Stick Lizard Designs

I'm Teaching at Bead Fest Santa Fe!

2012-01-30T09:51:00.000-08:00

I don’t blog much

Oh, I have good intentions, and after I’ve written a post Ithink, “I’m going to do that more often.” But it never happens. I guess Idon’t think I have anything more interesting to say than “Hey! My dog ate a Cheeto!” so I just wait untilsomething awesome happens, and then when something awesome DOES happen, I’m toopreoccupied with the awesome to post about it. That and I don’t want too many people to know that my life really ISjust one big run-on sentence.

However…

An awesome happened and I want to tell about it. I’m teaching Enchanted Evenings Bracelet atBead Fest Santa Fe in March! This is myfirst national show, and I’m a-little-freaking-out about it. I’m kind of afraid that no one is going tosign up for it. So, I hereby begin myCampaign of Obnoxiousness (and this is where you, the reader(s?) can help a LOT). I need to get the word out to as many peoplewho would like to go to Santa Fe (and why wouldn’t you; it’s gorgeous) and takemy class. If anyone can give me ashout-out, I would be forever in your gratitude and would owe you a huge hugand big sloppy kiss. It's under Laura Zeiner. I apologize inadvance to any of you who are friends with me on any of my social media outlets– I’m not above begging on Twitter or crawling on my hands and knees onFacebook (if that’s possible) to get mypoint across. It’s gonna get aggressive.

Also, if any of you have taught there before and have any helpful hints ("Don't get so nervous that you throw up directly ON the students"), that would also be extremely appreciated.

I guess the scared little beader inside of me just reallywants to be taken seriously. Now, thoseof you who know me well are thinking, “Why, she’s not a serious person at all!” You would be right. But my inner scared little beader is a pushylittle princess, and demands respect. So… there you have it.

You certainly don't have to do skulls, but it IS an option.

In other awesome news, I am also teaching two classes eachat Bead Fest Spring and Bead Best Philadelphia (both in Philadelphia). I plan to ratchet up the obnoxiousness forthose two events as the time gets closer.

Also, for those of you who are only into Ginger posts, my dogate an egg this morning and really liked it.

Thank you.

Bead Soup Blog Party - Reveal!

2011-09-17T07:33:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the fourth Bead Soup Blog Party!

I’m embarrassed to admit that this is my first post since the last blog party. Baaaaaaad blogger!!! This came at a really busy time for me, and since my time management skills these days are… nonexistent… let’s just say no more about it.

I was very excited to have, as a partner, another talented lampworker, Susan Kennedy.

She sent me some gorgeous beads, including a wonderful cylinder bead with fun melty spots in greens, purples, and turquoise.

I knew immediately that I wanted to do some bead embroidery around the enameled metal beads (duh!), and I had three turquoise-dyed crazy lace agate cabochons that would looks fantastic with the rest of the beads.

The groovy-cool wavy copper discs and wonderful enholed (unless that’s not a word) copper toggle clasp were just begging for some copper wire links, so that’s how I attached everybody.

I was certainly pried out of my comfort zone by the color. Turquoise is beautiful, but it’s definitely a color used by “other people.” Braver people. People who look orange in the face and say, “I want a piece of THAT!” But not me. Give me an earth-tone palate or some purples and I will be a happy, safe little beader. Seed beading in the neutral.

I have to admit, though, I enjoyed my little experiment with turquoise. Perhaps I will step even further out and buy some turquoise beads.

… and maybe a few orange ones…

Thanks very much, Sue!

Okay, time to go see what everyone else has done. Have fun at the party and save me a margarita!

The Hostess, Lori Anderson and her partner, Manuela Wutschke

1. Aimee Wheaton and Barbara York
2. Alice Craddick and Sandra Richardson
3. Alison Sachs and Amy Severino
4. Allison Scott and Cynthia Abner
5. Amanda Cargill Austin and Charlene Sevier
6. Amanda Davie and Patsy Evins
7. Amber Dawn and Kim Ballor
8. Ambra Gostoli and Christine Hansen
9. Amy Freelandand Christine Altmiller
10. Ana Krepel-Novak and Eleanor Snare

11. Andrea Morici and Hope Smitherman
12. Andrea Trank and Jayne Capps
13. Andrea Turini and Charlene Jacka
14. Angela May and Emanda Johnson
15. Anitra Gordy and Elizabeth Owens Dwy
16. Ann Rishell and Debbie Price
17. Ann Sherwood and Lynne Bowland
18. Anna Lear and Barbe Saint John
19. Anna Sabina and Erin Siegel
19. Nan Emmett and Erin Siegel
20. Astrid Boyce and Birgitta Lejonklou

21. B.R. Kuhlman and Deanna Chase
22. Barbara Bechtel and Bryna Lumb
23. Barbara Blaszczyk and DaviniaDesign
24. Barbara Judy and Holly Westfall
25. Barbara Lewis and Cathie Carroll
26. Barrie Edwards and Lyn Foley
27. Becky Fairclough and Jana Tarhala
28. Bella Borgouise and Gillian Lehman
29. Beth and Evie McCord and Erin Prais-Hintz
30. Beth Bricker and Heather Pyle

31. Beth Emery and Cassie Donlen
32. Bobbie Rafferty and Cindy Cima Edwards
33. Candice McGinnis and Sally Anderson
34. Carol Bradley and Cece Cormier
35. Cathy Khoury and Molly Alexander
36. Carol Tannahill and Hilary Frye
37. Carrie Tahquechi and Cris Peacock
38. Cat Pruitt and Cindy Gimbrone
39. Charlene Gary and Doris Stumpf
40. Charlotte Pevny and Kate Gardenghi

