Took a little road  trip up to the Adams River to see the Sockeye Run...just amazing  

Been busy in the studio..getting ready for the REALLY BIG  Potters & Artisans Show & Sale..to be held at the  Rotary Centre for the Arts..
                                Nov. 13  & 14th

Come for this class on Wed. Sept. 22..drop into Studio 203 at the  Rotary Centre for the Arts..

Just finished my fall clean-up in the studio..always a good feeling to get that done..where does all that stuff come from...I am trying to go with the  'LESS is MORE'  attitude.... A good day to do it as it rained  ALL  day more or less

Fall classes are under way @ the R.C.A.    http://www.rotarycentreforthearts.com/
check out my classes listed on their site.

I am doing a fusing project Wednesday (Sept. 22)  afternoon  1:00 - 3:00 pm...
There is room for a few more people..just drop by and  make yourself a pendant or 2 for just $65.00..  These make great Christmas gifts...

BEAD....the one adornment that links ALL cultures

Can't believe the tomatoes that I'm growing..they are fabulous.....

Time to get started designing & making  for the November  13 & 14 show...Artisans' & Potters' @  the  R.C.A.  http://www.rotarycentreforthearts.com/  where o where has the summer gone...
Spent lots of time on the water teaching the grandkids to water-ski..whoo-hooo!!!

WOW where did the summer go??? Can't believe August is almost half over...the weather is really nice now..doin lots of boating...have not done much in my studio..have to give it a good cleaning and reorganizing..seems I would rather do that than actually get down to business & makestuff...LOL

A fab weekend @ the R.C.A...was the annual Artisans & Potters Show...Thanks to everyone who dropped by to visit...Despite the hot weather we had a lot of interest...Met some great people.

The next SHOW is in November..

Just a reminder about Canada Day..I am planning on setting up a table down @ the Rotary Centre for the Arts..should be there @ 10:00 till ????

LOTS of good things for sale...

just had to post this fab picture that I took tonight of the sun set...today was a very weird day as far as weather...sunny, cloudy, rainy,.etc.
everything in one day... and a fab way to end the day.

Summer is finally here...
Doing a show down @ the R.C.A. Canada....July 1 starts @ 10:00 AM

A new design just made today..this design allows the focal bead to be changed..

it just slides off the curly part on the bottom wire piece..hammered 20 gauge steel wire..hand made bead by ME.............................................

...........Fabulous colour combo of turquoise, lime green & black

.................focal bead in blue & ivory..wire work loops

Working on some new wire wrapping designs and new ways to photograph them...

just finished a new batch of beads and editing the colours...

Lots of new ideas swirling around in my head...now if I can just get them done.

Have had lots of family visiting the past few weeks... back to work but it will be busy for the next month with visitors...

we are finally finishing the yard..getting the driveway black-top done....

awesome!! time to start all over again... our house was supposed to be a 5 year project which turned into a 11 year project...oh well..
it's not getting to the end of the road but the journey along the way!!!...so "they" say

I have been busy making some new display pieces for my sale in July @ the R.C.A.

May already.....working in my studio....trying out a few new designs..

Found this quote the other day:

'the person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, and becomes nothing may avoid  suffering ...but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live.'

                                           by Leo Buscaglia

Spring is finally here...It's a great day in the Okanagan..lots of wildlife viewing from my yard.. The Loons are out on the Lake..the deer are wandering thru

Things are a bit slow @ the R.C.A. I am now of member of Okanagan Artists Group

Had a FABULOUS day at the 'Fabulous Finds' trunk show at Summerhill Pyramid Winery..

could not believe how busy it was all day...non-stop..

Watch for announcement for a show in the fall.

Went skiing to day.. BIG WHITE..the snow was spectacular, but the wind was something else.

Very cold and blowing snow..they don't call it Big White for nothing.!!!!!

We did manage to ski for 4 and 1/2 hours..Not all that many people there either..guess people

have golfing on their minds now.

It's back to work in the studio this week..I have been doing my 'spring' cleaning and re-organizing. Have lots of ideas for new stuff..going to try some STEAMPUNK jewellery..I have

lots of watch parts and old keys... We'll see what I can turn out...

