Friday, November 11, 2011

Featured Friday

I decided my blog needed a little more structure. Or maybe I need a little more structure so I quit neglecting my blog!  So on Friday's I will be sharing cool handmade products from great artists that I've found. I hope you find things you'll love too!

First ~ A little something from my friend Rachel of Inferno Glass Beads  I love her big hole lampwork charm beads!  Doesn't this one just glow? Check out her Etsy page for more great lampwork!

I also love the metal work from Christopher Crooks Metal Art  I have one of his geckos and it's beautiful!  Actually, I intended to hang it out on my deck but it's so great I hung it in my living room so I could enjoy it year round. Take a peek at his Etsy shop and I'm sure you'll find something you love too! Here's one of my current favorites ~


Check back next Friday for more great handmade finds!

Friday, October 21, 2011

Inspiration

INSPIRATION

Sometimes you wonder where a person gets the inspiration for their art.  Sometimes you think "wow, that's beautiful, I wonder what inspired it?"  And sometimes you think "what the heck gave them that idea?"

So, in case you're wondering, I thought I would share.

                        A couple of days ago the sunrise at my house was particularly beautiful.


                                            Inspiring me to make these beads:

Okay, they're nothing like each other.  I did say "inspired" right?  :)

Then I saw these cupcakes:
                                                        And I made this bead:

I try to remind myself to find new inspiration every day.  If you are open to it, inspiration can come from anywhere!


Tuesday, October 11, 2011

The Great Studio Clean Up

WARNING:  This post will be image heavy, and mildly alarming ~ small children and those with OCD should look away!  :)

I'm so embarrassed I can't believe I'm sharing this!  My studio is in a convenient location to be the dumping ground for everyone in the house.  If you don't know where it goes, just put it in the studio "Mom will deal with it".  Okay, that might work if Mom actually dealt with it.  But I don't.  Usually, I'm in a hurry so I just push the stuff into piles to get it out of my way, then dig through it to find stuff that I "know" is in there. You know the drill, I can't possibly be alone in this!

Anyway, here are the before pictures.  I should have taken a picture of the floor, the game trails were a nice touch!


 

 


SEVERAL hours later..... The studio looked like this:


 
 














Sooooo worth it!  I can find stuff again (well, except for the stuff I'm currently packing all over creation!)

There is one small remaining problem.....

I didn't touch the glass storage.  To be honest, the task is so overwhelming I'm afraid to start. 

                                                                                  Under the torch:
Torch Table:
                                                                        
                                                     






And the all important "oh, there's an empty spot" method of actually storing the glass.

I want labels, I want organized by color, I want to know what I need BEFORE I place an order.  I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Anyone want to come help? There might be some glass in it for you!

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Long Distance Running

No, I'm not running a marathon (no suprise to those of you who know me!), but it certainly feels like it these days.  Right now I'm running my life, my home and my business long distance while I help my Grandfather with harvest.  I'm scattered all over "Hell's half acre" (as Grandpa puts it) and it's a bit of a challenge.  Hubby and the kids are at home ~ thank goodness for text messaging and facebook! And I must say, Dusty makes a much better housewife than I do!

But the business stuff all has to travel back and forth between here and home when we're not picking. Unfortunately, that sometimes means that no matter where I am, something I need is in another location.

This is the temporary torch set up at my in-law's house:

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I have an 8X10 studio at home that is absolutely packed ~ so when my husband saw this he said "really, is that all you need?"  Um, no.  I need all that stuff, this is just the very bare essentials.

And my temporary jewelry, Etsy, mailing station at my friend's house:

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But it's totally worth it when I get to spend all day outside; fresh air, the sun on my face, and haning out with my Grandpa!  This amazing man has so much knowledge to share and so many interesting stories to tell. I learn something new every time he talks to me.  It is an incredible experience to go to work every day with a man who truly loves what he does and I continue to learn so much from his passion for life. 

I wouldn't miss this opportunity for anything!

Here's my Farmville post from last year, and every word of it holds true.
http://vedasbeads.blogspot.com/2010/10/life-lessons-from-farmville.html

Plus ~ I get to play fun games like "Can you spot the fruit in this tree?"  Hint: It's a pear.

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And just look at the view from my "office"!

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So, while my life may be crazy, busy, scattered ~ I wouldn't have it any other way!

Today's experiences are tomorrow's memories, and I treasure every one.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

When Cupcakes Go Bad

We've all done it.  You're baking cupcakes, they're turning out great and then bam! you over fill one or forget to set the timer and they start going bad.  I've been "baking" lampwork cupcakes lately and they're super fun!

However; this white cake, lemon frosting with a cherry on top went horribly, horribly wrong and bam!
FISH!


I love this job :)

Monday, September 26, 2011

More Collaboration

A couple weeks ago my husband found an ugly little desk at a second hand store. He brought it home and refinished it and then asked me to make knobs for him.


It turned out great!
Here's a close up of one of the knobs


I wish we could work together all the time, but one of us has to have a day job so the kids can eat. (Not it!)
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Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Spoon Bracelets

As a continuation of my previous posts about collaboration:  I thought I should share the finished product ~ I'm super excited about these! Thanks to my master spoon bender, I have over 20 more prepped for me. I just need to figure out what kind of special beads to make for them. :)

This is the first one that made it to "ready to list" status!


It's available here:  VedasBeads Lampwork Spoon Bracelet

I have to get cracking on those beads!  Thanks again to the incredible man I'm fortunate enough to call my husband!