41. Cherrie Fickand Cathie Carroll
41. Claire Maunsell and Cherrie Fick
42. Cheryl Roe and Jenny Vidberg
43. Chris White and Norma Turvey
44. Christa Murphyand Kathy Alderfer
45. Christie Murrow and Dana James
46. Christina Miles and Collette Collins
47. Christine Brandel and Elizabeth Woodford
48. Christine Damm and Cynthia Deis
49. Christine Hendrickson and Debbie Goering
50. Christine Stonefield and Dee Wingrove-Smith

51. Cilla Watkins and Johanna Rhodes
52. Cindy Wimmer and Riki Schumacher
53. CJ Baushka and Cory Celaya
54. Courtney Breul and Joanna Matuszczyk
55. Cristi Clothier and Kathleen Robinson Young
56. Cryss Thain and Serena Trent
57. Cynthia Tucker and Kitty Durmaj
58. Dana Johnson Jones and Eva Sherman
59. Davinia Algeri and Janet McDonald
60. Deci Worland and Lara Lutrick

61. Diana Ptaszynski and Kristy Abner
62. Diane Cook and Kerry Bogert
63. Diane Hawkey and Jen Judd Velasquez
64. Dorcas Midkiff and Jill Harris
65. Doris Radlicki and Heather Goldsmith
66. Dot Lewallen and Gaea Cannaday
67. Elisabeth Auld and Jennifer Justman
68. Erin Fickert-Rowland and Geanina Grigore
69. Erin Grant and Julie Jones
70. Eszter Czibulyas and Helena Fritz

71. Fiona Christie and Michelle Heim
72. Gail Zwang and Genea Crivello-Knable
73. Geneva Collins and Jana Haag
74. Gretchen Nation and Heidi Post
75. Heather DeSimone and Karin Slaton
76. Heather Marley and Terry Carter
77. Ingrid McCue and Jennifer Pride
78. Jackie Ryan and Nicole Keller
79. Janna Harttgen and Joanne Tinley
80. Jean Yates and Lori Anderson

81. Jelveh Jaferian and Jenny Davies-Reazor
82. Jenni Connolly and Jennifer Heynen
83. Jennifer Cameron and Kristi Bowman
84. Jennifer Geldard and Lisa Liddy
85. Jennifer VanBenschoten and Kim Hora
86. Jess Italia Lincoln and Lori Greenberg
87. Jill MacKay and Lori Bergmann
88. JJ Jacobs and Karen Tremblay
89. Joyce Becker and Kathy Welsh
90. Judy Glende and Karen Sinkowski

91. Judy Riley and Kelly Morgan
92. JuLee Wolfe and Julie Bean
93. Julianna Cannon and Julianna Kis
94. Julie Nordine and Lesley Watt
95. K. Hutchinson and Shea Zukowski
96. Karen Firnberg and Karyn Bonfiglio
97. Karen Williams and Kimberly Roberts
98. Karen Zanco and Polly Barker
99. Kari Carrigan and Laura Twiford
100. Karin von Hoeren and Laura Blanck

101. Kate Richbourg and Lorelei Eurto
102. Kathleen Lange Klik and Maria Clark
103. Kathy Engstrom and Keri Lee Sereika
104. Kay Thomerson and Loretta Carstensen
105. Kelley Fogle and Laurel Bielec
106. Kelly Ramstack and Sally Anderson
107. Kim Stevens and Tiffany Long
108. Kristi Harrison and Mandy Williamson
109. Kristi Kyle and Lana Kinney
110. Kristina Johansson and Sue Hodgkinson

111. Kym Hunter and Laura Sanger
112. Laura Zeiner and Susan Kennedy
113. Laurel Stevenand Mary McGraw
114. Laurie Hanna and Lisa Boucher
115. Lesley Weir and Liz DeLuca
116. Linda Djokic and Tracey Weiser
117. Linda Inhelder and Pam Brisse
118. Linda Landig and Lori Dorrington
119. Linda Murphy and Lisa Hamilton
119. Line Labrecque and Marianne Baxter
120. Lisa Lodge and Monica Johnson

121. Lois Moon and Melissa Muir
122. Lola Surwillo and Therese Frank
123. Lori Bowring Michaud and Marci Brooks
124. Lupe Meter and Norma Agron
125. Maggie Towne and Marge Beebe
126. Malin de Koning and Susie Hibdon
127. Mallory Hoffman and Shirley Moore
128. Marcie Abney and Patty Miller
129. Marcy Lamberson and Melissa Clarke
130. Margot Potter and Suzann Sladcik Wilson

131. Maria Grimes and Wendy Blum
132. Maria Horvath and Melinda Orr
133. Maria Rosa Sharrow and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp
134. Marian Hertzog and Melissa Mesara
135. Marianna Boylan and Sandi Lee James
136. Marina Dobrynina and Michaela Pabeschitz
137. Marsha Neal and Miri Agassi
138. Mary Ellen Parker and Melissa Meman
139. Mary Elliott and Tamara Soper
140. Mary Hicks and Laurel Steven

141. Melissa Pynn and Michelle Buettner
142. Michelle Hardy and Niki Meiners
143. Michelle Mach and Moira McEvoy
144. Missy Rappaportand Mags Sarri
145. Molly Alexander and Poranna
146. Mylene Hillam and Nicole Rennell
147. Nadezhda Parfyonova and Stacey Curry
148. Nan Emmett and Nancy Peterson
149. Nancy Boylan and Natalie McKenna
150. Natalie Monkivitch and Niky Sayers

151. Natasha Lutes and Pam Ferrari
152. Noemi Baena and Penny Ilagan
153. Pamela Petry and Rebecca Sirevaag
154. Pat Haightand MaryShannon Hicks
155. Patty Gasparino and Vonna Maslanka
156. Penny Neville and Sandi Volpe
157. Pepita Bos and Wendy Chamberlain
158. Raida Disbrow and Rebecca Watkins
159. Rebecca Anderson and Sabrina Staub
160. Regina Santerre and Rose Binoya

