the latest singed fabric flower!!

BEAD SOUP BLOG HOP

 Here is the fabuous bead soup mix that I received from my partner Bonnie at Jasper Gems... just love the pretty vintage blue beads and the brass  findings..especially the large hand-forged brass nugget focal... I am going to have to think of something extra-special for these babies!!!

 Here is the soupy mix that I sent to my partner Bonnie...I call it

   'Ode to Orange'

I love the orange and  lavender colours together.... It was fun making the head-pins too!!

So much happening toay!!!  Just received my Bead soup Mix from my partner Bonnie ....Awesome.... will have to wait till tomorrow to take some photos...

I passed my Boat drivers licence exam..yeah!!!  My daughter and grandkids arrive from Montreal tomorrow....  Summer has finally arrived... Got my passport stuff done & in to the PassPort office to get it renewed... (going to Spain in Sept/Oct....  So far it is a good week!!!

Bead Soup Sent to my partner Bonnie

 here's a hint of the bead soup that i sent to my partner Bonnie

Busy studying for my boat exam... all boat operators have to have a licence from the government...(my husband thought I should get the licence in case I get to drive the boat.... not much chance there!!!!  It is a bit intimidating!!!!)

So far I have spent 10 hours doing an on-line course...I can see another 5 or 6.

Waiting for my bead soup mix to arrive in the mail... should be here some time this week....

Took a glance out of my dining room window the other day ..  just in time to see these beautiful creatures!!!  We are so lucky to be living where the wild animals can roam freely....they don't seem to be at all bothered by us  'humans'.

Life is good!!  the sun came out last week and we are having glorious SUMMER weather.... nice and HOT..although we have a lot of smoke hanging around from the Colorado fire and even some smoke from fires burning in Siberia!! of all places.... We have  had a few fires here  ourselves  but the big plane that drops the fire retardant was on them super fast.... so they didn't amount to much... we are going to be on the Extreme fire danger alert by this weekend though!!

Here's some photos of the kids mosaic project I did with them a while back..
There were 129 kids in 4 classes... it went really well... except for the grouting..I think I will do the grouting next time...hope the janitor didn't mind the black grout all over the floor.  It was a BIG project and I learned just as much as the kids... Over all it was really fun!!  Kids are so enthusiastic!!!

Where did all the time go??   Got my partner from Lori over at prettythings.....  Bonnie and   I  are paired up again....  that makes it easy-peasy.... I know what I would like to send to  Bonnie over at JaspersGems... just have to make the beads... 

It's a bit hectic here right now... we live on a large lake and  it is fulllllll of water.. so much that it it just about over our dock... we had to put big barrels and sand bags out to keep the water from going into our little cabana that has our well in..  We have had so much rain in the last month....all the rivers are overflowing and washing away buildings, etc.  Hope we don't get any big wind which will make bigger waves!!!

  Signed up for the 6th Bead Soup Blog party!!!!

   Can't wait to see who I am partnered with..

  Just got a new kiln to anneal my beads  and  have to get going making some awesome beads...  Just got back from Toronto a few weeks ago and took a  lampworking class with Amy Waldman-Smith...super lampworker!!

Here's the other pair of ear rings I received from Sharleen Newland  This is another of my favorite colour combos!!!  LOVE the ear wires on both pairs...

Here's the ear rings I received from Susan Kennedy   They are just fabulous.. and one

of my favorite colours!!!!

The Big Reveal Day is HERE!!!Here's the list  of the participants for the EAR RING SWAP..     organized by:  Diana

Diana Ptaszynski
Jan Onipenco
Patti Vanderbloemen
Mary Harding
Diane Hawkey
Lesley Watt
Jenny Davies Reazor
Melinda Orr
Cilla Watkins
Stephanie Haussler
Sally Russick
Susan Kennedy
Amy Freeland
Marla James
Pam Sears
Tania Spivey
Kathleen Lange Klik
Lori Bowring Michaud
Erin Prais-Hintz
Gail Barnett
Linda Landig
Sharleen Newland
Dee Elgie
Mary Shannon Hicks
Lisa Johnson
Shelby Foxwell
Keri Lee Sereika
Cheryl Brown
Linda Younkman
Kari Asbury
Fay Wolfenden

two things to report today!!!  I received one of my pairs of ear rings for the ear ring swap yesterday.. they are georgeous!!!!  Hope I get the other ones tomorrow!

