Back from holidays.. seems like I was away forever...Did some glass rod shopping while in Toronto, also went to BeadFX to pick up some more black and silver rat tail....  also picked up a nasty cough (everyone says it is the flu) while in Toronto..  Didn't have the right clothes (frozen and I don't mean the picture) for the Montreal and Toronto part of it and as usual I took too many hot weather things to wear in Mexico... but a good time was had by my daughter and our 2 grandkiddos... My granddaughter was smitten with the red macaws that were in the resort.  There were about 6 pairs of them.

I am now waiting for some inspiration to strike me, maybe I should just do a studio clean.  That usually helps as I find stuff that I haven't seen in months or maybe years !!!!

Doing an installation for an exhibit  down at the Rotary Centre for the Arts.

I have a glass show case for my jewelry & beads and a lot of wall space in the Galleria...Here's my latest Glass Art panel.. I love all shades of turquoises & blues mixed together... whether it is in my panels or my jewelry.

 

 Here's a photo of a bracelet that I made for a friend.  Love the blue !!

Lots to do before I go away at the end of the month.  Must make some beads for the Swap N Hop and restock the florist shop  EARTHLY CREATIONS  where I have lots of pieces for sale !!

 

Incredible adventure SWAP N HOP

Just received my congratulations  e-mail that I am officially in the
                                          SWAP N  HOP

So totally excited... I just Love exchanging beads with others and making new bead friends....it was suggested to list  the 5 things that are important to  match me with my partner and for my partner to select my beads. So here goes !

1: I started out doing stained glass in Montreal, Quebec and  took many courses & got good at it,  then moved to Toronto, Ontario and decided I would like to try my hand at glass fusing, after all it is still glass.. Then I moved to Kelowna, B.C. and fell in love with glass bead making at the torch... Of course when making all these beads I had to do something with them.  I have quite a collection of vintage jewelry (and love to thrift for special pieces). I then came up with the brilliant idea that I could incorporate  my lampwork beads into pieces with my vintage jewelry.

2:  I usually make simple necklaces with 3 or 5 pieces dangling off a single chain  (however I did do some very involved pieces when I took part in Bead Soup Blog Hop)  Here's one of them... also in the colours that I love.

Here's one with my lampwork bead

 

3:  I like to use what ever I have on hand:  silver plate,  especially love copper, brass, black wire, etc. I can usually work with anything & like a challenge.

4:     I   like hand forging pieces of wire to make unique clasps, wire wrapping,  jump rings,  (have never done any bead weaving..too fiddly for me)

  5:  Love analogous colors:  blues, greens, teals or the pinks, oranges, purples

           I love bright, clear  colors and tend to stay away muddy colors..I like my

           jewelry to  POP  !

 

So that's it... if you scroll down thru my blog you will see the colors I use.

 



Swap & Hop & other stuff

Just finished a 3 day oil painting workshop... totally stoked to start my Contemporary Impressionistic painting.... in love with oils.

 

Signed up today for the Swap and Hop.. another swap beads with a partner and 

 Show your work...

                                     fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com

                                

and yeah !! I just successfully cut and pasted  (I am usually at a loss of how to do these things.)  Windows 7 for dummies is a challenge for me but I did just follow the instructions & it worked!!!

 

Must get busy and make some new lampwork beads....

Easy DIY Recycled Jewelry Display

Here's a fabulous jewelry display that I just completed. Thrifted a revolving spice rack (minus the jars, at my local Women's Shelter for $1.00)

Then I used some 2 sided carpet tape  ($1.00 store) to attach some burlap (from some unused burlap bags that were meant for sand bags..when the lake gets too high)

I then sewed the burlap together where it meets on the other side.

 

All that is needed now are some ribbons of elastic to hold the jewelry cards in place.  I used black elastic and just tied it at the side, but really, anything would do.. like ribbon, wire.  Also you could sew it on as well to have a tidy look.  I like to just tie it on in case I change it up & put ribbon or wire on it.

 

If you have any questions about this DIY Jewelry display please comment & I will get back to you...  Happy DIY ing!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year  every one from snowy Kelowna, B.C. Supposed to get about a foot of snow.. good thing it is light and fluffy !!  Been working on cleaning up my studio for a great start to the New Year... Lots of new stuff has been swirling around in my mind... Now if I can just get it out....

New display tree

Finished my last show and sale for 2014 at the  Seniors residence.  I made some inexpensive items and they were a big hit.  I also reduced the price on a few things when the seniors didn't have much $  with them.  I traded another vendor a fused glass angel for an awesome metal tree (?) to hang my fused glass ornaments on.. I am tickled pink with this new addition.. I think that I got the better end of the deal... but Sue said she did not want the tree anymore.....It's always difficult to hang and show art glass.

Bead Hoarders Blog Hop Dec. 6. 2014

Finally got my photos taken... still no sun but think they will do..

