Time Out.

My back is out! I guess it is my body's way of saying "Sit down and shut up!". Or at least "Sit down and finish up those articles!" At least I'm not completely useless. I have my big boy rotating out frozen veggies for me, Thanks Calder! I guess today is as good as any to sit and watch one of the 4 overdue movies I have out! Floor grime and dirt will have to wait to do battle another day!

Bubble blastin' fun!

A sketch in time...

I've been sketching out all my design ideas in brush and ink. It feels really loose and soft. I tend to sketch in pencil but needed a change. I've been eyeing some fancy paper at the art supply store too...



I did get to play more with my Piggy cards and fun papers...



So I have all these ideas and seem to not be able to find the time to actually make them. I am hopping to get them made and actually submit them for publication. I am VERY excited to find out that two magazines did accept proposals! Now the real work begins. Since I've never written out my process, this may be a challenge. I find the more I over think it the more difficult it becomes. Typical! Less is more, Gaea. Less is more. Deep breath...



The larger "Love Letter" pendant had been on the site for about a month. A customer had a fun idea about the mini heart charms and a smaller version of the letter charm. I think they are cute!

Giveaway Monday! Chain, chain, chain!

It was a blue tongue, pancake, Sunday!




The weekend just seemed to melt by. Now that all packages are on their merry ways it was time to dive into some beading. A few projects are special and will have to be kept under the table until later and some were just for fun. I've been admiring LLYYNN's amazing metal work and wishing I had a set up to create some of the awesome chain links she does. Where there is a will, there is a way... I was just about to nod off to sleep when this idea popped into my head...



A little inspiration...



Win this pendant!



I love a good blockbuster, popcorn, summer movie! Gimme a big name star in a ridiculous costume with a lot of explosions and a nearly impossible story line! Some of my faves are Twister, The Day After Tomorrow, Die Hard and Charlie's Angeles! Batman is high up on our list of movies to see! What is your favorite big budget blockbuster, popcorn, summer movie of all time? Leave a comment by Friday and the Lotus pendant could be yours!

All aboard for the ABS Studio Tour!

Check out my studio tour at the Art Bead Scene! Leave a comment there and you could win a free goodie!

New goodies...

A few new lotus pendants, some in hand painted colors. The red lotus I had intended to be pink, but apparently I wasn't paying attention. DOH! I do like it though! I also added a smaller lotus size. These will be added to the web site.... eventually....



Happy Friday!

The Exchange moves on!

The Jewelry exchange project in now with Mary Harding! Check out her blog to see her contribution!

Wednesday

Most of the packages are on their way! Here are a few pics from the first lift of the lid!





I think I see something for Aunt Cookie!



These are the cards that I will be sending out with thank you notes! Ok... off to find my big boy some goggles for his swim class!

Lookie, Lookie...

Hey my last post as guest editor is up on the Art Bead Scene blog today! I got the kiln unloaded and will share pics later! Fun Fun! Happy Tuesday all!

Just a little longer...

It will only be a few more hours before I can lift the lid! I have my fingers crossed and wood has been knocked. You never know! Aunt Cookies pieces were on the top shelf so I'll be able to see them right off!

It was a fun weekend with Calder's birthday party! I'm so glad people made the trek out to us! It was a pool party and with all the kids I was a nervous wreck!

A while back I posted some drawings for some rabbit pendants. Joelle thought the sketches would make a great card, so last night while waiting for the kiln to finish I did a few sketches and water colors for a card...





Thanks for the inspiration Jo!

Ahhhh! Saturday!

I finished glazing and just loaded the kiln! It was a marathon! I needed another musical kick in the pants today as well.... todays selection....





I rented a documentary about the band X which I will not be able to watch until tomorrow... so here is a warm up!

This day needed some VOLUME!

Some days just need a kick in the pants. And who better to give it than.... THE BEASTIE BOYS! They go to 12! If I ever needs some energy to get through it, they usually do the trick. Hopefully I can kick it into high gear and with a little luck and a lot of Beastie Boys I will be able to crack the kiln open Monday morn!

Al-most--there...

I am really anxious to see what comes out of this new firing. It seems like I have been grinding away for ages and I want to get every thing done (I'm sure my customers would like me to get it done as well!) I tried a few new hand painted pendants this time and am chompin' at the bit to see how they turn out. Since I am only about 1/4 through the glazing I should probably step on it! In the mean time please enjoy this squirrel...



He's (yes, I could tell!) eating upside down!!! Hanging directly over head!!!

