Ahhhhhhhhh........

Well the Holiday Bazaar is done. Its such a wonderful feeling to have that release...show is over, the packing, the displaying and the take down is completed. I feel so relaxed after a show. I can't relax too long however. I have a gallery exhibit for the month of December in Honeoye. I'll be posting directions and more info later.

Shows are so hard or impossible to predict. Nothing is in stone and you certainly can't rely on good crowds or good sales. A friend and neighbor at the show....a glassblower named Alex, was down in the dumps about the show....his sales weren't up to par so he said. My sales were down slightly but I definitly can't complain one bit. He actually asked if he could work for me....jokingly of course. Friday night was extremely busy for me but Saturday was rather slow...and Sunday was fairly busy. Its just not like art festivals of the summer months. I had to keep reminding Alex of that before he through himself off the belcony.

One of the most exciting things this weekend was the wonderful response to my new necklace design. I introduced this necklace at Clothesline (they sold out) and made a few more for the Bazaar.....they sold out Friday night...therefore I don't have any images!!!!! Dont' worry, I'm working on more and will show them off on my site soon. I actually had a customer come back on Sunday to tell me how many compliments she has recieved wearing it. She also mentioned she wore it to a knitting group meeting and as she put it, "everyone was examining it to see how it was done" Great. My design will be knocked off before I can get an image up here!!! I hope not. But, some people just don't get it....they don't see how inappropriate it is to copy a design with little to no variation. Happily, I don't focus to much on this little issue. But I did get a laugh when my husband pointed out that this place was advertising a copy right and legal rights course.

Well, I'm heading to the couch to do nothing but watch t.v. I deserve a break....right??? Oh, check in on Friday. I will have a holiday give away....see what I've unearthed in my studio.

A Welcomed Long Weekend

We have a long weekend and boy was I looking forward to it. Yes, relaxing just a bit but what I really wanted was some extended time at the torch. Next weekend is the Holiday Bazaar and I am in desparate need of stuff....all my stuff is either sold or at the Gallery. So, a Busy Bee am I.

Althought I have been working away it just seems like I still have little to show for it all. I seem to always feel like this prior to a show.....I guess I like the stress and worry of it all. How wierd. I do have things and some NEW items too. I just get panicy.

In between beading I had some fun too. Last night Sue and I went to Tasteology, a new resturant that another friends brother-in-law opened recently. I liked what I got...a tempe dish with hot peppers, curry and other stuff. Sue didn't particulary care for her soup however. She didn't get any of the califlower or broccoli that was suppose to be in there. But, she did like her Indian or was it Thai Beer. After dinner we headed over to Barnes and Noble to listen to a lecture by Denis Defibaugh. He's a photography professor at RIT and just released a photo-documentary on Days of the Dead. The images are magnificent. Thanks to Marcia.....she sent me the info on this!

On Thursday night I'm taking a class with Organic Jane on aromatherephy. We will be mixing our own blends that are suppose to help your immune system. My sister is coming with me.....I'm sure we will have a great time. I hope to bring my camera...I've got a new phone that takes pics but I don't know how to send the images to my e-mail address.....

Well, enough blabbing....I have to make beads. :)

Marla's Caught My Eye!

I just came back from the Little Theater.....Sue and I went to see My Kid Can Paint....a documentary on child artist Marla Olmstead. I loved little Marla and her work. I feel very fortunate to work with children and to witness the worderful work they all create. Please visit Marla's website at www.marlaolmstead.com

60 minutes did a documentary on Marla's art work and her family in 2004. It caused quite a controversy on her work & its creation. No matter what you believe, her work is fantastic. To me, there is nothing better than childrens art work. Its free, spontaneous and so imaginative. It makes me wish I was a child again.

I created some fun buttons today. I can't wait to take them out of the kiln in the morning. Tomorrow will be another day of beadmaking. I have to get cracking if I'm going to have enough work for my December gallery show & tne Holiday Bazaar in November! Yikes!!!

Rise & Shine!

Good Morning early risers! I've been up for a few hours now cleaning, treadmilling, knitting and having coffee. I love getting up early....but only after a great night sleep! We have a sleep number bed and its awesome...sleeping on a cloud :)

Last night I placed a large order for glass. I've been pushing myself to use colors that I don't normally gravitate towards...at least in glass. You see some glass colors just don't play well together. I've also been using up glass colors that I've liked but have drifted away from. Sometimes I have maybe 4 rods left of a color & I just let it hang around taking up space. But keeping with my "Over the summer clean out" I have really tried to use up what I have & not order glass until I absolutely need it. That little creative "push" helped me make some wonderful things but the time has come when more glass is needed!

I have a busy month ahead but then again what month isn't busy!? Along with Holiday events, I'm also planning a holiday "girls" party. I use to do this often but I just haven't done so in a number of years. So, I've purchased invitations and I'm writing them up...Linda's Tacky Gift Exchange will happen this year! Its a gift exchange & a cookie exchange....I never make christmas cookies...there isn't anyone to eat all of them...but I do like to have a nice plate of cookies for Christmas eve. Can't wait to get the party planning under way!

