I love Buffalo!

So this has very little to do with lampwork and jewelry making but......I love Buffalo! Today I ran around much like a crazy person doing a wide variety of activities but really loving every single moment! So I know this blog is about jewelry but if I may for just one post say how much I love Buffalo...for most of the time. I would entirely 100% delete February and March and even about 2 weeks of April from the entire calendar of WNY...but with that said.... it is great here! The cost of living is beyond satisfactory in comparison to other areas of the world I have lived in and visited. The people are warm, the art life is accessible, people reach out to one another, the professional sports always keep you on the edge of your seat (in one way or another)...not to mention Letchworth, Niagara Falls, great food, historic waterways and sites, culture, and can I mention again the amazing people. It is the City of Good Neighbors..I witnessed that today in Delaware Park raising funds for Alzheimer's. It is apparent everywhere...like tonight in Ellicottville, NY as people gather to help a family in sudden need or tomorrow at the stadium when people have a great time but make a point to donate and take a moment for others in our area. It is what keeps us all connected. So mind may be Buffalo and I love it but hopefully we have our own..somewhere..... Any maybe with all the luck in the world Tom Brady will have the stomach flu and we can go 3 and 0...oh, I think I just jinxed it:)

Destination Unknown

There is something about this color combination that I always come back to and make again or dabble with. I love the vibrant orange body of the bead in and of itself. I then roll the orange glass in a frit that has light purple, light blue and deep blue tones.  It creates something new every time yet always seems to work. I combine it with the antiqued copper, wood and green leather accents.  This trio is in a Chinese Auction for the rest of the week. The money raised will be used to create and mail packages to service men and women overseas.  I hope the person who wins it loves it too:) 

What? Did someone say tomorrow is Friday??? That's right! Happy TGIF vibes to all!

Dress Up Time for the Wine...

 This fun set of wine glass charms and matching wine stopper are created using a simple singular color of glass for the body of the bead and then decorated with an additional color.  The second color is wrapped and swirled around the body of the bead and then melted in.  Never lose your glass again and sport a beautiful hand made bead.  Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I supported some amazing artists at the Quaker Arts Festival and ran in 8 in the Rough in the gorgeous Sprague Brook Park. Not too shabby for a weekend... It was gorgeous in WNY. The leaves have a hint of color and fall is again bringing beautiful days!  Monday Monday to all:)

A promising future for this dusty bunch

Out of the kiln and ready to go!  They need to be cleaned out and washed up but I see a set of wine charms with a matching wine stopper, a pair of earrings, a funky bracelet and a few bonus beads to store away for  future projects.  This should be a great week for late night making.  Finished product pics to come. I hope everyone is having a great week so far:)

Dirty Girl Mud Run in Buffalo

 Fun and dirty race at Emery Park in the south towns of Buffalo this morning!!  The Dirty Girl race is for women only, has fun muddy obstacles and portions of the race proceeds go to breast cancer research and education! Can't beat that... and the company, awesome strong women everywhere, laughs and general  spirit of the morning made for a fun way to start the day.  I hope they return to Buffalo next year. 

Before...so clean :)

So fun!

After:)

Cleaned up and heading home

As for the rest of the weekend, the torch and I have a date tomorrow for some bead makin'! Dare I say it but I want to start getting ready to stock Etsy for the holidays. Hope everyone has a great weekend... and a Saturday post would not be complete without a little "Go Bills" in prep for tomorrow. This could be our year...right?

Thank you for the demonstration success

Thank you everyone for the great support and fun time at Creative Essence for the demonstration! It was an awesome experience and also a pleasure to be at the shop and in the company of the Creative Essence crew. The weather held..no rain and not too hot and the whole day had a great community feel to it!

There are new classes posted and offerings coming up all the time. I am teaching a Story Book/ Art class for 4-6 year old kiddos! So fun! Check out the listings if you are interested via the link below. As the temperature drops it's always good to have some crafts standing by..and not too mention great company!!


http://www.creativeessenceshop.com/classes

A new commute and a funky speckled bracelet...

 On my new commute I find myself saying "Wow!" out loud many times.  The sights of the morning are the best and the little treasures I see on my way are gorgeous.  I am embracing this new found time I have in the car and trying to use it as best as I can. 

This funky little piece came together this morning.  Fall inspired coloration, disc beads and fun speckles....I am doing a live demonstration at Creative Essence in Clarence Center at 4 this afternoon if the weather holds. Flying flames and sweet beads! Tomorrow is a day to celebrate my baby girl's 2nd birthday (how did two years go by?) with the pinkest pink and purple girlie foof party I can put together. Then Tuesday, for so many, means a new year, school starting and a great level of energy and opportunity. Happy Labor Day too all!!