The bracelets...

I did a trade with Lorelei a while back, some pendants and beads for a lovely custom "Oui" bracelet! I've been wearing it with my star bracelet and loving them together! I have so many jewelry projects planned for after this firing I can hardly sit still or sleep for that matter. And I seem to be dreaming about beads and jewelry!

Today on Lorelei's blog she is focusing on product photography so I thought I would show some of the ones that gave me a tickle for fun and satisfy that jewelry need that can't be filled at the moment! Enjoy!

Burning the 1 am oil.

Midnight would be a vacation. I know I should get to bed sooner but feel compelled to keep on schedule and on track. This keeping on track thing is difficult since Magnolia and Robert are sick, poor dears! We heard it echoing in the mall earlier this week, that horrible cough that is going around. So as I try to comfort my crew and keep myself healthy it is bead, bead, bead for the rest of the week...

A great song with a horribly violent video. Love it.

Jewelry/Art exchange. Joelle's contribution

Joelle has contributed her part to the project but is having technical difficulties with posting a picture, so here is here photo (I hope!) and her post...

Thanks to Gaea's awsomeness, I was actually able to make some little brass links with pretty faceted garnets on them. I just loved the way the color of the stones complimented the other beads (not that you can really tell with my gimpy camera). I had so much fun working on the necklace. I can't wait to see what everyone else does with it. Mary, you're up next!

Before (from Lorelei's blog)



With Joelle's new links added!



The project is on it's way to Mary Harding!

The day was on Target.

It was another 2 Target day for us. I've mentioned our fun but smaller 2 story target with it's fancy shopping cart lift to the second floor! So, that Target didn't have every thing we needed for next Saturdays birthday party so off we went (less than a mile away!) to Target #2. Since we needed a little movement and it was soooo muggy out today a walk around the maul, er, I mean mall seemed appropriate (Yay air-conditioning!)



This is a news paper photo of the escalator in our 2 story Target! See the cart going down on the right! I know! Cheap thrills!

I was really excited about the new Beck and treated myself (new music is a coveted and rare treat!) to a brand new disk! Anyone out there enjoy it yet?

Thanks for all the great book suggestions! And congrats to liisaann! My hubby picked your name from the hat! Send your address to gaea(at)ojai(dot)net and I will get a goody out to you asap!

And only 5 more days till Project Runway, Season 5!!!!

Guest spot.

Another post as one of the July guest editors for Art Bead Scene was posted today!

A little post about getting your flexing your creative muscle! Click here to read more!

Yesterday I had Joelle and the the wee ones (gosh they are all getting so big!) over for so coffee, mac and cheese and beading. Here is Joelle with her new tools and the Jewelry/Exchange project.

She's so purty!



Joelle had her ideas all worked out, and really I think she just needed a little hand holding. I will let Joelle tell us more about her experience on her blog as I don't want to leave her with nothin' to write about! I showed her a little bit about what I know, which was a bit of a task for her to follow as I tend not to sit still and had mac and cheese on the burner and we had 4 kids in the house (Don't try this at home kids!) She followed along superbly in spite of my "wandering learning" technique! She took the project home to work on. I can't wait!



Good start!

P.S. Happy Birthday Calder! XO

Overcast.

I think the weather is conspiring with my house today. The weather must know it wants and needs cleaning. It has been forecast that today, in fact this whole week, is supposed to be in the 100's. It. Is. Not. No, it is cloudy and over cast and cool. I am thankful. But at the same time it give's me no reason to procrastinate any further on my house cleaning. I will welcome Joelle and the kids into a clean house today for some beading fun. Thanks weather!

Giveaway Tuesday?

Why not!

We are only a few weeks into our summer break and have been enjoying some summer reading. I have a few books that I've read again and again ("Jitterbug Perfume", by Tom Robbins! LOVE IT!) and I just finished "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert (a birthday gift from Joelle, Thanks again!) and loved it! I had started to read, for the 4th time (it's always a charm, no?) "The Mermaid Chair". I don't know why I keep getting distracted away from this book but it seems to happen. We have been wanting to read all the Harry Potter books and have started reading the first with Calder. So... here is the question.... What summer reading has you sunny side up? Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? Let us know and a ceramic goody maybe in your future! Winner posted Friday!

School project.