Will have to take photos of them & post them on my blog on Thursday.. the big reveal!!

I did the mosaic project with the first group of kids today.. 60 in total... they did fantastic!!!  Will do the other 69 on Thursday morning...  Will have to post the ear ring swap pics when I get home in the afternoon!!!

The Ear Ring Swap that I entered  organized by 
  go here :     Diana Ptaszynski..Surburbangirlstudio 
 My ear rings have made it all the way to  Pennsylvania.. I have yet to receive mine yet!!  The reveal day is June  7
I can't wait to get mine.    The Mail to our little city is ever so slow!!!! I totally forgot to take photos of the ones I sent  I was in such a rush to get them mailed.

Finally finished getting ready for my mosaic session with 129 Grade 5 & 6 students.... Had to drill a hole in 129 pieces of 4" x 6" glass. The old Dremel on the drill press-stand came through with flying colours.. Could not have done it without it!!!
 Just getting the frameless picture frames from all the $ stores in town was a challenge in itself. But I did  learn that I can order them if I have a least 2 weeks lead time.  Oh well..next time!!!!
Cut up 30 pounds of glass into little pieces.  By all my calculations that should be enough glass.   My kitchen scale came in handy to weigh it.  All put into baggies by the colour... Not sure how that will work..  will probably be all mixed up at the end of the sessions... I am surprised that my fingers are still working!!!!  Next came the glue.. My husband had a gallon of Weldbond, so I poured it into 8 smaller squeeze bottles.
Fortunately I am doing each grade on separate days.. I am sure the project will need a bit of tweaking.....Will post some pics. soon!!

It's been a while since I have posted.... it's visitor time again!! This time some relatives from England!!!!
Just got another  assignment...working with the school kids... so had to design another project.... have been having fun doing that.   We are going to do some
glass mosaics... It seems I am going to be working with about 125 students, so a lot of preparing to do!!!  Will post some photos when I get it all organized!!

 I have just entered a  EARRING   SWAP... so excited about it........SurburbanGirlStudio..  arranged it.....ART  BEAD  EARRING  SWAP..   so sorry I am not on my own computer so don't know what I am doing  (I am  a  total  computer flunky)  will have to wait till I get home to do the swap badge properly.

I'm in Toronto right now..Not able to upload any pics 

Just took a lamp working class with  Amy Walden-Smith....learned how to use a dual fuel torch.... a new learning  curve for me...  so different.....  I now need to get   a dual  fuel torch.... But  so  much more needs to be done to ensure the safety aspect  of it...  Not impossible.... but  a lot of improvisations in the studio...ventilation  .. etc.  the torch is definitely hotter  &  quieter...  and much faster...  I get to see the beads that I made need week when they mail them to me.  

The Fused Pendants

 Here's a pic. of the fused pendants for the kids class!
Now I just have to glue on the bail & add the neckcord!!
All done for Mother's Day gifts

Kids fused glass pendant project

 Here's all the pendants the grade 1's  and  2's did this morning.  Just waiting to go in the kiln. The project went really well.  Had lots of help from  some grade 6 students and some fathers also showed up to help!!!!  I would definitely do this again!!
Lots of fun...

The kids were so excited and it's great to teach them a new art form!!! 
 Hat's off to the teachers for arranging this project for them.

Finished Pendant Project

 Here's the fused glass pendant that I will be doing with 50 grade 1's & 2's on Monday!!!

Almost the middle of April already...  where has the time gone.... Been busy teaching classes and  getting my spring/summer schedule ready for the R.C.A. studio...   

 I will be  teaching 50 or so kids... yes I said 50  kids

(grade 1 & 2 ) how to make fused glass pendants.... for Mother's Day... that should be really FUN.. Went out today & got the glass... ordered the bails from the U.S.  hope they get here in time, but I do have a back up supply... just wanted all the bails to be the same.  Kids are great to teach... Will take some pics to post next week!!!

Well..I'm back home and itching to get back to work... all things glass of course..

had a great time skiing in Whitefish, Montana and even got some ideas for some kids classes....  But before  I left I was contacted by a  school teacher and she wants me to do a glass fusing pendant class for her grade 1's & grade 2's... I said YES..    I would love to do that... kids are so creative & it's amazing at what they come up with.... So that fits in with what I learned about the classes in Montana!!

