Randon Thoughts

I'm getting a cold. ugh.

Every time I see "Zumba Fitness" on the TV, I think it says "Zombie Fitness". While that boggles the mind, wouldn't that be kewl? "OK undead! work that detached limb! " " ugggggggg"

I'm almost done transferring artfire listings to my Etsy shop. I've got 5-6 left to move over, I'll run a double check and then I'll take my artfire shop down. It's just easier to move to Etsy. Etsy gets much more traffic (thus more potential sales ) and my supply shop is there. I don't really have enough time to focus on 1 site, let alone 2, so Etsy wins this race.

I"m hoping this weekend I'll start listing new items on both my jewelry and supply shops. I've got scads of jewelry of course, and lots of brass, chain, and findings to list in the supply side.

Still working on garage sale, and probably will be for the next 2 months. ugh. It's much more work than I thought it would be. Wow, Kat misjudges how long something will take to do, go figure! ( stop snickering Jerry!)

While I sort for the garage sale I've run across stuff I don't want but I don't want to sell for a buck... so I am going to start listing stuff on Craig's list again. More time involved...

Still this weekend is gonna be a Studio/ PJ's weekend... Jerry and little Bit will be spending most of the weekend at Fields of Honor Spring (game convention of course) so I'm going to take advantage of that and really get some work done in the studio.... no closet cleaning, I'm hiding the books ( well except for breaks of course.. he he) and I'm trying to get all of my chores done by Thursday. That's of course the plan, subject to the whims of fate and if I get this cold I'm trying to get.......

The earrings above are Brass I've textured and shaped, colored by flame, added chain and some Vintaj Arte Metal bits. I really like them!

Despite the rumors yes, I am actually making jewelry right now....

OK, a very few items. My husband is making fun of me on a daily basis right now, because this is suppose to be my productive time, when I catch up on inventory and gear up for the summer shows.
And he's right, I"m not really working much up in the studio right now.....

I've been reading books like a mad woman, probably 1 a day.

I've also got a huge house project.. cleaning and sorting almost everything in the house in preparation for a garage sale this spring. I got Jesscera's room done last weekend, this weekend I'm pricing what she doesn't want anymore and boxing it up til we have the sale. I am hoping to hit both closets in the spare room this weekend also...

So my studio time isn't the priority right now, and I"m OK with that. I'm getting up to the studio at least once a week. See the chainmaile bracelets above. (SEE JERRY!) In another week or so I'll start increasing time. Until then I'm cleaning closets, bonding with the kid and the hubby and reading up a storm.

And oh, all the normal stuff like working, cooking, cleaning, sleeping, etc etc etc.

Sharing the good life.....

I had a good weekend this weekend.. I really did. One of the things Jerry and I did was shop for antiques and such.

He got the brilliant idea!

I've been incorporating reused/recycled items in my jewelry but his idea was to buy cheapo cameras, break them apart and incorporate pieces of them into my work.


Finally, I can used my husband's finely honed ability to destroy things!

He had a great time breaking up the 2 cameras we bought.

Being probably 80's cameras they were mostly plastic, with some metal bits. It's the metal I want... but a couple of the small plastic parts were interesting, so I kept them also.


The antique mall had some really lovely, vintage cameras but they were very expensive. Besides, they were so beautiful, I wouldn't have the heart to break them apart.


But a old Polaroid bought at Good will for $2.00? you bet! Another old camera that was $4.50? sure why not!
I I really consider this pendant collaborate effort.. Jerry took something apart, I put it back together again with some brass cogs and gears and copper wire.


He was so proud of it, he took a picture and sold it the next day to a co-worker!

And I've got 3 baggies full of interesting bits to use in future pieces...