This past June, a friend of mine asked if I could help with a school project. Since the surprise has already happened I thought It would be ok to talk about it. My friend Mellanie's daughter is in 5th grade at the same grade school I went to over 30 years ago. It is a beautiful school that was built in the 1870's. She asked if I could do a bead project with the kids. How could I refuse? The idea was to have the 5th grade class kids each create 3 beads. One bead from each student would be used to create a necklace to raise money for at their annual art auction, one bead from each student to make into a necklace as a year end gift for their teacher and one for them to keep. The first day we made the beads. Some kids were a bit more into it than others. But they all did a great job.



The next visit I had them glaze their beads. After they were fired I took their beauties back to the studio and made 2 necklaces. Here is what the art auction necklace looks like.



I took the photo in sections because it was so long and this way every bead could be seen.






A photo of my friend Deina, wearing the necklace!

The necklace was a hit and helped raise almost $300 for their school! Great job guys!

Opps!

In the hubbub of the 4th holiday, I forgot to pick a winner for Monday Giveaway! Congrats to Carlene! Please send me your address at gaea(at)ojai(dot)net! I will send you a ceramic goody!

It was a run around sunday with a trip to not one but two Targets! When our fancy but under stocked 2 story Target didn't have the specific Indiana Jones Lego our birthday boy wanted, we headed off to Target number two, down the street. We couldn't possibly get enough of Target. Then a jaunt to Trader Joe's for all of our staples and if Aunt Cookie is reading... they have fabu vanilla marshmallows right now (she will have to come up for a mallow and ceramic pick up in a week or two!)



I made the above bracelet and am really pleased with the look of the brass and the "pearl" beads. I want to wear about 10 of them at once in every color of the rainbow! Have a beauty of a Sunday!

Eat

We've been on a retro kick lately, at least with music. For over a decade we've been loving the band "Eat" and their first album "Sell Me A God". I guess it never occoured to me to see what else they have been up to since 1991. So, for 1 penny, plus shipping (isn't shipping always the rub!) We are now the owners of "Eat: Epicure" released in 1993. I have to say It was money well spent and it is always a good feeling to find a long hidden musical treasure. So if you have the good fortune to come across this disk....



GET IT!

Here is one of my favs!

Happy 4th!

As we are off to visit with friends today I am reminded of the wonderful freedoms we have as a country and the wonderful freedoms I have as a working artist. I was honored to be asked by Heather of Art Bead Scene to be one of the guest editors for the month of July. There will be 4 posts and the first one is today! Enjoy! Gaea

Wire wrap demo...

I had a request for a demo...
This is a basic wire wrap technique using a pendant, copper wire and a bead.

You can lead a babe to the potty...

You know the old saying. We, or should I say "I" have been gently persuading our little one that using the potty would be such a fun and useful thing. For a few months now I've been trying, ever so mindful that little ones only want what is their idea, to learn the useful art of the potty. Trying things like putting her new and oh so magical "singing" potty in the living room where it would be readily available if the mood should strike. Letting her run about neked as a jay bird so she would notice what was going on. Always being patient and attentive when accidents and not so accidents (on mom and dad's bed!) happened. After all, she can go a whole night with a dry diaper. Week after week of gentle persuasion have finally paid off! She will proudly announce with great volume, "IT'S POTTY TIME!" with a giant smile to boot! And off we jam to the potty! It has been two whole days of mostly potty use (knock wood!) and I know we are not out of the diaper woods yet. But it is such a good feeling to know that we have moved (pun intended) into a potty direction! Yay us!



On a completely different note... We have chain! I've begun to add chain and cord to the web site! It is a modest selection but I hope to grow it over time!


Ok. Fun jewelry time!

When It Rains It Pours...

The ebb and flow of life seem to be quite erratic at the moment. It has been quite quiet the last few weeks and now, a flutter of activity. We've been trying to plan some sort of birthday celebration for our son who is turning 7 in a little over a week. We've decided it is too much to have a big party at our tiny house and were considering a trip to San Diego for the zoo and wild animal park. It is too hot and too costly for that kind of travel so we may just have a small party with the grand parents and a few friends! After all they have a pool!

There is a mid July firing to consider as well as various little projects. Life fills up fast! Lorelei had a beautiful bracelet on her blog not too long ago, featuring a simple Vintage brass band. She asked what I would do with it....

This is my jewelry reply....

Super exciting!

Just look at what Lorelei did with the jewelry exchange! So exciting! Check out the "Jewelry/Art Exchange" post to see what's goin' on! Rover! Red rover, send Mary Harding on over! After Joelle does her thing, If Mary could send me her information I can pass it on to Joelle so she can send the project to you next!