I moved from Boston to San Jose and then to Santa Cruz, where 25 years ago I met Mark and began growing up our family in a nice house in Santa Cruz. Near where our children went to elementary school, then to middle school and then to High School. It was a fine house, my first, a 1950's ranch house that had been moved to it's location to make room for Harbor High, very same one that our kids attended.
It's a beach town, Santa Cruz, and an old hippy town and a college town, quite the ecletic mix and I love it.
I met Rachel there, so many years ago and had a fine career at Plantronics, and many beach memories. It may be that the walk on West Cliff is my all time favorite in the world.
This weekend we return to the wedding of Becky, a beautiful young women, friend of daughter Lucia, who frequented our home and won our hearts.
And we'll visit with friends, and family, breathe in the beach, relax a bit, enjoy one another's company. On our way home, a stay in Santa Barbara, I do love my beach towns.
I may bead a bit, blog a bit, photo a bit....and breathe deeply and appreciate my life.
Hope it's wonderful for you as well!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Busy!
I remain rather busy as I continue to ship books, ship kits, order supplies so that I can continue to ship kits and get ready for my fall schedule. I must say it's been rather nice to spend some solid time at home and in the studio. I managed this variation of the Medici Drop earrings from the book. These were for a friends birthday and Orange is definitely her color!
Yesterdays DMV trip yielded a little waiting room knitting time and I am almost finished with the first Rani wristlet. I quite like this knitting with beads and am anxious to explore more of it. Next time I would definitely cast on both wristlets at the same time as I can definitely see the possibility of SWS (Second Wristlet Syndrome).
See that little band of color marking the pattern.
These are the clever magnetic pattern markers I bought from slippedstitch studios. They come beautifully packaged and are way better then a post it note for marking your place. (Yes Lisa, you definitely need some....I've been kind enough to provide the link)
The other big happening has been work on 'The Beading By The Bay' website. Look for it to be launched sometime next week. Next March 12-14 2010, Jean Campbell, Maggie Meister and Me....will be bringing you some stellar new projects in a 3 day event on San Francisco Bay. I've teased you with this a little bit before, but Mark has been busy getting the website ready and after the upcoming long weekend vacation, we should be ready to unveil the result and I think you'll love it!
And a quick Pup update, our darling little Maya had been feeling poorly and although there is still not a definite diagnosis, new medication has definitely improved her well being and we're pretty darn grateful for that. Could she be any darn cuter?
And now, there's beading to be done!
Yesterdays DMV trip yielded a little waiting room knitting time and I am almost finished with the first Rani wristlet. I quite like this knitting with beads and am anxious to explore more of it. Next time I would definitely cast on both wristlets at the same time as I can definitely see the possibility of SWS (Second Wristlet Syndrome).
See that little band of color marking the pattern.
These are the clever magnetic pattern markers I bought from slippedstitch studios. They come beautifully packaged and are way better then a post it note for marking your place. (Yes Lisa, you definitely need some....I've been kind enough to provide the link)
The other big happening has been work on 'The Beading By The Bay' website. Look for it to be launched sometime next week. Next March 12-14 2010, Jean Campbell, Maggie Meister and Me....will be bringing you some stellar new projects in a 3 day event on San Francisco Bay. I've teased you with this a little bit before, but Mark has been busy getting the website ready and after the upcoming long weekend vacation, we should be ready to unveil the result and I think you'll love it!
And a quick Pup update, our darling little Maya had been feeling poorly and although there is still not a definite diagnosis, new medication has definitely improved her well being and we're pretty darn grateful for that. Could she be any darn cuter?
And now, there's beading to be done!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Bead Unique Tahoe Retreat
Finished! I finished the third colorway for the Tahoe retreat. I am loving the hematite and fuschia combination.
This bracelet called 'Queen Anne's Lace' is a frilly, lacey, rather organic design. It's interesting the phases one goes through in design.
I played with the ellipse and diamond shape quite endlessly and it is a very structured, geometric design. I'm teaching this as a study in the ellipse and diamond shapes at Creative Castle in October.
Where as Falling Leaves that I am teaching in Dallas is again a very organic design, although more freeform then Queen Anne's Lace.
Who knows where my next vision will lead.....
This bracelet called 'Queen Anne's Lace' is a frilly, lacey, rather organic design. It's interesting the phases one goes through in design.
I played with the ellipse and diamond shape quite endlessly and it is a very structured, geometric design. I'm teaching this as a study in the ellipse and diamond shapes at Creative Castle in October.
Where as Falling Leaves that I am teaching in Dallas is again a very organic design, although more freeform then Queen Anne's Lace.
Who knows where my next vision will lead.....
