Alert: I've made an Etsy Update!

Its been very hot lately and I've had to wait a bit before heading off to the studio to work. This has given me some needed time to actually add items to my Etsy Shop!

I am going to really try and keep to a weekly update in my Etsy Shop and that day will be on Wednesday's.  I'm hopeful that I can keep  to this new plan.

Updates....finally

No, I've not updated everything but I have updated my Class, Whats New and Shows and Events links on my website. There is just never enough time to get everything done! Website updates also take a bit of time.....especially for me since understanding web codes and lingo just isn't my thing. I manage however....slowly.

Not a big post here today. Lots of beads to make since school will be starting and I have Clothesline coming up fast. I have several great neck pieces in process and I can't wait to get them done & photographed.

I'm off to the gym and then back to the torch! Enjoy the day!

Fall is in the air!

The days are getting shorter. The nights cooler. I started to see leaves already beginning their change. Its sad to see one season leave................except winter. Fall however, is a colorful season and one that leads us all into those holidays we so love! I am a bit sad today knowing that summer is planning to leave us but know that fall has its wonderful appeal too.

If you have signed up to recieve my newsletter, you know that I will be doing a fun Felt & Glass Brooch class on Saturday October 2nd! Its fun learning a new trick or two and then making something that has so many possibilities. I sure hope you'll join us for the fun.....Class Time! Learn to Make Bella's Felted Brooch! via @constantcontact

Today I'll be working at the torch preparing once again for an upcoming show.....Clothesline! I love this show. They have a whole new lay out so I'll be posting my new location in days to come. Hope to see you there!

Packing it up for the Show!

I'm rather amazed that I am pretty stress free going into the show this weekend. Typically I'd be buring the midnight oil frantically working to get things ready. But not this time! I created a nice schedule of work to be done weeks ago and simply made what was planned for that day! Bada Bing! Done! Why I never did this before, I don't know but I feel like my procrastinating ways are possibly behind me?!...well, at least in this area. We'll see.

This is my Chaos necklace.........the name is the story of my life. I tend to roller coaster ride from calm to chaos in my creative process. I am who I am......what can I say.

Pendant necklaces.........I love them. These dangle from an nice loooonnnnggg sterling chain. 

Metallic and earthy. Fine silver, reactive glass, turquoise and pearls....finished with a handmade silver toggle. A break from my love of brights. Variety is the spice of life right? I've enjoyed working in "uncomfortable" color palettes........

There is plenty more but you'll just have to see me this weekend if you can :) 

Pendants with Stringer Control

So these are the pendants I made yesterday in attempt to practice my stringer control. I really like how they came out.

Yeap. I made the murrini that you see here.....I love murrini. I have more pendant beads in the kiln now and will be anxious to see how they came out. I feel really good about 2 of them but am unsure about the others. I just really like practicing this new skill and developing a new system of working.

Class with Melanie

What a FaNTasTic class with Melanie! What can I say, I enjoyed every aspect! She shared plenty of information about technique and her beads.......they are to die for. I loved her German accent too.....

I really like watching other bead artists work. Everyone has their own style of working....Melanie holds her mandrel the "European" way.....underhand. Of course she would right? I remember learning from Emilio Santini this variation in grip.....minor detail but interesting.

Another slight difference in her working style is that she chooses to marver her beads with the graphite paddle above the bead rather than below. 

We all made some wicked cool murrini too. Murrini's are not among Melanies favorites but she was kind enough to share her method of making them.....I LoVe the way mine came out!!

How could I not include a picture of her beads!? Just yummy!!

I had to have my picture taken with this wonderful artist. I TOTALLY connected with her.....her style, her approach, her personality......okay, I love her :) It was extremely HOT yesterday and working at the torch for several hours was even hotter. So by the end of the day I was sweatie, stinkie, my hair was completely out of control and my make up had melted off my face.........why Melanie looks good is beyond me.......I assume its because she makes it all seem so effortless.

Staying Cool with some Hot things

Yesterday was too hot for me to do any real work at the torch so instead I made some of my felt & fabric brooches. I have a show coming up and need a few dozen of these.

I constructed this too to keep cool yesterday. My life really does revolve around glass and beads. I should really try and get out more.

Tomorrow I was invited to join my husband and his work buddies on a speed boat tour in Buffalo. I really should go but I'm just a wee bit scared. Its an hour long ride and this boat goes fast and spins on a dime. We'll get totally drenched too. I'll need waterproof mascara if I end up going! 

Hearts

These hearts are done off mandrel and are just a perfect size. Not to big, not to small.......juuusst right! I like them plain and simple. Two different reds are pictured here...

Its rather hard to tell in these pictures but this one is done in light red. There are 3 pictured above.

This is Lipstick Red. I think its perfectly named. 

These are will be in my Etsy Shop later today. You should get one or two for someone you love :)

Gathering Highlights

This is where I spent much of my money.....glass, tools, etc....Not many vendors were at our Gathering but that didn't stop the shopping!

This was our class with Kirsten. A small group of us but that was actually GREAT! We got lots of attention and a wealth of information. I love small classes!

This made me laugh. Kate, who is from Australia, was beading AND texting! Maybe Oprah should start a campaign against this form of distracted engagement!! To funny.

Brad and I stop for a quick picture while shopping. I took his class prior to the Gathering and learned lots. Next week I take a class with Melanie Moertel (may have spelled her last name wrong) and look forward to that too!

Now please go over to my Etsy Shop and shop! I will have a few beads up later today.

New Tool

I purchased this lovely tool at the Vendor Show during the Gathering, its called the Handy Andy. I have been playing around with it today poking holes thru off mandrel hearts to see how it works. Things have gone pretty well but my hearts are fairly simple right now........I'll just have to practice, practice, practice!

I posted a few things in my etsy shop today. These bead caps are one thing and tomorrow I should post more. Trying to be a better Etsy Shop owner :)

By the way, Sue D. is the winner of last months giveaway- my Mandala Pendant!! Yeah, Suzie!!! I'll get that out to you right away!