Handful of Beads

Or... What Have I Got Myself Into?



What a day! First I agreed to make a set of beads to go with a focal that sold. No biggie, I'd been rolling the thought around in my head anyway. And it was not bad, once I figured out that it was ok if they didn't all match (I'm not a matchy matchy person, in case you haven't figured that out). All this time I had it in my mind that other people expected matching things and so I stayed away from sets - avoided them like the plague - but then I realized... not everyone does expect that, do they? There are people like me, people who like asymmetrical things, eclectic things, things that are a little "off" (but in a good way)... and they are the ones who will by my beads - it's all good.

Then, the set sold! Great right? Except, not to the person I reserved them for. SO... I got busy. I headed out to the studio as soon as the kiddo went to school and didn't stop until it was time to pick him up. I made another set, and another one after that because a friend wanted some too... and I thought I was going to make a set for myself because they are really that cool and I should make myself something since my birthday is coming (right?)... but then all of a sudden, I had 45 minutes left and I couldn't bring myself to make another small bead... So...just to make my heart happy, I made a big focal, because by that point, I HAD to.

But here is the thing... small beads are ok! They are certainly low stress, compared to the honking big ones I make... which take up to an hour each, by the way. If you ruin a bead you've invested that much time in and so much glass in at the last minute... well, it's bad news and a sad bead day. But if you ruin a little bead that you might have maybe 10 or 15 minutes invested in... eh, melt it all in, encase it in another color, and make something else! No biggie. It was actually kind of liberating after all that "I don't make small beads" talk I had going on in my head.

So ok, I make small beads too... sometimes. We will see. But first I have to get all these sets and custom requests sorted out... for all these *easy* small beads... I've got a big mess on my hands. Except, I'm not complaining, it's not a bad problem to have, really.

Hey Look! She CAN make a set...

More Signs of Spring

Four New Beads Listed on Etsy

In addition to the focal bead I teased you with last night... these are now all up on Etsy for your buying pleasure! Thanks for looking :)