Got My Partner!

I have a new partner, well at least for the Bead Soup Blog Party. She is none other than Julia Gerlach, editor for Bead and Button magazine. I'll post a sneak peek at what she's going to receive tomorrow.

In the meantime, here is a photo of this weekend's class at Nomadic Notions. It's called "I Want to Bead Alone". Yeah, I said that.

It works up so fast!

It's almost instant gratification. You could possibly leave with a new necklace!

Saturday, February 9, 1:00 - 5:00.

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.

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.

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!!

All Packed

I'm pretty much ready to go except for those little last minutes things (like throwing my toothbrush in the bag). I'll leave early in the morning for Carol's place and from there we hit the road for Bead and Button. I'll try to check in during the week and maybe even put some pictures up for you. I know, it will be nothing like being there but I'll do what I can to bring you along in spirit. If I could, I'd stash you all in my bags and take you along. Alas, that just won't be possible because you won't all fit in my one suitcase (I had to have room for my beading projects!).

"See" you soon!

Who's Panicking?

There was just a moment this morning. There was just a little moment of panic, but it has passed. I have actually achieved quite a bit, even after procrastinating. T-man has said for years that I work best under pressure. Giving myself deadlines is just not the same as those imposed by others. So circumstances stepped in this morning and results have been achieved.

Then I had a little panic about packing. After I made my list I realized that I just don't have that much to pack! Carol, however, is packing like a mad woman! She's the one who has to load up the goodies for Bead and Button. She will, for instance, be packing the instructions and supplies for making her lariat (designed by yours truly).

Remember, we'll be in booths 746, 748 and we look forward to meeting some of you. Have a great weekend!!!

Sure Happy It's Thursday

Do the acronym and that is exactly my feeling right now! Where did my week go?

Okay, not much news here. Today is an errand day but tomorrow I get to do lunch with my friend Joyce. I haven't seen much of Joyce these past two years as she has been Regional Director for the South Central Region of the Embroiders' Guild. I am taking her the sample for the piece I'll be teaching at next year's seminar in Dallas:



This weekend I'll be packing for my road trip with Carol to the Bead and Button show. Yes, we are driving. It would cost an arm and a leg and a kidney for Carol to ship all that glass, so we are hauling it up there ourselves. Actually, I love road trips. There is always so much to see along the way. And yes, I plan to take a camera.

So I'm off to get things rolling. More tomorrow. Bead on!

Event On The Horizon

Carol and I leave for Milwaukee on Monday! I cannot believe it's that close. I better make a list of things that need to get done so I don't forget anything. I'll try to take the computer and hopefully I'll be able to type a little each evening. Actually, I'm hoping we are so busy that we barely have the energy to fall into bed each night and drag ourselves out again the next day. I really, really want Carol to go home with a MUCH lighter load (and not just because it's less to pack up).

As for the jewelry, I'm going to attempt to finish a necklace I've started, but I'm not sure there will be anything else I can get finished before we start selling. The earrings have garnered lots of compliments when I have worn them. I absolutely love the ones made with the vintage Chanel chain (tease, tease, tease). By the way, we will be in booths 746,748. Look for Jeweled Treasures on your program.

Thunderstorms are getting closer. Of course it is raining in Austin, which is where I'm headed this afternoon. Bah! It figures. Oh well, I don't melt -- I must be a good witch, huh? Later, beadlings!