California Here I Come!

I will be teaching this beautiful piece September, 2010 at the Embroiders' Guild of America National Seminar: Stitching on the Barbary Coast in San Francisco. I'm very excited as I have never been to California and cannot wait to see San Francisco. I'm also excited because this was my first submission to an EGA national seminar and I was accepted. I am full of trepidation because I must fly (gasp!)and because I'm going to San Francisco, California, a.k.a. earthquake central. My California friends chuckle at this.

My Leaf Lariat has become a favorite of the EGA members, and I'll be teaching it in June, 2010 at SASXXX which is the Tennessee Valley Region Seminar. I have driven through the "panhandle" of West Virginia, which took about 15 minutes, but the scenery was breathtaking. All I could think was "Almost heaven, West Virginia . . . ". I cannot wait to see more of that state.

Also in June, 2010 I have Oh, Straighten Up! with the South Central Region (my home region of the EGA) for "Stitchin' Safari" in Dallas, Texas. Dallas is close enough to be home, but it will still be fun. These are not in date order. In fact, they are reversed but that's okay -- this was the only way the blog title made sense!

After my after noon in the heat yesterday, I am very thankful for the person who created air conditioning and that the universe saw fit to bestow him with the knowledge to do so. This photo was taken at 5:00 yesterday in South Austin. I definitely felt the heat, so much so that I was feeling "peckish" (as my grandmother would have said) by the time I got home. Yuck. After a big glass of ice water, some dinner and some floating in the pool, things were much better.

I'm adding a couple of new blogs for you to check out. First, there is Sweet Bead Studio with gorgeous jewelry and great reading. Don't miss the photo that Cindy's four-year old took! And then there is Susabella's Creative Pursuits full of photos, food and jewelry. Both of these ladies are very friendly and very talented. Enjoy their work and enjoy your day!

Erday

I'm just going to change "Monday" to "Erday". This week on Erday, I'm driving into Austin to take my dear friend Mrs. B to the doctor for a check-up. She broke her wrist last month and can't drive. Her own children live four hours in either direction, so it's no bother for me to drive in and play chauffeur and help her with a few things she can't do for herself right now. I get rewarded with plants, trees and lily bulbs plus a beautiful friendship. She knew a lot of the same people that my grandparents and my mother knew, having spent most of her life out around the lake. It's amazing sometimes how small the world really is. She actually went to school with my mother's second cousin! She tells me stories about the lake when it was still young and clean, her late husband, her children (whom I feel I know) and her grandchildren.

I'm basking in the glory of my clean house, especially the living room and am hesitant to bring anything into it. This sucks, because right now the living room is the only place I have to work! Ack! Quandary alert!!

When I get home this evening, I'll try to grab the computer again and add some new links for you. I've found some very pretty, very arty sites with lots of info and eye candy.

I'm off for now. Bead on!

New Link And Giveaway

You know I love giveaways! Check out Sweet Bead Studio. Cindy has redesigned her blog and it rocks, her jewelry is drop-dead gorgeous, and she's giving away fabulous prizes. I love it. Everything on her page is just gorgeous.

I've been drug kicking and screaming into the techno toy age. Next week you can start following me on Twitter as well as Facebook (or click on the Facebook badge at the lower right-hand side of this page). Details to follow. I must run. I need to clean up soem bead mess since Kay and her B-man are coming for dinner and cards tonight, and it's been way too long since we've done that. Have a great weekend, beadlings!

Everything Is Peachy Keen!

I'm busy adding items to the Etsy shop this week. That means lots of work with the camera, which is nothing but frustrating for me. Oh well, I'll get over it. There is just so much to photograph! I've been very remiss and have ignored my little enterprise for way too long. These are my Peachy Keen Earrings, now available.
I've also added the $5.00 tutorial for my Fields of Gold Bracelet, aka Wild Blue and Purple Haze. To those of you who have responded, thank you so much for your comments and support. When it comes to things like this, it's nice to know we all really do stick together. Beaders and jewelry designers rock! ♥

Angry And Working On It

So the LBS has changed one of the pictures for the bracelet class, making it look a little less like my Fields of Gold, HOWEVER, it is still the same bracelet and I am still offering you the instructions for only $5.00. All you have to do is email me at theresa AT tbuchle DOT com and we can do a Pay Pal transaction, after which you will receive a wonderful PDF for your use. Be sure to include the email address you use for your Pay Pal transactions. In the meantime, I'm taking photos to add goodies to my Etsy store and trying to stay cool. I sincerely hope no one else is melting!

