Paper Surprise !

A nice surprise in the Charlotte Observer this morning. HEY !! Look who's there!!!

What Do You Do With A Broken Bead?

This bead was made over a year ago. When it came out of the kiln the colors were so vibrant it was love at first sight! But it broke right in half when it was being cleaned. COULDN'T throw it away … but I could wrap it! Don't know why I didn't think of it sooner - duh. Turned out pretty well I think.

Funky Fish

This little fishy looks like he could swallow the whole hook in one try - much fun to make and, as always, love the bright colors.

Totem Pole Owl

My take on a totem pole figure - at least that's what I was aiming for. All my beads, natural stones, silver & crystals … an impressive piece to treasure for a very long time.

Asymmetrical Sunflower

Oh what fun. I love making this design … altho it takes a really long time and it's a real pain in the patootie. Still hold my breath while making some things, and this one's close to the top of that list, but I still love it. Anyone ready for spring yet?

Zebra Raku

Love this piece - a compilation of organic randomness and structured stripes.

Mixed Up Jumbled Awesomeness

A beautiful jumble of lampwork, natural stones, semi-precious, crystals, silver. A mixed-up jumbled awesome piece … and it's reeeeaaally long to boot!

Beach Fest Beads

This big 'ole starfish pendant is another 'end-of-day' bead. I love the really large slashes of color, and the added little twist at the bottom is my attempt at a wave.

Seascapes Ready for 'Beach Fest'

Had a call for an order for one of these and realized I'd never pictured them before - oops. These are my seascapes, thought I'd do several for the 'Beach Fest'. Hope to see you there! Please stop by and see what else is new.

A New End of Day Bead

New year, new end of day bead. I love the colors on this focal, and pairing it with some pearls is also new for me. The pearls have no sterling mixed in with them, for ease of cleaning. Alllllways thinkin' . . .

Pods

Couldn't decide if I liked the etched or the shiny pods the best. You be the judge and let me know. Did a survey on Facebook and the etched won. Either way, I really like this new set - very striking - kinda funky and cool.

Funny Froggies

Funny little froggies to close out the year. Off to Vermont to see the new grand baby, who has YET to make an appearance! Must be waiting for Grammy to get there! Merry Christmas everybody, and a Happy New Year!

Christmas Show 2010

A new set-up this year. Guess it looked pretty good (see another picture, below). Gave a bit more footage for display, and for once, I could see everything on the tables! Thanks everybody for another wonderful year.

2010 Southern Christmas Show

Finally made it, wuhoo! The last blue ribbon I got from the Southern Christmas Show was so long ago they didn't even GIVE ribbons - just a small plastic framed certificate 'First Place'. Wow, waited a long time for this, a great big thank you to everyone who helped. This ribbon belongs to everyone!

A new twist on a classic focal

Not the best lighting at one of the shows in Virginia, but I really like this application. Seemed to be pretty popular at the show. Classic black base with a nice layering of Raku frit. Lots of tiny dots of colors - blue, purple, taupe, green. And a little circle impression on the surface of the focal for added interest.

I Love Boro

Not the quality picture I would've liked, but this was shot at one of the shows in Virginia. A new square shape for me, in boro. Don't cha' just love these colors?

Summer's Butterflies

A nice little cluster - can't get away from them, they're too pretty. The last of the summer butterflies … pretty.

Just for my Friends in Vermont - Mooooo

A customer actually gave me the idea for this piece. It's pretty cute, right?

Etched Brass - LOVE IT !

I LOVE this process. A transfer of an image is etched on another surface, in these cases, little brass plates. They are so darn cute … can't wait to make more!

Water Lily

This was my attempt at a water lily. I really like all the different beads mixed together - a 'Summer Cluster'.

End of Day Bead

This focal was made by melting all the bits and pieces left on the table, made by working a day at the torch.

Chainmaille Tree

This is my most favorite piece for this blog posting. Pulling from recent chainmaille, this is the design that developed. Slightly different tree design, VERY different mounting for said tree. I just Loooooove this piece. It's so comfortable to wear, and something you won't see anywhere else (I'll bet).

Cows - Udderly Cute ! (sorry)

Sorry, couldn't resist. Our youngest son is coming from Vermont for his summer visit. That's what inspired this bead. Vermont, … Cow … get it?

Beach Blues

Beautiful beachy blue seed beads, slightly etched for a soft brushed finish. Sterling dangle w/Swarovski crystals, my beads, and a pretty semi-precious carved leaf. Perfect for that summer trip. This necklace is lo - o - o - ng.

Triple Boro Bead Necklace

A pretty little boro necklace, double chain, 3 boro beads. Simple. Classic.