161. Rhea Freitag and Tari Kahrs
162. Rochelle Brisson and Teri Baskett
163. Sally Russick and Tracy Bell
164. Sandra McGriff and Shay Williams
165. Sandra Wolberg and Sara Hardin
166. Sarah Elder and Salla Small
167. Saskia Kaffenberger and Sharon Gardner
168. Sharon Palac and Shannon Chomanczuk
169. Shay Stone and Suzette Bentley
170. Shiraz Biggie and Tammy Powley

171. Staci Smithand Tracy Stillman
172. Stacie Stamper and Tracy Martin
173. Stefanie Teufel and Vicky Taylor
174. Stephanie Dixon and Stephanie LaRosa
175. Stephanie Haussler and Valerie Norton
176. Suzanne Tate and Terri Wlaschin
177. Sweet Freedom Designs and Tammy Jones
178. Tania Spivey and Tari Sasser
179. Tara Plote and Terry Matuszyk
180. Terri Gauthier and Deana Hager
181. Theresa Fosdick and Tracey Nanstad

Bead Soup Blog Party - REVEAL!

2011-02-25T19:12:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the 3rd Bead Soup Blog Party!

What is a Bead Soup Blog Party?

What a COOL clasp!

Each beader was paired up with another jewelry designer and tasked with sending the following:

~ A focal
~ A special clasp (not just a lobster claw)
~ Some coordinating spacers or beads

Using the focal and the clasp was mandatory, but we could use anything from our own stash to round out the rest, and choose to use the coordinating beads or not.

The day we have been awaiting has arrived! It's the big Bead Soup Blog party reveal. For the background on this phenomenon, check this blog post and the nucleus of this event: Lori Anderson's blog, Pretty Things.

I have to admit that I was intimidated once I received my beads. My partner, Marcy Lamberson, is an incredibly talented whimsical lampworker. I looked at pictures of some of the past soup-swaps and tried to gather together a comparable collection of soup. I thought I had done okay until I received Marcy's beads. Woah! That was an impressive stash. I knew immediately that I wanted to bead embroider around them. It was disappointing to have to cover parts of Marcy's wonderful handmade creations, but they really were screaming for some embroidery. And we don't ignore screaming beads.

I knew I was in trouble when I started picking beads with which to work. It was looking awfully pastel-ly, and if you don't know me, pastel is NOT my thing. I'm not really a "girl." I imagine hell is having to live as a poodle in Paris Hilton's purse.

This is a LOT of pastel for me

The funny thing is, I was really enjoying what I was making. I attribute it to the total awesomeness of Marcy's lampwork beads.

I did have to add one actual shell to balance my design. I think it works well in the piece.

I had to use one real-life shell (left) to balance the piece. It blends nicely

I Overall, it was a great experience, and I got to know a fantastic new beader I like a lot (Marcy!).

Who didn't think my dog had to be in at least ONE picture?

Okay, now that I've played show-and-tell, it's time for you to go see all of the other creations. That's where I'm going:

1. Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

2. Kitty Durmaj, Perles and Life

3. Michelle Heim, Life In the Bead Lane

4. Lisa Petrillo, Lucid Moon Studio

5. Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations

6. Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs

7. Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things

8. Cheryl Roe, BeadRoe

9. Heidi Post, Ex Post Facto

10. Cindy Wimmer, Sweet Bead Studio

11. Terri Gauthier, Blooming Ideas

12. Rachel Walsh, Balanced Crafts

13. Marian Hertzog, M's Place

14. Mary McGraw, MK's Musings

15. Sarabeth Burke, Chronicles of Sarita

16. Deci Worland, Gem Trails

17. Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found

18. Laura Zeiner, Stick Lizard Designs (you are here!)

19. Kristin Latimer, MJM Jewelry Designs

20. Cathryn Brooks-Williams, Chile Cats

21. Holly Westfall, Silver Rose Designs

22. Janna Harttgen, Palima-Lim

23. Libby Leuchtman, Libby Leu

24. Rebecca Anderson, Songbeads

25. Deb Hunter, Living On Air

26. Diana Ptaszynski, Suburban Girl Studio

27. Jennifer VanBenschoten, VanBeads

28. Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter

29. Cyndi Lavin, Beading Arts

30. Courtney Breul, Beads by Breul

31. Stefanie Teufel, Stefanie's Sammelsurium

32. Patricia Gasparino, My Life Under the Bus

33. Tari Khars, Pearl and Pebble

34. Kristi Bowman-Gruel, Kristi Bowman Design

35. Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle

36. Becky Fairclough, Chameleons Designs

37. Evie and Beth McCord, EB Bead & Metal Works

38. Lynne Bowland, Islandgirl's Insights

39. Barbara Lewis, Painting With Fire

40. Lorelei Eurto, Inside the Studio

41. Stacy Hartis, Sissy & Jack's

42. Jennifer Cameron, Glass Addictions

43. Marcie Abney, La Bella Joya

44. Johanna Rhodes, Fire Phoenix Creations

45. Nan Emmett, Spirit Rattles

46. Melissa Mera, One Eared Pig

47. Amanda Davie, Articulations

48. Cherin Poovey, Lanyard Lady

49. Virginia Joste, ViviBijoux

50. Andrew Thornton, The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton

51. Lori Dorrington, Lori's Glassworks

52. Melanie Brooks, Earthenwood Studio Chronicles

53. Kate Gardenghi, Tropical Blonde

54. Serena Trent, PinkIce Jewel's Blog

55. Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin de Koning

56. Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings

57. Francy Inman, 8 Second Studio

58. Amy Freeland, Copper Diem

59. Lisa Liddy, Joolz By Li
60. Sandi Lee James, Do Be Do Bead Do

61. Mary Harding, Mary Harding Bead Blog
62. Stacey Curry, Star Hitched Wagon

63. Leslie Gidden, Mad Maggie Designs

64. Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals

65. Niky Sayers, Silver Nik Nats

66. Linda Djokic, Lutka and Co.

67. Tracy Bell, Copper, Glass, and Recycled Trash

68. Laurel Steven, Rue's Daftique

69. Ingrid McCue, Wrapped In Silver

70. Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit

71. Diana Hawkey, Diana Hawkey

72. Norma Turvey, Moonlit Fantaseas

73. Jeanette Ryan, Jeanette Blix

74. Jackie Ryan, Silver Lodge Gems

75. Jean Yates, Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading to Be Done!

76. Debbie Goering, Prairie Emporium

77. Valerie Norton, Hot Art

78. Jana Trupovniece, Stories of the Secret Garden

79. Amy Severino, Amy Beads

80. Emma Thomas, Fred Beans Nook

81. Karen Zanco, Everyday Gypsy

82. Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria

83. Janet McDonald, Singing Woods

84. Dana James, Dana's Jewelry Designs

85. Kristina Johansson, Wild Roses and Blackberries

86. CJ Bauschka, CJ Bauschka

87. Angela Barribea, Re: Angela Rae

88. Marcy Lamberson, Studio Marcy

89. Tanya Floyd, Glass Migrations

90. Lisa Kavanaugh, Beading Bliss

91. Sue Hodgkinson, Hello Gorgeous

92. Jenni Connolly, Jenni's Bead

93. Nally Parfyonova, Nally's Creations

94. Karyn White, Releases By Rufydoof

95. Emanda Johnson, Artemisia Studio

96. Sandy Richardson, Sandy's Colori
97. Cindy Dolezal, Cindy Dolezal Designs

98. Stacie Stamper, Park Avenue

99. Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads

100. Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings

101. Nicole Valentine-Rimmer, N. Valentine Studio

102. Jacinta Meyers, Jamberrysong's Creations

103. Charlene Gary, Gray Girl Studios

104. Rubiee Hayes, Glitter and Keys Galore

105. Marge Beebe, Rock Creek Creations

106. Elizabeth Freeman, Turquoise Sky

107. Shelby Foxwell, Sundown Bead Designs Rhetoric

108. Lynda Moseley, Diva Designs

109. Grace Danel, Grace Beading

110. Lois Moon, Que Onda Quitman

111. Agnes So, Beader Bubbe

112. Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo

113. Judy Glende, Judith B. Designs

114. Mary Ellen Parker, Bee Tree By Me

115. Barbara Bechtel, Second Surf

116. Charlene Sevier, The Bead Dreamer

117. Alice Craddick, Alice's Beads and Baubles

118. Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie

119. Ronda Adams, The Ravished Heart

120. Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe Designs

121. Anna Lear, The Laughing Raven

122. Susie Hibdon, Vintagesusie & Wings

123. Amanda Austin, Sea Shore Glass

124. Jennifer Velasquez, Jen Judd Rocks

125. Hazel Ward, All Those Things

126. Brenda Salzano, Salzanos

127. Dee Gordon, Runako Designs by Dee

128. Anna Denisova, Anita-M

129. Margaret Saari, Mags-Jewelry

130. Genea Crivello-Knable, Genea Beads

131. Penny Neville, Copper Penny

132. Angela Blasingame, Hopemore

133. Helena Fritz, Beadwork by H's Blog

134. Stephanie LaRose, Confessions of a Bead Hoarder

135. Stephanie Haussler, PixyBug Designs

136. Diane Cook, Rosa & Josies

137. Maryse Thillens, Glass Bead Art

138. Jennifer Pride, Jewelry by J.P.

139. Shannon Chomanczuk, For My Sweet Daughter

140. Lisa Godfrey, Bead Happy

141. Heather Pyle, Welcome to My Muse

142. Regina Santerre, Regina's Writings

143. Liz DeLuca, Creative Arty Facts

144. Sig Wynne-Evans, Beaded Bear's Nonsense

145. Loretta Carstensen, Loretta's Boutique

146. Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads

147. Amber Dawn, Inventive Soul

148. Shelly Graves, Stars Dance With Me

149. Jess Italia Lincoln, Vintaj Blog

150. JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions

151. Carrie Tahquechi, Carrie T

152. Staci Smith, Staci Louise Originals

153. Katarzyna Kwiatkowska, Quiet Area

154. Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs

155. Magdalena Sikora, Poranna Gazeta

156. Nicole Keller, Nicki's Reef

157. Ann Rishell, My Critical Eye

158. Noemi Baena, Fire, Metal, and Color

159. Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman

160. Barbara Blaszczyk, Labotorium Flory

161. Collette Collins, Firefly Myst

162. Carola Greiser, Polymer Clay Shed

163. Joanna Kopijczuk, Bizuteria z Filcu

164. LeAnn Weih, Summers Studio

165. Cassandra Watsham, Design by Cassandra

166. Anna Motz, Stunning

167. Shea Zukowski, Gr8findings

168. Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads

169. Lisa Boucher, Lisa's Clay Happenings

170. Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope

171. Alison Crenshaw, Beads by Earth Tones

172. Dorcas Midkiff, Wondrous Strange Designs

173. Melissa Rediger, Sea of Glass

174. Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre

175. Julie Nordine, Julie Nordine Credit River Art Glass

176. Menka Gupta, Menka's Blog

177. Patsy Evins, Patsy Evins Studio

178. Cherrie Fick, En La Lumie're

179. Suzette Bentley, Ellie's Bijoux

180. Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me

181. Lyn Foley, Lyn Foley Wearable Art

182. Tara Plote, The Newbie Beader's Blog

183. Natalie Schuetz, Natalie S Perlen

184. Kim Hutchinson, Running on Ink

185. Haley Frank, Wide Eyed Smilin

186. Grace Caputo, Suddenly Last Summer

187. Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp, Skye Jewels

188. Erin Siegel, Erin Siegel Jewelry

189. Janea McDonald, Organized Chaos

190. Kristi Evenson, Colie Bug & Co.

191. Linda Inhelder, Must Haves Jewelry

192. Hilary Frye, FryeStyle

193. Whitney Lassini, Whitney Lassini

194. Nancy Schindler, The Rabbit Muse

195. Pam Brisse, The Blue Between

196. Beth Bricker, Vintage Sweets

197. Ruthie Stickney, Rose Works Jewelry and Gifts

198. Rose Noble, Lady Noble Designs

199. Karen Williams, Baublicious

200. Claire Maunsell, The Next Bend

201. Christine Damm, Stories They Tell

202. Kerry Bogert, Kab's Creative Concepts

203. Wendy Blum, Sand & Sea Designs

204. Juli Cannon, Julsbeads

205. Jenny Robledo, La Dona Boutique

206. Krista French, French Elegant Jewelry

207. Pam Krinski, Ewa Beads

208. Melissa Meman, Melissa Meman, Art, Life, Love

209. Dana Jones, Dana's Jewelry

210. Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread

The next party's sign ups begin August 1-3, 2011. Don't miss it!

