Fordite Falcon

I LOVE BEAD EMBROIDERY!!  I often say that it is the beading that I do for myself.  Not that I wear it often, but it is my "sanity" refresher when my business beading gets the best of me.  I use it to refresh my "muse".  Here is the latest piece I have created.

I used a piece of Fordite for the focal which I purchased from a distributor this summer.  Not familiar with Fordite, also known as Detroit Jasper? 
From Wikipedia:
Fordite, also known as Detroit agate, is old automobile paint which has hardened sufficiently to be cut and polished.^[1] It was formed from the build up of layers of enamel paint slag on tracks and skids on which cars were hand spray-painted (a now automated process), which have been baked numerous times.^[2] In recent times the material has been recycled as eco-friendly jewelry.

This picture was taken in process, when I was stuck.  Obviously, thanks to the gals in my Bead Embroidery Forever! group on Facebook, I became unstuck and was able to finish.  You can see by the orientation, that the layout shifted also.  I had planned on the layout here being a pendant, but things went a different direction.  That is what I love about bead embroidery.  I start it and it just "happens".  My style is more freeform.  I rarely have a finished idea in mind when I start.  I also love that it becomes almost a treasure hunt or hidden picture by adding in the bits and bobs as I go along.

Here are a few other pieces I have created:

Center piece from an Artbeads Blog Partner challenge

Bead Soup Blog Hop piece with partner Shirley Jones Moore

Beading Challenge from The Jade Dog

design using Chris's lampwork cabs and leather

Beading challenge with Pine Ridge Treasures

Swarovski Fancy stone with vintage cup chain

My very first project!  Only one that I knew what it would look like when I started.

My second piece, Frankly My Dear.  Jen Martin, made the polymer face.

Can you tell it is my favorite beading technique?!

Snow People and Snow Globes

Gosh, nearly a month since the last post!  The time certainly flies right by!  We have been busy with lots of new designs and Chris had a large order of snow people for Yvonne Irvin-Faus for her adorable Domiciles.  The snow people will be part of her snow globes!  Here are some pictures!

Aren't they adorable?!

Join Us at the Bead Extravaganza!!

When: September 14, 2013
Time: 10am - 4pm
Where: Hastings, Nebraska
Adams County Fairgrounds, Activity Building North Side

Bead Vendors from coast to coast and in between, Bead Artists, and Bead Lovers are being brought together in one location to share the joy of all things beady!  Beading Demos and Make It ~Take Its throughout the day!  Come join us for the fun and don't forget BEADS! 

Confirmed Vendors:
Ayla's Originals, Dan Starkey
Carole Rodgers Creative Services, Carole & LeRoy Rodgers
Charles Reece, Faceted glass pendants and cabochons
Cotton Candy Dreams, Raquel Wagner
5Z's Star City Bead Shop, seed beads and beadweaving supplies
From the Heart Creations, Deborah Wenske Brooks
Gisela Patterson, Handcrafted jewelry & Scarf accents
Julie's Xpressions, huge variety of beads and supplies
Jodie Marshall Lampwork Beads & Wearable Art
Pixybug Designs, Chris & Stephanie Haussler
Star Spirit Studios, Sue Laupp
The Jade Dog, Darcy Horn
Two Dog Pond, Rachel Pozehl


Sponsored & Hosted by:
Mid-Nebraska Beaders & Julie's Xpressions

New creations part 2 (More Flower Pots)

Guest blogger Chris here.  I just finished packing the car for what promises to be a very hot weekend.  I will be at Old Trusty Days in Clay Center Saturday and Sunday.  The forecast is upper 90's for both days.  Couple that with a metal roof and you get an oven!  Yippee!  Stop by and see me if you think you will not melt.  My dad will be in the next booth over with his really big, scary, handmade knives and stuff.  I made manly finger bits for him to show next to his knives to remind people that what he makes is fully functional as well as cool to look at.

Well, enough about what I am doing tomorrow.  This is what I have been doing the last week or so, other than making marbles with my representation of cattle brands inside them.  That will be another post.   Here are some new flower arrangements...

