Just a quick rant!

I am having a lot of trouble posting comments on some blogs lately.  I get caught in a loop.  I write a comment, click on post it, get sent to my sign in, then back to the comments saying I am anonymous (no I'm not!), click on post comment, get sent back to sign in, and so on, and so on, etc.  It is very frustrating to say the least.  I see from comments on other blogs that I am not the only one.

Just so you don't think this post is a complete waste - here is a picture of some custom ordered beads.

Shoreline in teal tones.

Have a great day!

New Beads

The first two sets are made with a lovely odd lot aqua colour glass by CIM (Creation is Messy).  I love how it has paired so well with the pink roses and white dots. 
The third set is one of my French Tablecloth series.  So named because of all the blue and yellow tablecloths I saw when I was in the south of France several years ago visiting a friend who lives there 10 months of the year.
These three sets can be found in my Etsy shop.
Thanks for looking!

After the Show

This last weekend a friend and I did the Woodland Gardens "Art and Bloom" festival in Courtenay, B.C.  When we do shows together we call ourselves "Playing With Fire".  We had a great show, despite the inclement weather, and my booth partner actually had her best show ever!
The weather was quite miserable on Saturday and Sunday, and then on Monday (our May Day long weekend), the clouds finally broke and we had a bit of sun come through - so I quickly shot this photo of our booth. 
I find it very difficult to organize a booth for the outdoor shows that is going to be fairly wind proof, and also to give the two of us room at the back, and the customers room to get out of the rain if needed.
My friend hates to have her photo taken, so you can just make her out "hiding" behind the metal shelving - lol!

I wasn't able to get around too much (because my back is still quite bad) to take pictures of the gardens, so I am including pictures I took two years ago.  Things haven't changed too much, and this year everything is late coming out  because of all the cold weather we have had so there wasn't much in the way of flowers to photograph anyway.

Tomorrow I plan on getting out into my studio to get on with stocking my Etsy shop, and finishing up on some orders I have put off until after the show.

Have a great week everyone.

Sea Orbs

I tried yesterday to upload these photos, but Blogger was down for some "maintenance",  so I was not able to complete the post.  Of course, now I have forgotten what I was going to say - oh well.

I hope you enjoy my new "Sea Orbs".  The first two pictures are different views of the same bead, and the last photo is a group shot of a days torching.  These are so much fun to make, but each one takes quite a bit of time, expecially when you consider all the bits and pieces that go into the bead, and have to be made first before I can even start on the bead itself.

I had my first market day of the season today, and it was good to see old friends again.  Unfortunately, this year I am right beside the "Cookie Lady" who sells all kinds of yummy cookies - I am doomed!!

Have a great weekend everyone.

Another giveaway at "One of a Kind Jewelry"

Staci Louise is also having a giveaway - all these very generous people - it warms my heart and soul!  Staci Louise has a lovely patinaed butterfly she is giving away - the colour is so beautiful!
Here is a link to her blog, and a photo of the piece.    http://stacilouise.blogspot.com/

Isn't it beautiful?

New Give-away at Pretty Things

Lori Anderson of "Pretty Things" is having another giveaway - she is such a generous person!  Here is the link to her blog, and a photo of the giveaway - go check it out!  http://lorianderson.blogspot.com/

Have a great day!

Definately Obsessed!

Yes, I would definately say I am obsessed with making these floral rounds.  Since our glass group challenge, it seems like I have done nothing but florals - and can't seem to stop.
I think my favourite so far is the front one in the middle picture.  It's very pastel with pale pink flowers and pale blue accent florals - I may have to keep it for myself.
Some of these will be cored, and others with smaller holes will be wire wrapped.  I am trying to get stock together for the upcoming Kitty Coleman Woodland Gardens Art and Bloom Festival, http://woodlandgardens.ca/index.html  held two weeks from now in Courtenay, B.C.  It is an outdoor show, so I hope the weather gets a little warmer, or we will all be wearing our winter woolies.  It usually coincides with the blooming of the rhododendrons, but this year it has been so cold that everything is late - so I don't know if we will be seeing many blooms.  If you happen to be in the area, drop in - it is a fantastic show (if the weather cooperates).

Giveaway over at Pretty Things - and a new bead

Lori Anderson of Pretty Things http://lorianderson.blogspot.com/ is giving away the above book (she is so very generous!).  You must leave a comment on her blog and a way for her to get in touch with you to enter  the give away.   If you blog about it on your blog, then you get another chance - sounds good to me!
The winner will be drawn on Tuesday May 10, so get on over there.

I just can't seem to stop making these new florals (new to me anyway).  I love the soft spring like colours that I am doing them in.  After making so many bright and vibrantly coloured beads over the winter, I am enjoying working in a softer pallet for a while.  I am sure I will change back in a few weeks - I'm so fickle!

PS - this bead is sold.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Challenge - Encased Florals

Our glass group here on Vancouver Island is called Island Fireflies.  At the last meeting, (which unfortunately I was unable to attend), the hostess gave us our monthly challenge, which was encased florals.  I have not done these for a few years now, and never was able to do them very well at all.  So I got out my class notes and class beads from a class I took wth Alexx Cheng, just after I started beadmaking.

All the beads start with a layer of filigrana (just like Alexx showed us).  The first bead at the top is one of the first I made this last week, and is made with just a single layer of 4 petals.  I got bolder (2nd picture) and then made the flowers with two layers of 4 petals each.  Then (3rd picture) I threw all caution to the wind and made the flowers with 5 petals on the first layer, and 3 on the 2nd layer - and just for good measure I added small plunged accent flowers - whew!!  This last bead I made on a large mandrel and have put bead caps on and cored it, so it just slips onto a chain.  I am really pleased with my progress with these encased florals, and am definately going to be making more.  These will not be for sale in my Etsy shop as the shipping will be more than I allow for in Etsy.  They are quite big beads - focal size - and will not fit through the 2 cm slot allowed by Canada Post for the inexpensive Light Packet shipping.  However if anyone is interested in purchasing one, please email me and I will give you the particulars. (jperala@shaw.ca)

Well, I am off to the studio - have a great day everyone!