Here's a key chain that I made from one of my hoarder beads..It is a rather large bead for me to make and I love the colours...since I don't keep notes on the colours that I use pretty much all of my beads are one of a kind unless I  only use 2 or 3 colours.. then I keep a piece of each rod in a little plastic cup (the ones they use to give out the pills and meds. in hospitals.  My Mom used to save them for me (before she passed away)... they do come in handy.

 

I really love the colours in these beads..These ones I can duplicate.. I used an orange rod, mustard yellow and an olive green rod to make these and  I just love how they turned out. I added a Swarovski crystal and  a square spacer at the bottom for some sparkle & interest.
I will be keeping this pair for my self.








This bracelet is made from some lemon yellow & lime green glass rods.  I added some commercial lime green cubes, fresh water pearls and Swarovski crystals.   Sterling spacers & clasp complete the bracelet. Bracelets are one of my favorite things to wear.  I can not leave my house without one on.  I have started keeping some in my car just in case I forget to wear one.

I made this heart bead using my new heart press. Still getting the hang of it.  This bead is the same colour combination as the earrings.  I will be keeping this also.  The heart pieces are some I thrifted at the Women's Shelter Thrift store.  I usually take a bag of my previously enjoyed items to give to them and then purchase some (mostly jewelry) items to add to my collection to make my mixed media pieces.  I usually find some things that make good jewelry displays as well.  I will post some of my finds and their transformation at a later date. 

(I love thrifting, so exciting to see what you can find).

All these beads are special to me probably because of their color combinations.  When I take the beads out of the kiln the next day it is just like Christmas... to see how they turn out...

They truly are hand-made, one at a time.. born of the flame.  I really like fire, something magical about it.. I guess that is my favorite thing to do...to   make beads.

Thank you Lori for hosting the Bead Hoarders Blog Hop... 
  
 Sorry for some reason  I cannot   get the link to work...So click on the Blog Hop badge, click on the Blog Hop link on the top right & it will take you to the list of participants.    
                       !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!             Have fun hopping    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday Dec. 7 at 1:30 Pacific time:  Just finished the entire BLOG HOP

Life

Sometimes life just gets a bit overwhelming... My dear Mom-in-Law passed away last week at the age of 98  after being in palliative care for 5 months. It was actually a blessing as she was in and out of consciousness for the past month and was wasting away physically.
It seems everything just left my head and I totally forgot about the Bead Hoarders Blog Hop among other things.. I am just consulting my calendar and realizing all the things I have  to do next week.   Like make some beady jewelry out of my stash of 'special beads'  I have been saving.  I sure have lots of those.
Also have to get ready for a show and sale at the care home where my Mom(passed away a year ago Sept.)   and Mom-in-Law lived for the past 9 years.  The Good Samaritan Society where they lived took such good care of them and we are really grateful for their care.
My husband & I are no longer the 'sandwich' generation and it feels really weird.
Anyone else have that experience.
Must go now and pick up a million seed beads that I just spilled on the floor.

Where my ART can be found

My jewellery and  Glass Art panels can be found locally at Earthly Creations in the Pandosy Village by the Lake. .

Lots of earrings

Wow... just finished making about 50 pairs of earrings.. once I get on a roll I can't stop.. As soon as I am half way finished one pair I have the idea for the next pair.  Does that happen to anyone else???  Sometimes it takes me awhile to get the first idea... but then all of a sudden I am off creating..

 Here's a pair that I made out of hammered pennies and a glass leaf.

These ones are hammered copper washers and Swarovski crystals.

Back to work

Just got back from 25 days in the Canary Island of Tenerife, Manchester, (England) and the Island of  Madeira (Portugal). Trying desperately to catch up on sleep as the time difference is 7 hours.  Went on 10 plane rides... definitely don't want to go on any more for a long, long time. Had amazing weather and did about 20,000 steps each day.  Just figured out that my Iphone 5 with the "Lose It!' app. tracks your steps automatically for you...

Tenerife, Canary Island.

We spent our honey moon in Las Palmas, Grand Canary Island 48 years ago !!

Did not find even 1 bead store to go in....so a real holiday although I usually find inspiration along the way...

 

 

Certainly has been awhile since I blogged!!   Summer is winding down and I had been busy getting ready for 'Art Walk' in Lake Country.... which was last weekend. Sure was busy... didn't even have time for lunch and was it ever HOT!!

 I'm doing 5 workshops at the Mental Health Drop in Centre this month..so a busy time..  I sold most of my Art Glass panels on the weekend.. so must make some more...

I am now gearing up to do    Etsy...' Made in Canada Day' on the 27th of September  so have to start producing some pieces... It will be held at the fabulouse  Sandhill Winery  building in downtown Kelowna.. more on that next week.

