Sunrise for my sister

Well over a year ago, I told my sister I would make her a sunrise bead with a black cactus on it.  I had seen someone wearing one and really liked it, but didn't want to copy.  However I figured it was OK if I was going to give it to my sister.  Well, I finally got around to making it, only instead of a cactus I put a black tree on it.

I'm going to see if she sees the blog post here before I give it to her - how long should I wait?

TRIO OF TREES Tutorial

My new tutorial is now ready for purchase.  It is available in my Etsy shop for $22.00.
This is the Etsy listing:

"This is a step by step EBook tutorial, giving instructions on how to make a glass/lampwork tree bead. The tutorial gives instructions, recipes and lots of photographs for the construction of the three tree beads shown.

There is also a small gallery with other tree beads for your inspiration.

The glass used is all COE 104, and is easy to obtain. The tools needed are all basic lampwork tools along with a press of some kind to give you a fairly flat surface to create the tree on.

The tutorial has 41 pages and 68 photographs, plus the gallery photographs. It is approx. 1.24 MB in size, and will require an Adobe Acrobat Reader to open.

This tutorial is intended for intermediate to advanced lampworker skills, however a beginner with a bit of experience should find the information useful."

Thanks for looking!

Arbutus Beach tree beads

Here are two more of my Arbutus Beach tree beads.  As I have mentioned before, the Arbutus (called Madrona in the US) grows along the coast here in British Columbia.  It is always shedding something - leaves, bark, flowers and berries, depending on the season.  I have a definate love/hate relationship with this tree.  I love to see it in the wild, but don't let it anywhere near my property!!

I hope you are all having a good start to the week.  I have to go to the dentist tomorrow - oh no!

So Sorry!

I'm sorry that I haven't blogged for ages.  I have been flat on my back in bed for over a week, and only just managed to get out of bed yesterday.  Why?? you ask .  I was sitting in my chair on Aug 16 and stretched and felt a painful tug in my lower back.  Hmmmmmmmmmm - better be careful I said to myself.  So I walked around for about half an hour, then sat down at my computer and leaned forward - BAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  My back was hit with so much pain I could hardly breathe.  So I have either torn something or a disc has ruptured.  Unfortunately, I can't get in to the doctor until I can get rid of the pain - hopefully in the next few days.  However, then it will be all over and he will look at me like I am crazy for going to him when I don't hurt anymore.  This is the 4th time since April, but this is the worst it has ever been.  I won't even get into telling you about the awful withdrawal I had from the pain meds - OK, I guess I just did - lol.  One mustn't loose ones sense of humor!

Obviously there are no new beads to show you, but I'll go through my archives and see if there is something in there to show.  Back in a few minutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

OK - here are a couple of my Arbutus Tree focals, and a Beach Wedding set of beads. (I think the Arbutus tree is called the Madrona tree in the US - it grows near the ocean.)  I hope I haven't shown you these before.

If I ever get back out to my studio I must make some more of the trees, and I love the Beach Wedding beads, so I will make more of those too.

Have a great rest of the week everyone!