Blog Party Preview

2011-02-22T12:42:00.000-08:00

It's been quite some time (again!) since I did a blog post. I have an exciting thing to talk about, so here we go!

Lori Anderson of Pretty Beads is holding a Bead Soup Blog Party and since I'm fond of bead soup (and soup in general), blogs, and parties, I thought this sounded like a delightful idea. The way this works is you sign up and send your blog info so that Lori can match you up with a partner. Once assigned, the two partners swap a collection of bead soup. Everyone creates a piece with the beads sent and on February 26th, we all blog about what we've created and travel around to all the other blogs to see what everyone has done (hence, the party). I imagine I will have a cocktail in hand; it only seems appropriate.

I was totally thrilled to be paired with Marcy Lamberson, a fantastic whimsical lampworker. We contacted each other, discussed our likes and dislikes (I not-so-subtly made the point that I was NOT a huge fan of pink), and exchanged addresses. I was so pleased to be paired with Marcy, even AFTER I re-read the part in Lori's original mail that she was pairing us as opposites.

I'm whimsical, dammit!

I briefly toyed with the idea of sending her something dark and brooding.

I was on vacation when the assignments were made, so I was down to the wire sending my beads (BIG surprise!), and I sent them without taking pictures of them. Again, SHOCK! So I'm displaying pictures of the beads she sent me.

Wow, right? I mean WOW!

What a cute starfish!

I just want to eat these as a snack!

LOVED these blue rings!

Strands and sticks too (for the record, the sticks did NOT make it into the final piece).

Fun shells

Ginger's favorite turtle toy wanted to be in a picture.

I was totally intimidated, but jumped immediately to the task of ...taking them out every few hours or so, petting them respectfully, and replacing them in their box because I was overwhelmed. It took me a while to really get started.

But now it's done and I'm totally chomping at the bit to post pictures of the finished piece and see what everybody else did.. Please drop by on Saturday to see the end results and party around!

I'm Sure It's Fall - Somewhere

2010-10-12T06:35:00.000-07:00

I've had a The Mamas and the Papas song stuck in my head for three days now, only my version goes something along the lines of:

All the leaves are green,

And the sky is unseasonably clear.

That's right, folks. Autumn in Central Texas. It's like deep summer almost anywhere else.

I think that's why I was so excited about this month's Etsy Beadweavers Challenge, Autumn Falling of Leaves. It looks as though this theme resonated with a lot of other people too, because we had a record number of 59 entries this time, and if this collection does not make you want to want to run out and pick apples and carve pumpkins while wearing the entire L.L. Bean catalog, you're just seasonally dead inside. There is some really STUNNING work here and, if you haven't, I encourage you to hop on over and vote for your favorite.

Just click here: Etsy Beadweaver's Blog

In other news:

If you happen to be in Central Texas this weekend and you'd like to see a.) some wonderful fine art or b.) me, why not come out to the Georgetown Art in the Square show. My booth is 723. I'd love to see you there! Yes, YOU!

In other-other news:

If anyone has not already read my Redman Oklahoma Aquabike race report - and really wants to - here it is. Warning: it's long and wordy.

Have a wonderful Autumn Day! Everybody sing along: All the leaves are green...

Inspired by Project Runway - Week 3

2010-08-18T13:27:00.001-07:00

Darcy Horn of The Jade Dog began a Flicker group called Embellishing the Runway, dedicated to creating accessories to match the winning outfit each week on Project Runway. I decided that I wanted to be a part of this! I found out about the week one challenge kind of late to participate (or at least that's the excuse I'm using), and the second week was CRAZY busy with deadlines and classes and workouts and the dog ate my homework, so I decided that week three would be my week to start.

I knew that the braiding and colors would be my inspiration, but I had several false starts with the braiding before I decided to begin with a diminishing brick stitch base. The actual stringing was a little tedious for me, as I easily grow bored of simply stringing beads, but the braiding and stitching into the other base was challenging and enjoyable.

Here are the other week three submissions:

The Jade Dog

Another Country Beadworks

Sand Fibers

There's a lot of fun work here and I can't wait to see what happens in the coming weeks. Stay tuned. Make it work!

Reflections on a Run

2010-07-22T07:48:00.000-07:00

So, I went for a run with my dog Ginger last night and when I got to a stoplight and pressed the button to cross, a guy in a car pulled up and leered at me. To my great surprise, my first thought was, "I've still got it."

Really?

It was a seriously comical thought because 1.) this was probably the kind of guy who would leer at anything (for all I know, he was actually leering at Ginger, and eeeuuuuwww), and 2.) I haven't felt like I've "still got it" for a loooooong time. I don't know that I ever really had "it." And if I did ever have "it", when did I lose "it"? I just turned forty, and I don't feel old. Not that old. I remember being twelve and thinking forty was OLD! Maybe this milestone birthday is just now catching up to me, but when did my body start to become matronly? When did I start making the shift from Baywatch to Murder She Wrote? Okay, I was never Pamela Anderson by any stretch of the imagination, but I'd like to spend a little more time on that end of the spectrum before I swing over to Golden Girl.

