New Stuff!

I've been doing some playing around in the mud over the past few weeks and finally have everything up on the website! Shown above are a bunch of my cut out pendants, some on the website and some are off in the mail for consideration in the upcoming issue of Beads 2011.

Also on their way to Beads 2011 (but a couple on the website) are my new nests... I hesitated to make them because there are so many great nest beads out there but I felt like these were different enough to do with all the individual "twigs" that I should go for it. What do you think?There's no prominent hole for them but the open nature of the nest allows for a thin stringing material or bail to be inserted. I also think they would be ahhhmazing glued to a flat backing or bezel...ring anyone?

I've also been playing around with pushing my porcelain pendants to the limit as far as thinness...this time with pierced designs. One is on Etsy already...Major losses in both production and firing with these guys and the glaze results are still not 100% what I'm looking for but I love how delicate they turned out. I had some of the pendants where the holes fully filled with glaze, kind of a stained glass effect, which is what I wanted but it didn't happen consistently.

Be sure to check back later this week for a super special giveaway opportunity. The generous folks at CSN stores offered me the opportunity to do a product review or another gift certificate giveaway...I thought I'd spread the love to all my wonderful peeps so I chose the giveaway. One lucky person will receive a no strings attached gift certificate code for $45 to spend at any of their shops! They have so many great things and reasonable prices so the winner should be able to find something wonderful, whether it's a splurge or a necessity.

The Little Things...

that can make my day... On Monday morning driving in the rain I was able to take this (totally legal and not dangerous at all) picture from my phone to catch a stunning double rainbow. I was actually worried I was going to end up in a car crunch because I was so distracted staring out my side window! Not only did this stunning rainbow turn out to be fully visible as a complete arch at one point, even more astounding was a first for me...the end of the rainbow was not only visible, it ended at the side of the freeway! Alas...no pot of gold on this one... but I don't need it, I have these yummy beads from Kelley instead! She hooked me up when she was here last weekend... Not sure how long I'll hold on to this pretty little egg and trio of headpins before I put them to work! Now, on to the last kiln load now up on the website... I managed to sneak in a couple more stoneware pendants with my newest glaze...Plus a pair of little bumpy bead caps... and some new drippy branch pendants...Next post, a super delicious recipe for a snack that's just too easy (and good for you...unlike the leftover Halloween M&Ms cookies I baked up tonight!) to pass up! So what have you done with all your leftover candy?

A Little Fun...

planned for this weekend! If you follow Kelley's blog you know she's on her way to sunny San Diego for a visit (well, it's been sunny this week...they say we're might have drizzle on the weekend...boo hiss!).

It seems like almost all of my beady buddies are waaaay to the East, so I was just thrilled when Kelley told me a while ago that she would be coming to my neck of the woods to visit a friend who was about to have a baby. I didn't hold out too much hope that we'd get a good chunk of hang out time but then she emailed to say she'd be here and free for almost the whole weekend! If there's one thing I love love love, it's playing tour guide. Especially for someone who is interested in beady and artistic things! Now, since she's put it out in the world I know I have to stick to my promises... (even though she didn't find a way to pack Little Horse for me) I've promised:

her toes will touch sand (although it might be super chilly)

her ears will listen to the Pacific (and it will most certainly be wonderful)

her eyes will see sea lions (and her nose will smell them!)

her feet will walk for a cure (and she'll get to go out for brunch after...and maybe even sit in my mack daddy massage chair later)

she will eat good (make that totally freakin' amazing) Mexican food (in a super awesome kitschy setting)

she WILL NOT end up at Taco Bell if "restaurant A" falls through due to recent publicity (dang that Man vs Food episode re-airing yesterday)

she will get her fill of Balboa Park and the Artists' Village (somehow in the 10+ yrs in SD I haven't made it to the Village...pretty sad)

she will meet pupper Nana (but she must keep her mouth shut about the state of my "studio" space...I'm not kidding about this...there might be a waiver/confidentiality agreement signed...she'll even get to meet hubster)

I think there will be a couple of good fun outing surprises along the way too but I'm not going to put a spoiler out there! Despite the fact that I feel like I'm going through a particularly non-photogenic phase, I promise that we will have lots of photos of our funness to share!

Now on the topic of our walking for the cure...for the second year in a row I'm walking with the Babes for Boobs team in the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure. I've done an abysmal job of fundraising this year so I'm going to totally copy Kelley's approach and after you've headed over to her for your lampwork if you want some ceramic goodies too you can get 10% of the amount you donate via my fundraising page off your next order with me! Just make the donation online with your name identified and send me an email with the amount...I'll send you a code to use on my website for your donation discount!

Okey Dokey, some new pics to share from the kiln load this week... Tell me you love this glaze (because I totally dig it!). Some more of my new Branches series... A set of beads in that same yummy delish glaze as the first pendant... A single bead cap with the itty bitty beading detail...only one because I busted everything else that matched it :( A pair of bumpy bead caps, kind of urchiney aren't they? Last but not least, a pendant and matching beads in my new Turtle Green glaze... Stop back on by later this weekend for fun touristy pics!
So what do YOU have planned for this weekend?