I can't wait to see what he drags home next!

metal on my mind

I etched a big batch of brass and copper almost 2 months ago, and last weekend I finally got back to it. what makes this batch super special is most of the art was done by my brother and my niece... Thanks Kirk and Ame!
The dragon in copper is a no brainer. The pic on this does not do it justice, I applied a heat patina of purple & red, sealed it in ren wax and added a copper bail. I'm sure this is Ame's artwork!
My second piece is really 3-D. The back copper plate is etched on both sides , then I riveted the card face in brass on top. It needed something else, so I took a scrap of copper, went to town with a couple of hammers and created a wrapped bail for it.

Balance

When you run a small business, especially a creative one that feeds your soul, keeping life in balance can be real tough thing to do.

Family, Friends, the $ job, the home business, time for yourself.... health, sleep, downtime....

Figuring out competing priorities can give you a headache!

And when you are a mom, you want to do this well, because you are the example to your child. And when you don't do it well, everything can suck.

A couple of months ago while applying to shows I didn't think about my little girls drama ambitions. She got a part in the spring musical! And Of course I had a application out for that weekend.... I felt so crappy about that. When she was in the fall play I helped all 3 nights of the play and watched it with joy in my heart. This time I wouldn't even get to see the play, let alone the logistics of a weekend where hubby and I are 3 hours away! This is the first year that my daughter really has extracurricular activities to work around, but still. Bad Mom.

First time in my life I received the reject notice from a show with glee!!! I didn't get in-- Yippee!!! I'm so relieved that I can not only see her in the musical but I can support her group by helping like last time. I will also keep better track in the future so I don't screw up for real! And I won't have to cancel on them and loose my $160.00 table fee and feel guilty for backing out and hurting my rep as a reliable artist, which is what I'd decided to do if I got juried in.

It's a wonderful art show I will be missing, and a prime weekend ( Mom day weekend), but even a great show isn't worth missing my daughter's play. (hopefully I will get in the rest of the shows I've applied for, and hopefully no more serious life conflicts)

I've tried very hard to keep the balance between the business, family, work and self needs the last few years.

You only have so much time in life you know.

So When my hubby wants to spend time together as a couple, even if I have something planned already, I'm probably going to do the hubby thing.

It's the perfect weekend for it, as little girl is visiting relatives for spring break, and the weather couldn't be nicer. (78 in March!)

It's not even "bad" for the business, as we went antique hunting. We hit a few garage sales ( total bust ) a couple of antique malls ( the photo above is my big "score" for the trip... vintage brass bits, probably hardware scavaged off old furiture. Some of the pieces are in rough shape, but I know I have very interesting pieces to incorporate into jewelry) and the I-80 flea market. Then hubby and I went to one of our most favorite places in the world, 1/2-price book store. I picked up some good "me" time books (including 2 Heyers!!) and a couple of jewelry making books to browse through for inspiration. All the while, hanging out together and chating about nothing special, which is the important thing in life and the glue that holds a family together.

We hit a couple of bakeries, (I'm always up for bakeries) Creme Cupcake is wonderful, and a brand new one in Des Moines : ElCafeCito Bakery with mexican cookies and pastries. (haven't eaten them yet, but they smell so good! I have to let supper set some more before I try those)

Now I'm home, and Jerry and I just had homemade pizza. (Hamburger, 6 different cheeses mixed together, yum!)

I'm catching up on internet stuff and in a little while Jerry and I will probably snuggle together and read new books.

Life can be very, very good.

OUCH!

OK, my morning didn't go well ..... I opened up the kiln and instead of seeing a nicely rounded piece of glass that I can slump over my bowl mold, I find this, this .. MESS!
Not only did the piece explode, but it melted over the edge and onto the kiln floor. I really could of cried.
Instead I carefully removed the glass, vacuumed the kiln. Since the glass did melt after the explosion, I'm pretty sure I have no damage to the kiln coils (well except the floor of the kiln is rougher in spots now... where I had to detach the glass.. urrrrrrrr)

I'm thinking tonight I'm going to run the kiln empty, to make sure it's ok.

So why did this happen???

I'm not sure.. sometimes even if glass is the same COE it's not completely compatible.

