Open Houses? 12 Days of BAO Gift Giving? Black Friday? Cyber Monday? Lions & Tigers & Bears, Oh My!

I am super proud to be a member of a team that really has their stuff together! They complete me! (lol!) Well I am sure you didn't hear it here first, but just in case you are the Bead Art Originals Street Team are totally in the spirit of giving! First you have to check out the Twelve Days of Gift Giving on the BAO Blog. Its fun, exciting and you get a chance to win a free gift!

And if that isn't enough to keep you going then starting 12:01am, November 28-31, 2008 we are having an OPEN HOUSE! Yes, an Open House and you don't have to go anywhere in order to start shopping! With the price of gas today how can you go wrong shopping for one of a kind, artisan made gifts from the comfort of your own home!

Some of our members will be offering specials during the Open House, including special pricing and free worldwide shipping. Here's the list of participating members and their special offerings. (If you purchase from one of these shops during the Open House weekend, make sure to include the code BAO OPEN HOUSE in the Notes to Seller when you check out.)

Anna (ARoseByName): free shipping
Heather (Humblebeads): free shipping on all orders and a free gift with purchases of $50 or more Carli (Juiceglass): free shipping
Lisa (LisaPetersArt): free surprise gift (at least $5 value) with any purchase over $30 (note that this special is being offered through the end of the year)
Mak (MAKUstudio): free shipping + 10% off purchases over $50 and 15% off purchases over $100
Dee (Malodora): free shipping
Swanee (MistyRidgeBeads): free shipping
Janice (Naftali): free shipping
Melody (SalamanderHouse): free shipping
Carol Dean (SandFibers): free shipping and a set of Sand Fibers coasters ($12 value) with every order
Smadar (SmadarsTreasure): free shipping + 10% off the second item purchased
Sarah (thebeadedlily): free shipping
Darcy (thejadedog): free shipping
MaryLou (time2cre8): free shipping on entire order with the purchase of anything with the "bao team" tag
Lisa (tqbdesigns): free shipping
Triz (triz): free shipping

Have a Wonderful Weekend and Fantastic Shopping Experience!

Stay Tuned!

Lisa

Back Into The FIRE!

It's been a while since I went "Back into the FIRE". I have been working very dilligently lately getting my Etsy shop to what it should be and I have mentioned here and there on different forums that it has definately paid off. That is one of the reasons I have not fired anything in while. I have created at such a manic pace that I was literally up to my ears in product and no one ever saw what I had made! So, I got out the Trusty Sony (my close up camera) and went to work. A BIG Thank You to my customers and friends who have made recent purchases. I really appreciate it and can't wait to see what you have made! So, Back to "Back into the Fire"

Sunday, my friend Nadine came over to Raku with her fiance' Chip and we all did some glazing and firing together. We also polished off 2 bottles of French wine and other delicious beverages. Nadine had a focus, a Sculpture she had made and many Angels she has created over the last few months, you can check out her Angels at NadineUnsworth.

I however did not have a focus and it was the best feeling. I took out my many tubs of bisque-ware (un-glazed ware) and started to look at the pieces I had been ignoring for some time. "They were too small, they weren't part of a set, they were too hard to glaze", the list goes on and began glazing at a snails pace. I didn't have a show hanging over my head, I wasn't filling an order..I was just glazing, because I felt like it and I really had fun. I used colors I normally would not have and I experimented with funky glaze mixtures as well. I am very pleased with my results AND best of all I made use of some really small pieces (normal for other people, small for me) I have to admit, they are so hard to glaze and really hard to fire. Looking for them afterward in the reduction container is the worst, but I took my time and got through. I have put a good deal of them on etsy the last day or so and alot of them sold allready too! So keep checking back and look what new things I put in my shop every day!

I would also like to ask that everyone say a special prayer for my friend Linda today..an illness has visited a family member and I am praying for their speedy recovery!

Below I have posted some photo's of Nadine from that day & a photo of Nadine's Sculpture.
Have a great day everyone & I am glad I took time to smell the sawdust! Lisa

Artist - Raul Conti of Argentina (and New York)

Every once in a while I will write a short post about artists whose work I admire and Raul Conti is one of them. Raul is a friend, of my friend, Nadine Unsworth. You may have read about her in my previous posts or seen photographs of her and I at different art shows together. Nadine is not only my friend but we also Raku together from time to time (when she is not carving stone or painting in oils) She introduced me to Conti's work a few years ago, I want to say 2002 or 2003 but I am not sure. She owns one of his smaller works, I believe entitled Sweet Melody, which I have admired on many occasions at her home. About 3 years ago we attended Conti's show at the Argentenian Consulate in NYC and I was absolutely blown away. There is nothing that can compare to seeing his work (paintings) in person. I have never seen light painted in the way he does and to look at his paintings you feel totally embraced by this light. Luminous is the only word I can seem to utter. His Esculptures are also beautiful and I remember spending alot of time standing in front of Maternity 2001. (and eating) I have not been lucky enough to see any of his other works..but I do cherish my signed copy of Raul Conti - Sixty Years of Paintings & Sculptures. This is just a short blog to say, check it out: HIS WEBSITE has just been updated and ready for everyone to see! If he ever shows again in your "neck of the woods" please do yourself a favor and go fall in love with his beautiful paintings.