One WEEK until: FABULOUS FINDS

An Artisan and Collectors' Show
Saturday, March 27 10 am - 4 pm
Summerhill Pyramid Winery
4870 Chute Lake Road Free Admission

SHOP HANDMADE SHOP VINTAGE

My daughter and I will be there..lots of vintage goodies, incuding jewellery, purses, scarves,
umbrellas, linens, glass wear and nic knacks.

I will of course have my hot glass, hand-made jewellery on display for sale & viewing:
beads , bracelets, pendants, & earrings

Drop by and say HELLO

Just had to post these pics I took in Ireland two years ago... just fabulous

new post for Monday...just looking after the grandkids...great day for a BBQ.. I was dispatched to get the hot dogs & buns.. time for a roast on the beach. We do this every spring when the water is low and we can build a fire on the beach

QUOTE for the week-

Creation is the Artist's True Function
Where there is no Creation there is no Art...Henri Matisse (1869 - 1954)

Had a busy time last week.. taught a lampworking class and a fused pendant class. Great people in both classes.

Did a little skiing..Big White was fabulous.. The Grandkids are doing very well considering they only started skiing last year..


I'm busy designing bracelets, etc. for an up & coming show up at Summerhill Winery..It is called "FABULOUS FINDS" an Artisan & Collectors' Show Sat. March 27... 10 am - 4 pm.
SHOP HANDMADE - SHOP VINTAGE

I will be sharing a table with my daughter, who does vintage wares..do plan to drop by...

Winter is now half over...Yeah!!!! Here's a quote I recently saw:

LIFE is a Coin...You can spend it anyway you WISH..but you can only spend it ONCE!!!

Here's a little "HISTORY of JEWELLERY" that I hope you will find interesting:

The first jewellery ever made was produced by hand in the Stone Age. Our ancestors made jewellery from materials they considered to be precious such as shells, stones or bones. The jewellery was not only supposed to decorate the person wearing it but also an expression & proof of success & social standard. The hunter, for instance, proudly wore a chain with teeth & claws from a bear as proof of his courage.

The first glass was formed over 40 million years ago by tremendous heat from volcanoes-it is called obsidian. The first man-made glass (consisting of sand, potash & lime) is believed to have been made about 3500 B.C. in Anatolia & Mesopotamia. Of course the Venetians (from Venice) took glass making to another level. Colours can be made by adding metallic oxides..glass can be poured, molded, stretched, cut, polished & etched..making it ideal to add sparkle & excitement to jewellery.

The first attempt of designing 'jewellery' is to be seen in the arranging of chain links or beads according to size. Already the Sumerians had the manufacturing know-how for making most of the jewellery we know today. The ornament as a unified form of decoration was then found in necklaces, earrings & bracelets. "Ornamento" is still today the Italian word for jewellery. Only in the 15 century the meaning of jewellery gradually changed from a status symbol to a fashionable accessory.

Both men & women adorned themselves with decorative gold necklaces, bangles & bracelets. The individual links could be taken out from the piece of jewellery & used as a means of payment.

During the Renaissance the wearing of jewellery became more & more the exclusive right of women & the styling of jewellery was increasingly influenced by fashion. The fast process of industrialization in the 19th Century brought with it the mass production of jewellery. Today thousands of identical pieces of jewellery can be produced.

For quite some time now fashion jewellery has become the fashionable alternative to real jewellery manufactured by jewellers or industry. However, fashion jewellery cannot & does not intend to replace real jewellery.

Buying hand-made jewellery from an artisan insures that you have a Unique, One of a Kind piece to add to your collection.

Another fab day in the Okanagan. I looked out my studio window yesterday and this cute little doe was looking back @ me!!!

I've been really busy making a bunch of awesome beads...just took them out of the kiln after annealing them and then cleaned them with the dremel drill. I went to the hardware store and purchased a hose clamp and L-bracket and fixed the drill to my work-bench and then hooked the whole thing up to a foot switch...presto..I can now use both hands to hold the bead & clean it out in 30 seconds flat...such a time saver.

I made a make-shift light box out of large vinegar jug..the photos of my jewellery are much better now..also I have up-loaded them all on Piccasa & it is 2 or 3 touches to fix the photos.

I hope to post some on my Etsy shop soon..taking good photos seems to be something I need to work on...

Another fab day in paradise..here's a pic. of the view from here...

Just got back from a little trip to Palm Springs..had great weather..did some bead & finding shopping.. some things you just can not get here...Time to get down to business and make some

beads and stuff..

Here is a cab that I made in my micro-wave kiln..Took just 3 minutes...awesome...