Maybe despite my best efforts, some 96 got mixed in with some 90 (which I've done once before, but not with kind of result!)

I used alot of glue on this run, it's possible I used too much ( though I've used alot in the past as well but all the books caution you to use as little as you can)

I glued the glass on Thursday night, it's possible it wasn't completely dry, which is a huge no no.
It seemed dry, but if it was still wet in the trapped layers, that would sort of explain it exploding apparently from the middle.

I'm leaning toward the too much glue/ it was still wet theory, so I'm going to be extra careful about using the glue.. I'll try to use as little as possible, and if I use more than a dot or too, I'm going to let it dry a couple of days to make sure it's completely dry.

more adventures in glass fusing....

I'm trying to make another small bowl/ candle holder. This is the 3rd try. The 2 that had "gaps" in the glass just didn't turn out like I'd hope, so this time I"m going to use lots of clear glass to give it that filigree feel, without actually having holes in it. So I carefully built a couple of random layers of dichro, stringers, etc and then dumped clear sheets on top. Then I added more glass, including more chunks of clear.

Part of the challenge for me is I'm trying to use up my COE 90 glass. Now I don't have any large chunks of 90 clear.. in fact most of my 90 glass is scrap glass, and I think the largest piece I have is a 5x5 of red.

I have long strips of clear, but nothing wider than 3 inches.

When you are trying to make a round shape approximately 5x5, this makes it challenging. Now the nature of glass is the round up edges as it melts if given half a chance, So I figured I'd add clear frit strategically to smooth out the edges and make my plate round.





It didn't exactly work... I've got very uneven edges ( actually quite sharp to boot!) I also had spots of cloudy ( something I get when I use 90, which is why I'm trying to use it up. I get along better with 96 !)




I've cleaned it up, chipped and sanded done the sharper edges

So I"m going to fire it a second time tonight, with added clear in the hopes that the glass shape will spread out more roundish and the extra clear over the cloudy bits will help hide that.

worse case scenario, I can always break it up later for frit!


A note on 90 vs 96. most glass artists seem to prefer one or the other, and have a stash of both. I won't get into the various debatable merits of which is better, but 96 seems to work better for me. I rarely get the scummy cloudy crap on 96 but I get it almost every time with the 90. I know many artists work exclusively with 90 without issues.

Maybe it's because most of my 90 is scrap glass, and possibly older to boot. ( they keep working on the glass formulas and making them better... so it's possible it's just an older formula that doesn't work as well)

Originally I only bought 90 ... it seems slightly cheaper and I got some great deals on scrap ( including a large stash of dichro !!) Then I ran the scummy problems ( and a few others) so I bought some 96... and then kept buying and buying.

In any case, I've got 3 times as much 96 as I have 90, so I've decided when I work through the 90 I won't buy any more. So while I'm experimenting I might as well use up some of the 90 I have laying around.

It's probably safer this way. You can't mix the two glass coe. I keep them separated but I've accidentally mixed them a few times. At least my kiln didn't explode. At least yet.

Bead Soup Blog Party Wrapup post...

I know I normally post on Mondays but I'm so busy tomorrow, I figured I'd get in tonight. First, below is the list of all the Blog Hoppers , and I'm removing the links off the original post as some folks had problems loading my page with it. So I really invite you to check out at least some of the other members, even if you can't get to all 200 of them. There are some really outstanding projects !!

If you can't see all of them, at least stop by my partner : Silver Parrot and see the very kewl versatile necklace she made with the cab I sent her!

I am planning to check them all out, though it will probably take me all this week to do so. I'm working from the bottom of the list 2 blogs at a time. And I want to thank everyone who's left comments on my blog hop post so far.. I'll get to yours soon !


