WHEW!

This week has been crazy! Trips to LAX! Homework! Ojai Day! Glazing! Homework! Can I please stop with the homework already? I've done my time with it and am finished! But apparently 6 and 10 year olds have it, so, I have it too! Ugh!

For some reason just loading the kiln today was like an epic struggle! I wasn't like I was trying to get some dang ring back to Mordor or anything, just get the dang thing loaded and on! And just when I turned it on and was all satisfied and proud, thinking "Hey! I even had a little room to spare!", I lifted up a tray only to find another tray FULL of bead to try and fit!!! AHHHHHH!! So this is where I'm glad the kids were in school and did not have to hear my screaming, cursing, hissy fit to end all hissy fits! Don't ask me how I did it but I got those buggers in there... Deep sigh... I shoulda' taken a picture!

So I've been slightly neglectful of my etsy shop, what with all the homework, and I only have a few things to list anyway so after this firing I am hoping to fill my etsy with piles of earthy, fall goodness! YUM! Ok.

I've been hoarding this paisley heart for like 8 months now, and when these two lantern beads came out of the last firing and I decided they had to be set free! Have a great and homework free weekend! XO

Bundle Up! Bead Bundle Winners!

Thank you all for helping spread the word about the new bundles at Lima Beads! I also found another bundle to giveaway, but truthfully, all three "giveaway" bundles were earned! I will cut right to the chase...

And the winners....

 SueBeads said...

Thanks so much for the chance to win, I love them all but love shabby chic the best! I am already a follower!

 MeltTogetherbeads said...

Hey there, ive just started to blog and am now a follower. xx 

 CraftyHope said...

I really like the brightness of the Serendipity bundle! They're all fabulous bundles though. It was a tough decision.
Thanks for the giveaway.

Also, I'm a follower!

Please email me with your address' and I'll mail you your goodies!

Thanks to everyone for their kind words and support! It is truly appreciated!

Win A Bead Bundle!

Lima Beads just added 10 of my different ceramic bead and pendant bundles to their site! I have been making these bundles for over a year and they are a funky and fun way to jump start a project (even several projects!) In my excitement and as a celebration, I would like to give a Bee bead bundle and a Shabby Chic bundle away! 

Check out the bundles at Lima Beads and let me know which bundle is calling your name in a comment here and become a follower = 1 chance.

Tweet, facebook or blog about the giveaway  = 1 additional chance.

if you become a follower or say that you're already a follower in your comment = 1 additional chance.

So, you can earn up to three chances to win.  Please leave a comment by Sunday, October 16th at 10 pm (PST) and winner will be selected by 12 pm Monday afternoon!

Bee Bundle

Shabby Chic Bundle

TOP 6! Whoot!

Hey Guys! Guess what? My dear friend Dean has made it to the top 6 in the Washington Post Guest Advice Columnist contest!!!! Here is a note from Dean:

I'm now among the top 6 contestants vying to be a guest advice columnist for the Washington Post. I really, really appreciate everyone who voted, shared via Facebook, Twitter, blogs and emails. 

This round is a video, so my humiliation is 1 minute long and overpowered by the zippy green walls of my living room. 

Here's the link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/workadvice

And here's where you vote: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-user-polls/post/vote-for-your-favorite-atwork-advice-contestant-round-3/2011/10/12/gIQAdfcyeL_blog.html

If I remain in the running, the next (and final) round involves a live chat on Monday! 

Thanks for the support and all your kind comments.

-Dean

Please go and vote!!!!

Thanks!

20

Twenty years ago today we took the plunge into marriage and family! We have had our ups and downs and have weathered a few storms! I am looking forward to weathering at least 20 more with my sweet heart! 

Us in 1991.

With our good friend Dean at an Ikea photo booth. This is one of my favorite pictures!

Painting With Fire Book Tour Winner!

Thanks for all the lovely comments on yesterdays post! It really is an inspiring book and I am looking forward to painting with more fire! Barbara offered a copy of her new book as a prize and the winner is....

Cinder

Congratulations! Please email Barbara with your address and she will send you your book! Thanks to all who have participated so far! I hope you will check out todays post from Linda Larson of Objects and Elements!

Painting With Fire: My New Flame (And, Yes! There Are Prizes!)

