Love...

This jumped out of the kiln and demanded affection. I gave it. 

A Parliament.

Did you know that is what a group of owls is called. Whoooo knew?

Nesting here soon...

Sometimes I Make Things.

And sometimes I actually finish them!

This is how the little photo holders turned out. Glue. Is. Yucky. I will have to think about glue alternatives. With all the dog fur in our house (and studio) it looked like I was wearing winter gloves. Ewww. Maybe I'll use some rubber gloves next time. Live and learn... I am a glazing maniac today! More of these will go into this firing. No glaze required!

Bead Soup Tease and Partner!

Here is my tease of things that were sent...

And meet my partner...

Dot Lewallen


It looks like Dot works with seed beads and does amazing work, so now... I am literally terrified! Seed beads?!?! I have a mental block. I know I am not expected to pull some amazing bead weaving out of my butt, but I am imagining opening a big ol' box of seed beads. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton: Allegory Gallery Fundraiser...

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton: Allegory Gallery Fundraiser...: "When we decided to take the plunge and open Allegory Gallery, things started to fall into place. Everything seemed to be working out smooth..."

All A Tangle!

How super excited was I when fellow bead artist and jewelry designer Erin Siegel asked if I would like to be featured on the A Jewelry Accord blog as one of their feature designers??!? Well, I do dream of a good leather cord and pine for an enchanting length of silk!

Hopelessly in a fall state of mind, it is over a full month until we are officially into that season! But I can't ignore how the creative nut in my noggin is nudging me...

    I guess the swift and sweet owl has no real season....

Jewelry Giveaway!

Hammi Jammi Jewelry is having a jewelry giveaway! Jewelry designer Carrie Grabowicz created a bracelet using sterling silver wire, a super sweet bee charm, and a few beads from my etsy shop. Carrie decided to have a giveaway to celebrate Back-To-School! The details are on her blog here. Her design is lovely if I don't say so myself! Enter by August 22nd! Good luck!

Winner! And... What is it?

Thank you so much to everyone for participating in the giveaway! I picked a name at random....

Drum roll please....

Congrats to Holly! Please send me an email with your address! (Gaea at gaea dot cc)

So... What is this?...

It will have a spiraled wire added to the top and be a snazzy photo holder! I love the bare clay but think these could be just as cute with a touch of glaze, especially if an indented heart had a bit of color added to it! I had just enough time to stamp these four before my time ran out! Talk about "in a pinch"!

Time to bend some wire and try not to inhale some glue fumes!

Drop In The Bucket

This weekend has had a long and woozy feel to it, mostly because I've been fighting off a throat thing. You know the one. That burning, scratching, lumpy feeling. Yuck. I know I feel bad when I actually lay down and do (yikes) nothing.

Water.

Mud.

I think all the pressure to complete this firing, brought it on. Or maybe it was licking all those door knobs. 

Tobi, my friend and fellow artist from my local artist co-op, Made In Ojai, told me about a chairty project she and her father are involved in, www.safewaterintl.org. They are having a fundraiser this week and wanted a water theme necklace, which I provided the "water drop" for. The problem was the glaze decided not to cooperate. Too much and you get gunk. Too little and it looks patchy and not blue. I managed to re-glaze enough for the project and of course I can't leave a kiln half loaded, so I made some of these...

And of course a few more of these...

I played with how much glaze was added to the acorn.

Giveaway! Going, Going, Gone...

Its not too late! Enter to win this acorn pendant and a DVD class from Beaducation! Click here or scroll down to leave a comment to win!

If you would like to win one of these classes plus one of my new fall inspired acorn pendants you can post a link to this post on your blog or post it on facebook! Leave your comment with your link by 8 PM Tuesday, August 9th and a winner will be chosen at random on Wednesday, August 10th! Back to school is right around the corner!

They look like...

A flattened pumpkin? Flowers? Pillows? Lanterns?

Sometimes it is hard to put words to a bead. To give it a name. For now I'm thinking "lantern bead" may take the prize but three or four months from now, which has happened before, I may have a light bulb moment and change it. It is my prerogative as a woman, no?

Free...

Shipping!

I am a bundle making maniac! Use code "ILOVEMAIL" for free shipping in the etsy shop until Sunday! Is it fall yet?

Fall Preview...

These are a few of the fall inspired bundles that were just added to the etsy shop. I am ready for mulled, spiced cider, crunchy leaves on the ground, and perhaps a sweater. The reality is that even in mid winter, Southern California is still warm enough for shorts and t-shirt, a fact our friends from the U.K. never let us forget, and if you've seen Adam in his shorts an flip flops in late December, you know what I mean!

I envy those of you who actually have a season or two. I will celebrate anyway...

Summer School & Giveaway

We have been enjoying our summer vacation and while I try to keep things fairly relaxed, there is still a certain amount of work that should be done (like it or not my dear, sweet 10 year old son) to keep our brains from getting rusty. Of course the idea of a simple math sheet each morning has turned my child into a bit of a monster! I, on the other hand, would love to take a class, to learn something new. I was contacted by the lovely folks at Beaducation and asked if I would like to try one of their new classes on DVD for review. Hot diggity!

Just like Beaducation's online courses, you need not leave the comfort of your home, pay for gas, or venture out into the 100 degree heat to learn something new!

Soldering, torch enameling, and riviting are a few of the classes that are available on DVD and it just so happens that I have all my tools and supplies for torch enameling but was not feeling too confident in my skills. Luckily they send me the Click, Play, Learn Torch Enameling with Steven James for me to try.

The step by step techniques and the ability to pause the lesson for my little ones needs were greatly appreciated. The questions I had were answered and when the weather is cool enough to play with the flames, I will be ready. Even if I forget I can review the disk at anytime!

If you would like to win one of these classes plus one of my new fall inspired acorn pendants you can post a link to this post on your blog or post it on facebook! Leave your comment with your link by 8 PM Tuesday, August 9th and a winner will be chosen at random on Wednesday, August 10th! Back to school is right around the corner!

Fall? Really?

I guess it will happen sooner or later. The leaves will change. The days will shorten. Squirrels will gather for a changing season....

It's hard to think about when it's still  light out at 8:30 PM and its 100 degrees out. Yep fall will fall. Usually I am a day late and, well, you know the saying. But not this year! I have thought ahead and am sick and tired enough of this dang heat to be ready for fall...

Look for a post on Wednesday for how to win a class on DVD from Beaducation and one of these new acorn pendants!