Pewter Leaf Toggle Boro Bracelet

A new pewter leaf toggle was used to close this boro bracelet. It's really unique, have only one more just like it. Oh, the bracelet's pretty too

April Abstract

Thought I'd give some popular abstract glass techniques a try and this is what happened. Different for sure. Using glass murinni on the surface of this large bead made the total number of layers 7 or 8 - I'm not sure exactly, my eyes started to glaze over after the 4th or 5th.

My Mothers Silver

In the bottom of an old box I discovered a few pieces of silver my mother had accidentally chewed up in the disposal - something I think she is still denying. Altho not an original idea of mine, thought I'd try my hand at cutting up the mangled mess and using the prettiest pieces. This one's mine to keep, I just love it.

Gretchen's Joy

Our youngest son's very significant other admired a picture of a turquoise piece I'd made recently. She has such a great inner joy and always a pretty smile on her face that this piece is a direct inspiration from Gretchen. Thanks Gretchen, it's really a pretty piece - another one of a kind just like you. This piece will be around only until someone just can't live without it - that is unless I decide to put it away and save it for someone else . . .

Fishing for a Mother's Day Gift?

Can ya' see it? Huh? Can you see the 'fish'? This was an attempt to make something that might appeal to a few Christians out there, or maybe just someone who sees some pretty beads framed by some silver wire. Personally, I was going for the fish - but you know what they say about it's all in the eyes of the beholder . . .

Cutie Pie Teddy Bear

This little cutie pie is ready for the bear collector, the new mother or any person who just can't resist his precious charm. I made these little bears quite some time ago and had forgotten about them. But my niece's youngest daughter has one hanging in her bedroom window with a crystal beneath the bead so she has rainbows in her room on sunny days. She told me "Mommie said not to touch it 'cause it's so beautiful". So sweet.

Tree of Life

This is not a new design, but a few new techniques and new color combo's done on this one. I really like the way it turned out.

OOPS . . . .

So, frit is tiny bits of colored glass that is used to make pretty beads. Yesterday I dumped a mixed up bit of frit into the jar with some silvered frit (sort of), anyway, I used the mixed up and made some really pretty beads to match some of the left over turquoise beads used in the earlier necklace & earrings. I think they turned out pretty good. Out of lemons . . . .

Oh wow, oh WOW!

Absolutely LU-UH-OVE the colors in this piece, and the picture STILL doesn't capture the glow of these boro beads. Earrings and matching necklace, but you'll have to see me at a show to see this set together - an original design being protected till my next show. Or maybe not - they might just end up in my own personal stash . . .

Suitable for Stamping . . .

Cute little piece, suitable for stamping 4 maybe 5 letters, depending on what they are. This piece was quite popular last year, don't think it ever made it to the blog tho. So . . . here it is!

I See The Moon And The Moon Sees Me

One of our nieces posted this little saying on Facebook recently, and although it's not really a new saying, it gave me a new idea. I reeeally like how it turned out and just might be the perfect thing for our granddaughter's 13th birthday in a couple of weeks.

New Keys for Spring

New keys for springtime, and they are so cute! Each has a little heart with a flower, and this one has an extra dangle of crystals. As you wear it, each dangle moves and creates a new look - something special for your special girl - girlfriend, daughter, wife, or yourself!

Cute Key for the One You Love

A pretty scrolled key with a pink heart. Perfect for the one you love. The base of the key even has 'Love' spelled out. Really pretty and really sweet.

I used to make these beads all the time, named 'em 'Twisted Sister' - makes a pretty good ring too . . .

Amazon Bronze

I changed my mind = THIS one is the one I'll probably have to wear a few times just to see if everything's okay. This color combo kind of surprised me - very pleasantly surprised. Lots of silver on this one too. Really pretty, and very easy to wear . . . with ANYthing.

Purple Urple Rides Again

Boro beads ride again - this time with Purple Urple. Don't cha just love that name? No mistaking the colors here - the prettiest of purples and blues blend to make this really eye-catching piece. Loads of silver to set it off. I might have to test drive this one a bit - just to make sure everything's up to snuff, of course.

Just in Time for Valentine's Day

Just in time for Valentine's Day Sterling hearts and really pretty beads! The tiny silver bead caps have little stars and moons on them. Hearts & stars and moons - oh my!

And the second picture shows a large sterling heart ready for that special message to be stamped on the surface. A pretty blue/green boro bead and a Swarovski crystal on top. Preeeety!

Newly Hatched

A fairly simple piece but I really like the way it turned out. Had a special order for a baby owl, and this is what hatched this afternoon.

"Triton"

This set was requested by my son as a prize, or award to be given at a local art contest. Does that make this . . . . . an award winning set?? heeheehee - sorry. I love the reaction of the silvered Triton used in the surface scroll decoration with the ivory glass in the base bead.

Newest Metal Magic

Getting back into the swing of metal work with this ring. A little faceted ruby is up front and center, but my love of this ring is the wire work. It's actually an easy design that yields an impressive result. Think I'll go make some more.