Still Pissed, Or SSDD

I'm still very angry. Read Saturday's blog post. Many, many thanks to all of the beaders who have been so generous in their support. I will keep you updated. In the meantime, I'm putting together instruction packets for a few sales and it's going up in my Etsy store later today. If you would like your very own copy, please email me at theresa AT tbuchle DOT com.

Bitchy, Vindictive Me Who Does Not Want To Play Nice

I AM PISSED!!
Would you like VERY INEXPENSIVE instructions to this bracelet with color keys for the peacock/gold, blue and purple variations? Yes, I said ROCK BOTTOM CHEAP.

Now, I don't happen to have a picture of the purple variation, but trust me when I tell you that it was eye-catching. This bracelet is full of physical and visual texture. You will learn square stitch, basic fringing and color shading with my easy to follow instructions.


It seems that a local bead store has started teaching my bracelet (by the way, it's the only one around here that teaches seed bead techniques). I'm sure that the teacher thought that if she (1) made it a bit more narrow, (2) changed the colors and/or (3) added a fourth color plus (4) changed the clasp that it would be okay, because, hey, she changed 10% of the original. What a crock! In case you have not learned by now, that is a total myth. It does not matter how much you change, unless you have permission from the creator of the work (and this means the written instructions or the finished piece), it's a violation of FEDERAL LAW. AND this store apparently has no qualms about teaching the work of others without permission. This is something I made sure never happened in my store. If a teacher didn't own the copyright or have permission from the owner (and yes, I asked to see WRITTEN permission), it wasn't taught in my store.

So now you can have, for A MERE $5.00, my copyrighted instructions. You get clear, easy-to-read instructions with full color graphics plus a large easy-to-read graph for color shading of THREE or FOUR colors (yes, these are the original instructions). In addition, you will receive exact purchasing info for the Toho beads used in this beautiful creation. That means you get the color numbers and the amount you will need of each color. I always receive compliments when I wear this bracelet. It is as much fun to make as it is to wear. $5.00 means no teacher fees, which is a substantial savings to you. In fact, it is a savings of $30.00 plus whatever gas you need to get there. Want more information or want to buy the pattern (downloadable PDF or I'll mail hard copies to you), contact me via email at theresa AT tbuchle DOT com. This is not a limited-time offer. It is offered until they stop teaching my bracelet and probably a little longer afterward.

Oh Happy Day

This is my happy face self-portrait. No, I am not an artist but I like to play. Why I am I this happy? Read to the end of the blog (no, don't skip or scan, read the blog).

I have two new blog links to share with you. First is the lovely Lisa Peters. I've got four items from Lisa, which will all be put to good use in the following months. Second is the marvelous MaryLou Holvenstot. And I would not know of either of these two ladies without my cyber friend Carol Dean Sharpe. I got to meet Lisa in person at Bead & Button, but missed MaryLou -- our paths just never crossed. As for Carol Dean, we're working on a face to face. These are three very talented ladies and I'm very glad to have made their acquaintance, even if it is only virtual. Have you hugged a cyber friend today?

I still have earrings screaming to be made but I also need to do MASSIVE house cleaning! It's really too bad I can't do both.

Your mission for the day: Check out the web site and blog links I've provided for you. There are some giveaways, some art news, some great tutorials and lots of inspiration. Take a few minutes and surf.

I now have pants that can be removed without use of button/zipper. And Clara will be coming soon to take new pictures. Okay, enough personal stuff.

Wednesday is for . . .

Well, this week it is for groceries. We have a new "farmers" market in Austin called Newflower Farmers Market and we've been shopping there lately. I don't need to buy veggies anymore, but their meat is great and the fruit has such great prices it's unbelievable. And to top it off, Wednesday is "double ad" day, so whatever was featured in last week's ad is also featured in this week's ad. And we all know that money saved on groceries is money that gets spent on things like more new flooring, paint, furniture, turning the A/C down to 68°.

So, after I get home from the market, I'm going to make an assembly line for earrings. I'll set out ear wires, beads, head pins, chain, etc. Then I'll start putting some things together. And when T-man gets home, we'll float for a bit to cool off before dinner. I am into things cool right now, but salad gets boring. I found this recipe last week and it was pretty good, especially with corn and tomatoes right out of our own garden. It's a simple life these days, but it's my life.