Another Christmas has come and gone...where ...o... where did the time go...Not much doing on the glass front here...everytime I want to get some glass stuff done.. I get side tracked.....

Had 3 good days skiing @ Big White with my husband, daughter and grandkids...Was mighty cold but the skiing was fantastic.

Have spent the rest of the time cooking, eating and trying to figure out the Blue tooth phone thing ...as of the 1st of Jan. we must use hands free phones..

Also I have been organizing my pictures that are on my lap-top..seems I have not done anything with them in a couple of years...my New Years resolution is to do them every month and then not have to spend a whole weekend making a mess of them..

We had a Red Tail hawk land in our yard today..my husband took a pic. of him as he was making a meal of a California Quail....Apparently it was quite interesting.. I will post a pic. him...the bird book says they rarely eat fowl...only rodents...I guess the quail was on the no fly list...!!!

Back from Vancouver, managed to fill another dumpster.. and got things organized in the old house..(I am defininitley getting rid of all the stuff I don't use).

.... and back to the studio..we have a display down at the R.C.A. I have started it but not finished. it's good exposure...Have to add a few more things, it will show a good range of all my projects and classes.

Had a class of very nice ladies today.. doing wire work with my hand-made glass beads...everyone did exceptionally well. I was impressed...

Well..things never turn out how we would like them..I had all my ducks in a row..that would be pieces of glass in my case...

After my last class I returned home only to have a phone call from my cousin saying my Uncle had passed away.... We were going to Vancouver anyways...so we spent the whole 4 days throwing stuff in a gigantic dumpster.. I knew he liked to keep & collect things.. (cameras especially..over 300 of them) but no idea he was such a hoarder... One dumpster later and another to fill...

Anyways..another trip to Van. on Mon. And a quiet family graveside service for him as he left no instructions for his final demise...

Soooo .....we just have to wing it..

My husband and I came back vowing to get rid of all the extra stuff we have surrounding us...

All this stuff just creeps up on one... I think we can get by on very little because we all have our favorite things.. and use only maybe 40 or 50% of what we have....

So another job to do in the near future....

Another fabulous day in the Okanagan..seems we are having lots of them these days.

Finally got the studio cleaned up and ready to start production for the HOMES for the HOLIDAYS.. gig...

Did a bead-making class yesterday at the RCA.. great ladies to teach.. They made some lovely beads.. Now I just have to anneal them... My kiln is just about fixed.. we have all the parts.

We took it apart and saw that it was just the infinite control switch where some of the wires were fried.. Got the new one at the local appliance repair shop.. how easy was that??? Sounds too easy to me!!!

Where did October go? Can't believe it's almost November... we have lived in the Okanagan for 10 years now..that's amazing too.

I have been busy teaching and making pieces for the up-coming ...EVENT..

'Homes for the Holidays' Nov. 13, 14 & 15..

I will be at the Martin Lofts.. 700 Martin Avenue on Friday Eve. 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm.

This is by admission to ticket holders only..(http://www.selectyourtickets.com/)

On Saturday (Nov. 14) I will be at the Rotary Centre for the Arts...Studio 203 (no tickets needed here)

There is also a big artisan Sale at RCA all that weekend..Our studio will of course be open...

The Evergreen Art Gallery will be up for viewing also...

Not sure where I will be on Sunday..

These are the pics. of pieces that I fused in micro-wave kiln about 20 years ago...

Now it is official..I have my web-site up and running
http://www.faywolfendendesigns.com/

although I have to finish it off and add some stuff ...that will be a challenge for me
My daughter Stacy helped me..she is the techno whiz around here..
There is not enough time to do everything...

My kiln stopped working...looks like I need a new Controller..The solution to fix it is not easy (parts have to come from Toronto) or cheap.. but I figure I will up-grade to a digital control..

I have ordered a new mini-kiln that uses the micro-wave to fuse glass..only can do one large cabochon at a time..but it will be a good teaching tool as I will be able to use it at Studio 203.

I used one of these about 20 years ago and then they disappeared off the market... I still have the pieces that I fused.. will post some pics. of them....Fusing is really "HOT" right now...no pun intended..

Another fabulous day here in the SUNNY Okanagan....
Another day of teaching at the RCA..this time it was fused glass...had two great ladies...they were excellent students...very nice work... will post pics. of their work when I finish fusing.
The studio is working out very well...

