I Am Drowning . . .

in a sea of beads! My entire work surface is covered right now as I pull and cull, trying to make appetizing mixtures for an upcoming jewelry party. I told T-man this evening that no matter how much I make, I am still going to end up feeling like it's not enough. My biggest problem is that I don't like doing cookie cutter inventory. I really want my customers to walk away with one-of-a-kind pieces even if it's just a pair of bead-on-a-headpin-dangle earrings. Who wants to wear something that you're going to see on 100 other people? Not me! There are a few pieces that are similar but they are still different and, yes, there may be a very few that are identical. So I sift and sift, match and match, put together and take apart, looking for the unusual combos to mix up with the unusual chain, clasps, ear wires -- nothing blah here! I've been working for a couple of months now and I can see a light at the end of the tunnel, but I am pretty darn sure it's a freight train.

Oh, and did I mention that yours truly has been *ugh* stringing?!?!? (Okay, once in blue moon won't kill me, right?)

Pictures next month -- right now I must concentrate on finding that elusive, just right, unusual color combo for a new necklace! Later, beadlings!

Etsy Love

My Coral Reef bracelet has been featured in three Etsy Treasuries this summer, two of those just last week! I am very grateful to these fellow Etsians for the exposure. On June 18 fissionchips created Aqua & Orange. I would love to link to her shop, but she's an Etsy buyer! Of course I love the color combo here:



On August 28 athenaknits created Sea Creatures. Check out her nifty knitted items. I love the creatures in her treasury:



And on August 30 mamzellefifi created Blue Dream. Check out her crocheted creations. I love the different blues here:



I am definitely feeling the Etsy love right now.

Sale!

This not an exciting post, but it might be a helpful post. I have put most of my loom and peyote stitch patterns on sale. There are some at Bead-Patterns and some more at Sova Enterprises. Some of the patterns at SE will be going away forever after the sale ends. The patterns at both sites are under all my beading aliases: Theresa Buchle, Bumble Beads, and Tabby Enterprises. The bunch at SE includes LOTS of holiday patterns. Quick! Christmas is right around the corner! Happy beading!

Weekend Photo Journal . . . .

What did you do this weekend? I was supposed to go with him:


and her:
to visit them:
and them:
and go here:
Sounds nice, right? A nice little family get away to the Texas coast with the hubz, the kids & the grandkids. That is not how it happened.

He:
did not get to go because our air conditioner decided to die Friday night. Insert frowny face here.

Instead of this: :
we got this:
Look at this:
and this:
and this:
He was a BIG surprise. He also threw a big monkey wrench in the plans. Insert Ariel's frowny face here.

But we stayed an extra day, and she:


got to go here:
which resulted in this:

What did you do this weekend?

Sneak Peek

I thought I would let you see what I've been doing. A web site renovation is long overdue. I had forgotten how much work it actually is, especially when I learn as I go. I started years ago, typing raw code. Of course the cyber world has moved forward while yours truly has been stuck in HTML land for over a decade. I did manage to create a favicon! It just didn't show in the photo. The site renovation will get done, it just won't happen overnight. The home page is finished to my liking and I have started the gallery page which shows the classes and workshops I offer, but I think I'll take a break and put some beads in my hands.

Have a safe and happy 4^th!

The Best Bead Give-A-Way Ever!

Denise Yezbak Moore is giving away a HUGE bead stash on her blog. Oh my stars! It's like a mini bead store. Be sure to follow her rules if you want to be entered.

I'm off to West Virginia later this week. John Denver keeps singing in my ear. I'm not sure I'll get to see much of anything other than my hotel room and the classroom, but I can dream. From what I've seen, it's a beautiful city with tree lined streets sitting the banks of a river. Plus, the weather forecast is very similar to what we have here so packing will be very easy.

Other than that, everything here is pretty much the same. You'll hear from me when I get back and if I get out, I'll make sure to take some photos. In the meantime, keep on beadin' on!

Oh, Hello!

What's new? I've not been doing much, which is totally contrary to what I should have been doing. I find I'm still kind of muddling through my days but, with Yoda as my new mentor, I have a new attitude. "Do or do not . . . there is no try." This week there are kits to make and ship to the hotel. Next week I get on a plane and fly to Charleston, West Virginia to spend a few days with some wonderful stichers/beaders. I'm looking forward to everything but the flying part. I hate to fly.

On the home front, it is summer time which means Ariel is home with me. On Wednesday Marshall is scheduled for surgery, but he is such a strong little fighter that I'm sure he will come through with flying colors. Even so, you know I always welcome your well wishes and positive thoughts.

That's the update for now. Hopefully, they will begin to be more frequent and I can start boring you all again with photos of piles of beads, and there is a HUGE pile right now! For now, I must get things moving. Keep on beadin' on!