October 2005
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Ok...never did fix that pic. You can see it here!
This has been a whirlwind weekend! Kyle had a friend stay last night and another is coming tonight. I have to hit the road here in a few minutes to take him on
a hay ride. yehaw. I also have to fix the broken lock on the sliding glass door. Can't imagine that the herd of 12 year olds screaming like crazed banshees
through my house had anything to do with it...could you? *rolls her eyes*
Well, this was the "Vegas weekend"...but alas...$400 did NOT drop from the sky and I did not get to go. John is AT the table as we speak...wish him luck! :)
I'll check back later...gots to go play handyman and chauffeur
October 26, 2005
Wednesday Morning....ok.......seems the pic of my vessels has a freaking mind of their own.......I'll fix when I get back from work today....
October 25, 2005
Swung by Kathleen's this afternoon and finally picked up my vessels from Tink's class! Don't hold your breath waiting for these to be offered up...I have LOTS of
practice to do before I make em' well enough ....but was it FUN!
October 24, 2005
A little later.....
Rosa Parks passed away tonight here in Detroit. What an incredible woman she was and her legacy will live on for generations. One small, defiant act against
senseless rules started a movement that changed the face of this nation. Thank you Mrs. Parks for your pride and spunky nature. May you rest in peace.
Ever feel like you completely lost a week of your life? no? yes? We all get too busy sometimes and ZOOM...life passes us by! Sometimes it takes a sweet, special
one of those you-don't-expect it moments to hit ya to realize sometimes you just have to slow down! We went pumpkin picking this weekend..Kyle has to carve a
pumpkin with the theme "Science Safety" (don't get me started)...anyhoo..he's decided he wants to do a skull and crossbones and we had to go find a pumpkin.
The three of us went into the boonies, parked in someone's front yard and picked punkins. Enter Kodak moment...Kyle inspecting a pumpkin for just the right
curve for his carving...then heaving that sucker up on his shoulder! Where did my baby boy go??? Of course...I forgot the camera...but that image was enough
to jolt me into remembering this is the last year he is really a kid. Big bad teenager next year! Just in case the hormones kick in and I decide I need another
baby...I'm hoping one of ya'll will kick me in the butt and remind me that sleep is a luxury I'm not ready to give up again!
We also saw this cool "rocket motorcycle"...I'm not kidding. It looked like a rocket. Parked right at the BP station at the corner of 23 mile road and North Avenue.
Again....I'm wishin' I had brought my camera. The couple riding it were retired and an absolute HOOT! We cut across 2 lanes of traffic to go see the "rocket"
then John ended up talking to the wife for about 10 minutes! What a nice Sunday.
Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin is on tomorrow. I can't wait. I'm so glad they still show it...one of the things from my childhood I get to share with my son
every year. Remember the Christmas specials? The clay-mation Rudolf with the big snow monster?? I taped that one years ago just so I'd always have it. I'm
sure it's out on DVD now...maybe that should be my quest for the week. Man did that snow monster scare the bejeepers outta me when I was little.
Check the site this week for new beadies...I've been playing with a new technique and have some larger focal type beadies cookin' in the kiln.
Until later!
October 18, 2005
Yoowza. Tuesday! Had to work today...but did manage to torch a bit tonight...but I'm wiped...so I'm dipping mandrels for tomorrow. Only working until 1-ish...so
lots of time in the afternoon.
Also had a hella-crappy day. I won't bore you with details...let's just say it sucked. Maybe that's why I'm so tired. Ever notice that? When you have a hard day
work wise and emotional wise...you are so tired!
Also, another new set up under specials.
Until laterzzzzzzzzzzzzz............
Happy Monday!
Wow...I'm just too damned old to run all over hell and creation for 2 days in a row. I was TIRED today!! Bead show on Saturday was
absolutely fabulous! Sales were so-so, but the show itself...couldn't have been better. The hosts were fantastic...kept bringing us cookies
and bottled water. Does it get better than that?? Other vendors were saying their sales were "off" too...it has to be the economy this year.