 The Batty Skull

 A vase with hidden depths and a purple flower

A yellow flower in a copper blue vase

A viney pot with a pale flower

Our show schedule for the month of September is busy.  Old Trusty this weekend, the Hastings Bead show the 13th at the Adams county fairgrounds, and wrapping up with the Hillboro, KS Arts Festival the 20th.  If you have the chance, stop by and say "Hi".  We would love to see you!

Chris's Newest Creations

How adorable is this?!  Chris recently decided to make a sculpture to enter in the Nebraska State Fair.  This is what he came up with!  The flowers and leaves are created on black steel wire and then annealed in the kiln.  The flower pot is also glass created on the end of a large hole mandrel so it has a bottom but is also open to be able to insert the flowers.  Once all of the components are created, Chris uses 2 part epoxy to set the flowers into place and to attach the aluminum disc to the bottom of the pot.  Chris also made the aluminum discs from recycled blanks and used a machine to add the engraved grooves to the disc.  So creative and cute!  We plan to make quite a few to have at Graham Gallery during the Holidays. 

Here are a couple others Chris made that are available for sale:

I love the free-form blue daisy and the stone-look flower pot.

This is probably my favorite flower!  The outside edge is a pretty, soft peach and the inside a darker coral.  The flower pot looks like a well weathered terracotta pot!

As for me, I have been beading, beading, beading to get ready for all of our shows next month.  Lots of new designs being churned out!
Earrings:

Left to right: free-form nugget turquoise with Vintaj brass leaves, abalone, and fire agate with carnelian dangles.

Bracelets:

 Lots of Czech glass, crystal, stone, Clay River focal (top), and FanceeThat focal (bottom).  This batch was focused in the antique brass color for the findings.  My favorites are the second from the top and the second from the bottom.  The matte finish on the agate on the bracelet near the bottom adds a wonderful texture to the piece and the leaf charm adds movement.  On the second from the top, I used pieces of chain as dangling charms to add movement to the piece.  It also has a small chicklet style bead from Clay River designs.

This group of bracelets focuses on antique copper.  There are lots of fun goodies in this batch, recycled glass ring from Trinket Foundry, natural stones, Czech glass, copper filigree butterfly, double hole drilled bone bead from Wild Things Beads, Clay River Designs, and chain.  Chris's favorite is the top one, and I also liked it.  My favorites are probably the bottom two, one of which sold last weekend. 

So that is a bit of an update on the jewelry and glass front!  Sorry for the long silence!  It may be a bit quiet here for a couple weeks while we prepare for the shows!

The Universal Language of ... Beads

Art is not a treasure in the past or an importation from another land, but part of the present life of all living and creating peoples.

Franklin D. Roosevelt 

 

 

Last Saturday, I had a very fun experience of which my husband encouraged me to share with you.  I work at my part-time job on Thursdays and Saturdays at Julie's Xpressions in Hastings, Nebraska.  I list my occupation there as "part of Julie's Bead Posse"!  As we are preparing to move to a new building two doors down from our current location, I was working the shop on my own Saturday.  Julie has a crew of friends and contractors working on the new building to finish prep work so we can get started on moving all of those BEADS, yarn, and fabric.  Yikes, it gives me a backache just to contemplate it!  Anyway, as I was working to organize and pack some things in the shop, I had some customers come in.  The two gals and guy were very intense on browsing, and I approached to give my "schpeal" on how to write down the loose bead, give them a basket, etc.  Turned out that they were from Puerto Rico!  Consequently, the one younger gal (I think she was the daughter of the other gal) was interpreting for the other gal.  Strangely, we could not speak the same language, BUT we could speak bead!  She had very lovely earrings and a fabulous bracelet that were made with Super Duo beads and as soon as I said, "this is where we have Rizo and Super Duo beads", she completely understood what I was telling her!!  I pointed out the seed beads by size, and let her go about her bead shopping.  A bit later I checked on her, and just had to get a better look at the bracelet she had made.  It had a bezeled Swarovski rivoli which sat on the top of her wrist as part of a toggle clasp and the Super Duo bead were made into the bracelet which had double loops to connect to the double bars on the rivoli piece!  Very clever and lovely!  She communicated that she and her friends had taken a class at one of the several bead stores where she lives.  Then, while we were "cackling (as Chris would say)" about our bead love, she starts rummaging in her purse for another piece that she had made!  Too funny, because I as many beaders I am sure do, have beads rolling around in my purse at almost any given moment!  The bracelet she extracted was gorgeous, and then she pulled out a tiny delicate flower petal made with size 15s, Delicas, and Swarovski crystals.  So lovely!  We then started discussing our love for all things bling, Swarovski crystals, and cabochons! Before departing, we swapped names so we can connect on Facebook and Pinterest! Amazing the words that can be universal...in the language of BEADS!