And as I'm pondering these things, I start realizing that the hills on this run are beginning to get to me. And the music I'm listening to has switched from Destiny's Child to Dave Brubeck and then Steely Dan. Oh dear. Can I actually hear my knees over the sound of my iPod? Wait, I didn't realize I had *Glen Campbell on this thing... Can SOMEBODY get me a walker???

I was feeling pretty pathetic at this point. I was hot and tired and feeling old and sorry for myself.

And then Outkast came on and all bets were off.

Even the dog couldn't keep up with me.

Awright awright awright awright awright awright awright awright okay now ladies... And I shook it like a Polaroid picture.

Later in the run we saw some deer. We have some serious neighborhood deer that are up at all hours, which I think is weird. I thought deer had a strict bedtime of dawn or something and they only really played (you know, with the antelope) at dusk and in the evening. Not these deer. They also are not terribly afraid of people (and, unfortunately, cars), so you can pretty much walk right up to them and have a conversation, and they just don't care enough to be bothered to move.

So we pass one of the insomniac deer and instead of running from us or even just standing there, she starts to follow us. Slowly at first, but then she picks up the pace. Soon, she's trotting pretty quickly right behind us. While the small child in me is delighted that we are sharing our run with a deer, the dog-parent in me is starting to become very concerned that a deer is about to attack and I'm going to have to take some kind of evasive action. What is the protocol when one is attacked by a deer? Do you just hunker down and protect your dog with your body? Do you fight back? What will the neighbors say if you're caught punching a deer? That certainly won't improve my status as an animal lover.

About twenty feet later, we passed by a garbage can, behind which were two of the cutest little tiny-baby deer imaginable. Just standing there looking at us. No fear at all. Ginger and I passed them and, whether because she was relieved that we weren't going to harm her babies, or she was just done running with us, the deer stopped and went back to just standing in the lawn. Ginger missed the whole thing. She doesn't usually notice deer. For a smart girl, she's not very observant.

The rest of our run was fairly uneventful. We finished on a downhill. We stretched. We drank a LOT of water. I felt a little better about myself for having run.

I've still got it.

* I do not actually have Glen Campbell on my iPod.

A Couple of Things...

2010-07-11T17:32:00.000-07:00

I've been busy lately working on new classes for the bead store, but a few other things are going on as well.

First, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my puppy, Ginger! She's four years old today and just as puppy as she's always been.

If she ever gets arrested, this will TOTALLY be her mug shot.

Next (and I might be burying the lead here), I have a project published in Bead & Button Magazine! It's my first one and I'm being quite the dork about it. It's the Enchanting Rings project on page 47. My Bodega Bay necklace is also in the Your Work Section on page 17.

I'm trying to be all cool about it, but when I held the magazine in my hand for the first time, I was so excited I could have spit. But I didn't. 'Cause I'm a lady.

Also on the beading front, I am taking part in my first Etsy Beadweavers Challenge. The theme this month was Secret Garden, and I decided to do a nighttime garden because I had these two reallyreally inspiring etched agate beads with a peacock on one side and a dragon on the other. It is Number 4: Midnight Garden. Here it is:

Please go check out all of the lovely creations and vote for your favorite! There are a LOT of beautiful pieces to see.

I'm also getting excited about my next race. I'm doing the Redman Half Iron distance Aquabike in Oklahoma on September 25th. Do you KNOW what that means? No run! Whooptidoo!!! Naturally, of course, running is the only thing I am consistently doing. Getting back on schedule. Promise.

Aaaaaaaand... this is a picture of one of my latest necklaces. I'm in love with all things Steampunk right now, and I'm experimenting. This one sold to a friend of mine and I hope she enjoys it.

New Necklace

2010-06-22T10:52:00.000-07:00

I haven't been posting much lately, but I wanted jump on the Lisa Peters bandwagon by posting a necklace created with one of her BEAUTIFUL cabochons. Want some? Look here.

In other news:

Denise Yezbak Moore is having a FANTASTIC giveaway on her Bling it On blog. Check it out here! Beads!!!

EBW Swap

2010-04-15T06:08:00.000-07:00

Those of you who follow this blog have a lot of time on your hands to do other things. This is because, despite my best intentions, I do not update it NEARLY as much as I promised myself I would. Oh, I do it in my head all the time. If every time I thought, "I have done or seen something interesting or relevant," I posted about it, I would have a fairly accurate account of what I'm doing during this exciting new phase of my life. Perhaps I'm afraid that if I am writing I will miss seeing an interesting or relevant thing. Or... I'm just lazy. This is more likely the case.

I'm writing today about the Etsy Beadweaver Swap which is being revealed today. Everyone involved created a piece of jewelry for another person and sent it and received a piece in exchange. I've just looked at the blog post about it, and all the pieces are STUNNING!!! This one is the one I sent to Charlene Abrams, who sent a lovely note, and if she liked it even half as much as she claimed, then I feel great about it.

I was initially a little bit worried. We were sent little bios about the recipients of our jewelry (sizes and preferences and what-not) and Charlene let on in no uncertain terms that she was NOT a fan of jewelry with faces or animals in them. Of course, those of you who are familiar with my work (especially John, who thinks all my jewelry "looks at " him) know that my first thought was, "Man, did SHE get the wrong swap recipient!" Fortunately, I am in a period of not-having-to-insert-a-face-into-everything-I-make, so I was able to send a necklace that might be appropriate.

I cannot WAIT to see mine in person! I've seen a picture of it on the blog (yes, I peeked!). It was created by Carol Holmes and it is LOVELY!

Thanks ladies, and especially Christine, for doing this. It was great fun!