Hello and welcome to the Torch-Fired Enamel Jewelry: A Workshop in Painting With Fire virtual book tour! If you are familiar with Barbara Lewis and her Painting With Fire brand then you know how beautiful and creative her torch-fired enamel jewelry is. If you are not familiar, you probably don't know how easy it is! As I am a certified, card holding Scaredy Cat and prefer to keep my heat and flame, safely contained within 6 inches of fire brick, I was dubious about "Painting With Fire"! Isn't that what our mamas told us not to do? But do we always listen (Calder and Magnolia plug your ears) to our mamas? Having said that, I was so enthralled with Barbaras techniques and talent that I just got over my cheep self and jumped in! Barbaras new book Torch-Fired Enamel Jewelry: A Workshop in Painting With Fire, is just for us Scaredy Cats and the more daring folks among us. I practically bum-rushed the poor folks in line at the post office to open my copy when it came in the mail and am proud to say that she used a few of my beads in one of her projects!

As with ceramic glazes, you can use Mason Stains to tint clear or white enamel, which would make it very versatile in my studio! I have done a few  projects with my enamel set and love the colors! Oddly, my favorite enamel colors to work with are white and nut, great neutrals for adding color to but perfectly shabby chic on their own. This book isn't just a tutorial but a gorgeously inspirational jewelry book with much more that strait forward enameling techniques. I am itching to try the etching and heat riveting techniques!

Perfect for my copper rings!

 Yes! That is a teeny tiny enameled head pin in that giant rock! 

 Torch enameled "s" hooks. The enamel is beautiful plus is smoothes any rough cut edges and fuses the openings!

Playing perfectly with ceramic, glass or metal, enameling is perfect for when I am looking for another handmade element to add to my designs and adds another great too to my ever expanding tool box. Barbara is as generous with her information as she is wonderfully creativity! Thank you Barbara! Here are some other stops on the Book Tour...

Mary Jane Dodd, October 6 www.mairedodd.blogspot.com 

Gaea Cannaday, October 7 www.gaeabeads.blogspot.com

Linda Larsen, October 8 www.objectsandelements.typepad.com

Andrew Thornton, October 10 www.andrew-thornton.blogspot.com

Lori Plyler, October 11www.waterstonejewelry.blogspot.com

Diane Cook, October 12 www.rosa-josies.blogspot.com

Lori Anderson, October 13 www.lorianderson.blogspot.com

LeAnn Weih, October 14 www.summersstudio.blogspot.com

Jen Judd Velasquez, October 15 www.jenjuddrocks.blogspot.com

Melissa Meman, October 17 www.melissameman.blogspot.com

 Lisa Crone, October 18 www.abeadaday.blogspot.com

 Shannon LeVart, October 19 www.missficklemediacom.blogspot.com

  Cindy Wimmer, October 20 www.sweetbeadstudio.com

 Laura Twiford, October 21 www.souvenirsfromlife.blogspot.com

 Erin Prais-Hintz, October 22 www.treasures-found.blogspot.com

 Jennifer Cameron, October 24 www.glassaddictions.com
JUST ADDED! October 25, Sharilyn Miller, http://sharilynmiller.blogspot.com/

You can win a copy of Barbaras Book from my blog and other prizes from other blogs, here's how...

We'll have prizes throughout the book tour plus a grand prize at the end! The more you spread the excitement, the more chances you have to win some of the goodies our bloggers are giving away!

Leave a comment at your host's blog and become a follower = 1 chance.

Tweet, facebook or blog about the giveaway and leave a comment at this post (the original Virtual Book Tour post)  = 1 additional chance.

While you're at Barbaras blog, if you become a follower or say that you're already a follower in your comment = 1 additional chance.

So, you can earn up to three chances per giveaway.  A winner will be selected by 10 p.m. eastern time and be announced the following day. You can check back at my blog for the name of the winner or at any other of the participating blogs.

To thank you for following along, we will have a BONUS PRIZE at the end of the book tour!  All of the entries will be included in the drawing for a kit containing all the elements of "Floral Cascade," one of the projects in the book! You'll receive everything you need to make the necklace, including the chain, jump rings, clasp, enamel beads, and head pins!