Anyway right in Whitefish.. there is an Art Studio for the community... they do workshops on painting, pottery, ceramics, and glass fusing.  So I gathered a few ideas there!!!!  Maybe I  will even offer the glass fusing classes in my studio @ the R.C.A.

•            PAY IT FORWARD.......
• .
• I'm sure most of you have heard of the concept of paying it forward.  Someone does something ncie for you and you in turn do something nice for someone else. (without expecting anything in return)  I think this kind of giving is the ultimate example of good Karma and the Golden Rule.  I really like giving something away..
• I have given many stained glass  art pieces to my husband's  Rotary  Club   to  be auuctioned off.  It  feels great to be able to that.     

I am playing with www.Dillman'sDallies.blogspot.com    can't wait till I see what she sends me!!!

•           PAY IT FORWARD. 

Here's how to play:

1. I'll make something hand made for the first 3 people who comment on this POST..What I make  will be a surprise & will arrive when you least expect it. 

                        Doesn't everyone Love a surprise??

2. I have 365 days to make & send the gift to you.  Here's the little catch- to get a handmade gift from me, you have to play too!!  This means you take the pledge to send something to 3 of your  BLOG readers.. (the first 3 to comment)   It just has to be hand made ..       easy peasy!!!

3.  In case it wasn't obvious in # 2, you have to have a BLOG.

4.  Once you comment here & get a confirmation from me you have to  POST about

   "PAY IT FORWARD"    on your BLOG  and keep it going!!!!

Be sure to give me your e-mail if it is NOT LINKED on your BLOG  !!!!

                      I will e-mail you to get your address..

Well... I am now back from Montreal... after looking after the Grandkids for their spring break.... so now I am playing catch-up ... will try & visit some of the Bead Soup Blog Party blogs.... may take me awhile... but will do my best... 
Had a great time in Montreal  with the Grands... & did all the kid things that Montreal has to offer... was super easy to get around Montreal on their Metro system.... & the weather even co-operated with us & was great!!!!  My husband took the kids to a Montreal - Toronto hockey game & my daughter  & I went out to dinner.... how great was that!!!

Here's the Bead Soup that I got from my partner Bonnie:

   www.jasper-moon.ca   the beads that I received from Bonnie were:
Lampwork beads.. 1 large focal & 2 matching beads,   tiny  black Swarovski bicone crystals, large black faceted beads. Lots of green rondelles.  Carved bone beads in cream & finally a silver square toggle!!!!  I have never worked with bone before so I was delighted to have a chance to incorporate them into  the piece!!  I had a vision in my mind of what I was going to do after thinking about it for a long time... I basically put them on the bead board & went from there... 

I  strung the main strand which includes the lampwork beads on some black steel wire (which I am loving to use at the moment) made a loop on each end to attach the diamond shape hematite chain to & also to attach  the smaller strand of rondelles,  carved bone beads, Swarovskis (also on black steel wire). I then wove some cream ribbon in the chain to pick up the cream colour in the carved bone!!!  I love how the hematite chain reflects the light.. I added some silver bead caps to the ends of the black faceted beads to add a little sparkle, they also pick up th silver colour in the square toggle.

This design is very fancy for me & something I have  not done before.  I usually do very simple designs,  but I would definitely consider making more of the same... I love the colours and black is always a welcome addition to the piece for a little  "POP".

Laying out a  design

the finished necklace

the earrings are a real deviation for me. I usually only use 1 or 2 beads, but I have found a new design  & I will definitely be making more of these babies!!!

I just LOVE  how the ear rings turned out

the finished necklace on the manekin.... It sits very well around the neck!

        VISIT   www.PrettyThingsBlog.com  for a complete list of participants for the   BEAD SOUP BLOG PARTY HOP

To see more of the talented participants in this event you can check out this post (the list is down at the bottom!)

Here's a new design that I have been working on!
Steel wire from the hardware store no less...
A new bail idea also... called a tong bail... I can see endless oportunity for uses for this one!!

 Here's a brand new pendant capture that I just made... I used black steel wire from the hardware store... & a piece of broken china..... I then waxed the whole thing with Renaissance Wax.. the steel wire is VERY Messy to work with..  gets your hands very dirty... after I clean the whole piece I use the wax. 