Hostess, Lori Anderson


Special Book Sneak Peeks, Cindy Wimmer

1. Adlinah Kamsir (Singapore) and Hajer Waheed (Kingdom of Bahrain)

2. Adrienn Lukacs (Hungary) and Agata Grygiel (Poland)

3. Agi Kiss (Hungary) and Carolien Muller-Genger (the Netherlands)

4. Agnes Asztalos (Hungary) and B.R. Kuhlman

5. Alesha Conklin and Becki Mendivil

6. Alice Peterson and Carol Dillman

7. Alicia Marinache (Canada) and Dita Basu

8. Amanda Dittloff and Brandy Thomason McNair

9. Amanda Tibbetts and Andrea Trank

10. Amy Freeland and Kay Mallery

11. Andra Weber and Christine Murrow

12. Ann Sherwood and Diane Welte

13. Barbara Bechtel and Kerry Bogert

14. Barbara Lewis and Cat Pruitt

15. Bonnie Coursolle (Canada) and Fay Wolfenden (Canada)

16. Carmel McGinley (Australia) and Tracy Stillman (Australia)

17. Cassie Donlen and Deryn Mentock

18. Cathie Carroll and Janel Dudley

19. Cece Cormier and Morwyn Mullins

20. Charlene Jacka and Christina Hickman

21. Cheryl Brown (Canada) and Diana Ptaszynski

22. Christina Stofmeel (the Netherlands) and Eva Kovacs (Hungary)

23. Christine Damm and Deb Brooks

24. Cilla Watkins (Canada) and Elaine Robitaille (Canada)

25. Sabrina Straub (Switzerland) and Kathy Combs

26. Cindy Cima Edwards and Eleanor Burian-Mohr

27. Cory Celaya and Rhea Freitieg

28. Courtney Breul and Dana Hickey

29. Cynthia Abner and Jennifer Boreck

30. Cynthia Tucker and Jean Peter

31. Debbie Goering and Heidi Post

32. Dee Elgie (UK) and Joanne Lockwood (UK)

33. Dian Hierschel (Germany) and Eniko Fabian (Austria)

34. Diane Cook and Lyn Foley

35. Donna Bohler and Lisa Lodge

36. Donna Millard and Kiersten Giles

37. Doris Stumpf (Germany) and Eszter Czibulyas (Hungary)

38. Elisabeth Auld and Eva Sherman

39. Elke Leonhardt-Rath (Germany) and Marjolein Trewavas (UK)

40. Ema Kilroy and Laurie Keefe-Cecere

41. Erika Nooteboom (the Netherlands) and Giorgia Rossini (Italy)

42. Erin Grant and Jean Wells

43. Evelyn Duberry (Canada) and Gaea Cannaday

44. Genea Crivello-Knable and Heather Powers

45. Ginger Bishop (military, Okinawa) and Martina Nagele (Germany)

46. Heidi Kingman and Lori Greenberg

47. Helen Kemp and Lisa Wangeman

48. Helene Goldberg (Australia) and Karen Vincent

49. Jamie Hogsett and Jeannie Dukic

50. Jeanette Ryan and Jelveh Jaferian

51. Jennifer Cameron and Tania Spivey

52. Jennifer Justman and Kari Carrigan

53. Jennifer Tough and Lorelei Eurto

54. Joanna Matuszczyk (Poland) and Julianna Kis (Hungary)

55. Joanne Tinley (UK) and Michaela Pabeschitz (Austria)

56. Julie Anne Leggett and Kelley Fogle

57. Karen Hess and Linda Landig

58. Karyn Bonfiglio and Kathleen Lange Klik

59. Kashmira Patel and Kat White

60. Kat Barron Miller and Kelly Morgan

61. Kathy Lindemer and Rose Binoya

62. Krafty Max and Sandra Miller

63. Kristen Latimer and Pam Ferrari

64. Kristie Roeder and Lea Avroch

65. Kristina Johansson (Sweden) and Penny Neville (Canada)

66. Krisztina Erlaki-Toth (Hungary) and Nicole Keller (Germany)

67. Lara Lutrick and Lisa Suver

68. Laura DeMoya and Lisa Hanna

69. Libby Leuchtman and Melanie Brooks

70. Linda Koch and Rosemarie Cowit

71. Lisa Chapman and Menka Gupta

72. Lisa Liddy and Marion Simmons

73. Lori Anderson and Marcie Abney

74. Lori Bowring-Michaud and Mary Govaars

75. Lori Dorrington and Maria Rosa Sharrow

76. Lori Finney (Canada) and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp (Canada)

77. Lynn Bennett and Mandi Ainsworth

