Thursday, April 29, 2010

And the Winner is...Silver River Jewelry!


Congrats to Silver River Jewelry. This was such a great give away and I will be doing more so stay tuned. I am so pleased at all the new followers and promise to post often with lots of pictures.
I took one of my followers advice and I am adding more to my Etsy shop. I am having such a blast with the bead sets I have added one to my store and plan on adding more when I can get better lighting to take pictures.
Once again thanks for following.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Shameless Follow My Blog Giveaway Part II


Yes it's time once again for the shameless give away. I am trying to get better at promoting myself. Others do it with such ease and I admire them so much. So please sign up to follow my blog, leave a comment, and tell your friends! I will put everybody's name in a hat who have left a comment, and pull a winner Thur. night at around 8pm. CST.
Here is the set of great, colorful and fantastic (see trying the self promotion thing here) beads.
Good Luck.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

And now for something completely different!

















Yep I never make bead sets, well almost never. Usually I make focal beads or beads to complete a necklace, but never
bead sets. I am preparing for the Bead and Button show and decided to make things that are more affordable.
I really had a fun time making them and putting them together. I am not done yet!
So if you are coming to Bead and Button make sure you come and see me. I will be right up in front sharing my booth with Kate Mckinnon.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Breath Deep ummmmm.

There is a cool breeze with with the smell of our french lilac coming though the window.
It's beginning to rain just a bit so the smell of spring rain is mixed in. Can there be anything more delightful. Today I drove with my windows open so I could smell all the flowers in bloom. It was heaven.
You know what else is heaven......Glee. I love that show and last night was a blast. I love the banter between Sue and Mr. Shue. Such a great show. If you are not watching it you should, it rocks.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Great Class!!


Been a long time since I blogged! Dustin's class was a huge success. The class was full and everyone learned so much. Dustin is such a great teacher and knows how and why things happen and can help you correct them. He knows his stuff. Which brings me to my blog subject.

This is mainly for glass bead artist but I believe it relates to any medium. I believe it is important that as a student in class you should be learning techniques that stretch your bead making skills. The teacher should not only know how to make the beads they are teaching, but how and why things happen and how to correct them. Can you take the skill sets you are learning and incorporate them into your work? Does the teacher know a WIDE variety of skill sets or just the ones they use? Are the beads you are learning the same bead just different patterns or shapes but basically the same bead.

As students you should learn TONS of information. You should be challenged, pushed, taught, and come away with new information you didn't know before.

As a teacher you should know the history of beads, both ancient and modern, the techniques that are the foundation of our art form, how and why things happen (like why the bead release is breaking, how to correct off center beads and tricks to correct them, why you would use a brass marver or a graphite marver, why you would use transparent glass vs opaque for a bead...) Teachers should know their stuff. Can you imagine a art history teacher only teaching the Impressionist period?

I expect a lot from the teachers of our art form and as students you should too.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Dustin Tabor Class!!


I am so excited to have Dustin come and teach at my studio this weekend. I had my buddy Kate Fowle scheduled to teach but due to some family issues she had to cancel. I asked Dustin if he could step in, and I was so happy when he said yes. Two students who had signed up for Kate's class decided to stay in the class and the rest of the spots filled up fast. He is bringing his lovely wife Leslie, so it will be so nice to catch up.
I will make sure I take pictures.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

They say it's your Birthday..so Happy Birthday to you.


Yep it's my birthday. So far so good. Just a nice relaxing day with the signs of spring all around. I love spring in St. Louis. The trees are beginning to bud, the grass is starting to grow, lawn mowers are growling in the distance and the smell of fresh mowed grass on the breeze. I like living in a state where their are four seasons, each one unique and beautiful.
We leave the door open to the backyard and the dog and cats wander in and out laying in the sun and then coming in for a brief pet.
Have ton's of work I need to do. Get ready for Bead and Button, make beads to fill up the studio gallery, make more beads for Etsy, and get ready to teach at Blue Moon.
I think king crab legs are in order for my Birthday dinner!
AHHH I am also once again working on a new bead. Do you likey?

Thursday, April 1, 2010

It's Alive!!!!


Yea, Yea I am all better. Dang that was a nasty bug. Luckily I got over it before I was off to Fire on the Mountain, a wonderful event at A Touch of Glass in Asheville NC. We had 30 students and it was a blast! Everybody got to see demo's by Brad Pearson and me and then off to their own torches to try the new skills out.
Lots of talented people, good food, and tons of laughs. Here is a marble that Brad and I made on Sat. night.

My next teaching gig is Blue Moon in Austin TX. There are a few spots open so grab one soon if you want to join us. I promise you will learn tons of new techniques and tons of ideas to add to your own beads.