This pendant was constructed using the Tiffany method... copper foiled around the outside of pendant,  then soldered using LEAD  FREE  solder..

Just putting the finishing touched on pieces  for the blog hop..managed to get a necklace, earrings & bracelet  from all the beads that my partner Bonnie sent..

Here are some things that I consider when I am designing a piece of jewellery.

The Line of the piece:  How does it fit the body, where will it sit? What length will it be?
Colour: I use colour to convey & create emotion

Shape:  will the shape or style work with the beads that I have chosen?  Is it pleasing or interesting... Usually when I look at a the pieces that I have lain out I know instantly whether I like it or not...Don't ignore those little feelings of doubt.

The value  (or lightness or darkness) of the chosen beads:  how light or dark is the piece.. do all the beads work with each other?? Is there light , medium,  dark.. parts ..  crystals,  silver, gold,    create a bit of tension in the piece.

Texture:  Is there texture on the surfaces of the beads?  smooth, rough, carved, shiny, matte, or  faceted.

Of course a piece does  not have  to have all the above mentioned inclusions.. Shapes can be repeated.  Once the eye sees a shape, if the shape is repeated it makes the eye more comfortable.. I like at least 3 repeats... I most always go for the number 3 in my designs...

A focal bead is used to draw the eye in and the beads surrounding the focal showcase the focal..

Add some zing to your designs by using some decorative head pins, adding some black to the mix... I also like to add some silver colour,  by using bead caps or silver spacers

WHAT makes a  piece of jewelery work?? Here  is a  list of   components that I use to design my jewelry.  I use  a lot of the same principles of Interior Design.  both in  design elements and color elements... I like to use  these shapes: round, square, oblong, flat, these textures:  smooth, rough, shiny, matte, different sizes:

big, medium & small.  If I am using found objects then I would include something old & something new.  If I am feeling really daring I would add some sparkle to the whole piece. 

For color I usually go with an analogous color scheme..(3-6 colors adjacent to a key color with 1 color in common. I try to  use other combos such a complementary but I struggle with them..so I just stick to what I do best... I dress the same way... It is just the way it is....

Here is a little memory wire bracelet and as you can see I have used all oranges, yellows, reds and thrown in some white for contrast.  These are some lampwork beads that I have made.

Here's a photo of the bracelet that the home-schooled class made... They only had about 20 minutes to pick the beads out & assemble it.... I kept it simple and easy for little hands to make.  The stretchy cord is about 1 mm. thick & I wrapped scotch tape around 1 end to easily go thru the bead and I made a knot at the other end so the beads didn't fall off.

After the bracelet had all the beads on we centered the beads, tied a knot at each end of the beads, then tied a knot to make it into a bracelet.... This is a super easy project for little kids!!!  They were all thrilled to bits!!!

Here it is    Monday....... I am so behind....

 On Friday ..My dear husband decide to rent a JACK   HAMMER  & rip out about 50 sq. feet of tile which was very Securely  affixed to the cement base.... WELL... it took him 8 hours of hard labour... (Something like having a baby????)  to rip it all out... after about 2 hours ( I was away having FUN... giving a talk about glass to 14 home-schooled children... &  then they all made a  simple bracelet with beads)  HE  took a look at all the dust that he created & then decided to put up some plastic.... by then it was way too late.... the dust was everywhere....We have finally  finished cleaning up most of  the dust ..but we still have a few rooms...  The door was closed to these rooms so its not urgent that they be cleaned......
Today  I gave a lampwork  class and was all prepared for 2 students but ended up having 4.... some kind of mix up with the front desk......All one can do is suck it in and carry on...  Never let your students see you are a bit ruffled....It all turned out well in the end.... (Fortunately I am always prepared  with more supplies than I actually need!!!)

I have a private student tomorrow afternoon.... so my bead-soup mix will have to simmer on the back burner for a few more days....

Now I have to go  down to my studio & whip up a Valentine's Card for My dear husband!!!!

Here's the photo of the  fab  Bead Soup that I received from my partner Bonnie:  www.jasper-moon.ca
  These are some of my favorite colours... I just love putting BLACK in my designs...  The cream colour beads are actually carved bone... I have never used real bone in any of my creations... so this will definitely be something out of my comfort ZONE.... but I am up for the challenge...  The tiny black bicones are Swarovski crystal  (another of my favs... I just love anything sparkly as witnessed by all my t-shirts with sparkles & rhinestones on.    