I am being represented in a NEW Gallery that is showing my ART Glass panels and Beadwork Bracelets:

A Woodside Design Gallery...1561 Pandosy St. Kelowna...

If you are in the area drop by and have a look

or drop by the RCA and say Hi.. I am usually there on Monday afternoons and some Wednesdays, depending on if I have a class...

I have my first class to teach on Monday....It is a lampworking class..

Our weather has been just fabulous...too bad ...we had to put the boat away for the winter as the lake is too low to get it off the lift. Oh well. I have lots to do to keep busy. .We have a big show the 13, 14, 15 of Nov. @ the RCA

Another fabulous day in the sunny okanagan.. time to get some work done...have been making a lot of beads and finally got them all annealed...now have to clean them...

Had a great "Grand Opening" lots of friends came..many thanks to all who came...

Getting ready to teach some classes and start designing more pieces..have lots of ideas.

Have been making a lot of beads lately..I love to make beads...they are instant little master pieces...whereas designing and building an art-glass piece could take a week or longer.

It"s been a while...
I've been busy getting things ready for our big opening of studio 203..
It's looking pretty nice..floor painted, walls painted, I have some of my pieces hung up.
There's always a lot more to do than I think.

Learn more about our studio at www.rotarycentreforthearts.com
See pics. etc.

Our "Grand Opening" is Sept. 3rd...4:00 - 9:00 PM

Another smokey day......Can hardly see across the lake
My daughter is working so we are looking after the grand kids...all they like to do is go swimming and eat... My grand-daughter (age 8) is becoming a pro at water-skiing..will post some pics later.
We are getting our studio..(now named Studio 203) at the Rotary Centre ready for moving in!!!
More about that later..

It's Monday and the fire is finally settling down....really hot here now and apparently getting hotter by end of week...

I am busy getting my course schedule ready for the fall. Will be teaching some glass courses at the R.C.A. ....... http://www.rotarycentreforthearts.com

Looking after the grandkids for a while..they love it down at the lake

..Oh well, it's tough spending time in the boat on the water.. but someone has to do it..

What??another fire...we have been watching the fire grow from a very small plume of smoke to a very large all consuming fire across the lake...amazing to see it from this side this time and not be in the middle of it as we were in 2003.. It is moving south along the lake shore towards Peachland now....

Apparently there is another fire up Vernon way, I can see the smoke from here...and there is a lot of it... The winds are very big..up to 60 km. per hour...that does not help..

Just found out that my submission of my art glass panel "golden moments" (see my pic. in previous post) got accepted... it will now be up for bids all over the world...

July at last..time to get back in the studio... before the summer guests arrive....!!
I have sold a few pieces recently and my stock needs replenishing...

The verdict is in...We got the Studio... YEAH!!
We will be taking up residence at the Rotary Centre for the Arts come the 1st of August

Donated a lampwork bracelet to the Yacht Club for a fund raiser...Variety Boat for Hope..

Friday night...went for a little boat cruise out on the lake...

We are having a garage sale at my daughter's house on Saturday..getting ready for that..

Finally got all caught up with all my 'chores'...Had a great trip to Easten Europe...sailed down the Danube (& no it is NOT Blue..don't know where that came from..it is more like our Fraser River only a LOT bigger)..
Lots happening in the art department...a Studio has come up for rent at the Rotary Centre so I have been busy doing a bio, etc... I would be teaching glass, beads and cabs.. Here's a pic. of one of my creations..
We want to start a co-op with Precious Metal Clay, and Silversmithing..
Hope we get it...
I have been busy designing some wind chimes/wind-whimsies...have to figure out how to photograph them best..will try & get some pics up soon..

Went on a road trip to Eagle Crest Resort in Oregon recently with sister-in-law and her husband.

Had a great time hiking and biking..the weather did not fully co-operate as it was a bit chilly and did snow on occassion...We didn't get to horseback ride or play golf as planned...Did learn a new Dominos game called Mexican train..must admit I won most of the games...

We leave on Thursday, the 14th for a boat cruise down the Danube River.

April is here.. won 4 free ski passes, equipement rentals and lessons at Big White... great for the grandkids & Stacy..we got up quite a few times with them....Still lots of snow up there..it closes down thru lack of interest....Had everyone here for Easter dinner.

Now it's time to concentrate on my art glass ....