Confessions of a Bead Hoarder, Part 2: The Blog Hop Reveal

 Beads are my therapy.  I love to shop for them, look at them, touch them, talk about them, sell them, and create with them.  They just plain make me happy.  One of my favorite lampwork bead artists is, Tera Belinsky-Yoder, who's company is Beadygirl Beads.  We met Tera years ago at my first bead show in Lincoln, Nebraska.  It was a tiny bead show in comparison to others I have attended since, but I was THRILLED by all the beady goodies that were for sale at that show.  Tera's beads speak to me.  They call to me.  And they make me happy, just by owning them.  This is just one of the many Beadygirl beads in my collection and Chris has his own stash of them as well. 
I love the colors Tera uses.  She has very specific color palettes that she works in and that makes her beads easily recognizable.  Tera has a fun and funky style that fits with my "beading philosophy".  Basically, that is "Why wear jewelry or create jewelry that can be made by 1000s of others in identical styles".  I want to have my designs and the jewelry I wear to YELL "Hey, where did you get that"!  Plus the colors Tera works in match my wardrobe!

The focal of this piece I have had for many years, floating blissfully around my bead stash.  I see it as a cross between an alien robot and a scarab beetle.  To Tera's delightful bead, I have added Czech glass, and funky beady doodads from Yvonne Irvin-Faus, who's company "MyElements" is also another of my very favorite bead suppliers to shop with.   Yvonne specializes in the fun and funky also (do we see a pattern here?), and I love her hand painted Plexiglas components and all of the bits and bobs that she sells.  This necklace contains Crinklez, Saucerz, Ringoz, and rubber Oringz.  Even the names are fun!  I love to add these pieces because they are light weight, brightly colored, and fun shapes.  They are really fun in charm bracelets (which are my favorite piece of jewelry to create). 
I used 16g black wire to create the pendant (it is a HUGE bead) with a couple neon orange faceted silicone beads I got at Julie's Xpressions in Hastings.  Sad to say in my wire wrapping vigor, I chipped the bead on top, but since it is mine, I kept going.  I made a loopy wire wrap at the bottom, since I wasn't using a headpin for the wrap.  I added the pendant to a section of gunmetal rollo chain (about a 7mm size) that is also pretty hefty to help with the weight of the focal.  Then I started adding my pretties.  The nice thing with open (rather than soldered) chain, is you can use the links as jump rings as well.  The large green rings, I just connected into a spare link of chain and added it in.  This way, the "jump rings" match the chain!  I have also used this idea when I have run out of a jump ring or near a lobster clasp when you want a thick sturdy ring to connect to.  To make the "necklace" portion of the design, I recycled a leftover piece of kumihimo braid I made with .5 mm leather cord.  I add some purple wire to one end to connect to my chain and a BIG black lobster clasp on the other side.  It is a bit different for me to have a side clasp, but I love how it adds to the funky design of the piece.  I used a few bits and bobs to decorate the ends of the cord near the connections, holding them in place with more of Yvonne's tiny colored Oringz.  Of course there are a few Swarovski crystals thrown into the dangles, because I need my SPARKLES!
Here is a full view of the design:

 Fun, Funky, and Pretty!

What is a piece of jewelry without a pair of coordinating earrings?!!  Boring, that's what!  Since I was kind of going over the top with this piece, I decided to go WAY out there with the earrings!  I used handmade lampwork bead caps, created by Tanya McGuire.  Tanya is another bead artist that I met at the local bead shows, and her designs are also right up my alley! 