Lazy Sunday

Another lazy afternoon.... tried to get into my studio to prepare for some workshops at the Mental Health Drop in Centre this week.... think I will do a mosaic sun-catcher

This certainly says summer!!!

with the Seniors as they usually do paintings (I am just a fill-in as the regular teacher is away) but the beach and my stand-up paddle board were calling...(the water is a fine 74 degrees)      oh well there is always Monday to get ready..

Had our first fire of the season this morning... all is well as it was only a grass fire and the fire truck put it out.. probably some careless person thru a cigarette out the window as it was right by the road.

 

Now to get ready for an invite out for dinner.. One of our friends acquired  a big box of  art glass for me... Can certainly use them at the Drop in Centre.

 

Summer time!!

It's been awhile since I last posted.  Been busy doing workshops and making jewellery... My jewellery and art glass is now

 

one of my fav. colour combos

 being sold at 'State of the Art' gallery on Cannery Lane in down town Kelowna..  I also  have some pieces hanging in an installation at.... 

The Alternator Gallery  at the Rotary Centre for the Arts  down town Kelowna... just across the street from  State of the Art.  If you are in Kelowna... go check out both venues...

The Bead Soup Blog Hop

TIME  for the Bead Soup Blog Party Hop  REVEAL!  Let's all give Lori Anderson great big heart felt THANK YOU for the great job as we  all know what she has been going through.

I want to thank my BSBH partner Tina Holden over  at   TINA'S BLOG
     for the fabulous selection of beads, findings and trims she sent me... My all time fav. colours of lime, turquoise and copper with a touch of red introduced for contrast!!  I managed to use all but a few of the beads... just ran out of time.

 

The first piece that I made incorporated the beautiful focal pendant. I made some dangles with the Red coral, new jade, nephnite jade nuggets & chrysoprase buttons, and indian glass (hope I got that right!)

 



the  NECKLACE

the dangles  a closer look

 

hand forged clasp and wire wrapped    ends

 

 

The next piece I designed was a knitted bracelet  ( 28 gauge wire) using the Spotted Jade and the  reproduction  old coin handmade Button clasp, I crocheted a loop to wrap around the button and   I added a square turquoise stone in the middle to nicely balance out the large button

 

hand made button clasp

 

 

 

Here's the 3rd piece I designed: I made  lots  of dangles by flattening the ends of 20 gauge copper wire to make head pins and added the dangles to the chain that Tina sent.

the necklace

a closer look

 

Still had some beads & a bit of chain left so made some ear rings to go with my necklaces.

 I have worn these already and could have sold them.. but I didn't... love them!!

a closer look

 Here's a list of all the  PARTICIPANTS click here   and please visit them! 

 

And that's all folks.. hope you liked them as much as I do and Thanks for dropping by

 



P.S.  this is what I started with

Fused Glass Pendants with Grade 1's

Here's all the 82 fused glass pendants that I did with 72 grade 1 students and 10 teachers...  They picked out all the colours to glue on the black glass blank & I then fused them,  glued on the bail and added the neck cord!! Just in time for Mother's Day.  The little ones were so excited and followed orders pretty well.

 

Now I am just fine tuning my jewelry pieces for the great BEAD SOUP BLOG HOP which has been delayed until next Saturday.  the 10th of May.. Can't wait to show what I have made!!    I seem to be gravitating to a lot of turquoise lately.... guess that's because my birthday is in December and that is my stone.

Bead Soup Blog Party

Excited to show the beady soup that I sent to my bead partner Tina Holden at  go here   and the Soup that she sent me.... she absolutely nailed the colours that I LOVE...  lime  and turquoise together along with some copper findings... I am drawn to copper more  and  more  (I have been using copper pennies  and  washers  to make a variety of copper findings.... hammering is great fun!!)

 Here is the soup I sent Tina..
  I actually sent an extra set of clasps & focals.... just in case the snail mail was not kind to my package!!

 

Here is the soup that Tina sent me... how  delicious is that?? 

Now to get to work and design something fabulous.. I already have a few designs in mind.... I can make a few things with this great Soup!!

Fused glass pendants

Just got back from a fab day at the ski hill....  Been spending a lot of time developing some new ideas for the  hammered penny jewellery I have been making.. will post some pics. of them soon.. Getting ready to do some fused glass pendants with 75 grade 1 students this April (just in time for mothers day)They are so great to work with!!

Just got back from a trip to the Big Island..Hawaii...fabulous weather..Came back to Kelowna to 4 inches of snow on our long drive-way... had to toboggan down on our suitcases... Spent a couple of hours shovelling snow with the husband....

 
 



It's official... I am a participant of the 8th annual Bead Soup Blog Hop.. I have been paired with:

Tina Holden of  BeadComberJewelry  click HERE
to go to Tina's Blog..

Super excited to see what Bead Soup I will receive!!