Wow! what a spring break....lots of skiing at Big White with Stacy and the grandkids...they are doing fantastic..to think they just started in Feb.09.. Also did some swimming at the local pool..we can't wait till the new pool and water park open..next week...Lots of hot-dog and marshmellow roasts on the beach....this is the only time of year to do it as the water is so low at this time of year...Now it's time to ge back to my glass studio...lots of geat ideas to implement....going to up-cycle some old jewellery and see what I can come up with...

Spring is finally here ..yea! Took a picture of this guy out of my window..I think he is waiting for his lunch to wander by!!!

Spring is just a few days away...the robins are back..fighting over the mountain ash berries that are left.

It's March break so we have been doing some fun things with the Grand-kids..swimming, lunch at the Yacht Club..and skiing..

Mr. Willy the cat has awoke from his winter sleep and is following me around all day.

I have been spending at least an hour at the torch most every day so will have some pictures of new bracelets to post...if I can just take some good pictures of them..I have to spend some time reading my camera manual... There is never enough time in the day to do all I want.

Here it is- almost the middle of March. We are still in the deep freeze.

Have been re-oganizing my studio..

Time to dust the cat hair off everything and get busy in the studio...

Have made lots of wind-chimes in bright colours..

Finally got back at the torch and made some beads.

Tomorrow looks promising weather - wise...have to get back out

with my walking group..so sick of wearing boots and heavy coats..

Can't wait for the warm weather.

Well..Jan. is almost over..We are out of the deep-freeze and glad of it...

the walking trails are still very icy and dangerous..I. finally went out and bought a pair of Yak Traks.. don't want to break any bones...
Been skiing quite a bit..conditions are really good. We took the grand-kids up on Sunday to try out their new skis...It was so hot up at Big White....everyone was skiing in their t-shirts...
We definitely need a lot more snow for the duration of the winter...
Woke up this morning to a few of our deer friends grazing and sleeping in our yard...at least the deer fencing is working and they don't get to munch on our cedars any more...

Where has all the time gone??? Had a great trip to Toronto & South America. Met some great people!!! Came home early Dec. and had to start Christmas shopping, etc...the studio work was put on hold.. Had a great pot luck lunch here in my studio.. 12 walking ladies brought various good things to eat...It has been the season for parties and eating, eating, eating!!!
Well, it started snowing a week or so ago and has not stopped...I have been hiebernating in the house making excuses to not go out..tomorrow I just have to go out to do some errands, etc. that is if I can get out of the driveway with all this snow.

I have been really busy in my studio..making lots of bracelets and art glass panels
Got a new camera and it seems to do the job..

Back to work in the studio now..have been busy up at Summerhill Winery..doing glass demos, etc.
Sunday was the Wine Festival Brunch...awesome...A bit on the cold side..as we were outside...
Now I am busy doing some panels to donate for some charity events....Had to buy a new torch to make my beads...didn't know they wore out..oh, well just as easy to buy a new one than get it fixed..
Only 1 month left before we head off to South America..
Have been working on a new choker design..will post a picture of it.
I'm looking at buying a new camera.. just have to find the time to shop..
Here's one of my little deer friends having lunch in our yard.

The end of summer is just a day a way..it seemed to go by really fast.. Weather wise it wasn't the best... Now it is back to work... Here are a few things I have been working on...also view my jewellery selections on www.torchfairy.etsy.com ..I am really going to try & post some more of my stuff, but I am such a computer non-wizard it isn't even funny..I am planning a fall open house..maybe around the Wine Festival... who knows...We are off to South America in November...

.Here's a few pics of the grandkids enjoying water fun..

Have had lots of company they all love the sunny Okanagan!!! ..just can't keep them away....The weather has finally turned around and is quite decent now..the wind has died down and the water has actually warmed up to 76 or 78 degrees..yes I have finally done some wake-boarding now that the water is at a good temperature..(for me a least) the grand kids love it no matter what...can't keep them out.

It's been while..Had a great trip to England, Scotland and Ireland..Now back to reality..Summer time is here..we've been busy building a new garage and doing the yard work that goes along with it.
Took 9 dump truck loads of dirt out and brought about 4 loads of huge rocks to make all the rock walls. Also doing some work down at the lake..Steve added on to the cabana and put a bathroom in.
The deer have finally stopped munching on all of our trees & roses, I guess they have gone on to greener pastures..