The Secret Project

Often I think to myself where did the time go? This time I know just exactly where it got gobbled up....The Top Secret Project. Its a biggy. I've been working up to it for a long time. Years even. Well, the moon, the stars, the planets all aligned just right and I was able to acquire casting equipment. This is the first little piece, an experiment really. I am happy. There will be more. Well that is if all of the stars, the moon and the planets line up just right.

Happy weekend all. I know for a few of you it will probably be a tense one full preparation for Hurricane Sandy making its way up the eastern coast.  You are in my heart and prayers.

Catching Up

Where did the time go? I haven't been around this blog as much as I'd like. The autumn days have just flown by. Lots of things happening in the studio. One of them a secret project that has consumed an enormous amount of time.

It seems almost like yesterday that we were up in DC for ArtBliss. But it has been nearly three weeks already. How did that happen? Not one photo did I take while I was there. I made this pair of earrings in Stacie Florer's class. Bit wonky but it may be the first time ever that I've come away with a completed project from a workshop. Stacie is a great teacher!

On the way back we stopped to see Monticello. I've always admired Jefferson, well except for that slavery thing. So it was a treat to see his home. Lot smaller than I imagined but packed full of innovation and the most shocking yellow walls in the dining room. Dayglo does not even begin to describe it. My eyes hurt. Apparently this color was used to make the most of the light in the room. Me, I think I'll stick with dark and dreary if the only other option is that yellow.

Lots of things have been happening in the studio besides the secret project. Some of it is organisational. My glaze table mess went from this.....

To this!

I am pleased with myself beyond words. Finally a solution to the mess....Stepped spice racks! Why has this solution never occurred to me before?  I thought about alphabetizing, organizing by color, etc. It seemed a natural way to go. After all, the spices in my kitchen are alphabetized. Pathetic, huh? But for now at least I can see those glazes and get at them without stacking and unstacking.

Part of that organization had to do with necessity. I am definitely not normally the model of studio tidiness. The cheeky monkey and her brother arrived last night. The cheeky monkey likes to fossick around Nana's studio. There are too many things out there that could go horribly wrong....so...the only solution is to clean things up. I think maybe the cheeky monkey should visit Nana more often.

gratuitous photo of heliotropes of some sort

 I'm the only one up. It is quiet. It won't be quiet for very long. My grandson is a noisy little chappy. He giggles and coos, loudly. He knows that if he giggles and coos someone will come over and love him up. So he giggles and coos a lot.

Have a lovely couple of bright shiny weeks everyone. I'll be around this week but not on this blog. Nana has a lot of grand baby loving to do. Then we will head off to Dallas for a long weekend with our daughter.

Is it really October? Where did the time go?

The Owls Are Back!

Gosh, it's been a year since I made any of these. Where did the time go? But some of you asked and I could not refuse. Besides I like these little guys. Six colors including a purple tummy owl that I really love. Of course, I love just about anything purple. Not lavender. Just a nice dark purple. Ok, I like lavender in spring. I'm quite seasonal (fickle?) about my color favorites.

Sometimes when I'm making beads, a new shape sort of spontaneously appears. I don't think too much about it. They just happen. These are a cross between a lentil and a coin bead with fluted edges. Or maybe they are squashed melon beads with holes in a different direction? Or maybe they are a new bead shape called the amoeba. I might start naming all of my beads after micro-organisms. Next up the paramecium followed by the spirochete.

This was a glaze experiment. I don't usually use this glaze on this clay because in the past it's gone all drippy and weird. But I like it now. Kind of reminds me of winter with that frosty blue.  I have no idea if I will get this result again because I can't remember just what I did to get it in the first place. Notes might be a good idea but then that seems way to organized.

Have I ever told you how much I like making bead sets?  It's a sort of sophisticated form of procrastination. I don't generally glaze them with any particular sets in mind. I could (and sometime do) spend ours mixing up different shapes and colors of beads. I tell myself it is work all in the name of getting that Etsy shop updated. But the truth is I like playing with beads.

Speaking of updating the Etsy shop, I'll be putting the owls and beads up tomorrow night.

Thursday, 4 October, 8 pm EST

The Color of Hope

October 1st, already, and that kicks off Breast Cancer Awareness month. As many of you know, I was diagnosed with breast cancer last January and finished chemo just a few short months ago.  So many of you of you supported me in my journey through treatment.  All of those hugs and kind words have meant much more than I could ever put words to.

And sometimes just the right combination of goodness happens and magic is made.

photo: Vicki, 2 Bags Full 

Vicki of 2 Bags Full, makes the most extraordinary nests from hundreds of  different fibers she gathers together. They are limited edition, simply amazing works of art.  The kind hearted Vicki donates the proceeds to charitable organisations. These nests truly are spun of love.

The color of hope is pink! Proceeds from Vicki's nests this year will be donated to the Susan G Komen Foundation.  I am so honored that my little birdies in a special edition of pink will become part of this years nests. It feels good to be able to give back just a tiny fraction of all of the love that I've been given over this last year. It truly is a priviledge.

Go on over to Vicki's blog to read about her thoughts about this years nests and have a look at the incredible fibers she'll be using. You will swoon. I had no idea that pink came in so many shades. I had no idea that pink could be this beautiful.


Thank you Vicki! And a very special thank you to Maire Dodd, who introduced me to Vicki and made a bit of magic happen.

Is it autumn?

Etsy Shop Update - Wednesday the 19th at 9 pm EST

I've got some autumn inspired beads and bronze going into the shop tonight at 9pm EST.  It's a smallish kiln load of beads this time. But packed full with some beautiful autumn colors.

It's definitely showing signs of autumn here in my neighborhood. Bits of red and gold peeking through the trees as some of the leaves start to turn. I love this time of year. I love the cooler temperatures. I love the color. I even like the rain. And we have had a lot of rain. Buckets and buckets of rain. It's good napping weather. But no napping for me. I'm gonna get the last of the bead listings ready to go.

Happy Wednesday

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.