For a chance to win the Grand Prize - a Torch-Firing Kit (or $110 shopping experience at www.paintingwithfireartwear.com) - please leave a review atAmazon.com by November 24.  Remember, leave an honest review... the book must stand on its own.

P.S. Unfortunately, we have to restrict the giveaways to U.S. residents.  "Winners should contact me with their name and address through my author website:

www.torchfiredenameljewelry.com so that you can receive your prizes!"

Painting With Fire Virtual Book Tour...

Please check back in tomorrow for the launch of the "Torch-Fired Enamel Jewelry: a Workshop in Painting with Fire" virtual book tour! There are prizes along the way too! The first stop is tomorrow with Mary Jane Dodd and my post is on Friday! Here is a list of tour dates to hit your computer!

October 6, Mary Jane Dodd, www.mairedodd.blogspot.com

October 7, Gaea Cannaday, www.gaeabeads.blogspot.com

October 8, Linda Larsen, www.objectsandelements.typepad.com

October 10, Andrew Thornton, www.andrew-thornton.blogspot.com

October 11, Lori Plyler, www.waterstonejewelry.blogspot.com

October 12, Diane Cook, www.rosa-josies.blogspot.com

October 13, Lori Anderson, http://www.prettythingsblog.com

October 14, LeAnn Weih, www.summersstudio.blogspot.com

October 15, Jen Judd Velasque, www.jenjuddrocks.blogspot.com

October 17, Melissa Meman, www.melissameman.blogspot.com

October 18, Lisa Crone, www.abeadaday.blogspot.com

October 19, Shannon LeVart, www.missficklemediacom.blogspot.com

October 20, Cindy Wimmer, www.sweetbeadstudio.com

October 21, Laura Twiford, www.souvenirsfromlife.blogspot.com

October 22, Erin Prais-Hintz, www.treasures-found.blogspot.com

October 24, Jennifer Cameron,  www.glassaddictions.com

Don't Make Me Beg!

Thanks to the lovely folks who may have gone over to vote for my friend Dean! I just got this note from him...

Hello again my friends. 

I'm now one of eight contestants vying to be a guest advice columnist for the Washington Post. 

Thank you to everyone who voted in Round 1, and to those who passed the message on via Facebook, Twitter, blogs and emails. Voting was tough and I barely scraped by. So please, vote even more fervently for my latest submission, and spread the word. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/dean-buckley-five-ways-to-cope-with-job-insecurity-atwork-advice-contest-round-2/2011/10/04/gIQA3nzcNL_story.html

The voting link is at the end of the article.

Thanks and love!

-Dean Buckley

So, if you wouldn't mind...

The Spirited Bead and Klew's Gallery Trunk Show

Are you in the Tehachapi, California area? I just sent a big old box of fall goodness to the talented Karen Lewis of Klew's Spirited Beads. She is an AMAZING bead artist and owns 2 bead shops. If you are in the area this weekend, please stop by to see new bundles and new owls. Thanks Klew for having us!

See This Guy...

Vote for him! My dear and lovely friend Dean is in the first round of this contest!!! He is an awesome writer and all around person! PLEASE vote for him! Click the link that says "vote for your favorite" then click on his picture, it will highlight, and then hit the submit button! Please feel free to pass this along! GO DEAN!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/2010/07/08/gIQA5ZPLgJ_page.html

Passion for Purple!

Ok... Now that I'm a little calmer, I can share these purple glazes. Plum! Grape! Wine! YUM!

It is just so darn juicy!

Stop! THEIF!

I thought I could just ignore it and it would go away. I thought if I thought good thoughts, it would go away. I thought if I said anything I'd look like a loon! I've tried those strategies and it's not going away. It is a touchy subject but it has been weighing heavy on my heart. Initially I'd received a few emails from lovely customers and fellow designer alerting me to another designer having uncannily similar items for sale. I took a look and thought "WOW!" that does look copyright infringingly similar if not the same. I sat with it for a few days in attempt to out run my PMS that I thought was surely playing tricks with my eyes and mental state. My motto is usually "Never put off to tomorrow what PMS can totally ruin today". I didn't say it was a good motto. None the less I waited. It didn't go away and neither did the emails. So I jotted off a jaunty note requesting that the person please respect my copyrights. I received an equally jaunty note commenting that, I make mostly pendants (not true), that I have so many more sales than they do (irrelevant and as one friend commented to me "does this look like a commune?" which I had to laugh at!) and stating that it is their style and they couldn't change it if they tried! Denial.

