A Personal Final Bead Show and Other Little Steps...

It hit me yesterday that it's so weird that Bead Fest Philly (this August) is the last bead show that I have personally signed on to do.

It is weird, but it is such a relief...

And in a way - funny too because Bead Fest - in it's 2nd year was my very first Bead Show ever...

Darlene is still running the bead show gamut with my pieces and a ton of other artist pieces...

And I will continue to list the shows on my website and blog...

I am just going to be spending time in what will hopefully be a more creative place...

And a more family centered home environment while Chloe and expectant baby #2 are still little...

I'm excited - actually feeling energized - about all of these small steps I keep taking to get my life back to it's new "normal" place.

I feel like I'm reaching a place in my life where I can almost look over the edge and see all the opportunity that is in front of me...

Little by little is the key in my life right now...

Such a practice in patience (very difficult for this Taurus!)...

I feel I'm on the cusp of something new with my work...

Small scale for sure...

Textural for sure...

Maybe a bit more sculptural and organic if I can loosen up a bit...

I've been making some new stuff for Bead Fest in Philly and can't wait to see how they look glazed...

So if you are going to the show, make sure to stop by and see me and Darlene to say Hi.

I still have a drawing in mind, and will pull that together and let you know the details once I figure out the details...

Hope you're having a creative day!

A Personal Final Bead Show and Other Little Steps...

It hit me yesterday that it's so weird that Bead Fest Philly (this August) is the last bead show that I have personally signed on to do.

It is weird, but it is such a relief...

And in a way - funny too because Bead Fest - in it's 2nd year was my very first Bead Show ever...

Darlene is still running the bead show gamut with my pieces and a ton of other artist pieces...

And I will continue to list the shows on my website and blog...

I am just going to be spending time in what will hopefully be a more creative place...

And a more family centered home environment while Chloe and expectant baby #2 are still little...

I'm excited - actually feeling energized - about all of these small steps I keep taking to get my life back to it's new "normal" place.

I feel like I'm reaching a place in my life where I can almost look over the edge and see all the opportunity that is in front of me...

Little by little is the key in my life right now...

Such a practice in patience (very difficult for this Taurus!)...

I feel I'm on the cusp of something new with my work...

Small scale for sure...

Textural for sure...

Maybe a bit more sculptural and organic if I can loosen up a bit...

I've been making some new stuff for Bead Fest in Philly and can't wait to see how they look glazed...

So if you are going to the show, make sure to stop by and see me and Darlene to say Hi.

I still have a drawing in mind, and will pull that together and let you know the details once I figure out the details...

Hope you're having a creative day!

Trunk Shows and Bead Shows...

It seems crazy around here some days...

Beads going out to shops for trunk shows...

Beads coming back from trunk shows...

Beads going out for orders...

Beads going out for show stock...

Time to make new stuff...

Um - gotta find the time to make new stuff...

I'm pretty excited that Bead Fest Philadelphia is almost here!

It is one of those shows that I give myself a deadline of "must have new stuff for this show".

I'm thinking of doing some gift certificate drawings for people that go to the show and buy my pendants from my booth...

hmmm...

check back for details on that idea!

So here is a list of my upcoming trunk shows and ones that are going on now:

• June 12 - July 31, 2009 Bead & Glass Boutique in Pitman, NJ
• June 26 - July 26, 2009 Just Bead It in Beach Haven, NJ
• July 31 - Aug 16, 2009 Emmi Beads in Clinton, NY
• August 7 - 16, 2009 Brea Bead Works in Brea, CA

And the bead shows run by my friend Darlene of D7 Studio:

• July 25 & 26 Innovative Beads Expo in Concord, NH
• Aug. 1 & 2 Innovative Beads Expo in Doylestown, PA
• Aug. 15 & 16 Innovative Beads Expo in Edison, NJ
• Aug. 21-23 Bead Fest Philly in Valley Forge, PA
• One cool thing about bead shows is that from the website links above
• you can usually find discount coupons for show admission (just click around a bit).

Make sure to check out these shops and shows for a lot of my new decal pieces and new glaze colors that aren't available online...

Trunk Shows and Bead Shows...

It seems crazy around here some days...

Beads going out to shops for trunk shows...

Beads coming back from trunk shows...

Beads going out for orders...

Beads going out for show stock...

Time to make new stuff...

Um - gotta find the time to make new stuff...

I'm pretty excited that Bead Fest Philadelphia is almost here!

It is one of those shows that I give myself a deadline of "must have new stuff for this show".

I'm thinking of doing some gift certificate drawings for people that go to the show and buy my pendants from my booth...

hmmm...

check back for details on that idea!

So here is a list of my upcoming trunk shows and ones that are going on now:

• June 12 - July 31, 2009 Bead & Glass Boutique in Pitman, NJ
• June 26 - July 26, 2009 Just Bead It in Beach Haven, NJ
• July 31 - Aug 16, 2009 Emmi Beads in Clinton, NY
• August 7 - 16, 2009 Brea Bead Works in Brea, CA

And the bead shows run by my friend Darlene of D7 Studio:

• July 25 & 26 Innovative Beads Expo in Concord, NH
• Aug. 1 & 2 Innovative Beads Expo in Doylestown, PA
• Aug. 15 & 16 Innovative Beads Expo in Edison, NJ
• Aug. 21-23 Bead Fest Philly in Valley Forge, PA
• One cool thing about bead shows is that from the website links above
• you can usually find discount coupons for show admission (just click around a bit).

