BEAD SHOW This Weekend in Pennsylvania

Well usually I blog once a month but it seems as though it has been two months since my last post - I have been busy!

I have been preparing for Berks Bead Bazaar in Pa this weekend as well as creating inventory for my very neglected Etsy shop. (Sorry and Thank You to the wonderful Beader's that have be so patient)  I was trying to figure out what my direction was going to be for 2012, especially for Bead and Button and earlier this month or was it late January (I do not remember) I think I figured it out.  I hope you like the new pieces

Below are a few images of porcelain and stoneware designs that will continue to evolve once I start preparing for B & B.  Raku comes later.  ** I know a few people have emailed me asking where my new Raku was so I would like to take this opportunity to tell you that I only fire a few weeks a year now since the surgery on my cervical spine in 2010.  Lifting the heavy kiln with both arms in between in each firing is no longer an option for me and I require assistance.   Hank has made himself very available to assist me but is not there all the time so until we create a lift of some sort this will be the routine.  We have been renovating here at home and I am sure if we were not doing that he would have created something already..Will keep you posted!

I also have some other news regarding the Bead and Button Show this year but will blog about that when I return from Berks.  

Hope to see you this weekend - Happy Creating, 

Lisa

Good Way to Start off the New Year!

Congratulations Lisa! The email from Allene, from Allene's Beads began, "It was so nice to see your beads in Stringing Magazine" Hmm, that's a pretty curious statement, what does she mean? I am not in Stringing Magazine, Am I? I thought it was a mistake, I know I have some stuff coming up in Feb., but not Dec? So, she checked it out again, "Page 57, The December Issue, a linked piece by Marlene Blessing", she wrote... So I picked up a copy last night & she was right.. I know Marlene did tell me she was working on this, but I must have confused some dates..but I am happy to see it! Thanks Marlene for taking a chance on those freaky little connector stoneware beads!

This morning, again I was very happy to see an email from Mary Lou from Time2Cre8 who apparently is looking for an excuse to buy more beads :) ! She is digging thru her stash and I am super happy to see it I think she did a fabulous job converting a Raku Shank Button into a piece for a very versatile Ndebele Rope Necklace. I think its a gorgeous piece that will be super fabulous for Valentines Day! For more information about this listing check out Mary Lou's Etsy Shop.

So This New Year has started out pretty good so far! On New Years Day, even though we were pretty exhausted, tradition is that we take grandma to AC for a little "light" gambling :) Though we were dragging, we smiled big and made our way around the casino. We lost everything, but just for fun, we took our last $5 and played Sic Bo, a game where any kind of thinking is unecessary. Usually I ask Hank what number he would like me to play, he tells me and then I pick another..but this time I listened. I am happy to say, at 60 to 1 odds, he was right and we left with exactly what we brought with us to gamble. I told him it was all because of his telepathic skill that we won, but secretly I knew it was because Grandma was wearing "The One Armed Bandit" Cuff by Carol Dean Sharpe of SandFibers!

Have a great day everyone!

Just ask me, I am sure I have it!

I have not been blogging as I should because the dreaded "basement project" is happening, in my home - right now! It feels as though I have been working on my basement for 16 yrs, probably, because I have. I won't go into details, I am sure most of you who follow my blog (can I count you on 1 hand or 2, lol!) know about the floods and this and that..well, we have been doing our best to finally get the job done so I NEVER HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT AGAIN! I give myself a few hours every day to list on etsy and the rest of the day is painting, sawing, sanding, and renovating the basement.. so excuse #47 this year for not blogging as I should-has been made. Do I dare make it a New Years Resolution. ( I have learned my lesson..don't even bother)

SO anyway, JUST ASK ME - I AM SURE I HAVE IT!

Did you know I have hundreds of buttons and beads here in my studio in packages? All shapes and sizes (even really, really small ones - can you believe it?) all clays and glazes. Leaf, heart, round, square, doggie bones, lips, eyes, more leaves, -- you get the picture right? I prepared them for B & B in packs so I could hang them from my display units & because I created like a crazy person I could not even fit these all in, so they have been here, waiting for YOU..who is waiting for ME, to photograph them.

So, until that time comes, when they are properly photographed, ASK ME. Ask me for a color a shape or tell me what it is you need to finish and I can see if I have something suitable for your project! This is one of 3 boxes... :)

Day 2 of my First Blog!

Actually I am avoiding the glazing I have sitting in front of me. I unloaded the kiln last night and had an anxiety attack. Instead of working today I did everything I could to get away from the house., (oops I mean studio) So I had my hair cut (2") -- had it dyed so I am a natural blonde again (wink,wink) even had a pedicure -- I did every errand I could so I didn't have to glaze.

I am not going to attack this all at once - just a few pieces at a time and I should be done by 2010. I began taking photo's after I unloaded the first two shelves, I figured I need to show my friends where I am when I don't answer emails for a while.

The sad part., I still have bone dry clay that has to be loaded for a new bisque.

Oh Boy!