As this is my main source of income and I've worked really hard over the last 12 years, not only is this person stealing from me and my children, others are noticing it, and talking about it. That isn't pretty. Would you want the world looking at your work thinking "What are they trying to pull?!" It is not a small bead and design community but people definitely notice this sort of thing. Even in an attempt to fix the problem and find a solution, there is talk about it. It is not going unnoticed for me and for other designers having similar issues. Do people think that if you see something posted online that it is free for the taking? They are in fact not. Once you create something, it is yours and is protected by law. My thinking was that this person will move onto other work and either grow into their own or start stealing from someone else. That doesn't fix a serious problem though, one that many others find themselves in. I do believe there is room for everyone, but know in my heart that there is no room for this behavior. Others have suggested I contact an attorney. Sound advice. For me the point is this, sitting idly by is not good for me or my work. At some point you need to protect what is yours. I really appreciated that there were friends out there that thought enough to say something to me, to try to protect me saying "We have your back", and you know, I have yours! For now I am keeping my sense of humor at the ready. I know I will need it!

Heavy Heart.

It has been a tough week. But also a lovely blog hop. Thank you to Lori Anderson for hosting such a wonderful event. I am still making my way around to the various blogs. Thanks for all the lovely comments! Looking at it a week later (and with a few hours of sleep), I think I was perhaps a bit hard on myself!

There have been a few things that have been weighing heavy in my heart. One was the loss of a loved one. The other I will talk about later. My stepfather Clarence passed away in July not more than a few days after my sons birthday. It was a total shock and our family is muddling through. I have tough memories and sweet memories. Mostly sweet. He was literally a rocket scientist and worked at his job for over 30 years. When I was a teenager our relationship was like that of siblings which probably stemmed from the fact that he had no biological children. Thinking back on those times I realize how difficult it must have been for him to have this raging ball of teen hormones set loose in his home. The smart man that he was, he tried in vain to help this math phobic with what must have been to him the most basic of math homework. I'm sure he was frustrated with my total lack of skill but would never show it. I would simultaneously marvel and be frustrated at how he could seemingly pull the answers from his hat. We celebrated his life this weekend and I was lucky to meet many of his friends and colleagues. Like math, life isn't always easy and we will miss him... times 10 to the 10th power.

Bead Soup: A Necklace Only A Mother Could Love...

Welcome to my Bead Soup project! Thank you to Lori Anderson for organizing such a great blog/bead event! If you have had thoughts about participating and have not yet, let me say that I've enjoyed myself. My work may suggest otherwise and I think this may be one of those "what not to do" situations...

I would like to start by saying, I had the best intentions. I planned ahead and had a definite idea of what I wanted. My project had other plans. It may not be as bad as I think it is, or it is worse. I can't decide. A big "THANK YOU" to Caitriona Meek "The Queen of Sawing Sheet Metal"  for showing me how to saw sheet metal. I probably should have brought an extra sheet to her house as a precaution, because that was step one and it all sorta went down hill from there (I can laugh about it now). I was trying to be careful but managed to saw a kind of amoeba shape not the perfect comma shape that I had drawn on the sheet. I mean I traced around it for goodness sakes! 

It was all going fine and dandy until I noticed a small space of the bezel hadn't got enough solder under it and instead of popping the piece out of the bezel, I... torched it. Yep. It popped and cracked and scared the pooh outta me. "Why didn't you take it out before you added heat?" Yep. Why indeed! 

Yep. It cracked. I know! I know! I was in a hurry! Luckily the bezel is holding it all together... I should have turned the fossil around and had the rounded side poking through. Should'a, could'a, would'a!

And yes. Those are earrings made from the clasp set Dot sent me. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I was told I had to use the focal and the clasp and dagnabit it, that is what I did! I'm not trying to be cheeky, I just put all my eggs in the "solder the bezel" basket. So there you have it! Soup to "nuts" Please jump over to my Bead Soup partner Dot Lewallen!

Here is a link to the other artists on this Bead Soup blog hop! Thanks for stopping by and ENJOY!