BTW - Switching Gears

Bead Table Wednesday and this time without a lot of words. I have an awful cold and I can't write without talking to myself and this cold is making it oh so difficult to speak. And yes, I was that kid in primary school who got in trouble for reading books out loud during quiet reading. Mrs Peterson, I still read out loud, usually at home, mostly recipes, and never in airports.

I've switched to bronze this week. That's a little pile of new, mostly autumn inspired, bronze pieces. That's what they look like after the clay is dry and I've gone in and cleaned them up. Looks a little like ginger snaps to me. I have no idea why every thing in my studio reminds me of food. But it does and I think it best not to probe too deeply into the deep recesses of my mind.

Here's a few of those same pieces fresh out the kiln. Ugly. They come out all crusty and quite unappetizing.

Wire brush, tumbler, patina bath, buffing, sealing, and Voila! Finished pieces. Now I am off to find a box of tissues and listen to the kiln click on and off as the next batch fires. Sniff Sniff Snuffle

And maybe I will click this picture to go check out what's happening in other peoples beady worlds this week.

Coming Soon

I am back from a lovely weekend with my children and the grand babies. It's a little hard to get back into the studio because my mind is with the babies. But I figure if I issue myself a challenge I can switch gears. So with no further adieu....

Etsy shop update Thursday the 6th at 9 pm EST.

Lots of beads and just when you thought I'd gone all earthy on you, I changed things up with some yummy jewel tones. Here's a little sample of what's coming up. There are even a few buttons in there. Why? Just 'cause sometimes I get this wild notion that buttons might be fun to make.

This is why it is so darned hard to switch gears. Love these grand babies of mine.

A Peek in the Kiln

Well it's actually not a peek in the kiln at all. More like a peek at what came out of the kiln this week. Lots and lots of beads. A big bowl of beads. Some I love and some are just not at all what I anticipated. Some of those stinker beads are in that photo above. I'm not telling you which ones though. Because like as not, in a few days I will change my mind and then I'll think they are the most wonderful beads in the world. I'm fickle that way.

Big bowl of pendants too. There were some true stinkers in that lot. Ones that I definitely will not fall in love with. It's like first dates. Sometimes you just know that this is not going to work out. Unlike some of those dates, stinker pendants are easy to get rid of. The just go under the hammer in a very satisfying crunch and chink.  Not something that is every acceptable to do with first dates.

Well I gotta run. I have a date this weekend with my grand daughter. She's turning 5 this month and there is a birthday celebration. I snagged the last Tinkerbell wings and tutu set at the toy store. I see a bit of dancing and twirling in my future. Probably not in a tutu. But I do have a fairy wand. My grandson is now 2 months old and I'm told that he is very interested in his hands and feet and shiny objects. So I'm thinking there may be a bit of on the floor with the little one's tummy time. Gawd, I hope that someone will help me get back up.

Have a fantabulous weekend everyone!

BTW - The episode where win the bead glaze marathon

freshly glazed beads drying 

The bead glaze marathon was a pretty easy win given I was the only one competing. I like a good challenge like that. I've been glazing beads, pendants, connectors and such like a mad woman for the last couple of days.  Last count 153 beads. Yes, I counted them. I did not count any thing else. While I am easily amused, it does not go so far as counting every thing in sight.

So my work table is once again in complete disarray. Cleaned it up on Sunday and by Monday night a big fat glaze bomb had gone off.

beads skewered and ready to glaze

I like glazing. It's a time when I get to think big thoughts and ponder questions of great significance to society. Things like that peanut butter Snickers bar at the Kangaroo Express looked good. I wonder if I should go out and get one? Why is a convenience store chain named Kangaroo Express?  To my knowledge there are no species of kangaroos native to North Carolina. What is a group of kangaroos called? Maybe I should go google that. Ice cream sounds good. I wonder if there's any Ben and Jerry's Heath Bar Crunch in the freezer? See? Immensely important thoughts and questions. None of which I actually have an answer to.