Feeling Better

2010-03-10T16:41:00.000-08:00

Holy cow, I just belched. It wasn't some subtle and ladylike little *urp*. No, this was a full-on deep chested reverberating he-belch. Man, that felt good. John was not here to experience it. That's actually not a good thing. He would have loved it. We have little competitions sometimes to see who can produce the most loud and offensive belch. I often win. I chose the right man.
The reason I bring up my potentially prize-winning burp is that I was really sick last night and I'm finally starting to feel much better. That is such a wonderful feeling. I'm exhausted and I certainly don't want to hula hoop, but I'm also not lying in a fetal position on the bathroom floor begging the cat to just kill me already, so... great improvement.
I'm a horrible sick person. I totally shut down and moan like a wounded animal and pout and become a very poor communicator. John, while he tried to be helpful, went into full "I DON'T KNOW HOW TO HELP YOU" mode. And that sent me right into "unhelpful one-word answer mode."
John: Let's go back up to bed.
Me: Can't.
Too.
Stuffy.
Gonna.
Throw.
John: What's wrong?
Me: Up.
John: Let's go back to bed.
Me: Wanna.
Die.
My Stomach: *some kind of horrible noise*
John: What's wrong?
Me: Feel.
So.
Bad.
John: Let's go back to bed.
Me: *groan*
John: What's wrong?
My Stomach: *somehow worse noise*
I kept trying to get him to go back to bed because, let's face it, I was no picnic, and he was tired and there was really nothing he could do except ask what was wrong, and that WASN'T HELPING. I finally dragged myself pitifully to the couch and rolled up like a dead pill bug. While fending off "Let's go back to beds", I started to finally drift off into a doze and poor John had to call a cab to take him to the airport in a couple of hours. Now I'm sick and feeling incredibly guilty.
I didn't even get out of bed until noon today. That feels so weird. I'm a bad sick person.
John is back in Dallas and I miss him and his "let's go back to bed" 's and I hate that he missed my cool fraternity belch.
In the plus column, I got some beading done today. Pictures to follow soon.

Still Here!

2010-02-25T06:22:00.000-08:00

Okay, it's been WAY too long. Oops! Trying to do better. Failing miserably.

It just dawned on me that I put up a teaser photo MONTHS ago and never delivered on the full picture. Here is my finished Use the Muse necklace:
I'm in heavy production mode (I'm beading a lot). Very exciting! I need to be working on class instructions. Not as exciting. Harumph.

Oh, and one of my cuff bracelets made it into an Etsy treasury celebrating the "different-ness" (don't know if that is a valid word; pretending it is) of Austin. It was late last night when I took a cursory glance at it and I failed to notice the Taxidermy Ernie and Bert and the Razor Blade Soap. Wow. Viva la different-ness.

Have a great Thursday everyone!

Use the Muse Preview

2009-11-09T16:12:00.000-08:00

Not only did I sign up for a beading challenge, I also DID the challenge, photographed the piece, and submitted it to the website.

Now, you say, "Get OUT!"

And then I say, "I KNOW!!! But I totally did!"

And then you say, "You did NOT!"

And I retort,"For REAL I did!"

(thank you for taking part in this virtual imaginary conversation with me)

The challenge was the Use The Muse beading contest hosted by Scarlett of The Beader's Muse. I'm not thrilled with any of the pictures I took of the piece, but I was having technical difficulties, and I was happy enough with them, so there you are. I am posting a picture of the clasp because the big unveil hasn't happened yet and no one is supposed to know what the "muse" is. I'll write again after the entries have been posted and put up a link so that you can vote for me.

Um, rather, so you can go to the site and, using your own personal and individual choice and judgement, vote (for me).

In other news, I am scrambling to get ready for the Houston Bead and Jewelry Show this weekend. I'm not ready. I'm never ready. This is the oft-repeated story of my life. Gotta go get less not-ready.

TinkerDog!

2009-11-02T08:46:00.000-08:00

I haven't dressed up for Halloween for the past three or four years. I miss it horribly, so my poor puppy, Ginger, suffers for it. This year, she dressed up as Tinkerbelle.

What a pretty puppy!

She was surprisingly okay with the idea as long as we kept telling her how pretty she looked. Even though she is incredibly photogenic, she is NOT a fan of the camera. Whenever we aim it at her, she turns around. There were a lot of deleted butt shots.

As soon as the treats came out, though, she became quite the little performer. I think she was just glad she didn't have to wear anything on her head.

We had seven trick-or-treaters total. Disappointing. But we had a lovely evening carving the pumpkin, watching Ginger entertain the kids, and making a tasty dinner of grilled chicken, balsamic asparagus, and homemade cheddar biscuits.

I hope everyone had a happy Halloween!

A Morning on Etsy

2009-10-29T10:56:00.000-07:00

Why does everything take soooooo looooong?

I'm not in an especially gripey mood today, but fer the love of cryin' Pete, why does it take me such a long time to photograph and post stuff on Etsy? Okay, my photography skills are not great. I know that. I'm working on getting better and faster. That will come. The descriptions take forever because I have this thesaurus in my head, and I'm never happy with the first word I choose. Can't do anything about that. But everything! It just sucks the time out of my life! It's weird. I start doing something at 9:00, and I look up a few minutes later, and it's 11:30. How is that right?

On the plus side, I'm done with that, and now I can go work on my Use the Muse project. I'm getting very excited about it.

Excited dance!!!

By the way, your voices were heard and votes counted, and Ginger is going as Tinkerbell (Tinkerdog?) for Halloween this year. That's LIKE a fairy ballerina, right? Pictures when they happen.

Running Out of Time

2009-10-22T07:41:00.000-07:00

Time is running out for one of the most important decisions of the year: What is my dog going to be for Halloween?

Her first year, she went as a lobster. She was the absolutely cutest lobster-dog in the world. Okay, she wasn't crazy about the costume, but she was very brave about it until we finally took it off of her and she just gave it hell out in the front yard. That lobster costume had it coming as far as she was concerned. (In her defense, it probably didn't help matters that John and I went as giant yellow bananas.)

The next year, she went as a pumpkin. Didn't much care for the hat, but the costume part didn't bother her all that much.