I used the large bead caps as "bells" and added resin beads and more of Yvonne's pieces.  The center has the heavy chain that was used in the necklace also.  I wanted to have something sturdy but something to allow movement as well.  I again used the 16g black wire to hook everything together.  I finished them with matte finish earring hooks from BeadSmith.  I love my jewelry to move and make noise and these do both!  The glass caps give the earrings a nice "tinkle" when I move my head!

So now that you have seen what I designed from my "hoarded stash", why not hop along the bead trail to see what the other artists have created with theirs!

1.  Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
2. Nancy Dale, NEDBeads
3. Roxanne Mendoza, Roxi Designs
4.  Melissa Trudinger, beadrecipes
5.  Rana Lea, Rana Lea Designs
6.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
7.  Rita Avila, Jewel School Friends
8.  Linda Anderson, From the Bead Board
  10.  Erin Guest, Renlish


11.  Joan Williams, lilruby jewelry
12. Diane Hawkey, Diane Hawkey
13.  Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
14.  Sue Kennedy, SueBeads
15.  Lisa Cone, Inspired Adornments
16.  Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design
17.  Nichole Byers, Nichole Byers
18.  Lori Jean Poppe, Adventures in Creativity
19.  Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings
20.  Lori Schneider, Bead Addict


21.  Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
22. Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
23.  Niki Sayers, Silver Nik Nats
24.  Elsie Deliz-Fonseca, Eliz-Eliz and All That Craft
25.  Amber Dawn, Inventive Soul
26.  Heather Powers, Humblebeads
27.  Sarah Goode, Pookledo
28.  Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion
29.  JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
30.  Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri


31.  Robyn, Museiddity
32.  Catherine King, Catherine's Musings
33.  Jacquie, Bead Gypsy
34.  Janet McDonald, Singing Woods
35. Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreations
36.  Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti
37.  Hannah Rosner, Good River Valley
38.  Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle
39.  Nelly May, Smelly Nelly
40.  Skylar Bre'z, Brising Beads


41.  Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool
42.  Christie Murrow, Charis Designs
43.  Leanne Loftus, First Impression Design
44.  Valerie Norton, Hot Art
45.  Judy Riggs, Rigglettes
46.  Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
47.  Terry Carter,  Tapping Flamingo
48.  Sue, Mid-Life Great Expectations
49.  Nan Smith, Wired Nan
50.  Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck Arts


51.  Marie Covert, Creating Interest
52.  D'Arsie Manzella, This Here Now, Mamacita
53.  Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs
54.  Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
55.  Johanna Nunez, The Lovely One Design
56.  Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
57.  Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
58.  Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things
59.  Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That
60.  Nat, Grubbi Ceramics


61.  Marjorie Savill Linthwaite, Bennu Bird Rising
62.  Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another
63.  Heather Otto, The Crafthopper
64.  Candida Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks
65.  Tracie Dean, Dean Designs
66.  JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
67.  Ginger Bishop, Lil Mummy Likes
68.  Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
69.  Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog
70.  Dini Bruinsma, Angaza by Changes


71.  Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit
72.  Shalini Austin, Jewellery by Shalini
73.  Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle
74.  Ile Ruzza, Ilenia's Unique Beaded Jewelry
76.  Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry 
77.  Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame
78.  Hannah Trost, PZ Designs
79.  Linda Inhelder, Must Haves Jewelry
80.  Miri Agassi, Beadwork


81.  Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
82.  Dyanne Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations
83.  Susan Bowie, Susan Nelson Bowie
84.  Megan Milliken, MaeMaeMills
85.  Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry
86.  Ambra Gostoli, Chic and Frog
87.  Lori Lochner, Bloghner
88.  Gerda Jurimae, Gerda's Crafts Blog
89.  Susan, Mistheword
90.  MaryLou Holvenstot, MaryLou's time2cre8


91.  Mary Shannon Hicks, falling into the sky
92.  Karin King, The Sparklie Things Blog
93.  Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman
94.  Jenny Davie-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor
95.  Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous
96.  Mallory Hoffman, Rosebud 101 - For the Love of Beads
97.  Danielle Kelley, Imbue the Muse
98.  Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
99.  Dolores Rami, CraftyD's Creations
100.  Marcia Dunne, 13 Alternatives


