Where have I been?

Where have I been? Turns out that catching up from being sick two weeks is taking a big toll on my schedule. There were plans for all those days that didn't get done and now there are plans for these days which must absorb those days.....but it's working out. On top of that add my desire to put on those sneakers and walk daily, the blog has been ignored.

So what's new? Beading by the Bay is almost sold out, only three slots left, so if you're on the fence about taking time out of your schedule for a fabulous long weekend of beading, now is the time to decide. Susan and I are working on some fabulous prizes, Maggie Jean and I are putting together your kit choices, Ron Rock will be giving the Swarovski trend presentation and we're putting together a wonderful little surprise package for you.

Bead and Button show registration opened yesterday and The Rising Sun was this years popular project posting a sold out sign early.




I'm teaching 6 classes over 7 days, one with the Bad Liz, so I hope I will have a chance to see many of you there, if not in class then wandering the halls, or at our favorite haunt, the Chophouse.

I'm planning a succulent container garden and we went shopping for succulents this past weekend. So far they are on the patio table providing the backdrop for a photoshoot, but we have 3 pretty containers to plant them in.




This rivoli is bezeled with a new technique that I was shown by Jane Tyson in Australia. The bezel was destined for another project but didn't work out so I added it to this for a simple little pendant. The 'real' project is a nights worth from finishing and I hope tonight is the night. I'm in love with it.

I leave you with the beauty of last nights sunset!

A bit of Tucson Beading

Remember yesterday when I said I needed something new to wear to Tucson? Well I got it in my head that sparkly earrings would be good (now you expected the sparkle part didn't you?) and then I got to thinking, when you have short hair, it's important that the back of the earring be pretty too, right?

The color is a bit of a happy accident. I was putting away crystals and poured a few light colorado topaz ab into the pacific opal by accident. During the resulting sorting I was enamored of the combination and put a few aside to play with.

On the front of the earring we have a pretty matte lined gold seed bead, a little bit of bronze (about as expected as sparkle) and the pretty pale aqua pacific opal (I do have a cruise coming up)



And the center of the back is set off by a sweet little (yes that is the unexpected bit, sweet....) crystal ab margarita.



These done I turned my attention to a necklace, also sparkly, also light colorado topaz ab and pacific opal and also reversible. I hope to finish this weekend....we'll see how that goes.

Sherry Serafini rocks

You probably already know that, but this Lark interview introduces Sherry as the Rockstar of beading and it's so true. Her designs come together so beautifully her coloration and design flow appear effortless. Not to say that they are, lots of hours go into creating these beautiful pieces, but the outcome is always so pleasing and soothing to the eye that I think it is just a natural extension of Sherry's artistic sense that creates such incredible beadwork.

I've been incredibly fortunate to have met Sherry, teaching at the same venue in Lake Tahoe and again coming up at the Great Lakes Bead Guild. She is a true treasure to the beadworld and I am pleased to call her my friend.

You will definitely want to add her new book to your 'Sherry Serafini's Sensation Bead Embroidery' to your collection. I've seen it, and it is not to be missed!

Technology

Update: Despite the fact that I shared I used to be the Director of Information Technology in another life time....I neglected to think about using my bluetooth apple wireless keyboard with my iphone 4. Works like a charm, thanks Katie! Now I can make short work of entering the items into the item list, once I alphabetize them that is....word, table, sort....

I like the little bits of technology that make life simpler, or more complex depending on how one looks at things.

Most recently (after visiting Ms Rachel) I determined that a Wacom was in my near future. A professional pen tablet that can be used for drawing, and many other tasks usually done with a mouse. You see, I just might be getting ready to write again and all that thread path will definitely benefit from a pen tablet.

And then next up was a new credit card solution. During my Australia trip I failed to realize that 220 power would not be good for my transformer. But it was time anyway to have a more compact and inexpensive solution. Since my iphone is a constant companion, an iphone card reader seemed to fit the bill. It arrived yesterday and certainly at first glance is going to do the job nicely. I can even enter a list of items I sell, select them, charge them and send an email or text receipt. What I can't do is enter the items on a real keyboard and synch them and I can't alphabetize them which would be handy....but in general I think it's going to be a good solution.

So yes all this technology is a good thing, but occassionally the learning curve gets a tad overwhelming.....between software, hardware, and the overwhelming number of logins and passwords it's a lot to keep up with. Excuse me while I go download my google checkout account for December, how do I do that now?

Lazy Blogging?

Well perhaps, but I had wanted to tell you ab out how excited we are that Beading by the Bay is almost full, and then I read Susan's Blog and well, she said it best, so here you go!

Yep, one more day to be entered into a drawing for all three of your kits free. With a maximum of 48 spaces, that is a one in 48 chance of it being you! Pretty good odds.




And while we're on the topic of Susan's blog, here is where she calls me her bff (Mark actuallly asked what that means, sometimes I wonder.....) and shows off her stunning version of Serena.





Which leads me to 'What the heck wonderful new thing am I going to where in Tucson?' I totally want to make this bracelet now, but really is that practical? I've been sick for two weeks, the kind of sick where very little work got done and now I'm playing catch up for three large engagements in February and March. I'm going to Manhattan for a 3 day vacation and 2 days of travel, and I'm going to Tucson......But really I want a new piece of fabulous beadwork.....hhhmmmm......

Presenting the Aurelia Necklace

I've told the story before about how I was fortunate to meet 'the Bad Liz' who has been keeping me sane at Bead and Button for years, lending her calm proficiency during set up, and her expert bead techniques in the classroom.

One of the things we do, is to have Liz bead each of the new designs for that year, so that she is fully up to speed for assisting in the classroom. Aurelia was first up for this year. Her email subject line said 'I just cant.....' and the body of the email continued 'follow directions', so Liz, it made me laugh.

But I'm so glad she can't. It's really nice to take a design and mix it up. The Aurelia bracelet became the Aurelia necklace.



Stunning don't you think?

And a first this year, we will teach Under the Mast II together! Bead and Button Show, Tuesday June 7th. Registration starts January 13th.




I'm also lucky enough to have her assist me for Under the Mast at the Great Lakes Bead Guild in February ( so sorry that class is already full) and I'll see her yet again on the BeadCruise. This time I get to meet Alan as well!

Bird of Paradise Two

While I was in Australia I came across some brass ball chain. This seemed the perfect combination to use with brass metal beads set off by some matte green and blue zircon.



This is the second bird of paradise color. I'm hoping for some wonderful hot pink dagger bead that I can use for the third colorway. That will be on this years Tucson list.

This charming little pendant is one of the class offerings for this years BeadCruise happening in March.

If I'm really lucky I will find the little fasteners that hold ball chain together.....I know there was a point in time I had them....