78. Marta Kaczerowska (Poland) and Milla Starchik (Canada)

79. Mary Harding and Shannon LeVart

80. Mary Jane Dodd and Stacey Curry

81. Melinda Orr and Molly Alexander

82. Melissa Meman and Michelle Escano-Caballaro

83. Michelle Jensen and Sandra Young (Canada)

84. Nan Emmett and Nicole Valentine-Rimmer (Canada)

85. Nancy Boylan and Suzette Bentley

86. Natasha Lutes and Patti Vanderbloemen

87. Pam Hurst and Rebekah Payne

88. Patty Miller and Sara Rhoades

89. Rebecca Anderson (UK) and Lori Anderson

90. Rebecca Sirevaag and Sharon Driscoll

91. Rochelle Brisson and Shannon Chomanczuk

92. Rosa Maria Cuevas (Mexico) and Tejae Floyde

93. Sabine Dittrich (Germany) and Sally Russick

94. Sandi Volpe and Sarah/Saturday Sequins

95. Shanti Johnson and Tracy Mok (Canada)

96. Skylar Brez and Theresa Buchle

97. Sonya Stille and Traci Zeller (Canada)

98. Stefanie Teufel (Germany) and Tania Hagen (New Zealand)

99. Stephanie LaRosa and Vonna Maslanka

100. Terri Wlaschin and Wendy Blum

Time for the Big Reveal!! Bead Soup Party Blog Hop

Yeah!! I can finally show my project!!!

I've titled it " Chase Your Dreams"

Every since I received the wonderful bead soup from Silver Parrot , I've had it sitting on my desk, mulling over ideas... and the thing that kept coming back to me is the horse was running TO something, not away or randomly. So what would the horse be chasing? Dreams seemed like the best fit, as the horse seems sort of like a spirit horse to me with the spiral on it.


Here's my original package

I utterly loved the flame patina clasp KJ included. I've been playing with flame coloring, so I knew I wanted to incorporate more copper in the piece to go with the clasp and cause, heck, it's fun!! I decided pretty quickly to make a back plate for the focal, add "chase your dreams" somehow and use heat patina.



See how the copper I made matches the clasp KJ sent!

I also wanted to incorporate at least some of the beads she sent, and that's the part I tripped over for a couple of weeks. While I loved the focal and clasp, the beads were not singing to me. The beads were lovely, don't get me wrong, I just couldn't get a handle on how to use them in my design.

I finally hit the idea of backing the beads just as I did the focal, and woot! it all fell together at that point!


Making the chain!

Since I wanted everything copper to have heat patina, I had to cut, texture, file, sand and assemble prior to the torch work. I did torch some lose wire to attach the focal and clasp once everything else was done.

Then it was torch time!



Raw Copper and......

Patina from the torch!

Once I got done with adding the color, I used Ren wax to seal them. I'm pretty please on the color... I'm getting much much better at getting the color I want with a torch. ( The copper colors change soooo fast you really have to use a bushy flame and be very very careful!)

Then I wired up the focal to the plate, and wire wrapped the round MOP beads on my copper circles.


I love how my necklace turned out!!


KJ also sent 1 other special piece, a bead with the horse on it. To give the piece just a "dash" of asymmetrical, I used it as the 2ND link in the necklace.

the little horse bead is soooo cute!



close up


I had so much fun with this!! Tell me what you think And if you think I'm alone in my fun, think again... Meet 197 of my new best friends who all participated in this round of the hop!!