101.  Marlene Cupo, Amazing Designs
102.  Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
103.  Wendy Holder, Jewelry by WendyLea
104.  Michelle Escano, The Cabby Crafter
105.  Louise Glazier, Lily and Jasmine Treasures
106.  Dana Hickey, Wind Dancer Studios
107.  Lennis Carter, windbent
108.  Anne Betenson, Crystal River Beads
109.  Audrey Belanger,  Dreams of an Absolution
110.  Lisa Stukel, Carefree Jewelry by Lisa


111.  Janine Lucas, Travel Stories
112.  Claire Lockwood, Something to Do With Your Hands
113.  Kathy Engstrom, Catherine's Dreams
114.  Paula Hisel, Simply Beadiful
115.  Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
116.  Mischelle Fanucchi, Micheladas Musings
117.  Kim, Cianci Blue
118.  Linda Sadler, Ida Louise Jewelry
119.  Karen, Spokalulu
120.  Jennifer LaVite, Dry Gulch Bead and Jewelry


121.  Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations
122.  Karen Martinez, Fairies Market
123.  Robin Reed, Artistry HCBD
124.  Amy Bright, LABweorc
125.  Jasvanti Patel, Jewels by Jasvanti
126.  Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
127.  Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
128.  Natalie Moten, Running Out of Thread
129.  Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections
130.  Jenny Kyrlach, Wonder and Whimsy


131.  LiliKrist, Handmade by LilK
132.  Jessica Klaaren, The Truth Space
133.  Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
134.  Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart
135.  Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads
136.  Jeanne, Gems by Jeanne Marie
137.  Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
138.  Laren Dee Barton, Laren Dee Designs
139.  Steph, Confessions of a Bead Hoarder
140.  Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations


141.  B. R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem
142.  Patty Miller, Cabari Beads
143.  Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
144.  Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things
145.  Lizzie Clarke, The Need to Bead
146.  Christina Miles, Wings 'n' Scales
147.  Patricia, The Color of Dreams
148.  Marde Lowe, Fancimar
149.  Ev Shelby, Raindrop Creations
150.  Sarah Small, By Salla


151.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
152.  Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry
153.  Pam Traub, Klassy Joolz
154.  Lisa Harrison, Daisy Meadow Studio
155.  Anzia Parks, Anzi-Panzi's Work Shoppe
156.  Ingrid, Lilisgems Handcrafted Jewelry Inspirations
157.  Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey
158.  Kelly Hosford Patterson, The Traveling Side Show
159.  Adlinah Kamsir, Dreamstruck Designs
160.  Marci, That Nothing Be Wasted


161.  Kris Lanae Binsfield,  Cherish Designs
162.  Stephanie Perry, Mustard Bead
163.  Birgit Klughardt, Gites Beads
164.  Inge von Roos, Inge's Blog
165.  Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
166.  Sandy Markley, Gypsy Spirit Designs
167.  Elena Adams, Lena's Beady Blog

Confessions of a Bead Hoarder Part 1...

I am participating in a unique blog hop.  I have a confession to make.  I AM A BEAD HOARDER.  There it is, I have confessed.  Anyone who knows me personally will be COMPLETELY shocked by this revelation.  NOT!  I am so addicted to beads, I really do have a serious problem.  Anyone who has seen my beading table, will NOT be surprised by that statement.  I am literally drowning in beads.  I might have a 4" square space to work at on my beading table in the bead cave.  SAD.  When I try to clean my bead table, the more I touch and organize my piles of beads and findings, the more they tell me to make something with them.  Before I know what is happening, I am playing with my beads instead of tidying my beads.  PITIFUL.  But it is certainly a way to fight design block! 