This morning I am waiting for the kiln to cool off enough to see what's in there. It's always a bit like Christmas. Anticipation, excitement, oh I never ever get tired of opening a kiln. Always a bit of  good stuff. Like I'm hoping I'll get some more of these melon beads out. But then there is always the well intentioned gift Aunt Jane sent. Great size but the color is all wrong. Had some of those a couple of weeks ago. Only problem with the the beads is that I haven't got a receipt to return them.

Want to see what's on other peoples bead tables? Just click that photo and it will whisk you away.

Happy Wednesday!

Are you going?

To Art Bliss, that is? I am. And I am very very excited. What? You want to know what that naked clay unfired bead has to do with Art Bliss? Well I'm taking a workshop that will need a pair of side drilled beads. Search my stash and I couldn't find a thing that appealed to me for this particular project. Then the light bulb clicked on and I said, hey I make beads, couldn't I just make a pair, or two, or three? So obvious I know but sometimes it's matter of forest for the trees kind of vision. I just didn't like any of the ones I was currently making for this project and middle of the night (I have my best ideas at 4 am) I figured a flattish mellon bead would work perfectly. So yesterday I made approximately  164 of the little guys. (Sometimes I exaggerate, but trust me it was a lot).

Kind of cool even on top view down. Bit like a patty pan squash which is, I think, technically in the mellon family.  I might be making that up for the sake of continuity with the melon bead idea. I have a million ideas or at least two more ways that I'd like to use these.  And a rainbow of colors that I can see them in.

Ahh, the class, now we get down to the meat of things. I'm taking an earring class with Stacie Florer. I have drooled over her work for some time now. See that earring at the bottom? That's what I needed a pair of beads for. Gorgeous stuff, eh?

There are some terrific instructors on board for the weekend retreat. It was really hard to choose. It's September 21-23, Washinton DC. Just click that photo down there and you can see what's up. Still time to register and from the skinny I've heard, this is a lovely weekend and organized by two fantastic hosts, Cindy Wimmer and Jeanette Blix. I'd love to see you! I'll even bring some patty pan squash beads for you too.

Happy weekend all. I'm off to the garden to wrestle with the weeds and pick a peck of tomatoes.

BTW - The old porcelain is back

It's Bead Table Wednesday and here's a little peak at mine.

This might be a bit of cheat because you are not really going to see my bead table. Every surface of my studio is currently covered with porcelain pieces in various states of undoneness. I went a wee bit off track of the schedule this week and immersed myself in the new/old porcelain clay. When we moved here a year ago, I decided to go with a more local porcelain. Why ship clay so far. It's heavy. It's good to support local. I tried to love this new porcelain. I tried for a year. But you know, when you have had many dates over a years time and you haven't fallen head over heals in love, well, it's time to say good bye. So bye bye.

My new porcelain, which is the old one I started out with, is back. I love you. I am sorry I flirted with the other one. I don't mind your gooey-ness. I forgive for your penchant for warping and cracking in ways that I don't anticipate. I crack a mental now and again myself. You are beautiful in your own unique way and I'll never leave you.

OK, enough of the lovey dovey stuff. You can't see my work tables because it's a wicked hot mess in there. Piles of stuff. That photo up there is just a tiny glimpse of the gazillion pendants and such I made over the last couple of days. There's a new design in there at the top. A happy looking variation on a traditional Korean design of a chrysanthemum. I've got happy colors in mind for these. Maybe some moody ones too.

And along with the new/old porcelain the old owls have come back. Look at that. There is always one joker in the crowd that wants to go it's own way. Sheesh, I have never been able to get these little guys to behave. There's a largish pile of birds who are not really behaving much better.

They'll all be much better behaved when they grow up to be versions of these guys. Hey, couldn't leave you without one colorful photo, could I? Because really, naked clay is not that interesting to look at so the birdies and owls are a little color treat.

What's on your bead table? Any tawdry secrets that you'd care to share?

New Beads Coming Soon

Shop update tonight, Thursday 16 August, at 8 pm EST. Lots of new beads!