We do have alot on our plates don't we?
Class with Tink was unbelievable! She has set the standard for any other class I ever take again! I learned how to make blown vessels,
silver cored beads, and riveted beads. She has a wonderful philosophy on "the c word" (copying) and basically says to take what is
learned in her class belongs to her students and make the beads your own...and that's what I plan to do! I'm picking the class beads up
from Kathleen tomorrow...I'll post as soon as I get home...I'm entirely too jazzed. I made a chili pepper. How cool is that? I mean really...a
chili pepper.
Lots and lots of new goodies up on ebay and the webbie today! A whole slew of cell phone charms and a new special.
Point to ponder today...why are commercials taking over every single TV show now? I'm watching America's funniest home videos tonight
with Kyle...we're eating our favorite make-it-together meal of Porcupine Balls (which..the name in and of itself is enough to collapse Kyle
into a hysterical giggling fit)...and there were 3 tampon commercials during an hour show. I mean really...c'mon. AFHV is a show kids
love....must they be subjected to the various problems women deal with on a monthly basis and the clever and innovative methods
corporate tampon makers have come up with? Criminey.
I know I had something else.....but this brain of mine is tofu tonight....I'm working tomorrow and Wednesday...so I'll check in if I can...have
several special orders to catch up on this week. Why did I think I'd actually have time to torch this weekend. *rolls eyes*
Oh yeah...lost my you know what in the poker game. I could give you the gory details...but I'd have to cry all over the keyboard...and I just got
a new one.....Vegas is out too. Unless $400 falls from the sky...I ain't goin. The price jumped from $165 to over $300 in two days.
Have a great week!
October 14, 2005
Oh My. 4:16 am on Friday. I've passed the point of no return and have committed myself to staying up all night now! If I snoozy..I can
guarantee ya that they kidlet will be oh-so late for school in the morning!
Why am I up all night?? Welp, my first bead-only show is Saturday in Grand Rapids and I've completely convinced myself that I don't have
nearly enough beads. The bonus...I was in rare form tonight and made some new, quite funky beads..focals in fact. Not the norm for
me...but nothing like a wee bit o' stress and pressure to put the muse in overdrive.
On top of the show this weekend...I am taking a class with the one...the only Tink Martin on Sunday at Kollectibles by Kathleen in Berkely. I
feel like a kid 2 days before Christmas. The only other class I have take was with Kathleen when I first started. I can't WAIT! Not only will
Tink be teaching how to make to-die-for hollow vessels....but she will also be doing a demo on the silver-cored beads. I have tried to do
these on my own using Tink's tutorial...(it's quite faboo)...but I just have to see it I think to put all the pieces together.
Oh yeah....poker Saturday night too! LOL!
If you are in or near Grand Rapids this week...be sure to stop by and see me and Ms. Patty! We are leaving Saturday at 6:00 am from
Detroit.
Have a great weekend!
Hump Day! Well, didn't make it to work today. Woke up feeling like something on the bottom of a shoe, so decided it might just be a good day
to take it easy. I tend to push myself and then when I get sick...I get REALLY sick and can't shake it. So...listening to my body today. Going to
make some easy-schmeasy beadies and drink lots of orange juice. Don't worry, I'll still be able to fit in my daily dosage of exactly one pot of
coffee..I'll just have to fit in the OJ. I do have to go in tomorrow though, so I'm going to try to make it early so I can get home early.
Castle went to school today..sorry no pics. We overslept AGAIN! I swear its the weather..grey skies and cold makes for quite comfy sleeping!
I've decided to join the "big girls" and list my site at the top-25 sites for beadies. Be sure to vote for me using the buttons! Send me an email
that you voted and I'll be giving away free beadies every month. I think you can vote once a week and for each entry, I'll enter your name for the
free beadies. I'm not sure what they will be this month...show is on Saturday and I have 5 special orders going out today. There are frikken'
beads everywhere in this house. Pulled one out of the garbage disposal yesterday.
Oops.
