Long time - no see

Well, all I can say is that I have been really busy - busy preparing for Tucson, getting there, surviving it, and the trip home.

The booth looked good - but the weather was wicked cold and windy. Two temp records that had been on the books for more than 100 years were broken while we were there.

There were natural gas shortages - people without heat and water because of the cold.

We had to rent a propane heater, not just for us but for the sake of our customers.

Everyone was great, our hats were off to those braving the cold to visit those of us in the tents. Here's Joy, toasting a marshmallow on our lovely rented "Bronze Heater".  It saved our lives!

And on a more serious level - here's a nice shot of our booth in the evening - we almost froze to death!

Happy New Year!!!

Well I have not done a good job of keeping up with my blog!  Suffice it to say this has been a year of major travel - travel for the sake of travel, travel for shows, and travel for education.  I had been away for a least 3 days every month except for the month of March.

January - 6 days in Cancun
February - 14 days in Puerto Vallarta
March - nothing
April - 2 days in DC area, leave for the Mediterranean
May - Greece, Egypt, Cypress, Israel, Turkey (17 days)
June - Milwaukee, Bead and Button
July - up north in Michigan 2 and the Gathering in Rochester, NY
August - Beadfest Philly, 5 days
September - Murano Italy, class with Lucio Bubaco, 12 days
October - Grand Rapids, only 1 night, up north 2 nights
November - South America (left on Halloween), 21 days
December - Cancun, 7 days.

Pretty full calendar! I am not complaining! It will probably never be that hectic again.

So do I post and not make beads and jewelry? Afraid not. But there is little on the travel schedule for 2011 so far. Ramping up for Tucson. And as soon as I get a chance it's back to Etsy and taking pictures and posting. Wish there was an app for that...

So until then - here are some pics from my Mediterranean trip...

It's been awhile...

The fall has been very hectic, much travel, several shows, and now get ready for the holidays.
Am leaving Cancun today to return home...

November we were South America, Chile, Uruguay, the Falkland Islands, and Argentina. I am proud to say I've been around Cape Horn!

Have not had time to attempt to translate any of my travels into glass...

Thank you Grand Rapids

A big thanks to those who came to see us at the Western Michigan Bead Expo.  The show has moved to a new venue, the Prince Conference Center at Calvin College -beautiful and intimate - and best of all, free parking. Thanks also to Nancy and Robin for all of their hard work putting the show together.

As a Michigan artist, I appreciate all of my customers - without them I couldn't follow my passion - lampworking.  I know these are tough economic times but please know your patronage is appreciated.  I worry that we will lose some of our smaller bead venues and some of our artists for lack of support.

When I came home from Grand Rapids on Saturday evening I notice I had received a catalogue from "an oriental" bead importer/supplier.  My husband had looked through the catalogue and commented on why should people buy from us lampworkers when these beads are available.

All I could say was ours is a superior product, there's a person with a name behind each bead who works hard to make a small piece of wearable art. If you just want a piece of glass, those beads will work for you and you are supporting some factory worker overseas.

But if you want something special that is unique and a miniature piece of art - I'm there along with many other Michigan lampworkers.

So again, than your for your support.

New Etsy listing

I am working hard at getting my work up on Etsy, not really good at taking pictures but am getting better! And since Halloween is upon us, and it one of my favorite times, I have to have Halloween beads! Here's the newest one up, a "haunted tombstone" though he's not a really scary ghost...

West Michigan Bead Expo VII - Grand Rapids

Another weekend coming up and another show.  Joy and I head to Grand Rapids on Friday for the West Michigan Bead Expo VII.  It's a great show in Grand Rapids and this year they have changed the location. This year it's at  -

Calvin College
Prince Conference Center
1800 East Beltline SE
Grand Rapids, MI

Saturday, October 16
10 am - 5 pm
Admission - $3.50

We are looking forward to being there at their new location, look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones.

Bead Bonanza Thanks

For everyone who came by to see us - thank you so much. It was good to see our "old" friends and we made some new friends.  Be sure to check out my Etsy store.  It is a work in progress with a major learning curve. But I am up to 4 items as of this moment and there will be more holiday themed pieces going up this week.