Etched Beads and Backwards Hop Scotch...

In between meetings in the last couple of days,

I've been going on a bit of an etching binge...

I'm loving these rich colors and the satin matte finish...

This piece above on my fingertips has been etched.

So rich in tones...

And here it is at 9 o'clock in the above photo before etching...

I'll have more pics of the other pieces above as they were all etched together.

These porcelain paper clay pieces that my friend Kelly Russell (Beadfuddled) created for me for test tiles a few years back - they got etched too...

See them in March 2011: click here.

And now for a little story about Backwards Hop Scotch.

In my family, there is a bit of a running joke about "Marsha-isms"...

Young Marsha overheard a gossip story about people going to see "shrinks":

"Mom, How little are they???"

Well, my daughter has gotten it honestly from me.

The other day I picked her up from school.

She decided to jump on the Hop Scotch rug, jumping on each number in order:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

She got to the top and did a funny 4 year old happy dance.

Her little brother egged her on "Yay Chloe!!!"

I asked - Chloe, now that you are at the top, can you do it backwards?

Sure Mom!!! I can do it backwards!

Insert more 4 year old squeals & giggles...

I continue: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... in my funny fast voice encouraging her on...

So at first I think she completely ignored me,

which she somewhat did...

But really she just didn't hear me with all the giggles & squeals going on from both of them...

So she went back to the start - and did this:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10...

And she did it turned backwards!

What a great kid!

She cracks me UP...

Etched Beads and Backwards Hop Scotch...

In between meetings in the last couple of days,

I've been going on a bit of an etching binge...

I'm loving these rich colors and the satin matte finish...

This piece above on my fingertips has been etched.

So rich in tones...

And here it is at 9 o'clock in the above photo before etching...

I'll have more pics of the other pieces above as they were all etched together.

These porcelain paper clay pieces that my friend Kelly Russell (Beadfuddled) created for me for test tiles a few years back - they got etched too...

See them in March 2011: click here.

And now for a little story about Backwards Hop Scotch.

In my family, there is a bit of a running joke about "Marsha-isms"...

Young Marsha overheard a gossip story about people going to see "shrinks":

"Mom, How little are they???"

Well, my daughter has gotten it honestly from me.

The other day I picked her up from school.

She decided to jump on the Hop Scotch rug, jumping on each number in order:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

She got to the top and did a funny 4 year old happy dance.

Her little brother egged her on "Yay Chloe!!!"

I asked - Chloe, now that you are at the top, can you do it backwards?

Sure Mom!!! I can do it backwards!

Insert more 4 year old squeals & giggles...

I continue: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... in my funny fast voice encouraging her on...

So at first I think she completely ignored me,

which she somewhat did...

But really she just didn't hear me with all the giggles & squeals going on from both of them...

So she went back to the start - and did this:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10...

And she did it turned backwards!

What a great kid!

She cracks me UP...

New Work - In A Way...

These have been hanging out in the studio unglazed for almost 2 years.

I wanted something different than my normal glazes I use on my pendants.

This application of an oxide under the glaze allows for lots of variations from out of the bottle...

And this isn't the final way they are going to look.

What are they?

Ring Holders? Terrarium ornaments?

To me they are just experiments at this early stage - the beginning of a series of new work...

They have a few more stages to go through before they are how I really want them.

While I was fiddling around with these oxides & glazes for the little abstract organic pagoda tops,

I also decided to glaze up some of my porcelain pendants...

In the photo above, they are the same glaze, but the bottom piece underwent an additional step of etching.

This etching solution removes the glossy surface and leaves a matte, more rustic finish to the piece.

I'm hoping to make a few more decisions on these, then photograph them and put them into my Etsy shop later this week.

Here is a peek at the test tiles for these oxides & glazes.

Three tiles narrowed down from twelve - just for this round of testing.

Here you can see the test tile I decided to start with.

Crazy how pastel the glazes are before firing!

And in the studio itself, I'm starting to have a few more constant visitors down there with me.

Making messes & making art!

I finally have some big artwork with lots of color to go up on my white cinderblock walls.

It is currently just SO drab. Especially in the winter...

And look - Chloe is even helping me paint the exterior of my kiln room door.

Never moved past the manufacturer primer.

Can I tell you how delighted she and I are that she is helping me put color in the studio!?

And on Saturday it was 65 degrees here! 

Unbelievable for January...

On a whim, we jumped into the car and drove to the beach for a couple of hours.

Here are some of the treasures that Chloe and I collected.

Notice the crab claws?

This beach is Lewes Beach, DE. 

Estuary where the DE river empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

The place where I learned to swim (for my life - or rather - for my feet - all kinds of things in that water!)

We were barely on the beach when Chloe started finding shells and such & made herself a little pile.

Dad remembered the buckets, so we were able to gather a few more things to bring home.

And Riley was not into taking his shoes & socks off (too cold for his toes - he likes warm sand!)

But he did sit for a while just checking out all the stuff the beach had to offer.

Overall - a pretty good weekend.

I've got a lot on my mind & some pretty big decisions to make for myself & my business.

Dave and I were just talking last week about me looking for a job soon.

So I've got to get things lined up and figured out for how I need to be spending my time...

Wish me luck! I'm going to need it (my brain will - big time!)

New Work - In A Way...

These have been hanging out in the studio unglazed for almost 2 years.

I wanted something different than my normal glazes I use on my pendants.

