6 more days!

It will be 6  days until I leave for Bead and Button. I am trying desperately to tie up all the loose ends at home and get all my beads finished.   I am also trying to stay calm but things are slightly more desperate then usual. On April Fools day,  I broke my ring finger on my left hand, and did soft tissue damage to two other fingers. The healing process has been slow and painful and I have not been very speedy in my production work as I struggle with  a wonky grip.

In addition to my beads,  I am making some finished pieces of jewelry to show case them.
I have been playing with the  Now Thats A Jig™. The last bead shows,  I have been  next to Brenda Schweder and her helper Tracy Bell, watching them show people how to use the jig.  I decided I needed one after  watching and listening for hours.

I am exploring all sorts of possibilities with the jig. New things emerging make really excited and I forget that the clock is ticking down to the show. 

I hope I'll have a new body of finished work to show by the time the show rolls around.

experiment #1

Rainy Days and Mondays

This is how my week started, a clusterfuck.

Monday morning I lifted the kiln lid only to find one of the support posts toppled during the firing and all my lovely little rows of beads collapsed onto each other and fused into a useless wreckage. Oh happy day.

I remind myself it could be worse. No one died and it's only clay. I only lost 1/3 of the kiln load. It could be worse. I remind myself that if this is the worst thing that happens to me today I will consider myself lucky.

It's really not that big of deal, but it does create a domino effect. These beads were for an order that was to be shipped Monday afternoon. They had to be redone, bisque fired, glazed and fired again, which takes time and makes me push everything else back a few days.

This is the story of my life- a few days behind on everything. No matter how carefully I plan I end up playing catch up with my deadlines.

I will try to look on the bright side. Since this is now a completely useless lump, I can call it ART and I can wear a cute little black beret. I like hats and nobody expects an artist to be on time.

Soup Weather

We have been clobbered by snow and cold weather for so long it feels like I live in the frozen tundra.

It's soup weather for sure and I wanted to share the ingredients from my Bead Soup Partner the lovely and talented Amanda Cargill Austin of Sea Shore Glass.

In truth I received these beads over a week ago but between the snow days and my daughter home from school for a teachers mental health day, I have fallen behind once again. (not to mention they were camouflaged in the anarchy on my desk for a few days)

But I have been working.

This is the way to the studio

This is how I dress to load the kiln.

These are my feet walking out to the kiln.

This is the trail I leave.

It's definitely soup weather.

Out With The Old, In With The New

reinvent redefine rediscover recharge reexamine

Its that time of the year again. Things are going to change. I need a fresh start.

I am going to redo the website,(If its disappears for a while, don't worry, it will be back). I am getting rid of old styles that are just not "me" anymore.

I've had some of these beads for 10 years and they no longer make me feel good. Some still resonate with me and I will keep them, perhaps tweak them, but it will be a conscious decision and not "just because".

A lot of these things have been a heavy weight on me. I need to breathe again and allow myself the freedom to create.

I honestly don't know what that will be. Clay makes me happy but I will be exploring more media keep the winter blues at bay.

Maybe its because its the end of the year. Maybe because I realize how old I am and how fast time slides by.

So many people I care about have experienced loss in this past year. Loss of their homes, loss of their beloved pets and even loss of their earthly life.

It has made me reexamine my own life and my own direction and I hope it has made me brave.

Wishing everyone a sweet New Year.

Inspiration in Autumn

The Chihuly exhibit at the Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids has been on my to-do list since it opened in May. I finally made it there in last days of the exhibit this month.

It was so magical in its autumn backdrop. I think I came at the right time.

It also made me think about organic shapes and the use of color. I know this will influence my work in the future.

Now if I only had a Chihuly instillation in my own garden, life would be just about perfect.

Just working away.

I've been a busy working away. I don't get out much when I'm getting ready for shows.

Here is some work that I haven't had time to list on Etsy.

Bead and Button is fast approaching and I want to really rock the show this time.

Also if anyone is going to be there and wants to give me a bathroom break, please let me know!

I'm not dead

Its just been feeling that way. Its the last grey days of the michigan winter that make me crawl under a blanket and stop existing. But I know that is not an option. The dogs need to be let out and the kid needs a lunch packed and I do have a few friends who would miss me eventually.

So I have been busy dealing with paperwork, plugging away with orders, and making beads for shows and just generally feeling robotic waiting for the weather to turn.

Well Hallelujah! Its 60 & sunny and the snow drops are out and the crocus is in bloom.

I feel like a new person. IT'S SPRING!