Two weeks ago today I had my appendix removed and thought, "Oh wow, I can bead through the recovery." What a shock to find out that

beading was just too much! Couldn't concentrate, my hands shook, and nothing worked. Finally yesterday I tried some lizards but even so they are not really worth keeping! I have ideas and plans but so far the body is not doing its part. Onward and back to work.

Have not been posting much here since the open studio show. I got 12 commissions from that and didn't feel I should be show them off. Got them all done (but one - waiting on an order) so I have gone back to making what pleases me. I had so many chips from ordering the chip promo deals from Fire Mountain so have started a series of these lanyard necklaces (anything to avoid findings!) I love how easy they are to get on and the central hanging interest divides us phat ladies into two acceptable parts!

Here you can see the stitch I used in the crystal contest entry. In the narrow parts it is done plain and with the crystals I added one to each step up. Here however, I used two chips per step - partly because I had so many, but mostly because I love the chunkier look.

Bambi had sent the round green donut from her visit as my personal shopper to the Moab Rock and Gem Show. When I saw it I thought, "I'll never find a use for that." and now it is the first thing I have used! Good she shopped for me or I never would have bought it! Thanks kid!

A Finalist!

Just got the notice from Fire Mountain that this necklace is a finalist in the Swaroski Crystallized Contest. Only early in September did I get the notice about the contest for using Swaroski crystals and the deadline was Sept. 21 so there was no way I could get an order in and back, and make the necklace, mail it and have it arrive on time. I had several crystals left over from making the lights on the Christmas tree and the large one I had ordered not knowing which color I wanted for another necklace.

I searched through all my beads scourounging up every crystal I could find and even cannabilizing other efforts! I piled these treasures together and from counting them, I determined the design. This was the best I could do with what I had on hand! Since the piece had to have a title I called it "Clearly My All" because I had used up every crystal I had.

The stitch is the ordinary spiral chain but I added a crystal in each step up. I was surprised how impressive such a simple idea became. Since most people use crystals for stringing I am hoping that my enjoyment of doing this sewing stitch will set my work apart. Also the embellishing, which I love to do, is not often seen and each of us embellishes in a very different way. Cross your fingers and wish me luck!

A visitor to the Open Studio last weekend brought in this lovely old jade dragon and wanted it to have a new necklace made for it. She liked the two-string random beading so we picked out the colors and yesterday I got around to doing this. I hope she will be as pleased with the result as I am!

Got all the lizards done for Lena's order. Am hoping it will quit raining so I can go to town (Point Arena) to deliver them to her store (Everything Under the Sun).

I ordered so many of these pin backs from Fire Mountain, so now I had to find ways to use them. Circular forms; wreaths. How easy can it get?
Today is the first day in a long time that I woke up without a "to-do" list so my mind is frolicking around asking,"What do you want to do?" and here I am!

Sold all my suncatchers except one so last night I prepared a bunch for embellishing. That is a good thing to do in the rain. Embellishing suncatchers. There is a small haiku joke in there somewhere.

beading

rain on the window

suncatchers

Photos from the Open Studio held on October 9, 10, 11. We did very well! All three days were busy. Saturday brought more lookers than buyers but Sunday and the commissions made up for that. The weather was supposed to be sunny, but the storm that arrived on Monday was already making clouds. At least it was dry and folks could get in and out of their cars without getting wet.

This is Rhoda Teplow with her pieces using many African trade beads. She had a harder sell since her actual beads cost more than the glass beads, so her prices had to be higher. Many said my prices were too low, but glass beads allow me to try many new things and then sell the experiments for reasonable prices.

The Independent Coast Observer, local weekly paper, carried an item about the Christmas scene win at Fire Mountain, and I was surprised how many people came in the door asking to see the work. A lady even came back on Monday with her camera to take a photo of it.

What sold the best for me? All my polyclay Halloween pumpkins went early and I could surely have sold earrings like I wore if I had had more. All the lizards (except the pink one) sold and I got orders for 5 more. Got a couple orders for necklaces in colors other than the ones I had. Another lady came back on Monday so we could design a necklace for her sister in London in mauve. I enjoyed that!

Many liked the spiral stitched adjustable necklaces and things with the Cubic Zirconia drops on them went quickly. Even the earrings at $30 all sold.

All in all the experience was good. We did lack light because the big florescent light went out and even new bulbs did not bring it back. We tried putting up all the spare lamps in the house. If the big doors had been open light would have been okay, but I have to do something about lights in the studio now. Did agree to be in the Christmas show in Point Arena in December.

Today is the day! The Open Studio with Rhoda! While she unpacks her things, here is a scan of the earrings I will be wearing. Made of polyclay. Only made the witches because I discovered that weird green color and felt it was perfect witch complexion.