This morning I'm meeting my friend Lisa for coffee. Yes, I know, more coffee...but the coffee I made this morning was ruined. Never make Pumpkin Spice coffee and add Blueberry cobbler creamer....Not good. So, I look forward to Starbucks! Lisa and I have done good keeping in touch with each other.

Later today will be filled with bead making. I really haven't done lots as of late. My muse wants to do other things, so I have let her. I know that when I force things I usually feel Oh,hum about what I've produced. So I've been knitting! My cute dog sweater is coming along and I'm finishing a pair of felted clogs. They will be a gift so I need to keep at them to make sure I get them finished!

Let me know what YOUR working on...I love to hear from you :)Linda

Muse At Play

I adore my two dogs....even when they drive me crazy with their naughty shinanigans. I've been knitting China, pictured here, a winter sweater. It's silly, I know. Winston will get a sweater too but I haven't decided on a style for him. Maybe a turtleneck. Believe me, I'm not over the top on dressing up the dogs...my motive for knitting sweaters for them is to build up to the challenge of knitting a sweater for myself or Peter. However, I did get Halloween costumes for the two dogs....Winston is Frankenstein and China is a purple Bat.....I'll be taking a picture of them dresses up in just a few days!

My muse is resting....like every creative spirit, I need down time to re-juice my muse. I like to do "other" creative things such as painting, knitting, playing in the toy section at Archimage or Parkleigh or going to museums. Yoga, working out, cooking...all these activities get my mind "playing" and then my muse is happy....she begins to dream, invent & see things in new ways. Once she is fed a good dose of Play, my muse delights me with a gush of ideas. I've learned to wait. Not to push. I hope you will visit and see how my ideas are perculating! I've got things cooking!

Orthodontic Tune Up

I just returned from the orthodontist where I had my latest "tune up". Nothing to spectacular today just new, heavier wires and a broken bracket replaced.

About a month and a half ago I found what looked like a piece of glass in my mouth....I tried to figure how the heck a piece of glass got in my mouth but didn't have a clue. Two weeks after that one area of my elastic chain that was on my top front braces came loose so I went in for a fix. Before going in I told my husband that my theory about the suspected broken glass in my mouth was that it wasn't glass but part of my bracket....made sense to me. He thought I was nuts and said that I analyze things too much. Well, after that appointment I had to run home and tell Mr. Smartie Pants that I was right! My bracket had broke! Anyways.......I didn't have the bracket fixed at that time since she (my orthodontist) had other hair raising plans for my mouth but TODAY was my lucky day.....she replaced it and getting that bracket off wasn't a picnic. It kind of feels like they are twisting your tooth off. I told her that when all of these braces come off she best book me at the end of the day when the children have gone & I can swear if need be :)

I'm going to make a few beads tonight and then watch Dancing with the Stars. Who do you like? Who do you think might win?

Gallery Pages

I'm working on re-doing my Gallery page on my website. Its not bad now, but I want to have something a little different. I don't know about you, but I sure get tired of seeing "old" things....Okay, I know that I have a hard time keeping up with Updates but the really old stuff I mean. Let me know what you think of this slide show....I'm thinking of something along this idea.

I made some stuff this weekend but I really took advantage of the nice weather & did "other" things. I know, I was going to indulge in some Art Therapy but the sunshine got me!

Sugar skulls, birthdays & guests, Oh My!

Its been another busy week but I think things will be a bit calmer next week. I sure hope so anyways! Today will be my first day back making beads.....I'm looking forward to it.....a little art therapy does me good :)


one of my busy nights was in part taken up with mass sugar skull making. Yes, 125 sugar skulls is a large task for one busy person. The pay-off however was fantastic! The kids adore decorating them & learning how the children in Mexico can actually eat theirs! In the art room we decorate with glue, glitter, sequines...etc.. definitly not good stuff to eat. The art room is sooo quiet when everyone is concentrating on decorating their skulls. Nice.


Then on aonther evening, we took our neice, Shelby, out for her sweet 16th birthday. Not the best picture........this little camera doesn't work well in conditions that need light. She straightened her hair for a NEW look. Anything would look good on her but I like it best when her hair is la naturel....meaning wavy. We took her to Cheesecake Factory....everything was delicious of course.


We went out for dinner again the following night with Peters Mother & step Father. They live in Florida and were up for a visit. My camera card was full so I didn't bring it along that night. This time we ate across the street from Cheesecake Factory at another yummy resturant called Brio.

I won't bore you with the rest of the weeks "to do" activity list but you get the idea. I had every moment packed full of things I had to do at home or at work. So, I am REALLY looking forward to my bead making Saturday!

Adam is my yoga instructor....I will say, he is awesome. Nice, kind, sweet, cute.....and very bendy! He teaches yoga at Retreat House and Massage, www.retreathousemassage.com so if you are looking for a yoga studio and a terrific instructor....you have to see Adam. Hurry, once the words out...it will be difficult getting into one of HIS classes.

I don't have much bead news to report since I have been out galivanting the last few evenings. I should be back at the torch tomorrow evening....Friday night for sure. Check out my Halloween stuff either on my site or at Parkleigh...things are going like hot cakes!

Enjoy your evening. Ta, Ta for now.....XXOO Linda