Swap Tease!

I received my beads from my partner, Julia Gerlach. Next week I'll give you nice clear pictures of what we sent each other. I like to keep things under wraps almost up until time for the big reveal. Let me say once again - it's like she read my mind. She sent my favorite color palette, so y'all know there is a bit of olivene green with some violet in there somewhere.

And yes, I went missing in action again. I won't bore you with the ongoing details BUT if your pharmacy gives you pills that are dyed in wonderful colors, think twice before ingesting as those dyes can have adverse effects. It will get better. At this point I'm trying to figure out how to put them into jewelry. I am positive there is a way.

Hey - March 17, 1:00 - 4:00 - The Bangles in their return engagement at Nomadic Notions!

Two new items were added to the Etsy store. It's not much, but it's a start. And there is more of that on the near horizon along with more beading and more writing.

I'm back!

Bead Swap One

Lori Anderson has very recently hosted a straight-out bead swap. That means no blog hop is involved, but the next Bead Soup Blog Party is coming up. I love bead swaps. My partner is Michelle of The Cabby Crafter. Michelle and I are a little late to the party but that's okay. She was traveling and I was happy to wait. I got busy and she has been patient with me. This is what I'm sending her today. I was feeling pearly and liking green this morning. Since Michelle and her family are moving from the Windy City to Texas I thought the greens might prepare her for what's going on here. It will be a nice change. So, she has some dark olive glass pearls, some lovely green Czech glass, some seed beads in decidedly spring greens, and some vintage pearlized glass. I also threw in a stretchy bracelet made from some of that same vintage glass. I did hold out a few pieces so she'd have a bit of a surprise when she opens the box. I've had a sneak peek at what she's sending me and I can't wait to get my hands on those beads! I love a swap!

More On The Retreat

Here we are all. It's the last day of the retreat, hence the lack of beads and beadwork on the table and some empty tables in the background. The tables were all full for the weekend. Right to left is me, GG, Juls and Cat. Yuck. I hate pictures of myself. Moving on . .

There was the little bead war. Juls was working on a piece in blues and greens. I was working on a piece in reds. Juls would throw a reject bead, I would throw a reject bead. On Saturday night, everyone cuts loose, if you know what I mean. Well, Juls got up from the table and I sprinkled A PINCH of red beads in her pile. A while later, I got up to go to bed. When I came down the next morning, this is what I found:Do you see all the green and blue beads? I filled a little baggie with them. What started as a tiny skirmish quickly escalated to all out war!!

Speaking of little baggies, I was so tired Sunday morning. I did not sleep Saturday night. Cat and GG got back to room after 2:00 and I was still wide awake. Even after all the lights went out, I tossed and turned. The next morning, my half of the bed had no bottom sheet on it. There was a bunched up, knotted mess of what was my half of said bottom sheet. This was the reason I slept for 12 hours Sunday. I was so tired. I really thought the dark splotches under my eyes were make up that didn't get cleansed away. I was wrong:
I can't believe how the camera emphasized the bags under my eyes. Maybe I should start taking tea bags and cucumbers with me.

Today, I'm working on revamping the web site. I'm going to go ahead and put some dates in there for upcoming events. I will be doing the biennial show with the Austin Stichery Guild (ASG). Here's your first notice. I'll have some of my kits, and some kits from other wonderful designers, plus some bead packs in various palettes. I love doing that show. And in June, I'll be at the EGA South Central Region's seminar, with lots of goodies. This year they have a market day which is open to the public. I'll have many more new goodies then. But for now, I must type on something else for the rest of the day. My beady pal Jelcy sent this link, which she got from our pal Nancy. I seems that this Dutch department store was sold in June to a British investment firm. HEMA has stores all over Europe. This is the product page, but it's all in Dutch. You can't order anything, but just watch for a few minutes. Sound makes it better if you can have it. Later, beadlings!

New Beader on the Block

First, the ants are not gone, they just relocated. I hate those little buggers!

While reading the Etsy forums (that's me promoting my shop, you see), I found this incredible beadwork. The beader's name is Maz, her Etsy shop is Amari, and this is what her work looks like. Unfortunately, she's not in Central Texas, so she won't be making our weekend get-together any time soon. BUT you can visit her little shop of beading.

I spent Tuesday with the green beads, sorting, organizing, using a few Mason jars --- it looks like canning gone really bad. I'm about half done with them. That's just the green seed beads, mind you. Yesterday, I took photographs of some more items for the Etsy shop, so there will be some new goodies soon. I'll do some more photography today.
The T-man is home again today, but so far the computer is mine. He had an interview yesterday, which he said went pretty well. He's to hear back tomorrow. Cross your fingers, light a candle, walk in a circle backwards three times, whatever you do for good luck and then send it this way!

I've Been Beading

First, the bad news. Hubby got laid off a week ago Friday. He's been making money doing those little jobs that he loves to do, and he has been working every day. The problem with the odd jobs is that eventually they run out, the economy can change at any time (as we learned several years ago), and they don't offer benefits. Have you ever asked a specialist what his fee is if you pay them cash??? And we won't even talk about tests, diagnostics or procedures or pharmaceuticals. On the up side, he is out looking as we speak.

Me? I haven't slept since the night before he got laid off. I have been beading, though. I bought this beautiful kit from Ann Benson's Beads East. I love the color, loved the technique, and truly enjoyed making them. But they are just too heavy for my ears, so I may end up having to sell them.


Now to the good stuff. You have 24 hours. My favorite three posts will get a free kit for this bracelet. The kit includes enough beads for an eight inch bracelet, crimp tubes, a PLATED clasp (don't argue -- it's free), Beadalon, and full instructions with color diagrams. You will need a size 12 beading needle and Fireline. If you do not enjoy working with Fireline, I will be very upfront with you -- you will be weaving with it.

Please post something other than "I'm sorry to hear about hubby" or "the earrings are lovely". I want true interactive blogging. Here's your topic: What is your favorite color combination and does it work with beads? For example, my favorite color combo is teal and violet. It doesn't work well simply because it is so difficult to find beads in those colors. I do have a wonderful set from Pam, but I must make repairs to the bracelet before I can post it. But I could not find seed beads or Delica beads in those colors, so I had to work the bracelet with iris beads to blend in.

So, what I would like from you, dear reader, is your favorite combo and whether it not it works with beads and why or why not. And winning posts are at my discretion, so be creative and entertaining with your posts to win a free kit for the lovely lavender/green bracelet. BUT you must leave some way for me to contact you via email. I do get a notification that posts have been made, but I will also need you to follow up your post with your own email. Ready, set, GO! Winners will be named tomorrow.

One Bead At A Time

It's just a tease, but this is part of the sample for the kit I'll be announcing Friday. In an effort to get some commentary on the posts, I'm offering a prize in the form of a lovely bracelet kit. Details will be posted on Friday. As you can see, it is stitched in shades of purple/lavender and green, which seems to be a trademark for me. It contains pressed glass flower beads, fire polished beads, Delica beads, and seed beads.

I love this color combination, perhaps because it reminds me of spring. You know, grass is growing, flowers are blooming, birds are singing and very few things are pollenating? I will bet that you did not know that green is not my favorite color (I do have a favorite shade of green), nor is purple a big favorite. My favorite colors is teal. When if finish up some more business beading (NOTE: business beading is not nearly as much fun as personal beading), I will bead myself a nice piece of jewelry using teal beads and a lovely teal glass goddess pendant I've been holding on to. But for now, I'm off to bead with green and purple.

He won't tell me how he got them home on the motorcycle. But they were a lovely anniversary surprise!