So this is not just a confession, it is a bead blog hop teaser.  On Saturday, July 20, I will be part of the Bead Hoarders blog hop hosted by Lori Anderson.  Given the task of actually USING the beads we collect that are "special" to us.  What a NOVEL idea!  So I created my pieces last night using beads from some of my very favorite bead artists:
Tera Belinsky-Yoder, Beadygirl Beads
Yvonne Irvin-Faus, MyElements
Tanya McGuire, Tanya McGuire Lampwork Beads & Jewelry

Don't forget to stop by Saturday to check out my design and all the other bead artists as well!

Seasons Blog Hop Reveal

First let me apologize for missing the reveal date.  Yesterday is when the hop started, and I realized I missed the date while we were sitting in our booth at the Farmers Market.  From there I went to work until 2 pm and then we drove up quick to Grand Island so I could pick up my new glasses before Pearle Vision closed.  Then back to Hastings, where we helped my boss and friend, Julie Ochsner, paint in her NEW building!  We are prepping the building so that the beads, yarn, and quilting can be moved into their new home.  We will be moving the stores into the new building in August, so there is a lot of work to do before that happens!  We got home at 9:30 pm (we left about 5:45 am to get breakfast and set up for the Farmers Market), I showered and went to bed.  NO BEADING DONE.

Feeling bad that I had missed my deadline, mostly due to early procrastination upon receiving my beading kit from our Hop Hostess, Lisa Lodge, only to have tragedy strike my life in May, I got up this morning with the goal to make my piece and get it posted before bedtime.

The mission:
Each participant was sent a bead kit with a theme of one of the four seasons (there was room left for creative interpretation as well). Participants were instructed to use these beads in conjunction with other beads on their bead table (but to not purchase new beads).  Each participant would then create jewelry that reflected a season of the year, or a "season" in their life (first love, college days, etc). 

My packet was what I would classify as late autumn going in to winter.  I received a focal and accent beads in Crazy Horse Stone (had to do some hunting to find that out), two large Murano-style glass beads, Chinese crystals, and silver bead caps and toggle.  I would love to show you a picture of what I received, but I forgot to photograph it before I started my piece this morning!  

I started with the focal.  I didn't just want to string or wire wrap it.  BORING!  I do get tired of repeating the same old thing!  So I thought I would do some beadweaving around the pendant.  After fighting with my Fireline trying to get a base to stitch to for the brick stitch, I decided to start with a wire base.  I ran 24 gauge wire through the hole and then around the pendant and back through the hole twisting the wire at the top to make a bail.  This gave me my base to stitch to and then I finished it up in no time!  The beads twist around just a bit.  I was going to add crystals, but decided to KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) and let the stone speak for itself.  The stone has a lovely matte finish and a bit of unevenness in the striations.  I used a metallic luster burgundy size 8, a matte oxblood red size 11, and a pale lavender with just a bit of pearly luster also in a size 11 seed beads to do the beadweaving. 

To finish I kept the rest of the design simple, wire wrapping the stone accents with the bead caps, and the Murano glass with 20 gauge wire and a couple of crystals.  The toggle clasp sent with my kit finishes the silver chain necklace.

As to what season this reflects in my life, to me this stone feels peaceful.  I certainly could use more peace in my life, as the past couple months have brought great change in my day job.  I am finally easing into a new routine, but I still feel a bit overwhelmed at times.  If this design represents autumn turning to winter, then it brings to mind the feeling I get each time a season changes.  Sadness for the end of one season, but looking forward to the daily joys the new season will bring.

Want to see what everyone else created?  Here is the  list of the Seasons Blog Hop participants:
Hostess: Lisa Lodge, Grateful Artist

Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Cassi Paslick, Beads: Rolling Downhill

  You are here!  Stephanie Sanner Haussler, PixyBug Designs

Leah Mifflin Tees, My Beady Little Eyes

Karin Slaton, BackStory Beads

Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution

Lori Jean Poppe, Lorillijean Creative Corner

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams

Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design

Eleanor Burian-Mohr, The Charmed Life

Alicia Marinache,  All the Pretty Things

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz

Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs

Toltec Jewels, Toltec Jewels for Jewel School Friends

Lennis Carrier, Windbent

Erin Kenny, Beadifultherapy

Tanya Goodwin, A Work in Progress

Cilla Watkins, Tell Your Girlfriends

Renetha Williams Stanziano, Lamplight Crafts

Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Sierra Barrett, Giraffe Can Has