Last year, she was a very fetching witch-dog. I think she'd resigned herself to the fact that once a year, her parents lose their minds and inflict cute on her, so she actually posed and trotted about like she KNEW she looked good.

So... What is my dog gonna be for Halloween this year? I'm looking for suggestions. Some year I ABSOLUTELY intend to dress John up as the Professor, put on pigtails and short shorts and go as Maryanne, and drape lame on Ginger and have her go as ...Ginger. But not this year.

Ideas anyone?

Good Weekend

2009-10-20T14:11:00.001-07:00

Had a great show (couldn't have asked for better weather), sold some nice pieces, and got some commission work. It was nice to have a "win." I've grown tired of getting into wonderful shows, hearing from other vendors about how fabulous the show always is, and then sitting around looking at those vendors and hearing about how "this is the worst year EVER for this show." I was beginning to think, "Is it ME?!!!" Why do I have to be the big show-killer? I admit I got into the art show game at the same time that the recession hit. Oops. My bad. What can you do? Timing.

SO... I know a good show can happen. Now, I've got a lot to think about. I need better booth shots. I know that's hurting me in applications. Problem: I feel like I've got a kinda ghetto-booth. It didn't help that the tablecloths had were wrinkled and the whole booth looked like an unmade bed. Also, I didn't realize until we had finished the entire set-up that I had not pulled one of the tablecloths down quite far enough, so one of the plastic planters we use to raise our tables was showing a little in the bottom when the wind blew and gave that corner a car-on-cinder block aura. So, unmade bed on cinder block. Classy. I'm also bothered by the fact that we're using predominantly black felt displays which are straight out of jewelry display central casting, and if they do not get packed just-so, they get creased and unattractive. Unimaginative and potentially creased display. We have no signage or pictures like the sleek jewelers around us. Sometimes I think I must have a hayseed sticking out from between my teeth. I need to do some research on displays. Seriously.

On the plus side, some of my babies found their forever homes. These are a few. Hope they're loved.

Art in the Square - Georgetown

2009-10-16T07:15:00.000-07:00

If anyone finds themselves near Georgetown, TX this weekend, stop by The Art in the Square show and say "Hi."

A Treasury!

2009-10-15T07:21:00.000-07:00

My (original) Bodega Bay necklace made it into a treasury on Etsy! Very exciting!

Because I don't know how to put the picture here, I'm posting the link to the treasury.

Deep Sigh

2009-10-14T07:17:00.000-07:00

I finished a commissioned piece a few days ago. A woman I met at the Austin Bead Bazaar liked my Bodega Bay necklace, but wanted something a little more subtle. We had talked about a necklace with only one stone, so I was pleasantly surprised when, during our planning session, she expressed an interest in something more elaborate.
This is the original piece. I'm quite pleased with this new one. I hope she is too. The stones are right off the beach in Bodega Bay (in California, where "The Birds" was filmed). Now I really want to go back and get some more. Austin just doesn't seem to have the variety of colors in our local stones. We have a lot of limestone. Meh.

Okay, here 'goes...

2009-10-12T06:19:00.000-07:00

Well, the site is a mess.

The title bar is the wrong size, the colors are not fine-tuned, things are all higgeldy-piggeldy, and I still don't know how to put anything anywhere. And yet, it is a fitting start for me (it looks a lot like my bead room) as I steer blindly through this journey of being self-employed. As with everything else, I'm sure I'll fix it later.

I guess a little about myself might be appropriate. I grew up in Austin, Texas and studied theatre in high school and college. Upon graduation, I moved blindly to New York to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. A series of odd jobs (seriously!) followed: manager of a new-age gift store, several years as a product demonstrator - I played with toys for a living - and costume character at FAO Schwarz (the toy store from Big), and a table-to-table balloon hat creator for Caroline's comedy club. I also did some touring in national children's theatre musicals and full-body puppet shows. I got burned out with the touring and paying rent for an apartment in which I so rarely lived, so when my dad offered to match my best salary in NYC to come back and day trade stocks with him, I jumped at the chance. I finished a tour and came back to Austin. We were happy little traders for a while, making money hand over fist, back in 2000, when you had only to spit in the direction of a stock and it would go up. Then, the tech bubble burst (remember that bubble? What a poorly-made crappy bubble), and my dad and I found ourselves basically doing the same job, and only one of us really needed to be doing it. I had started working part-time for a local bead store, so it just made sense that I start working full-time there.

In NYC, I had discovered beads. I was blowing out the insides of eggs and gluing seed beads onto them in decorative patterns for tree ornaments. That's about as far as I'd taken the idea until I was strolling through an outdoor craft fair in upstate New York, and stumbled across an amulet bag. I was agog. You can do THAT with BEADS? Where had this been all my life? That was my beady "aha!" moment. When I came back to Austin, I found some books and began the journey. More on that later. Probably.

I worked as the buyer for the local store (and two others in the state) for a couple of years, while slowly building a jewelry business. Working full-time, doing art shows on the weekends, teaching, and still trying to create inventory meant that I wasn't doing anything to my standards, so I recently made a decision. With the support of my wonderful husband, John, I am going to try to make a go of becoming a bead artist (still feels weird). I love to create and design with beads! I also teach, which I enjoy very much, save for this nasty fear of speaking in public, which I am still working on. Funny, I had no apprehension about performing in public, but when it's just "me," my stomach rolls right over like a submissive puppy. Frankly, I'm a much better teacher one-on-one.

So, that's where I am now. I've got my Etsy site up and running. I've got some shows coming up. I'm teaching more vigorously. ...and now I have this blog, where I intend to spew all of my thoughts and feelings about the process. Certainly not every thought and feeling, because who wants to hear that? I'll try not to be overly verbose (all evidence, obviously, to the contrary), but sometimes my string-of-consciousness method of communicating takes over, and I ...how shall I put it? ... ramble. My apologies in advance.

Okay, it begins...