The light green  crystal rhondelles are a fav. of mine as well.
The black faceted beads will add some weight to my design..

    Here's my Etsy Shop.....

                     WWW.FayWolfendenDesigns.Etsy.com  

I will be posting some more goodies for sale shortly!!!!!

I have been busy getting ready to give 14 home-school students a small talk
on glass... & a bead-making demo........it's taking a lot longer then I thought..
After the demo they will each make a simple bracelet!!!!!

Received my bead soup package from Bonnie yesterday.. will take some pictures & post on Friday...       doing some skiing @ the local mountain... fabulous skiing,

                                   Was a fab sunny day & not too cold

 
Here are the pics of bead soup that I sent to Bonnie

They arrived today..... Yeah!!!!! only took 1 week...

Here's the Beady Soup that I have sent my partner Bonnie...Can't wait to get hers..
   

www.jaspersgems.blogspot.com   

WOW.....just finished my bead soup package to send to my partner Bonnie.......
as usual I agonized  over my final selection.... .....I  looove   making     glass beads....fused glass pendants, plates, etc.  .. shiny,  smooth glass... some matte glass.. love the sparkly stuff too.  Hope she likes the goodies I sent!!!

These funny little birds were flying around our house the other day trying to keep warm & eating the insects around the base of the house.  I think they are red-wing black birds.. It was about 19 degrees belown zero & there was snow on the ground... so these little guys were hungry!!!

Ventured out to the post office to mail out the package...  it was   snowing again.
Looks like we are in for some snow & high winds...Will be glad when January is finally  over in another week.... it's always a let down after the Christmas holidays...  We'll be off skiing for a few days... time for some outdoor activity although we have been going for lots of walks & hikes...

Just making a few more focal beads so I can complete the set that I have in mind for my ..bead swap partner...  I have an idea of what I want to send her.

IT'S 16 below zero... (and going down to -19 tonight) that's centigrade.. that is
2 degrees in farhenheit.. it's pretty darn  COLD..  had to venture out  today
to pick up some more propane and glass rods...  all in all the roads were O.K.  & after driving in Montreal & Toronto in the winter it is a piece of cake here... especially with snow tires on... 

Am going to hunker  down tomorrow as the high is going to  be   -14...   a good time to  spend on the torch plus it adds some heat to the house... a whole   day spent in  in the studio will be fab!!!!!

I am so excited.... I won a spot on the   " Bead Soup Blog Party"  Also my partner is in Canada...so that makes it so much easier to mail my " Bead Soup Mix"


I've got some focals in mind.... just  can't decide what colour palette to go with..
Think I will make a nice sterling silver clasp to go with the beads....

Been working on making some new bead designs... I am going to call them my water-colour series.... very pretty...  white background with soft greens, turquoises, pinks, mauves, oranges.... I will take some pictures of them when the sun comes out & I can get some good shots.

Have been doing some snowshoeing (Santa brought us our very own snow shoes this Christmas) & hiking in the hills above Kelowna... We are very short of snow this year..so more hiking than snowshoeing.... We just drive about 5 minutes up the mountain in the back of us.... & there we are...miles & miles of hiking trails.... Now that the bears all are hibernating..no fear of running into them....My goal this year is to do more outdoor things.... I get busy working in my studio & it is so fab that I don't want to go out....WE are awaiting more snow on the local ski hill as there are too many rocks sticking up to try & trip me!!!

I've entered a contest..well..not really a contest... it's a bead exchange where someone sends me beads, etc.  & I send another person some beads, etc. then we all make something out of our "stash" ..post it in our blog.... & see what we all come up with.... Fantastic idea......... I am just trying to figure out how to add the

"bead soup badge" to my page here... I am going to have to get my fab. daughter

to help me....as I am somewhat techno challenged when it comes to doing anything like that....cutting, pasting, copying, etc. is a bit beyond me......looking forward to see if I get picked!!!!

In the mean time here is the  www.prettythingsblog.com/p/bead-soup-blog-party.html      for Lori's blog & all things bead-soupy!!!!

Here's wishing everyone a Very   HAPPPY NEW YEAR!!