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Shirley Jones Moore, Beads and Bread

Dawn Horner, Northern Adornments

Charlene Bausinger Jacka, Clay Space

Tara Plote, The Newbie Beader's Blog

Candida Elkins Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks

Miranda Ackerley, Daze and Days

 

Hastings First Friday & Highland Park Farmers Market

 

Looking for something fun to do tonight?  Please stop by Downtown Hastings tonight for Hastings First Friday! Lots of fun, food, music, art, and festivities to enjoy!  We will be there, set up in front of the Lark building which is right beside Big Dally's Deli.  Stop by and say hi!

Tomorrow morning we will once again be at the Highland Park Farmers Market, behind the Hastings Museum.  Fresh produce, baked items, and art can be found!  Please stop out and shop with the local vendors!

I also really, really, really want to go see Despicable Me 2!  I love Minions!!

Have a GREAT weekend!

Published and a bunny

Guest blogger Chris here...

Well, I guess it is now official, judging from the traffic here on the blog.  I am a published artist.  Wow!  I never imagined.  Marbles have been good to me this year.  First the fantastic show at Moon Marble in March, to having young kids so excited buy marbles from me with their own money at the farmers market.  It makes me wish there were more hours in the day to have my full time job, my part time job, and the lampworking that I love, not to mention the wife and darling daughter.  Thanks everyone!

At the Sandhills Ranch Expo, I received an order from someone for a special bunny bead.  Here are some shots of what I came up with...

Now Steph needs to work her magic and finish the bunny into a pendant for the gal who wanted it.

Thanks for stopping by!

Events of this week...

Guest blogger Chris here!

Well, we returned home late last night from Bassett, Nebraska and the Sandhills Ranch Expo.  The darling daughter drove most of the way home as she spent most of the day on Thursday sleeping in her nest under our display table while Steph talked with our customers and I worked at the torch.  It was a successful show for us and the weather in northern Nebraska was much nicer than what waited for us in the southern part of the state.  I would like to say "Thank you" to all of our customers.  We appreciate your business.

Steph took the three and a half hour drive to Bassett on Tuesday as time to sit still for a bit and create some new pieces with some of my work.   During the show Wednesday and Thursday, I had my torch set up and was doing marble making demonstrations off and on as time and customers permitted.  I took several orders for a new custom style marble that I started making especially for this show (pictures to follow in a later blog post because they are still in the creation phase).  So without further ado, here are some pictures.

 

 The Vineyard...

A couple of ladybugs...

Marbles created at the show...

Another shot of the marbles...

Now here are some marbles I had for the show...

And to keep in the theme of ladybugs...

All in all, the Sandhills Ranch Expo was a great show for us for the second year.  Thank you again to everyone who stopped by.  And a big thank you to Shareen for arranging things so I had propane and oxygen for my torch.

Future events for us...
  Highland Park Farmers Market, Saturdays from now until the end of September, 8am until noon

  The Flatwater Music Festival and Prairie Loft in Hastings, June 28th and 29th
    ----MORE INFO TO COME ON THIS SHOW

Sandhill Ranch Expo

We will be vendors at the 2013 Sandhills Ranch Expo, located in Bassett, NE.  The show is Wednesday and Thursday this week!  I would like to say I am ready with lots of new jewelry, but sadly the full time job has consumed most of my time lately.  However, there are new designs (just not as many as I had hoped) and Chris will be doing demos this year!  Come out and watch Chris work his magic with the torch creating glass beads and marbles!  Need more info?  Here is the link for the show info:
Sandhills Ranch Expo

Weekend Shows!

We will participate tonight in our first Hastings First Friday in Downtown Hastings!  Lots of fun, food, music, vendors, and family activities!  We will be located near 2nd & Burlington from 5-8 pm!  Hope you can stop by and check out the fun!

 

 

Tomorrow starts the Farmers Market Saturdays at the Highland Park Farmers Market!  The market is located behind the Hastings Museum and runs from 8am - 12pm.  Chris and Mina will be manning our booth tomorrow, so stop by and see them!