So very sad and disappointed!

Right about now I am supposed to be in the middle of a class with Astrid Riedel from South Africa - however I am still in my jammies (I have been in them since Thursday morning and it is now Saturday afternoon)!!!

I was packing for the trip to Edmonton on Thursday morning, and wham!!!! I put my back out - again -  the 2nd time in 3 weeks.  I just don't know what to do about this "on going" problem of my back - 13 years and counting.

I had to let my trip companion know that she was going to travel alone, and let the airlines and the class know that I wouldn't be coming - $800.00 down the tube!  Some say there is a silver lining to every cloud - just can't figure out where it is in this case.  Am I feeling sorry for myself?  You betcha!

Anyway, that is my whine for the weekend - and here is a picture of what I am missing.  The class is being held at Bedrock supplies in Edmonton.  There are more classes all week long with Astrid - those lucky people.

Latest lampwork challenge

The latest challenge put to our lampwork group - the Vancouver Island Fireflies, was to make a set of 16 square beads.  I made 4 sets of 4. Two Guardian sets and two Tree Tops sets.  They are all now listed on my Etsy shop.

Guardians

Guardians

Tree Tops

Tree Tops

Thanks for stopping in!

Metal Allergies and New Beads

I have metal allergies - you know how the button on your jeans bugs your stomach and gives you a rash (well, except for you skinny gals).  I find that metal necklace closures sometimes bug the back of my neck too.  So I have been searching for an alternative, and came up with this idea.  I use either mouse tail or rat tail cord, and twist it just so, and add one of my own glass spacer beads (a large one) for the closure.  I have been wearing one all summer, and it works just great.  I decided to see if anyone else is interested in these, so I have added a few to my Etsy shop at a great price!  Other colours are available, but I just started off with the basics.

Non metal necklace/pendant cords.

The Guardian, pendant.

Raven Feather, pendant.

Tree Tops, pendant.

I hope you are all having a great week!

Lots of new beads!

Now that I am back from the show, I can list some of the pendants in my Etsy shop.  These are already made up into pendants - ready to wear! Here are just a few for you to look at.

Etched Cherry Blossom Bonsai

Etched Cherry Blossom Bonsai

I love this shape!  The Guardian.

Raven Feather

Thanks for looking!
Hope you have a great weekend.

Fall show review

I didn't manage to get many pictures at all this time at the Fall show - Kitty Coleman Woodland Gardens.  It is a beautiful place, even if it is a little out of the way.  However, I had hurt my back (again!) just prior to the show, so getting around was slow and steady.  Thankfully, my booth partner, Judy, was able to set up by herself on the Friday, which gave me an extra day to recover. 

We changed our booth somewhat - took away a few things, and added a few others.  We raised our tables up on bed risers, and took away anything that was too tall on the table.  We had a couple of incidents of theft, so we wanted to make sure we could see all the table all the time.

See our new black shallow risers?  I just love those - we built them ourselves (they fit inside each other for easy packing), painted them black, antiqued them and waxed them - they look so great.  We plan on adding to the set for the Spring show.

I would like to get rid of the white riser on the right, however that is where we
"hide" our cash box, extra bags,  receipt books etc.  Perhaps we could re-cover it with
a black or brown fabric - we'll have to think about that.

The sales were marginally better than in the Spring - just enough to keep me going back - lol!
Starting tomorrow it is back into the studio as I have lots of orders to complete.