This application of an oxide under the glaze allows for lots of variations from out of the bottle...

And this isn't the final way they are going to look.

What are they?

Ring Holders? Terrarium ornaments?

To me they are just experiments at this early stage - the beginning of a series of new work...

They have a few more stages to go through before they are how I really want them.

While I was fiddling around with these oxides & glazes for the little abstract organic pagoda tops,

I also decided to glaze up some of my porcelain pendants...

In the photo above, they are the same glaze, but the bottom piece underwent an additional step of etching.

This etching solution removes the glossy surface and leaves a matte, more rustic finish to the piece.

I'm hoping to make a few more decisions on these, then photograph them and put them into my Etsy shop later this week.

Here is a peek at the test tiles for these oxides & glazes.

Three tiles narrowed down from twelve - just for this round of testing.

Here you can see the test tile I decided to start with.

Crazy how pastel the glazes are before firing!

And in the studio itself, I'm starting to have a few more constant visitors down there with me.

Making messes & making art!

I finally have some big artwork with lots of color to go up on my white cinderblock walls.

It is currently just SO drab. Especially in the winter...

And look - Chloe is even helping me paint the exterior of my kiln room door.

Never moved past the manufacturer primer.

Can I tell you how delighted she and I are that she is helping me put color in the studio!?

And on Saturday it was 65 degrees here! 

Unbelievable for January...

On a whim, we jumped into the car and drove to the beach for a couple of hours.

Here are some of the treasures that Chloe and I collected.

Notice the crab claws?

This beach is Lewes Beach, DE. 

Estuary where the DE river empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

The place where I learned to swim (for my life - or rather - for my feet - all kinds of things in that water!)

We were barely on the beach when Chloe started finding shells and such & made herself a little pile.

Dad remembered the buckets, so we were able to gather a few more things to bring home.

And Riley was not into taking his shoes & socks off (too cold for his toes - he likes warm sand!)

But he did sit for a while just checking out all the stuff the beach had to offer.

Overall - a pretty good weekend.

I've got a lot on my mind & some pretty big decisions to make for myself & my business.

Dave and I were just talking last week about me looking for a job soon.

So I've got to get things lined up and figured out for how I need to be spending my time...

Wish me luck! I'm going to need it (my brain will - big time!)

Bead Soup September 2011 Reveal...

Welcome to my Bead Soup Reveal…

I know there is a lot to see with over 300 entries so I'll keep to mainly photos:

Marsha Neal Studio Bracelets.

Handmade Ceramic Beads & Fancy Jasper.

The small faceted Fancy Jasper Beads from Miri were perfect!

I have been stocking up on jasper stones since April.

Loved using one of my fairy ribbons with these silver & large hole beads...

Even made a slip on bracelet with the extra beads from the Bead Soup...

Here is a group shot of bracelets and necklace from Miri's Soup.

Beads on the work table, finding their place

Snapped with my iPhone during creation of the adjustable bracelet.

These will be my new fall layered look...

And can I tell you that after being part of this Bead Soup 2011…

That I am inspired…

No - obsessed (don't we all go there?)

Inspired to use some of these new beads…

And some of these lentil beads that have been around since last fall…

To make some actual finished work that will be available for sale very soon…

Strange Fruit performing at Longwood Gardens in PA, Sept 16 to 18, 2011.

It is all such a strange dance that we keep going around in isn't it?

I plan on stocking up on more of that Fancy Jasper.

So I need to sell more beads to buy more beads…

Want updates on my beads?

Sign up for my newsletter while you're here.

Thank you Miri for sending me those faceted beauties!

And Lori for hosting Bead Soup for me to have a deadline to work towards…

Thanks for stopping by!

Make sure to catch up with the 300+ other bloggers participating in this Bead Soup…

Click HERE to see all my 2011 Bead Soup posts.

Bead Soup September 2011 Reveal...

Welcome to my Bead Soup Reveal…

I know there is a lot to see with over 300 entries so I'll keep to mainly photos:

Marsha Neal Studio Bracelets.

Handmade Ceramic Beads & Fancy Jasper.

The small faceted Fancy Jasper Beads from Miri were perfect!

I have been stocking up on jasper stones since April.

Loved using one of my fairy ribbons with these silver & large hole beads...

Even made a slip on bracelet with the extra beads from the Bead Soup...

Here is a group shot of bracelets and necklace from Miri's Soup.

Beads on the work table, finding their place

Snapped with my iPhone during creation of the adjustable bracelet.

These will be my new fall layered look...

And can I tell you that after being part of this Bead Soup 2011…

That I am inspired…

No - obsessed (don't we all go there?)

Inspired to use some of these new beads…

And some of these lentil beads that have been around since last fall…

To make some actual finished work that will be available for sale very soon…

Strange Fruit performing at Longwood Gardens in PA, Sept 16 to 18, 2011.

It is all such a strange dance that we keep going around in isn't it?

I plan on stocking up on more of that Fancy Jasper.

So I need to sell more beads to buy more beads…

Want updates on my beads?

Sign up for my newsletter while you're here.

Thank you Miri for sending me those faceted beauties!

And Lori for hosting Bead Soup for me to have a deadline to work towards…

Thanks for stopping by!

Make sure to catch up with the 300+ other bloggers participating in this Bead Soup…

Click HERE to see all my 2011 Bead Soup posts.