August 26, 2011

Of What Mettle They Are Made Of...

Mostly copper, but occasionally brass or silver...

I do love copper. It is warm and bright and feels ancient. When I was a kid my father was a carpenter and builder. He was asked to help install copper roof to a store front on our main street here in Ojai. The shop was for designer Barbara Bowman who lived just across the street from us. She was always so kind and friendly. She designed the most beautiful clothing, shoes and bags, I just coveted them. I remember watching him shine the copper and it gleamed in the sun and was just brilliant. A few years later it hand turned a fantastic earthy brown and green color. I remember thinking how odd it was for the metal to change colors. Chemistry...


I was tempted to add a patina to these links and hooks but decided they would do it all on their own...







August 23, 2011

Back to School Sale!

We are slowly gathering strength to pull ourselves out of this summer stupor and get our $%&! together for back-to-school! No new back packs this year but those smelly old lunch boxes HAD TO GO! Dang! They should have probably be replaced mid year! My big boy will be in *gasp* 5th grade (practically has one foot in collage!) and my big girl will be dancing her way into **double gasp** 1st grade (holy moley we're in actual numeral grades now!)

How is your back to school going? I just heard our school schedule has a few major changes (12:15 pick up every Wednesday!?!) that I have mixed feelings about! Why not on Friday? Give us a nice jump to the weekend?

So... in honor of Back-To-School I set up a coupon code "BEADSFORSCHOOL" for 10% off your entire order in the etsy shop through Saturday!




August 20, 2011

Love...


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

August 19, 2011

A Parliament.

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





Nesting here soon...

August 17, 2011

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!


August 16, 2011

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!

August 12, 2011

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..."

August 11, 2011

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....

August 10, 2011

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!

August 9, 2011

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.

August 8, 2011

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!


August 7, 2011

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?

August 4, 2011

Free...

Shipping!

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



August 3, 2011

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...