Apparently, we have "the worlds largest" Haunted House right here in the Detroit area! Kyle has finally started to show MY genetic influence
and is really wanting to go!! He is also watching scary movies and reading scary books. *sniffle* I'm so proud! Now if I could only get him to
eat some Guacamole.......
Happy Monday! WooHoo! Yehaw! YEAHHH! *snort* Ok..Mondays suck...but sometimes you just gotta try eh? Cold, grey dreary day today, but
managed to crank out lots and lots of beadies for my upcoming show this weekend in Grand Rapids. Wow, am I not prepared! LOL! Fall is
definately here...leaves are turning and it was quite chilly today. Had to break out the winter pink booties! Love those things...so warm and so
funky! They are pink suede with lambswool on the inside and the biggest thing I look forward to in the winter. I get to wear the pink booties all
day long!
Had a fabulous weekend. Spent it in Ann Arbor Saturday night with some friends from Boston that were in town for the U of M homecoming.
Too bad they lost..and too bad Illinois lost too..otherwise I would have gloated quite obnoxiously. 5 weeks to Basketball season. Yes...I have it
marked on my calendar! Three more weeks to Vegas again..THEN...heading there again in June. Some friends that also came to town this
weekend from Pittsburgh are getting married next year and both the Bachelor and Bachelorette's party are in Vegas in June. Yehaw!
We've been working on a class project for Kyle this past week. A castle! It's turned out pretty cool..I'll have pics tomorrow. It's due Wednesday
and he doesn't want the pic up until it's done!
There has been quite a bit of discussion around lately about the quality of beads on ebay. There is a certain seller *cough*AH*cough*that has
literally flooded the Lampwork/US category with his listings of imported beads that are advertised and listed as made in a studio in Canada.
We're talking 1400 listings on any given day. That is over 1/4 of the listings for that category and there are literally pages and pages and pages
of them. The artisan beads are getting lost in the listings. A tip I picked up is to add a (-)*sellers name*to your search option to sift through
them and see true artisan beads. Nobody is saying his beads don't have a market and that he can't have a business, it's the huge impact it's
having on the "little guys" that has people all twisted up over this. Anyhoo, I'm working on a page with lampwork info on it..in the meantime, look
for some type of "Self Representing Artist" "badge" in the listings to verify you are getting unique, high quality beads and not poor quality
sweatshop beads.
Wow am I chatty tonight! haha! Anyhoo, have a great week if I don't get to check back in and thanks for reading my blatherings and blubberings.
October 6
OK! October Trivia question is UP! Gotta run..work again today. BLEAHHHHHHHHH!
October 5, 2005
Hump-day! Work was good today..meeting all the new residents and chugging out paperwork. Fun stuff! I'm also going to be heading to my
ghetto building one day a week indefinitely to maintain all the work I've done in the past. Seems they weren't able to keep up with some of the
stuff and basically, everything I've done is gone. I talked the Director into just letting me come in on a regular basis to maintain it vs. coming in
for a month, them coming back to fix it. This is the second time the systems have "failed" because the staff couldn't keep up with it because of
their day to day work load. Why have systems they can't keep up with you wonder...well, the state says we gotta!
I've been listening to alot of talk about a certain ebay seller that lists their chinese import beads in the US category and how it is impacting the
artisan lampwork market. Now, don't get me wrong...every product has a place in the market, I'm not making any judgement on the quality of
the beads (which is lesser than that from artisans the vast majority of the time) but please...sell them in the right place!!! Artisan lampwork is
literally buried by over 1400 listings by this person who states that the lampwork are created in their studio..implying they are artisan made.
Find me the artisan that can have 1400 listings at one time and I'll show you someone who gets espresso mainlined into their jugular.
All I can say is...know what you are buying. Inspect the pictures carefully. Ask questions and if you are not satisfied with the answer...don't buy
them. If you are uncertain about a seller...ask them what color glass they used for the flowers, base beads...whatever. If they can't give you a
number that corresponds with a glass color...don't do it!
