Sweet Little Birds

I've been making teeny, tiny little birds for earings and to put inside etched and domed pendants. These little guys are only about half an inch wide. They are headed off to the Downtown Art Market tomorrow. I've been a busy little bee here. I've made a million pairs of earings. No kidding, a million. OK, maybe it just feels like a million. I've etched a bazillion pendants and little earing pieces. I've wire wrapped a katrillion beads. I've got all sorts of new things for tomorrow. So if you are in Lubbock, you should come see us. Even if you are not in Lubbock, you should come see us. Even if that means getting in your own personal jet, you should come see us. It will be fun!

Now for your viewing pleasure I present you with a rare glimpse into my studio. Unfortunately, the unsightly mess you see on my work table is not rare. This photo was taken at 1pm today. It is much worse now.

Have a great weekend!

End of Summer Yet?

I can hardly believe it is mid August already. This summer has flown by at an astonishing pace. I'm just finishing up a few pieces for the Downtown Art Market this weekend and then I've got an entire month, yes one whole month, when I don't have to meet any deadlines except of my own making. I can not begin to tell you how good that feels. Not having to get in the car and drive more than 5 minutes feels pretty darned good too. The very best part of all is that I've got all this time to follow up on ideas that have been accumulating in my mind and as sketches on scraps of paper. Except for making that star fish necklace, I definitely feel myself moving into an autumn mood. Now if the weather would just cooperate and drop those temperatures below 90F. Actually, I'd be happy with below 80F.

On the wedding front, plans are just falling into place like magic. We have a beautiful location, we have the dress, and now we have the minister who coincidentally meditates daily in the botanical gardens where the wedding is going to be held. I'm not really much given to signs, portents, and omens, but when things come together as effortlessly as this wedding has, I just have to feel like it is something that is meant to be. It's only a little over a month away. I can hardly wait to see my son home again, even if it's only for a month. I can hardly wait to see him together again with Tammy.

Thank you Austin Bead Society

We got back from exhibiting at the 19th Annual Austin Bead Society Jewelry and Bead Bazaar late last night. A little tired but so happy to have gone to this show. The Austin Bead Society simply rocks when it comes to putting on a bead show. This was so well organized and the quality of the jewelry and beads included in this show was fantastic. But best of all these women really know how to treat a vendor well. We felt so welcome and at home that it's a little sad to think that we won't see many of these people again until next year.

One of the highlights was getting to meet Carol Bradley who has followed this blog for some time. In fact she was set up on a table in the same little section as I was. She makes beautiful jewelry and her wire work is stunning. To top it all off she's a really nice person. And then there is Nancy and PKaye, and Jennifer, and Melissa, and Marsha....and ...... So many new friends and so nice to get out of the solitary nature of studio work and talk beads.

The show is held at the Palmer Event Center which is a stunning venue just along the river in down town Austin. It is set in beautiful park land with amazing views of the city center. I could have spent two days just wandering around looking at this building. I can't think of a better place to hold this show.

Thank you Austin Bead Society! We will definitely be back next year.

Off to Austin

I'm off to the Austin Bead Society annual show tomorrow in the wee hours of the morning. This is my second bead show ever and tell you what, it makes me nervous. Last minute prep. Hate that I work right up until the last possible moment. But that's really just part of my nature and I need to accept that. But the up side of all of this is that I'm staying with a very dear friend who just moved to Austin. I do so wish I had more time to spend with her. Oh and my sweetie will be doing his roadie thing and that is worth his weight in gold, doubled. It is just so hard to do a show all by my lone some.  The bestest part of all is that in this crazy summer of mine, is that after the show, I will be home until Labor Day weekend. Yee Haw! I have so many ideas of how I will spend some of that time, including a few books I've been wanting to nap with.

So if you are in the Austin, TX neighborhood this weekend, stop by the Palmer event center and do a bit of shopping! I'd love to see you.

Big Pile of Brass

Finally, today I got around to finishing up some brass pieces I etched a while ago. That whole wedding planning frenzy has played havoc with my work schedule. I confess, the real reason I didn't get these pieces finished is that I lack discipline. But the wedding planning is just too much fun to give up to polish brass pieces. I do love brass. There is just something about that warm glow of brass that has a patina that makes my little heart sing. It's good to see these little pieces go from almost black with tarnish to soft and glowing. Most of these are going off with me to the Austin Beads Society show this weekend.

In a little wedding planning news, which of course I can't resist, much got done during my quick trip to Wichita. The bride has a dress, the brides maids have dresses, we have a place. Look at those flowers up there in front of the building where the reception will be held. It makes it so easy to decorate for the wedding because mother nature is doing the best stage setting we could ever get. Why mess with that? I'd love to show you photos of the bride and her wedding dress but a certain groom is known to lurk on my blog from time to time. It just wouldn't do to let him have a preview of the big day. And Cole, if you out there lurking, just don't even think about trying to get any top secret information out of us.

All a flutter

About 6 months ago I told myself it was quite alright if I never made another pot. Well, people kept asking for little plates and bowls at the art market and I caved in. But I was bored with the same designs. So just when I should have been getting ready for the bead show next week, I decided I really needed to make  butterfly plates and bowls which required making up a new set of designs. There are a bunch of these in the big kiln right now along with beads. It is firing. It almost didn't fire. I almost had a little (maybe big) teary session. But Sweet Pete to the rescue with a new plug and we are chugging along side of a tiny kiln of bronze pieces. Whew!

I'm off at 6 am for the 8 hour drive up to Wichita. I'm pretty excited about everything except for the 8 hour drive part. But it will be so worth it to get some of those wedding plans sorted and get that lovely bride a beautiful dress. Which in fact I am told may be difficult as there is a bridal convention in town this weekend. What the heck is a bridal convention? Well I guess I am about to find out. And I really am all a flutter with happiness at seeing my daughter and Tammy the bride and my soon to be grand daughter Alyssa!

Have a great weekend everyone.

The crazies

We are having a little of the crazies here trying to get this wedding organized. The date has been moved up to September 18th and hopefully the groom (my son) will actually get on that earlier flight from Afghanistan. But happy progress has been made  Yesterday, I lucked out and was able to rent the cottage at Botanica in Wichita. It's a small reception room set in beautiful botanical gardens, complete with water features and outdoor space for the wedding ceremony. Best of all, Botanica is where my son proposed to Tammy!

I'm driving up to Wichita on Friday and we're having a mad weekend of wedding planning and dress shopping. Oh and my soon to be son-in-law is celebrating his 30th.

Here's the crazy part of the crazies. I have a bead show in 13 days. It is a little hard to concentrate on beads right now. Oh did I mention that the elements in the kiln I use most just went out? I'll have to get out Big Bertha to finish everything in time.

But life has a way of going on despite the fact that you aren't ready for it. In fact I couldn't be happier getting ready for this wedding!