Monday, January 30, 2012

Hey there is another cool class!

 

I am super blessed to have three classes for Bead and Button. My class called Soft Glass Implosions filled the first day of sign ups. The Bead and Button staff have asked if I can add 3 more spots, so that will be happening soon.

But for those of you that might not get in there are two other classes. The Window Pendant is a great class and has openings. In this class you will not only learn the off mandrel pendants but also how to make murinnis and apply them in a unique and different way. So if you can't get into Soft Glass Implosions please try out this one!

Saturday, January 28, 2012

What you don't know.


Yesterday I posted a picture of my lovely daughter. Of course being her mother I think she is stunning beautiful, but what you don't know is her struggle.

When she was just 10 years old we lost my mom, her grandmother. She was very close to her and it was a real blow. This caused depression and anxiety which prompted an OCD called Trichotillomania. This is a type of OCD that causes the person to pull out their hair. It can be eyelashes, eyebrows, body hair and hair.

In addition she had ADD. I am not one to relay on this label so I made sure that the diagnosis of ADD was real and not just a fall back excuse for bad grades. The treatment for ADD prompted her to pull even more and by the end of 5th grade she was bald accept for a small patch on the back of her head and no eyelashes. My sweet little girl was suffering. 


She didn't let it get her down and still made a few friends, but many pulled away from her. She was left out many times by the kids at school. We wrapped her with love at home, and made it safe for her.


What made it worse was she had to enter into Jr High School wearing a scarf every day. You all know how hard girls are in Jr. High. They are looking for someone to pick on. I told her to stand tall and be strong and she did.


Soon they made a non-stimulant pill for ADD and her hair pulling started to ease. Soon little sprouts of hair started to grow and her eyelashes came back long and lush. Her hair was soon long and she had survived Jr High. 


By the end of Jr. High she was like any other normal girl. She had tons of friends and a smart wit. She blossomed into the beautiful girl she is. 


But one thing was different. She had a strength and understanding of others. She could see someones pain and was compassionate. She still struggles with this when she is under pressure, but she is controlling it. 

I think so many times we see people and think we know their story. Not so. Many others have stories similar to my daughters. But those stories are what makes us who we are. They shape how we view ourselves and others. It forms who we are and how we treat others.
We all should treat others with care, and compassion, because really, you don't know what their story might be.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Happy 21st to my Lovely Daughter




Can it really be 21 years. Time flies by so fast. It seems it was just a moment ago that she was running around the house and playing on her favorite swing in the back yard. 
She was a blessing and I almost lost my life in giving birth to her, but thank goodness we both made it. 
Happy Birthday Allie! Oh and behave tonight.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

How to find inspiration.


With the Bead Soup Blog hop coming up I thought it might be a good to discuss how do you find or kick your creativity in gear.
I always want to put my best foot forward when creating for the Blog Hop. I want to make sure that my partner is happy with the effort I put forth and I want to be proud of my work.

With that being said sometimes I get stuck. Nothing comes to mind and I just sit looking at my pile of beads and wonder what to do. When I first started making beads I got a blank inspiration book. When I would see something in a magazine I would cut it our and glue it in my book. When I saw something that gave me an idea I would sketch it out. I don't know how many times I have had an idea and forgot to put it in my book and it just slipped out of my head. ARggg.


Another thing I do is to Google like crazy. Things like Jewelry of the 1920's, or Jewelry of the 17th century. Try it. Think of other searches you can do.

I also look though catalogs like the Sundance Catalog. It can inspire you and also let you see what the current trends might be. J Jill is another good catalog to browse. 

 Can't wait to see what beautiful beads I get from my partner and hopefully find some great inspiration.
 

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Score!

Ha. I totally scored on my partner for the Bead Soup Blog Hop.
I knew about Melanie and Earthenwood Studio and always loved her work. I mean look at this!
I love this owl and the shape is spot on. Make sure you stop by her shop and take a look around. She has beautiful things. 
Now I just need to make some things for her. I think it's a day at the torch for me tomorrow. Hummm what to make?

Friday, January 13, 2012

Lots of new Beads!


For a long time now I have been lusting over the glass heart pendants made by the boro workers and from a guy named Brent . They always are so beautiful, but I will not start to learn another glass, AGAIN. I already have too much glass. So I played around and came up with these lovely glass pendants. They are super fun to make and of course I am obsessed. Go figure.


I made some with a glass called Luna and then my favorite silver glass called Clio. I am super psyched they turned out so cool. My mind is going crazy thinking of all the ways to change them up. 



Off course last but not least a new take on the beloved Pod. I use the same technique I used for the hearts and incorporated it into a Pod. It turned out sick (means good according to my hip daughter).
These are all on my Etsy site!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Bead and Button 2012 Class Registration Open!




Yipeeee  Bead & Button class registration is now open . It really has the best Bead Design, PMC, Metal, Mixed Media, Glass Beadmaking, Seed Bead classes ever. You just can't beat it. The teachers are top notch and I wish I had time to take some classes myself. If you are considering going or taking classes, just go ahead and do it. You won't be sorry.

One of my classes is already sold out and the other two already have sign ups and this is the first day! If you have wanted to take a class with me sign up soon. 


Last year I got to meet a couple of my Blogger friends and this year I hope to meet up with some more. It's great to have an online relationship and then get to meet the people in person.


Let me know if you are going to attend so you can stop by and see me!
 

Thursday, January 5, 2012

A Day in the Glass Studio

I thought you guys might like to see some pictures of our cold shop at the studio I work at. Cold working is pretty important to glass workers. We can grind, cut and polish to do a variety of things.


These pieces were made by my boss in the hotshop. After I cut, grind and polish them they will be for a local University and used as awards. You can see the tops are all broken and I need to cut them to an angle.
 Next I have to cut of the tops with a wet saw. Super important to wear safety glasses! I had to wear a big rubber smock. I swear I looked like Dexter. 
 On to the lap wheel where I have to grind the tops of the vases to an angle and smooth out the coarse cut.
You have to hang on tight when using the wheel. The first time I used the grinding wheel the glass slipped out of my hands and smashed on the wall. Luckily I was the only one in the shop at the time. Scary!
Finally I have to grind the bottoms flat so they stand up nice and straight and not lean forward or backward.

Tomorrow I have to use a finer grit on the wheel then on the the belt sander then a final polish. 
So that was my day! Hope yours was good.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Damn you Nook and Robert Dancik

I got a Nook for Christmas. I wrestled back and forth on getting one. I am an old fashion kind of gal. I was making a stand. I loved the feel of a book, loved to turn the pages and the smell. Yes new books smell. 

I was worried that the book would go by the wayside and become a thing of the past. I kept seeing some futuristic short stories by Ray Bradbury were there were no books left in the world.

Ok I broke. I am doing the walk of shame. I haven't had my nose out of it since I got it. Of course it might have something to do with what I am reading. I finished The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, and my first purchase was the next in the series The Girl Who Played With Fire. I finished it in no time flat, and onto the next one.

Then another favorite present was Robert Dancik's book Amulets and Talismans. Can you say yummy. Robert spoke at the Gathering convention this summer for the ISGB. He was so informative and such a great speaker that I couldn't wait to get his book. I am still going over every inch and hoping to somehow translate it into my beads. We will see. 
Off to read some more....fricken nook.