Anyhoo...I do have a point here....I've decided to *gulp* finally list on JustBeads to test that site out. With ebay getting huge and not making any
changes to penalize sellers that misrepresent their item...I think it's time I checked it out! I may only be "the little guy", but I'm one of many that
feel this way....maybe we can all scoot over there! I've heard nothing but good things about the site..so I'm crossing my fingers.
JustBeads Auction
New goodies under specials too! Small sets perfect to mix and match or for bracelets, earrings...whatevahhh!
Kyle is having trouble coming up with a new trivia question this month...so maybe I'll have it up by Friday....let's see if I can go into
mom-nag-turbo-mode!
Have a great rest of the week!
It's 7:45am and I'm awake. Egads.
Kiddo missed the bus this morning because neither one of us could drag our night-owl butts out of bed this morning. Life just should not start
until 10:00am. There should be a law. I have decided that in order to be productive...I have to set a goal every day..and lo and behold...I met
that goal for beads yesterday...granted...it was 2:30am when I finished....but I did finish! ha! I have beadies beadies beadies coming up later
on...nice fall colors with that "glow" look that I'm completely in love with! Now if I could just finish today at a decent hour.........Well, Tuesday is a
crappy TV day...so I should be ok...not like Mondays...Surface, Las Vegas, and Medium. Call me couch potato but I do LOVE some of the
shows to come out in the last couple of years.
Ok...off to shower and prepare myself for the arrival of Johnny's grandparents later this afternoon. Shall we take bets on how many times the
fact that we aren't married is brought up.....takers? :)
Later...........
WOWZERS! What a couple of weeks! haha! The first of two back-to-back shows is over and it went fairly well. I'm still new to shows, so any
time I make money, I'm a happy camper. Everyone was saying that the traffic was lighter this year. Lots of really important stuff going on in
the world this year, so although it wasn't a "slambam" weekend..I'm thankful for the opportunity to be able to do the show and make a few
new friends along the way! I had some wonderful "roommates" and hope I get the same assignment next year!
I've also been playing with the webbie again. Big surprise eh? I apologize ahead of time for the hideous yellow to the left. I'm working on it.......
I've added a "Pretties for the House" link as I'm trying to move away from creating jewelry. I much prefer making beads for YOU fabulous
designers. I'll be focusing on the home items for shows and will be adding to the items for sale as I have them. Really a quite cool way to
add a little flair to the house. And how can the Hubster complain about beads being all over the house when THESE beads make it pretty??
I also REALLY want a slideshow for my gallery. If anyone knows of a good one...email me...the only one I've found is for Mac only...can't find
one..even a bad one...for IBM compatible PC.
I have two weeks to get ready for another bead-only show in Grand Rapids Michigan. That one should be way-less stressful to get ready
for..just beads beads beads. Then Tucson...*hyperventilates*......
I'm trying to get some pieces together for submission to a couple of places. There are a few galleries taking submissions, a couple of
books...I have already sent my submission to Cindy Jenkin's new book that will be highlighting the fabulous work done by fabulous people
(thanks Lori for making me check my modesty at the door! *laughs*) on the Hot Head torch.
If you aren't privy to the various torches being used in the lampwork world, there is quite a bit of debate about what you can and cannot do on
a Hot Head..which is the torch I use. Cindy is not only doing this book.. but she is the force behind the Hot Head torch and the writer of the
book I learned everything from after my initial class. I only just now got Corina's book...and only because it was offered on sale and at a price
I could afford and because I "paid it forward" with my "Making Glass Beads" book to a new lampworker.... I needed a book for demonstration
purposes at my shows. People do love hearing about the process!
If you haven't entered the trivia contest...go ahead and enter..I'll be extending it until ...well, until I get my tookus in gear and put a new one up!
Give me a couple of days......
And on the lighter side...I'm not a football fan...but I'm watching TV here..and I just have one question. What is up with Steve Mariucci's hair??
(Coach for the Detroit Lions) He's got some big-pimpin'-James Dean-Hairplug thing going on.........
Have a great week everyone!
