Blogger not working!!

I am having trouble with my blog - I think the issue is something to do with Google Chrome.  Anyway I can't upload any pictures, and it appears that I am not alone - so until the techies at Blogger get it fixed I am sorry that I can't blog.  Well, I guess I can blog, but I can't upload pictures, and what good is a blog without pictures???

Bye for now.

New Glass and a new Mermaid

I purchased a little bit of new glass the other day at our local glass store "Cheeky Monkey" - don't you just love that name!

Sorry, I can't remember the numbers and I took it out to my studio so it's not here right now.   However here is a picture of the rods and I think I remember the names.

From left to right is button mandrels, Sedona, Dark Pink Alabaster,
Calico, Dark Pink, and Light Pink Alabaster.  

I haven't tried any of these before except for the regular dark pink - I think the others may be shocky and the Sedona may be prone to de-vitrification.  I'll let you know the results when I get around to working with it.
Have any of you worked with any of these - and what were your findings?

I also have a new Mermaid focal bead - she will be in my Etsy shop later today.

Have a great week everyone.

Presents in the mail!

Wow, look what |I got in the mail today.  Lori Anderson from Pretty Things, recently had a give away on her blog, and unbelievably, I won!!

Isn't it wrapped so beautifully?  I actually had to re-wrap it, as I opened it
in the car when I picked up the mail - then realized I wanted to take
a photo of this lovely wrapping.

This is what was inside - beautiful wooden beads and a gorgeous piece of braided leather.

I already have plans for that lovely turquoise braided leather.  I'm not sure just yet what I am going to do with the other beads, but I will think about it for a while.  When the pieces are done, I will post them here.  I probably won't use all the beads, so I will put together a "pay it forward" give away from my blog sometime in the next few weeks.
Thanks Lori!

Mermaid beads

I am having a blast making these mermaid beads - they are listed in my Etsy shop.

"I just love my new blue pearl necklace."

"I love wearing pearls in my hair"

"Those darn electric eels play havoc with my hair, always giving me split ends!"

Hope you are having a great weekend!

Etsy sale!

I am having a small sale in my Etsy shop.  I have put the rondelles on for 25% off. As they were already a great price this is an even better deal - and remember free shipping!

25% off in my Etsy shop

25% off in my Etsy shop

25% off in my Etsy shop

25% off in my Etsy shop

25% off in my Etsy shop.

There are lots of others there too!  Have a great weekend everyone!

New beads on old theme.

Three new focal beads in my Under the Boardwalk series.  Two of them will be going on Etsy shortly.

We had a parade!

Yesterday was the start of "Ladysmith Days".  Ladysmith is a small town just south of Nanaimo where I live, and my friend Judy and I decided to do the street market there which was on in conjunction with the parade and all the hoopla surrounding a small town celebration.
Well, we have discovered something very important this year, and not just at this Ladysmith Days market, we also discovered it at the Duncan Days (another town near where I live), and the local Nanaimo Canada Day celebration - and that is that it is not profitable at all to do a market/fair/show that is put on in conjunction with a "family" event.
We found that at all 3 events we were just another form of entertainment, and no one had any intention of parting with their hard earned money, unless of course you were selling either food or drink.   At all three events it wasn't just us, as I asked around to a variety of vendors, and the response was the same all over.
We made a few sales, but nowhere the amount of sales that we normally make at a market - so, lesson learnt!

Anyway I took a few photos of the parade - remember this is a very small town.
I didn't get photos of all the entries, and I missed the first part of the parade, where all the fire engines etc were coming through with their sirens going, because I had my fingers in my ears it was just soooo loud.

Our booth - we changed things around this time, after Judy had 3 of her
 bracelets stolen at the last market.

The local Legion marching band - yes there were more of them.

A flower shop entry.

Island Farms dairy entry.

The float for Island Farms.

Ladysmith Credit Union entry.

Part of The British Car Club entry

An MG Midget - I always wanted on of these!

The A&W float/truck, and this guy had a fantastic voice - and I think
he was actually doing the singing, not pretending to sing to a recording.

I hope everyone had a great weekend.

New Beads and Market pictures!

 Last Saturday my friend Judy and I attended the Duncan Farmer's Market.  This time we were lucky and were placed in the "square".  The market is set up in a large community square, and then down an adjacent street - there really isn't a bad spot in the whole market, it is just that we were lucky enough to have some shade! With temperatures reaching the 30's it was really nice to have that shade.

Our Booth

Another angle of our booth.

One part of the "Square".

Another part of the "Square".

Beautiful flowers.

Yummy - PEAK'S coffee

Looking down the adjacent street.

I took the photos before the market officially opened, but people were already starting to filter in.

We are going to have to change our booth set up so that we can keep any eye on Judy's vintage cutlery bracelets better, as she "lost" (aka stolen, pilfered, theft, took, etc.) three of the bracelets.  These thieves are really are really slick, as I was sure that at least one of us was watching the table the whole time - and it happened at three different times!!  This is the first time we have had trouble like this, but it sure puts a sour taste in your mouth.  Fortunately, she did very well with them anyway.

I have been making more Little Ladies, and making some a little different.  After my class with Melanie Moertel in 2010, I was sitting in the airport waiting for my plane and doodling - trying to get down all the ideas that were racing through my head.  This is one of the ideas, and the picture that I hastily drew that day, and the beads that I finally got around to making from the drawing over 2 years later!

Working drawing of mermaid.

"I think I left my diving goggles on"!! LOL

back side of above bead

A mermaid for my sister!

back side of above bead

Young Lady 

back side of above bead

Well that is enough from me for now.
Hope you are all having a great week!

Here fishie, fishie!

I had fun making these colourful fishes using a tutorial written by Diane Woodall in Soda Lime Times.  I used the basic concept of the tutorial, but added a few of my own colourful touches.
Unfortunately, the one with the caramel lips and tail has a crack in the tail.  I was a little too enthusiastic with my razor tool and left the glass too thin, so it cracked.  I am sure I will be making lots more of these fun focals.

Colourful fish focals.

This 50 mm fish focal is going in my Etsy shop.

Hope you have a great rest of the week!