Here is the list of the party members!

glass is in the kiln, happy in the heart

Here is my favorite from this run! I love making donuts!

I think I finally got a handle on frit casting, woot! Before, I've had serious problems with air bubbles. A few bubbles are OK, but I would get so many it looked like boiling water under the surface of the glass!

While I can imagine when that look might indeed be fabulous and exactly what one would want, but bubbles ruin the 3D effect of Dichro glass.

So the last couple of times I frit casted I've slowing been turning down the temp a few degrees and adjusted how long I hold at this or that temperature. I've also figured out to be very frugal on using fine frit.. larger frit works much better. I have another frit load running tonight, and hopefully it will confirm my findings!

Here it is in the kiln, ready to be turned on!Here they are out of the kiln! notice how it's sort of pinkish/purple above, and white here? The kiln wash is colored so you can ensure even coverage, and then turns white when you fire.
close up ... notice the sharpies on the edges... I'll knock them off or gently grind them, and then probably run them through the kiln again for a fire polish...

finds this weekend

What I really want to talk about is my Bead Soup Blog Party piece which I finished last night ( wooo hooo!) but as I cannot do the reveal until Saturday I will instead show you pics of my flea market/ antique shopping this past weekend.

Strangely enough, it was at Jerry's instigation. about 2 times a year, Jerry actually wants to go with me on my strange adventures. Never let it be said I don't humor my husbands' every whim!!

We drove all the way out to this flea market in Winterset advertised on Craig's list. It wasn't as big and grand as the ad made it sound, but I still found something very kewl there.. vintage shoe buckles. I think these are pretty old actually, it's on my list to research further.. a quickie search didn't turn up any useful info.


I also found a bag of Japanese bottle caps... kewl huh? most are Japanese beer, but a few are Coke!!
I bought this jar of buttons. Most are cheapo plastic ones, but I found a few metals one of interest, and 8 crystal buttons. Hard to capture in the photo, but these are really nice quality, possibly the good kind.. pretty either way!


I got a couple of other items, but these are the hi-lights. I really must find out more about the buckle..

This weekend will be the big blog hop reveal, and it's the big flea market at the fair grounds. I can't wait til Saturday!!

Random, no, rambling....

I think I"m catching a cold. hate that.

The only thing I want to blog about is how my Bead Soup Blog Party project is going. I finally have an idea I'm excited about!! But I can't really talk about that or share pictures until Revel day March 3rd. OK, I will give a hint, subject to change depending on how my idea goes: copper. Bawh hahahahahaha (evil laugh of course!)

Course today is housework day, which means catching up the kitchen, hitting the bathrooms and general pick up. ugh. Good thing I have poor standards, otherwise I would never get any artwork done!

I've been working on another round of applications for shows this summer. I tend to work 2-3 at a time. I'm starting to get some info back.. I"ll be in CountrySide Village Art Fair again this year in June, yeah! (or at least they have cashed my check) In the next few weeks I should be hearing back from several other art shows.

Here is a show I wish I was in, but it's a game convention weekend (and I'm not allowed to book those weekends) : Sycamore Market in Iowa City.
They seem super nice, and I know some of the artist's who will be in it on March 31Th. So if you are in Iowa City, it's got to be worth the trip to check out local talent and have a good time!

I hope to get back to glass this weekend once I get my blog party piece done. That is if I can get it done. (hint: copper) (hehehehe)

Well, it's time to swish the toilets. oh joy.

Trip Pics

To sum up the trip.... wicked fun, and when is the next one??? !!!! ???



This is my favorite piece I made this weekend! Steampunk dragonflies!
this is what I took with me. Seriously, this is light packing for a girls weekend!
Sue, Kat sitting, and Cathie. This is Cathie's wonderful house!
Shopping in Omaha... why yes, yes that's alot of crystals!
here is some of the jewelry I made this weekend!

To sum up the trip.... wicked fun, and when is the next one??? !!!! ???

