Whisker Fest 2011!

                                       Whisker Fest 2011! www.whiskerfest.com    
I love my cat! Without a few minor interventions I would be a very serious cat lady. This weekend I will be at the Hayloft in the Grove as part of Whisker Fest to raise money for the Buffalo Paws and Claws Animal Shelter.  It is a local no-kill, not for profit shelter to help our furry friends.  Along with Lizard Breath Beads there will be a variety of local artists! Admission is $1 and there is additional information at the link above. 

Kitty cat and doggy bling..you know that like to look good too!

This is a pic of my sweet Semi checking out some of the goods.

Monday, Monday...

So this week is going to be a busy one...Whisker Fest  in East Aurora is this weekend and it's going to be a great event! Great cause and some great art!  Of course there are always last minute preparations and new ideas to try out at a show. I have some great kitty cat and dog bling with beads in the works...feel myself getting carried away already. I am so happy it is Monday and not Tuesday... or Wednesday.... I need the time and look forward to how this week is going to shape up.  An amazing thunderstorm just rolled through and gave us some much needed rain and hopefully some relief from the humidy.   Happy Monday to all!

Sweet Pinks and Funky Purples

 This was a sweet and fun piece I made for the grand daughter of a friend. It is for her birthday and I hope she loves it! It is jam packed with polka dots, spirals and  silver accents. As always, is a treat and a pleasure to make a piece with someone special in mind.  

This summer is of course flying by and I am doing my best to slow down and take it in. It has been beyond beautiful!  There are always those summer staples that we find through these quick months that make it so wonderful. It could be the sound of the neighbors sprinkler cycling in the evening, laughs and splashes at a pool, the cracks and snaps of a camp fire or peepers creeping out at dusk.  I love the sweet sticky treats and slow moments together with parties and festivals galore...walking in a creek on the slippery cold stones, a jam packed city zoo, a glass of wine on the porch or the garden growing a mile a minute.  I hope the summer is going well for all. 

Yikes Stripes!

 Simple stripes and the layering of glass make this a fun bunch!

The one that got away...

I goof all the time ( and not just in bead making:)  When I made this bead, I loved the off and bumpy shape to it. I was content putting it into the kiln from the flame with a strange look and thought it would make an interesting focal bead.  Well, this bead is forever fused to the mandrel.  I either did not apply enough release to on the mandrel before laying the glass or I worked it too much in the flame and then it simply fused to the steel.  Normally with a twist and a turn I can remove beads from the mandrel but this one will not budge.  I will have to crack it with a hammer and shed a tear so I can have the mandrel back for future making.
 I love this color combination and wanted to make it again. In a different firing, with the same glass combination, an entirely bead was made.   I had a bit less oxygen flowing in the flame the second time around and opted to work it less and keep it a bit less funky. Fun all the same and this bead is going to find a funky fun home this week on a necklace.  
Happy Monday to all! 

Oh Stop It!

What a fun way to have some beads in an unexpected place...hanging out on your wine bottle. These wine stoppers can top a bottle for display or as function.

Dream, Dream, Dream....

This piece is a little willy nilly but sweet and fun as well. Sometimes it's fun to throw symmetry out the window and to just build a bracelet from one end to the next and let it flow.  The beads are frit and plain with purple, gray and a few shimmering hues.  The findings are antiqued copper, copper and a funny little purple button I have been hanging on to.  I hand stamped the letters on to the purple discs and connected it all with an over sized lobster clasp.

So the holiday weekend was beautiful! It was not only gorgeous in WNY but I love seeing everyone getting together all over the place and celebrating the holiday and summer time in general.  This week I start teaching my jewelry making classes and I am excited about getting prepped to make some wearable art with some wonderful people!