Red, White and Blue - Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July!! Here are some of my favorite Red, White and Blue things!

Here is Ethan in one of his two year pictures. The look on his face is priceless. He is so over getting his picture taken. What a cutie!!

Looking Forward to the Weekend!

I have an exciting weekend coming up. Ethan and I are going to the zoo on Friday, and then I head to Lafayette, Indiana for a fun weekend class with Jim Smircich. We hold our classes at Inspired Fire, a fabulous studio owned by Sharon Owens. She also has a house next door to the studio that we all stay in. I'm not sure which is more fun....the classes, or hanging out at night with some of my favorite friends. It's always like a GLASS reunion!!

I had the opportunity to torch a few hours this past Sunday, and here are a few fresh out of the kiln. I've not been making beads as much the past four weeks, as life has taken me in other directions.

If you take a look at my work, it's very apparent that blue and brown is my favorite color combination. I really like this bead and have held onto it for a while, but decided to go ahead and list it. Blues, browns, trailing dots and raised hand pulled cane afford this bead much interest. Just listed in the Etsy store:



The colors truly flow in this bead.

Here's another focal just listed ~ perfect Pacer colors (well, I am a Hoosier!!)

Thanks for peeking!

INSPIRATION - Pay It Forward

Here is a beautiful necklace made by Cynthia Newcomer Daniel of CND Jewelry Tales. I have always admired Cindy's jewelry designs and wire work skills, and her seed bead creations are completely stunning. Here, she has honored me by choosing one of my focal beads to surround with the magic she makes, one tiny bead at a time. I love the way the colors and design of the bead flow and branch out into the design of the necklace, incorporating it perfectly.

Necklace by Cynthia Newcomer Daniel

Cindy is also a very talented writer. She states: "Every piece of jewelry has its own story; my pieces tell me their stories while I am working on them." To see more of Cindy's work and read her short stories, visit CND Jewelry Tales.


A close up of the bead

I made this bead after taking a class with Andrea Guarino. It was inspired by her mothwing technique. The bead then inspired Cindy to create the necklace. The necklace inspired her to write her wonderful story. I wonder who Cindy's story will inspire, and what creation will be born from her words. That is the beautiful thing about art....it forever lives on.

Thanks Cindy, for your lovely contributions to the art world.

Working With Goldstone

I love goldstone...I call it poor man's dichro. I find it much easier and more forgiving than dichro. This bead has quite a bit of sparkle to it, and has just been added to the Etsy store.