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Time Flies
Or how it get to be September 1st? Could it be? Oh my......I have three venues in October which all require a little bit of work on my part and the fact that today's date began with 09/01, well it's a tad frightening. But much studio progress was made yesterday and it's all doable, at least says my project plan, and I've never showed up unprepared yet, so I best get working.
The Bead Unique Tahoe retreat begins October 1st, followed by a trip to Miami and the South Florida Arts Guild, then on to Creative Castle in Newbury Park Ca and ending the month with the Dallas girls in where else, Dallas!
Ringlets seem to be the big hit this year, bright fun colors.
Heather is making the coordinating rings, in retro, black and white and primary colors. Ringlets are going to be a very fun kit.
The Bead Unique Tahoe retreat begins October 1st, followed by a trip to Miami and the South Florida Arts Guild, then on to Creative Castle in Newbury Park Ca and ending the month with the Dallas girls in where else, Dallas!
Ringlets seem to be the big hit this year, bright fun colors.
Heather is making the coordinating rings, in retro, black and white and primary colors. Ringlets are going to be a very fun kit.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Seed Bead Fusion
What a great name and Ms.Rachel's book certainly lives up to it's name. The projects are completely innovative, and I love that they combine wire work with the bead weaving.
The cover gives you a clue about the bright light colorful and fresh layout you'll find inside. The combination of illustration and close up photo's of the various steps insures your beading success.
The book is gorgeous and can be bought from Ms. Rachel or from Amazon. Although it would be easy for me to be a tiny bit biased, I've known Rachel and loved her work for a long time, it is with true respect for her book that I mention it to you. It's very very well done in Rachel's usual artistic and competently technical style.
The cover gives you a clue about the bright light colorful and fresh layout you'll find inside. The combination of illustration and close up photo's of the various steps insures your beading success.
The book is gorgeous and can be bought from Ms. Rachel or from Amazon. Although it would be easy for me to be a tiny bit biased, I've known Rachel and loved her work for a long time, it is with true respect for her book that I mention it to you. It's very very well done in Rachel's usual artistic and competently technical style.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Change?
Recently I've been considering changing my hair, which means growing it longer since it's been short for many years, and I'm craving change (which probably requires contemplation, but for now I'm just going with it). I used to change jobs, change men (that was a looooong time ago) or change residences.
But now I love all three, my job, my man, my home. Change needs to come from other sources....Now don't look for this to be a definite thing, I'm reasonably fickle and I'm not sure I can manage the awful stage that is inevitable, but I'm giving it thought at least, and while cleaning out a space in the studio today, look what I found!
Me with long hair, considerably younger of course....
This was most likely an annual Christmas party since we never went for formal pictures otherwise.
and I found other pictures, and I was reminded that we kissed,
a lot....and that there was a day that I wore dainty pearl earrings and Mark's beard was not white.
But now I love all three, my job, my man, my home. Change needs to come from other sources....Now don't look for this to be a definite thing, I'm reasonably fickle and I'm not sure I can manage the awful stage that is inevitable, but I'm giving it thought at least, and while cleaning out a space in the studio today, look what I found!
Me with long hair, considerably younger of course....
This was most likely an annual Christmas party since we never went for formal pictures otherwise.
and I found other pictures, and I was reminded that we kissed,
a lot....and that there was a day that I wore dainty pearl earrings and Mark's beard was not white.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Hematite
Morning coffee and bead contemplations....
I seem to be having a love affair with hematite and fuschia. First there is abacus in the book, with hematite size 11 charlottes which catch the light and sparkle. Now Queen Anne's Lace my bracelet for the Bead Unique retreat! The third colorway is hematite and fuschia and it's quite beautiful. Originally I had planned some pretty fuschia faceted czech glass beads for the accent bead, but decided that the Swarovski briolet bead in jet hematite 2x would be wonderful......discontinued! Darn it all. What's a girl to do?
Tahoe promises to be quite a bit of fun. First of all crisp mountain air, beads, Sherri Serafini, Beki Haley and me! Lot's of excellent beaders, in a beautiful venue. I'm looking forward to it.
I seem to be having a love affair with hematite and fuschia. First there is abacus in the book, with hematite size 11 charlottes which catch the light and sparkle. Now Queen Anne's Lace my bracelet for the Bead Unique retreat! The third colorway is hematite and fuschia and it's quite beautiful. Originally I had planned some pretty fuschia faceted czech glass beads for the accent bead, but decided that the Swarovski briolet bead in jet hematite 2x would be wonderful......discontinued! Darn it all. What's a girl to do?
Tahoe promises to be quite a bit of fun. First of all crisp mountain air, beads, Sherri Serafini, Beki Haley and me! Lot's of excellent beaders, in a beautiful venue. I'm looking forward to it.
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