SALE TIME

I really don't know how many people come to this site, but if anyone does, just to let you know I'm having a sale on my ETSY sight. Buy the first item at regular price, get all other items (of lesser value) at half price. Just convo me, and I will adjust pricing and put a "reserve" on the items for you. I have some ideas for new beads, and will have time to create, so it's now time to reduce my inventory a bit.

April 18 2008

What a beautiful day today...I actually had to time my torch time around the weather - because I wanted to enjoy the beautiful day we were having. I've had some good torch times this week - working on a hothead, in the past, I haven't had much luck with reactive glasses....but the blue and black set gave me hope that I can achieve something with reactive glasses. Also, the black and white is another reactive black, when the stringer was left raise, a beautiful golden metallic sheen developed. :) Amber, Ivory and Silver seem to be classic also. I love those colors together. And how can you go wrong with purple. I am really liking the new kind of bead I've been making with these.

April 11, 2008

Time flies - almost the middle of April already...and finally, we are seeing some nice weather. I've been in a bit of a rut at the torch lately. My inspriation came back when one of my custmers sent me this picture of a bracelet she made from a set of beads. It's a golfer's bracelet! Here's how it works in her own words:

I created the Golf Stroke Bracelet because I have such a hard time trying to remember the number of times I hit the ball on any given hole. (Yes, I hit it a lot!!) Anyway one of my girlfriends showed me this stroke counter she had on her golf bag. It was basically a piece of nylon rope that had 10 plastic miniature golf ball beads afixed to it. Everytime you hit the ball, you slide a bead down the rope. At the end of the hole you count the number of balls and then you know what to write on your score card. Well, being the girly girl that I am I wanted something that looked a little nicer, could fit on my wrist, and match my golf outfits. So I created the Golf Stroke Bracelet. After I hit the ball, I slide a bead over. At the end of the hole I count how many I slid and then I know what to write on my score card. Once I write my score down I move the beads back into the starting position. It's functional during the game and after I play and we are in the club house having some refreshments it still looks good on my wrist. Unfortunately the bracelets haven't helped me play any better, just keep my score more accurate. :)I also wear them during the day when I'm not playing golf to remind my self to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. For every glass I drink, I move a bead". Should you be interested, she can be reached at: cognitojewelry@cox.net

I should be able to use one when I am running laps at the track, cause after 3, I sort of forget how many I have done (and I'm tired of keeping track on my fingers.

March 25 2008

Sometimes I wonder just how many people have looked at this...One of these days, I will try to figure out how to send an email to those people interested in receiving automatic updates. We had a lont, 4 day weekend with Easter - two good days of torching...one bad day. I am still intrigued by the warring states beads. Maybe I just like the dots. One of the hardest decisions to make is which colors of glass to use - white goes with everything, but one gets tired of that after awhile. The blue and black color scheme I sort of stole from Corina Tettinger's latest beads. She did three awsome sets of blue and black beads - I thought the colors would do the warring states design justice also. It's always fun to see how the reactive glasses will work. These include opal yellow, copper green and rubino, I think. The orange shebert really say "spring", don't they. Too bad the weather isn't cooperating yet. Rumor has it we have 4 more weeks of winter! Stay tuned - my next set is going to be black and white (maybe not that boring). I think I am starting to ramble. Bruce was in bed this past weekend with a really bad cold - just hoping I'm not getting it.

Good Friday, March 21 2008

You know, I thought Spring was on it's way, but I was cleaning off my new set of beads today, looked outside, and there is a regular snowstorm starting up. What I saw was not a couple of flurries that was going to stop anytime soon. The bright spot of the day are my beads - it's part of my study in the reactions of opal yellow, copper green and edp purple. They are reactive glasses, and depending on where you use the colors, you will get either a spreading out of color, or a condensing of color. They are bright and pretty and make me smile. Now on ETSY.

Sunday, March 16 2008

It looks like Spring may be on it's way, here in South Western Ontario. We have been able to run outside once again. It takes awhile to adjust from running on a treatmill to running outside once again. The treadmil is a no brainer. You set the speed at which you want to go, and just make sure you stay in the same place. Running outside is different. You have to be able to judge your pace. If not, one most likely runs out of energy before the distance is covered, at least I do. I tend to run too fast in the beginning. Anyway, this is a beading blog, not a running blog.

It's been awhile since I've last added to this blog...but this weekend, I did get some awsome beads made. I still like dots, and have discovered Warring States Beads that date back to 400bc time in China. The black and white are my interpretation of these beads. I also worked on some raked beads - more dots only they are distorted. Another technique I like to use when making beads, especially focal beads, is to just play. I have no set ideas, just put alot of colored glass in front of me, and play...

Back from Florida

My daughter and I did well in the Sarasota half marathon. We had some knee and hip problems, but finished in about 2:20. I came home to warm weather, only to wake up to a real snow storm two days latter. This is March, but I am so wanting nice spring weather. My snow day consisted of making the following. Louise, if you see the black, pink and white, let me know what you think. I am also practising my dot placement with my version of a Warring States Bead.