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.

End of Summer Sale!

I have discounted all my "summer" beads in my Etsy shop by 30% - you don't have to remember to input a code or anything like that.  Now would be a good time to stock up for next spring.

The above pics are some of the beads that have been discounted by 30% - Happy Shopping!

New Beads - feathers!

Have you ever noticed how sometimes there seems to be a "theme" running through an artist community?  Lately I have seen all kinds of glass feathers made by various bead makers.  I don't think it is a question of anyone copying anyone else, but is just that we are all open to various influences, and perhaps have been influenced by the same things.

Anyway, here are my feathers.  I got a little carried away with them, and they are really long - perhaps the next ones will be a little shorter.

These feathers are ready to have the bails attached and a satin cord added.
Their lengths are from left to right  3 1/4"; 3 1/2"; 2 1/2" (not including the
bead and hoop).

These ones measure from left to right 2 3/4"; 3"; 3".

Hope you are having a great weekend.

LOTS of New Beads!

However they are not for my shop - sorry.  They are for the upcoming show on the Labour Day weekend at Kitty Coleman Gardens in Comox.

I just love the look of the big holed beads/hoops.  The mandrels for
these guys are really heavy and my arms were aching after making them.
I also made the cord to hang them from, so there is no metal at all in
this design - perfect for those people who have metal allergies.

As I said in a previous post, I have been working on a new way to make
my tree beads - and I am REALLY pleased with this lot.  I have decided
to keep the top left hand side one for myself (black and ivory) - I think it has a very
oriental look about it.  I very rarely keep any of my own work; I'm not sure why.

This lot of beads turned out better than I hoped.  They were an
experiment.  The one on the left I made with light ivory and Double
Helix murrine,  the middle bead I used hair fine stringer and dots with Double
Helix Terra for the colour.  The bead on the right is similar to the
left one, but has been pressed flat and I have added some gold leaf.
I am calling this general style of beads "Orient Express".

I have been trying to figure out a way to display my pendants that I put on
my hand made cords.  I didn't want to just hang them, and putting them in a
box just looked messy.  So, thanks to Pinterest (got to love that place)
I have come up with a way to package them.  I write the length of the cord
on the price tag, so people will know how long the necklace is.  My only concern
is that some customers are going to want to try them on.  However the pendants
 are "sewn" onto the cardboard backing, and I do not want to have to undo the tape,
pull them out of the cello package, cut the thread, etc.
 I will have to see how it goes at the show, and see if it is a viable way to display them.

Well, I hope you enjoyed your little tour around my new show beads.  My booth partner and I have made some changes to our display - I will try to remember to take photos at the show.
Have a good week!

Working on a new design for an old theme.

I have always loved making tree beads, but find the ones I make are very time consuming.  With my right thumb having issues (doctor says the x-ray shows considerable wear and tear) I have needed to find a way to make tree beads that are easier on my hands.  While these are still a work in progress, I am pleased with the results so far.  What do you think?

Tree beads - new design, old theme.

These will go into my stock for an upcoming show on the labour day long weekend.  Unless of course someone just has to have one now - lol!

Dandelion Wine - new beads on Etsy!

I love how these turned out!  So soft and pretty - especially considering that the colour inspiration was the only thing still green on my poor parched lawn - dandelions!

Dandelion Wine - can be found in my Etsy shop.

I hope you all have a great weekend - it is a long weekend here in BC - "BC Day".

Mediterranean Splash - new beads.

I have some new beads in my Etsy shop.  I really like this new abstract floral that I have been making lately - perhaps I should make a few focal beads to match?

Mediterranean Splash

Ladybug Garden

I hope the week is going well for you.  I am off to get my toenails done today - my bad back no longer allows me to stay bent over long enough to deal with cutting and painting my toenails.  I tell you, getting old is not for the faint of heart!!

Ladybug, ladybug . . . . .

How does that old childhood rhyme go?  Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home, your house is on fire, and your children are alone.  Kind of gruesome don't you think?
Anyway, I like ladybugs and so have made some more - this set can be found in my Etsy shop.

Ladybug Garden.

I hope you all have some great plans for the weekend.  My sister and I are going to Saltspring Island Market - it is one of the best!!

Little Miss beads

I have some more Little Miss beads in my Etsy shop.  Lots of other new beads too!

Little Miss Emily

reverse side

Little Miss

reverse side

 I hope you are having a good week.  The weather here is great, 24 or 25 Celsius most days.

My Sister Wants to Know . . . . . .

I got a call from my sister a few minutes ago, and she wants to know  "Were you really thinking about Julie Andrew's dancing around a mountain meadow?" (In reference to a recent set of beads posted here)

She wonders if the stories I sometimes tell about my beads are real or if I just make this "s##t" up? LOL

So for all of you wondering where it comes from, here is the scoop.  While I am making my beads I let my brain just free associate (I think that is the correct term).  I don't have on any music or other distractions, so I try to come up with a name for the beads, by just letting my mind wander where it will.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

In the case of the Alpine Meadow beads, I thought that the flowers looked a little like Edelweiss flowers, which led me to mountain tops, which led me to mountain meadows, and the scene from Sound of Music and on to Julie Andrew's.  The blue colour helped a little as well, because I thought about the sky in the background, and if I remember correctly, she may have been wearing  blue dress?  Maybe I should cease and desist with the stories - I think they may make me sound like a bit of a sap sometimes! lol

But on to the question as to whether I make some of it up . . . . . .  possibly, when I am stuck for a name, shhhh.

Sorry, no bead pics today - this is one of the Spring flowers in our garden.
I think I showed it earlier in the year - but it is pretty.

Do you remember "The Sound of Music"?

As I was making this set I kept thinking about Julie Andrews dancing around that high mountain meadow in The Sound of Music - so the name Alpine Meadow seemed appropriate somehow.

Alpine Meadow

Alpine Meadow - reverse side

This set can be found in my Etsy shop.

Have you got some fun plans for the weekend?  Tomorrow I get together with my Vancouver Island Fireflies buddies to talk glass and eat lots of good eats.   I'm not sure what Sunday has in store yet - maybe some more torching.

It's Strawberry Season!

To me, strawberries are the quintessential symbol of summer.  I have made a couple of cute little sets with strawberries, ladybugs and flowers.

My Strawberry Garden.  Two ladybug beads, one strawberry bead,
and assorted supporting cast.

This set has one ladybug bead, one strawberry bead, one strawberry
flower bead, and assorted other beads.

Get your little dose of summer in my Etsy shop.

Once Upon a Lime

I love these fresh colours - lime, aqua and white - very summery.

This set can be found in my Etsy shop.