Organics in Abundance

I recently purchased a lampwork recipe e-book from Jacqueline Parks aka Gems in Bloom, and have been enjoying making "organics" with her recipes.  It is amazing how the same glass can be used by so many lampworkers, and each one comes up with a different interpretation -  even if you try to make the beads like the samples that she shows, they never turn out the same.

All these beads were made with basically dark ivory, silver foil, and intense black.  Some of them have a base of a slightly different colour, but more or less all the same.

I was at the Downtown Nanaimo Farmers Market today, and it sure was windy.  I was really glad that my tent back was tied to the outside railing, and that I had weights on the ftont.  Now that the children are all back in school, I sure notice that the number of customers has dropped dramatically - however sales were about the same overall.  Tomorrow - another town, another market!

Have a great weekend all!

Market Day

Today was market day and I decided to change the colour of the top drape for my booth.  A lot of people have been complaining that the white is too bright in the sun in the afternoon - now that we finally have sun here in the northwest. I had a lovely white on white brocade top drape, but if it is too bright it will put the customers off.  I really like this plum colour, and I used it for the first time today, and of course someone had to drip grease on it in two places - grrrrrr!!!!  I don't have time to wash it before tomorrows market, but I can turn it around front to back - sure hope the grease comes out.

The other pictures are of the other market stalls before all the customers arrive - and it looks like I caught someone in the process of just setting up.

The flowers are sold by the lady next to me - The Cookie Lady - she makes the most delicious cookies, and is my downfall.  She also brings fresh cut flowers in the summer, and I spied a lovely purple bouquet that would have looked great on my table, but by the time I had my wallet out someone had already bought it - drat!  I'll have to be quicker next week.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Rainbow Dots

I'm just having fun making simple beads these days.  With summer now finally here, I just don't want to be in the studio as much.

My husband and I took off for the day to Saltspring Island, to their Saturday farmer's market.  WOW, what a fantastic market - lots of artisan breads, cookies, pies, cheeses, veggies, etc.  It also has an incredible amount of wonderful hand made items.  I spent LOTS of money!  One of the items I purchased is a really neat purse made from about 5 kinds of upholstery fabric.  This artist even makes her own slides for the strap out of copper, and her own wooden buttons.  My poor old purse is nearly ready for retirement, and I had been meaning to make a new one, but when I saw hers and the reasonable price, I just knew there was no way I was going to make my own!

I had also heard about a great quilting shop, so we walked around the village of Ganges until we found it, and it is indeed great - it's called Stitches.  I purchased some multicoloured yarns that I plan on making into pendant cords for some of my focal beads.  The colours made my mouth water - or no, maybe that was the cheese scone, or the saucer sized cookie, or the pot stickers, or perhaps the quiche or the huge blueberry tart filled with whipped cream.  We both ate non stop!!

Sorry, I don't have any pictures as I didn't want to take my big camera, and my smaller one was not charged up.  I am planning on going again later on in the summer, so I will remember to take the smaller camera then and get some pictures for you.

Friday Market

Well, this last Friday's market was a total disaster.  Hardly any customers, and it poured (I'm talking cats and dogs here folks) three times.  I barely made enough to cover the artisan bread and cookies I purchased.  I keep thinking I should switch to selling baking - yeah right!!!  Next Friday is our July 1st holiday, so I am hoping that sales will be a bit better.

My booth is fairly wind resistant now though - not a stiff wind though, more like breeze resistant.  Although you can't see it from the picture, the T-bars and some of the necklace busts are clamped down with C-clamps to the open backed risers, and the others have weights clipped onto the back of them.  I need to bring something to raise the backs of the black trays up a bit though, so it is easier for shoppers to browse - not that we had many shoppers!  The other thing I am wanting is to purchase a large roll up type sign for the back of the booth.  The little one I have is just too small, and I am always afraid of it getting bent.  A plasticized canvas type one could be rolled up and kept in a bag.

Have a great weekend!

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.