Eggs With a Side of Banjo, Please! (and a bundle winner!)

Why do the long weekends go by the fastest? Friday, well who can remember Friday? Saturday we watched Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows part 2 (beads in hand). I cried like a baby. Again. Robert and I decided that Voldemort really could have died a more gruesome death. He deserved it. Our friend Karen is a musical talent if ever there was one! Karen and her husband play live music at a local diner on Sunday mornings so we had the best veggie Eggs Benedict with a side of banjo and upright bass. Very cool! In the afternoon I helped my friend Caitriona with her new etsy shop. Caitriona is such a talented artist who has her hands busy with many things. While raising 3 boys she manages to find time to whip up silver and gold creations as well as put pen to paper for these fantastic line drawings which she has turned into t-shirts. Today we are working on getting our etsy shops in gear for the holidays....

Thanks to everyone for leaving comments about the season bundles over at Lima Beads! The winner is...

 kat said...

The red birdie bundle is my favorite but all are really lovely!!

November 11, 2011 9:20 AM

Please email your address to (gaea (at) gaea (dot) cc) and I will get your bundle out toot sweet!

Tis The Season! And a Gift!

Typically, I am hard pressed to think about things that are not right in front of my nose. I guess that's a nice way of saying I don't plan ahead. Holidays inspire me while they are happening, not 2 to 3 months before, so it was nice to get a nudge from Ali over at Lima Beads. Ali asked, so I a made 5 new holiday bundles! I am so happy with how they turned out! There is something vintage and rustic about them... You can see them at the Lima Beads site! Let me know which is your favorite by Sunday evening and I'll pick a random winner to send a Candy Cane bundle to! Share it on Twitter and Facebook to enter extra times! Happy (almost) holidays!

Looking For Some Fun.

This last week was a big push and just full to the brim with work. I am so elated to be busy but it has worn me down and tt just dawned on me after two days of on and off crying fits, that maybe I need to find some fun and lighten things up a bit. The mail person has been kind to me and brought so many treasures but I had to put off play time over and over again. It feels like I haven't seen my family or friends in ages so I am really looking forward to giving thanks with them at the end of the month. These beautiful Green Girl Studios bead and pendants arrived for play time. The kids faces lit up like a klieg light when they saw all the pretties! Calder chose the octopus bead and a robot. Magnolia chose a heart pendant with a Helen Keller quote on the back and a panda baby...

And yes! That is a disco pumpkin you are looking at, compliments of Miss Magnolia!

There might be new items in my etsy shop. There also might be a few gifts involved. Maybe.

OK! Play time!

Whoa!

This has been a week dedicated to beads. I have done nothing else but make beads. It is good to be busy and I am so glad to be taking at least one afternoon this weekend to got see Puss In Boots with the kids. The mail has brought some amazing things and I haven't had a chance to covet them yet. I got a hand full of silks, some new double flush cutters (My fingers are happy for that! YAY!), a few books, and a MESS of Green Girl Studios beauties (more on the books and GGS later)!

To sum this week up... Beads. Puss In Boots. Cinnamon toast. Beads. Rain. Coffee. Coffee. Beads. Glaze. The Tooth Fairy. Beads. Coffee. Green Girls Studio. Beads. Beads. Beads. Glaze. Beads.

This is my dream morning...

Fall At Lima Beads

It is fall and Lima Beads just busted out a ton of new fall love in the form of crystal, tools, and ARTIST BEADS! If anybody asks.... I'm out shopping!

Winter Wonderland...

It has been in the mid to upper 80s for the last few weeks but today is overcast and gray and I'm enjoying it, completely! I've got my cuppa joe and the tunes cranked up and am dreaming of the colder days to come. I guess I've had to trick my mind a bit to get into the coming season or maybe the work I've been doing did the tricking! These are on their way to a place that actually gets snow, and that seems funny to me! How are you getting ready for the coming season!

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...