Wow April is almost gone

I keep asking that question in this blog. Where did the time go?
I know time flies when you are having fun but I didn't realize I was having that much fun!
Taxes are not fun I know I did those since the last post. I have been having fun with the Fiesta open torches and the Berries class this week. I'm working hard to get a pendant finished and photographed for the ISGB pendant show. The beads are done now I have to get her put together.

You can tell from the quality of my photos the camera is on it's last leg. It still takes some good pictures but a new camera is on the wish list. I will miss this on it is a Kodak EasyShare a really old one. It was so easy to use and it took some really nice pictures but with all things made of plastic "stuff" Breaks and the toggle that controls everything no longer works and it doesn't recognize the card anymore so I can take exactly 11 pictures and can not change the settings. Now aren't you glad I share that!

I have been working on flowers of all kinds. There are 2 classes I am teaching here at Dream Fire Glass Studio you might want to take if these flower beads are what you want to make.
Sculptural Flowers- May 26

Encased Florals May 27
In this class you will learn to make floral cane and use it to make the flowers on the outside and the inside of a bead

What's in the Mailbox

I was stalking the mailbox early in January.Well not actually stalking it because it doesn't really go anywhere.
I ordered the Convergence II and III exhibition catalogs and was diligently watching to see if the mail had come each day
Lulu press had printed them and they are were on their way.

I have a piece in each of the catalogs. I know I have mentioned these before but I think they deserve one more look.
The Convergence II catalog has Persephone's Lot a necklace I collaborated with Liza Connell on.
Liza made the beautiful PMC findings and leaves. I did the design work and of course made the beads.

Persephone's Lot just arrived safe and sound from its travels.

In the Convergence III catalog is Gaudi. Now this necklace is something else.

 Peggy Potts and I worked for months on this one. We got together a minimum of once a week and planned and sketched and negotiated the design. I enjoyed the give and take and the process and the end result well it stunned us both.
Peggy did all the fantastic silversmith work. She handmade every silver component from the breastplate to the tiniest bead caps,yes she even made the chain.  I made the beads boy did I make beads. We made our final selections of beads and put Gaudi together.

You may wonder what is Gaudi- who is Gaudi? He was an architect that Peggy and I both admire and the necklace is based on his work, primarily the Basilica of the Sagrada Família

The catalogs arrived and are beautiful. They document our modern bead history and are some great eye candy.I had to have them because not only do I have pieces in them but so do my friends and students.
SALSA President Vicki Munie and her mother Betty have pieces in both catalogs.
Now I'm going to settle in and enjoy everyone's work.

Were did July go?

Wow my last post was July 4th and here it is July 20th. Were did July go?

I know there was lots of ordering of glass and tools and other fun things for the new studio. There was lots of activity getting everything ready for all the new goodies. Making sure the places for them to be seen were built of put together and then there were labels so you know what they cost. All the boring stuff of starting a new business was churning away keeping me busy. The days just flew away.

Then there were all the things that had to been done for the ISGB Gathering in Louisville Kentucky.
Yes I broke out the Hot Head and made some little beads for the Gathering 1st timers. Boy do I miss my "Big Girl" torch.  Stay tuned for the pictures of the beads.

All this work and no posts made me a bad blogger...... My apologies to my followers I promise I will do better. The good news is I have lots of pictures so the next few post will have some eye candy.

And for those of you who are waiting and wondering.
I do have some dates.

Retail store opens August 10 
Wednesday  11am to 7pm

The workshops will follow. Yes there will be a spectacular grand opening when the hood is in!
The 1st workshop is scheduled for October 1- Beginning Beadmaking

Keep those fingers crossed the fume hood comes in on time and the inspectors are kind.
Then we will all have our flameworking playground and the fun can begin!