Roving Reporter - Special Report

It is once more that time of year when this reporter can spy glimpses of the famous beading artist, Kat out and about on her journeys. This year brought unusually balmy weather and with it, the giddy need to shop. Kat was joined in Omaha, Nebraska by her cohorts, Cathie and Sue along with their faithful retainer, Matthew. The trio with husband Jerry and Matthew in tow slipped into the exclusive restaurant and bar called Wheatfields, where they have met before. From glimpses in the windows (this reporter has been banded due to an unfortunate incident with a potted palm), it could be seen that the group had most of the restaurant to themselves. It was apparent that the restaurant owners were being their normal accommodating and gracious selves. The group lingered over lunch, apparently making plans for the ensuing day and after transferring some light weekend luggage, Jerry returned to the home he shares with the artist, their daughter and a bevy of feline companions.

Following the target, this reporter slipped into traffic behind the pale silver cloud of a mini-van. The driver nearly evaded me, but I was able to reacquire Kat's transport at a particularly fortuitous change of lights. After only a few miles, the van pulled into the unobtrusive parking lot outside an exclusive store the bead artists' favor for the finest in supplies and inspiration pieces. The owner pf Papio Creek Beads, Kathy, is a long-time friend to the artists and the three artists spent an hour or more pouring over new acquisitions, discussing shows, and making new purchases according to an inside source who was there at the time.

Following the short visit, the friends all returned to the van and they turned northward to the exclusive Littles' Resort and Spa where the artist had taken retreat to in the past. It is obvious that the impeccable service and luxury accommodations have not wained in the previous year. This year, this reporter came prepared for the ever-vigilant guard dogs and was able to catch a glimpse of the three artists at their work at custom-tables surrounded with a truly dizzying array of sparkle and flash from beads, crystals, semi-precious stones and metals of every description.

In the afternoon, the group took a light break for a lunch to celebrate Sue's birthday with other family and friends. Following the meal, Kat and Cathie did a bit more shopping in Sioux Falls and returned to the Resort for more creativity and visiting. Dinner was catered by a tiny, but favorite Chinese restaurant known by the owners of the spa.

Have a great week everyone!!

Happy Valentine's Day! and more Heyer

I hope everyone had a great Valentine's day! Mine has been as good as expected, if not exactly romantic. Romance is a little hard when everyone in the house either has a cold or is fighting one. Jerry and Jess have it, i"m still gamely fighting that, or possibly a sinus infection. The Netti pot is getting a quite the workout right now, is all I"m gonna say about that!

So tonight for Valentine's day Jerry and I headed out to B & N, and I bought 2 more Heyer's ... Devil's Cub and Venetia. Then we got take out and ate at home, so not to infect all of greater Des Moines.

I love the current printing of the Heyer's books: Sourcebooks.com. Lovely, trade paperback editions, large print and great cover art. It was also started by a woman, and seems to cater to women. Got to love that in a book company!

Strange but true: I adore Heyer's Regencies, not so much the other historials, and not so much her mysteries. So I'm trying to buy all the regencies she wrote, preferably via the Sourcebook imprint.

I took a minute and realized I"m not far from my goal... I"m only 14 books shy. Of course not all of them have been reprinted yet but will be in the next year or two.

I'm missing Pistols for Two, Spring Muslin, The quiet Gentleman, April Lady, The Masqueraders, and Powder and Patch . The rest I'll have to wait til they are printed!

Now, if I'm good, I"ll go back to packing for my trip, if I"m bad, I"m going back to my newest Heyer book!!!

Random thoughts

Next weekend is my annual journey to South Dakota to visit my good buddies Sue and Cathie. I know, traveling to south Dakota in Winter seems **insane**! but they are worth it.

For the last several years I've either gone to South Dakota or met them Mid-way in Omaha or Minneapolis and we spend our time together gabbing, eating, and making jewelry.