I got an early birthday present from T-man yesterday:


I've already got some great ideas for this baby! Keep on beading on, beadlings!

Oppressive Heat!

The heat index yesterday in downtown Austin, where I was spending the afternoon, was 107°, which is odd since the outside thermometer on the car read 106°. I felt every degree of . . . . well, you choose one of them. Today will be the same. And the breeze out here is straight out of the south and hot and dry. Did I complain about the cold a few months ago? If I did, I take it all back. It's hard to believe that just a few days ago I was in a blustery 45° with rain in Milwaukee! I do believe it sent my entire system into shock!!

I think that today I will sit inside the cool house and make some earrings. Maybe I will take some photos. I went through the pictures of the Bead and Button road trip. Some of them are usable, most are not. Obviously, I do not know how to correctly use a camera. *sigh* I want a new one so badly, but I'm thinking I may have to take lessons when I get it!

Question: How do you keep cool when you are creating? I have a small, directional fan that I set up to blow directly on me. I'd just curl up and die without it.

Whatever you do, wherever you are, I hope you keep cool today.

Giveaway Alert!

Silver Parrot is giving away a ton of beads and you have until midnight tonight to sign up. Can you say "genuine emerald beads"??? Then scroll down and check out her Dark Floral Necklace -- yum! And to top it all off, there is a cool pic of Jeffery Donovan to boot. What more could y'all ask for? Oh, those? I'm working on the road trip pictures today. Later, beadlings!

Total Exhaustion

I'm home. I arrived at 12:30 yesterday morning. Then I got up at 9:00 and headed to Natalie's house to pick up Ariel. Needless to say, there was a nap yesterday afternoon. I'm still feeling tired, but it will pass in a couple of days.

How do I describe Bead and Button? Wow. It was not as overwhelming at the Houston International Quilt Show, but it was still pretty big. There were quite a few people but reports from experienced attendees indicated that attendance was down as were sales. All in all, it was a pretty good weekend (barring a few unforeseen catastrophes).

I did get to visit with the fab Kate McKinnon, the wonderful Cynthia Rutledge, the marvelous Lisa Peters (I bought some of her pieces -- my B&B souvenirs), the talented Heather Powers, and the cheerful girls from Beads East. I saw friends from Austin and Houston. I also got to see the Bead Dreams entries in person as well as the Treasures of Toho competition entries and the Convergence exhibit. Wow! Otherwise, I pretty much stayed in the booth and worked, worked, worked! Carol had so many new goodies, it seemed like an endless stream of unpacking, pricing and merchandising. Then we would drive back to the hotel and collapse on the beds only to get up and do it again the next morning. I did go in search of several beaders I wanted to meet but, alas, our paths never crossed.

I have over 300 pictures to go through with a story for every one of them. Plus, Carol has some of them so there will be some swapping before I get them all posted. But there will be a great road trip pictorial! Later, beadlings!!

On The Road Again

Well I've finally got Internet access again. The hotel in Milwaukee (actually in Brown Deer) did not have WiFi. Sheesh.

We are in Rockford, Illinois and on the way to Lambert's Cafe, the home of the throwed rolls for a late lunch then on to Memphis (again!) for the night. I've got so much to show and tell, but that will need to wait until I get home. I'm tired and sore and it's time to load the truck up and take off. Later, beadlings!

Elvis Was In The Building . . . .

. . . and Carol had a lovely chat with him. Mississippi was a long drive, Memphis was great, Arkansas was flat, Illinois is gorgeous, the arch zipped past us (but there are pictures) and now we are on the last leg of our journey. We're pooped and it's past our bedtime!

From Southeast Texas To Jackson, Mississippi

Here is your first drive-by post from the road. Carol and I are hunkered down for the night in Jackson. She tells me that tomorrow we go in search of Elvis for a lunch date before we head on into Chicago. I am pooped as I've been in a car since 8:00 this morning and we got here at 11:00 tonight. I'm very ready for a position that is NOT sitting. I've got some pictures of the big swamps along IH-10 Between Lake Charles and Baton Rouge and will try to get a few of them up here tomorrow night but right now I'm ready for bed. G'night!