Make sure to check out these shops and shows for a lot of my new decal pieces and new glaze colors that aren't available online...

Summer Fun and a July Birthday

Today is Dave's Birthday!!!

We woke up super early (not on purpose - Chloe was up about 2 hours early...)

And Dave has to work today in Philly which means he won't be home until late...

So Chloe and I are going to do our best at giving him a 35th to remember...

Right before Chloe went to school, she gave her dad three books for his birthday.

She picked them out herself at the book store:

2 Dr. Seuss books:

Put Me in the Zoo & The Eye Book

and Daddy Kisses

Dave and Chloe spend a lot of time reading books together.

He is such an animated reader and she eats it all up (as do I...)!

Dave is such a wonderful dad...

I seriously couldn't have asked for a better father for my children!

Yesterday as soon as we got this water table from Amazon he put it together so as soon as she was home from school, she could play with it.

After about 5 minutes we had her in just a diaper because her clothes were soaked and she was having a blast. At least we were smart enough to take her shoes & socks off before... we know now naked or bathing suit...

We also discovered that she is quite the ant hunter - big, little, she's got little fear...

With a mom that studied Entomology and loves Pixar's Bug's Life... No wonder...

And one of her favorite songs is the "Baby Bumble Bee" song, with "ouch" being her favorite part...

This is Chloe with her friend Sequoia hanging out at Milburn Orchards a few weeks ago.

Note to mommy when dressing Chloe for stuff like this - Goats like little pink overalls with white daisy flowers on them - they think they are real and try to eat them while your child looks at you with total alarm and not quite sure how to get away...

This structure is in the yard with the goats.

They climb all over it - and look like they have a blast!

The person that designed this really awesome (for design and just the simple fact that the goats enjoy this and aren't just in a pen cooped up all day)...

There is even a pully-conveyer belt thing with a metal cups (possibly an old small rectangular bell) that you can put goat feed into and dump for them up high. Some of the goats have figured out that after you put the food in, if they pull on the conveyer belt thing, they can get the food there before you have a chance to wheel it up for them... Crazy smart animals!!!

Got lots of other pics too of some of our summer adventures... just not the time to post too many...

Hope you are finding the time to have some summer adventures too!

Summer Fun and a July Birthday

Today is Dave's Birthday!!!

We woke up super early (not on purpose - Chloe was up about 2 hours early...)

And Dave has to work today in Philly which means he won't be home until late...

So Chloe and I are going to do our best at giving him a 35th to remember...

Right before Chloe went to school, she gave her dad three books for his birthday.

She picked them out herself at the book store:

2 Dr. Seuss books:

Put Me in the Zoo & The Eye Book

and Daddy Kisses

Dave and Chloe spend a lot of time reading books together.

He is such an animated reader and she eats it all up (as do I...)!

Dave is such a wonderful dad...

I seriously couldn't have asked for a better father for my children!

Yesterday as soon as we got this water table from Amazon he put it together so as soon as she was home from school, she could play with it.

After about 5 minutes we had her in just a diaper because her clothes were soaked and she was having a blast. At least we were smart enough to take her shoes & socks off before... we know now naked or bathing suit...

We also discovered that she is quite the ant hunter - big, little, she's got little fear...

With a mom that studied Entomology and loves Pixar's Bug's Life... No wonder...

And one of her favorite songs is the "Baby Bumble Bee" song, with "ouch" being her favorite part...

This is Chloe with her friend Sequoia hanging out at Milburn Orchards a few weeks ago.

Note to mommy when dressing Chloe for stuff like this - Goats like little pink overalls with white daisy flowers on them - they think they are real and try to eat them while your child looks at you with total alarm and not quite sure how to get away...

This structure is in the yard with the goats.

They climb all over it - and look like they have a blast!

The person that designed this really awesome (for design and just the simple fact that the goats enjoy this and aren't just in a pen cooped up all day)...

There is even a pully-conveyer belt thing with a metal cups (possibly an old small rectangular bell) that you can put goat feed into and dump for them up high. Some of the goats have figured out that after you put the food in, if they pull on the conveyer belt thing, they can get the food there before you have a chance to wheel it up for them... Crazy smart animals!!!

Got lots of other pics too of some of our summer adventures... just not the time to post too many...

Hope you are finding the time to have some summer adventures too!

PA Guild of Craftsmen show in Wilmington

One of my favorite Craft Shows:

The PA Guild of Craftsmen

will be here in Wilmington, DE in just a couple of weekends!

July 25 & 26, 2009

I can't tell you how much stuff I've bought from artists at this show...

Not to mention how much stuff has sneaked it's way into this house from this show over the years...

I have a group of friends that usually try to get together for lunch and some crafty shopping during this weekend, and I'm hoping that it comes together again this year.

This year there is a contest for giving away some free admission tickets & a $65 gift certificate! And I'm hoping that I can get my hands on either!

If you are going to go or would want to go, check out the blog for details on winning!

Wish me luck!!!