Won't be posting for 2 weeks as I am off to Hawaii for some fun in the sun!!!

 Here is my fabulous bead soup sent from my partner Kristina @  peacockandlime.. I just love the little bird.. I have an idea for the lovely silver barrel beads.... More later!! 

Here's the Bead Soup that I sent my partner  Kristina at  PeacockandLime.com  ................The emerald green is Pantones colour of the year.  It just happens to be a favorite of mine!!

 

A hint of what I sent to my partner!!

Super excited.... Lori at  Pretty Things sent my partners name last weekend.   After reviewing my soup partners blog and web-site I finally decided what to send her.  It took me a few days to decide.  The lampwork beads are some that I really like making and  favorite colours of mine...  (sent the pkge. off yesterday so she should have it by early next week!!)

 Here's a little hint of the Bead Soup that I sent to my partner  Kristina   over at Peacock and Lime.. I just love the name of her blog, web-site etc.  Those colours are  2  of my  favs.   (peacock , lime)  I sent her a little surprise in those colours...hope she likes it!!

I have been busy making 35 servings of Minestroni Soup  (how fitting... it is a really soupy week!!)  for some of Kelowna's  street kids.  The Boys & Girls Club have a drop in centre down town where they get 30 - 40 kids that drop in for lunch every day.  My husband's Rotary Club is taking turns making soup for them a couple of times a month.  I was quite impressed with  the place.  They also make other food from scratch and teach the kids how to cook!!  I am now donating all my gently used clothing (that is suitable) to the Club...This is something where  we can see ...results.... in our own city!!

Till next time... ..Happy Valentine's Day

A fine Fellow

 This fine fellow was sitting in one of our trees yesterday...There seem to be more eagles and hawks flying around our house as of late.  Yesterday I just about hit a deer that jumped out in front of my car.  Stopped just in time!!!

Just got back from teaching some more Wire Art Jewellry.  I've taught quite a few classes this January... had some really great "Girls Night Out" parties.  I love doing this... so many talented gals out there.

Just signed up for the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party... so much fun... can't wait to hear who my partner might be.... busy making some  awesome beads to send.

History of glass

A short history of glass:   It's been said that human-made glass first appeared in ancient Mesopotamia, around 3000 B.C.  where glass fusion was used for constructing tools.  Another story says that the Phoenicians are credited with this amazing discovery according to Pliny the Elder.  The legend states that some Phoenician seamen set about the task of preparing the evening meal.  Being unable to find rocks to set their cooking pots on they obtained some cakes of NATRUM (sub-carbonate of soda)  from the ships cargo & placed their pots on them which were sitting on some sand on the beach.  The heat from the fire caused  the Natrum & sand to melt.  This made a stream of unknown fluid, which hardened into a transluent substance later known as.... GLASS...  Sounds good to me!!

Glass has no definite melting point or freezing point...... As you heat glass, it becomes more fluid, and as it cools, it becomes increasingly rigid.  It is now considered to be a supercooled liquid..at room temperature it acts as a solid. 

Just think of all the items that we take for granted that are made out of      GLASS  



Whatever the source of invention, by Roman times, works of fused and sculpted glass were a prized possession.  Today, you can find glass artists all over the world, be  they stained glass artists,  flameworkers  (glass bead makers), fused (kiln-fired pieces) glass artists, glass blowers or any other form of glass artist...   I am very fortunate and  lucky to be able to satisfy my artist side by doing the things I love!!  

linen necklace with large shell focal

 This design features a knot with a large shell  fossil focal pendant

A very busy time of the year for me!!  I have done lots of classes... either @ my R.C.A.  studio or  some classes where I go out with my bag of goodies... Mosaics are really HOT  right now.  Just did a class  with 10 participants today.  Everyone can do mosaics.. it is a very forgiving craft.... Virtually anything can be mosaiked with the right sort of glue!!

linen necklace

Here's a photo of the new linen necklaces that I have developed!!  They were a big seller at the Potter's & Artisan Show & Sale
It was a challenge finding just the right linen to make them!!

linen bracelet

Here's a photo of the linen bracelet that I made just recently!!

Where did all the time go??  After I returned from France I had to get moving and get  ready for the Potters & Artisans Show & Sale at the Rotary Centre for the Arts..all the while teaching a few classes and dealing with my 87 year old Mom who has a fractured hip among other things... going everyday either to the hospital or the home where she reside to make sure she eats!!!

 

The sale at the Rotary Centre went really well.. the best one since I have been doing it!!!  I made some new linen necklaces  which were a big hit..the ear rings sold well!!  I have another sale this Wednesday....Not much work to do for this one as I am all set up from the sale last week???

 A view of our Villa in France... The part that we stayed in was built in 1629...But the inside had just been redone and was very modern!!

This is the wildfire that we can see from our house across the lake from Peachland. B.C. Canada

 Living in  a semi-arid desert is always a concern... we have not had any significant amount of rain for about  60 days.
This is what can happen in an instant.... just a small spark or carelessly tossed cigarette..some winds around 30 miles per hour and presto... a wild fire!!!  Over 1500  people have been evacuated!!!

Well..here it is Sept. already and I still have some blog hopping to do.

All of our summer company has come and gone..so I am just doing a few things  in the studio.. re-organizing and trying to get rid of stuff that I don't need or use.  I've got a big box of clothes to go to the charity shops and hopefully I can let go of some other stuff around my studio that is  just sitting here.  But as soon as I get rid of something I usually need it!!!  C'est la Vie!!!


 

6th Bead Soup Blog Hop 3rd Reveal

It's after midnight in the East so I am going to post this from the Pacific Northwest....

 Well, the big day has  finally come. Here's  what  I made with the beads from  Bonnie  over at Jasper's Gems....  I was feeling like making a bunch of wrapped bead dangles.....  I used some  of  my  vintage  brass chain which I have been collecting for a long time.  I usually work in sterling silver or silver plate.  Some times I use copper wire...but not too often do I use brass.  I like how the brass goes with the blue.. 
Just love the big brass hand-forged nugget... it has so much depth!!!

The whole project took a lot longer than I had anticipated but well worth it!!  I even had enough beads to make ear rings and a bracelet.  I added some dark blue seed beads, some white dagger tubes (also vintage), a few brass balls and some small white seed beads..  I called the collection 
     
                      "VINTAGE  BLUES"

View all of the participants here at  Lori's 6th bead soup blog party..3rd reveal

                  Happy blogging!!!!!!!



Thanks to our super hostess Lori Anderson for all the work that she has done.

The Bead Soup Blog Party is now on Pinterest:

  http://pinterest.com/limamike/6th-bead-soup-blog-party/

What a great way to see all the Soup participants!!!

Here's a look at the bead soup mix that I sent my partner   Bonnie
at Jasper moon!!

Here's the 2nd  Bead Soup Blog Party  reveal today      http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/2012/06/participants-of-6th-bead-soup-blog.html...   can't wait to see what the other  fab beaders have come up with!!!

I'm working on my fabulous bead soup mix sent from Bonnie... all finished the main part.... I's trying some new stuff for me.... Can't wait to post it!!!!
My daughter & grandkids are here from Montreal... Lots of lake time,  the water is really warm......who knows I may even go wakeboarding this afternoon!!!!

The first reveal for the Bead Soup Blog Party happened on Saturday....over at    Lori Andersons Bead Soup Blog Party

and if you want to see the whole 1st  Bead Soup Blog Party reveal... Tanya 's massive endeavor... to show the entire 1st reveal at once  go to The whole shebang!!   So many talents artists!!!

 the latest singed fabric flower!!