I always bring lots of beads and jewelry components to play with, but I always try to plan out specific projects to work on. I can't bring my whole workroom (though hubby, who carries it all out to the car, thinks I do) so if I don't plan things out I will get down there and get excited about a piece and not have that perfect finding or bead to finish it. While my buddies are very good at sharing, we all have different stashes and tools. It still happens of course, because sometimes your design changes in mid-creation.

That's one of the things I'm doing today... pulling out my idea files and making up "kits" to work on while we visit, gab and sing along to our favorite songs.

I never get everything done that I pull, but that's OK.. sometimes it's nice to have something ready to work on when you aren't feeling the inspiration.

I've also been working on round 2 of applications.

This summer is going to be strange as I've had to block out 6 weekends in a row. We are planning on a huge summer trip, but the timing isn't completely nailed down, so I'm leaving those weekends free for now to be flexible as possible for the trip.

This means that I will be doing fewer shows this year. Even once we have vacation plans firmly fixed, I will have missed my window on most show applications for those dates.

While I might be able to find a pick up show here or there, it feels strange that I might be taking such a huge break in the summer.. it would be the first time in probably 10 years to have such a gap during show season.

Course since most of what I apply to is juried, there is always a chance I won't get into anything!! and boy wouldn't that leave a gap! LOL

OK, I"m not that pessimistic about juries, but you can't count on a show until they send you a letter of acceptance, even if you have been in that show before. You can do things to increase the likelihood of getting into a show ( good professional slides, follow the directions exactly, etc) but it's really a crap shoot.

Little Girl and Jerry are gone this weekend, so I've declared it a PJ day.. all weekend! I also get to cook foods they don't like but I love and never get when they are around. (I'm baking oatmeal scotches later this afternoon.. doesn't that sound yummy?? )

I just got a huge order of brass stampings in..... and I'm sorting them by color and subject. I love organizing components!! I've got my sketch book handy and I've jotted down a couple of ideas as they occur... and at least 2 of them are in my pile for Girls' weekend projects.

I have another pound to sort through .... I'm guessing I'll be adding another project or two!

And I'm reading off and on my newest Georgette Heyer, "A Civil Contract". It's not as funny as some of her works but it's been a very good read so far.

I am currently working on another fused glass cab / brass etched plate combo, among other projects. What I don't work on this weekend will most likely end up in the trip pile.

My blog hop partner got her stuff!

wooo hoo! My Bead Soup partner Silver Parrot has posted what I sent her, so I can now talk about it! ( and you can she her post with most excellent pics here )

Do you remember that huge plate of brass I etched a while back?
yep, that's the one....

Anyway the brass back for the pendant I sent KJ is from that plate.. I positioned the cab until I like the design that showed around it, and cut it out.. then filed and sanded the edges. The clasp is from the plate also. I used a torch to give them patina. The notches that I ultimately used as part of the wire wrap was a happy accident.. I actually cut too far, so I came up with notching it all the way around to "hide" my mistake and give it more texture and decoration. I think that worked out great!

Oh yeah, the glass cab is of course my own.. I'm super pleased that the focal and clasp I sent to KJ is all my own work.
Here's the whole package that I sent. I included crystals in close colors to the cab, and some Vintaj and Trinity brass to match the back plate. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with!

And I have her delightful selections to me sitting on my desk, waiting for "the" idea to hit......

Blog Hop UPDATE!

I've just been informed by my Hop partner KJ of Silver Parrot Designs that I misidentified the focal..... they are ceramic Raku made by Star spirit Studios (check out the feet and hands they have in Raku... makes my mouth water and my brain think good creative thoughts....)
The clasp is copper with heat patina by Patricia Healey ( she doesn't seem to have much in her shop right now... I also found her work on Lima Beads check out the lockets.. yummy!) Since I just started to play around with torch patina, I'm awe of the colors on this clasp!! I want to be able to do that!! ( I kind of thought when I first saw it that it was heat patina, but then thought naaa! 2 colorful! lol)