A Few Bumps in the Road

I've been away from blogging for quite a while.  I could make excuses - several weeks of not feeling well, relocating my 95-year old mother down here closer to all her family, and redecorating/painting a couple of rooms - but the truth is I just didn't feel like blogging.  Not good.  And I feel guilty because I had promised myself that I'd maintain a frequent posting schedule.  Oh well.....let's try this again. 

During the past few months I haven't even spent much time in the studio and my attitude is really starting to show it.  I need that creative fix or I seem to lose my sparkle.  Become grouchy.    Does this happen to any of you?  But my workbench is really calling out to me so I've marked off bench time on my calendar for every day this coming week. Some hammering, some torching.   I'm feeling excited to get back at it!

Posing for the Camera

Finally, our weather has begun to cool off with temperatures in the 80's.  What a nice change from our hot, humid summers.  One of my favorite things to do when the days are like this is to take my camera out.  You never know what you might find such as these Texas longhorns just hanging out and taking it easy.

Great News

My mixed media strapless bra, Punky Booster, has been accepted into 18 Hands Gallery's Interwoven IV:  Accessorize.   It is a juried exhibition that will run from November 3 through November 14, 2012.

18 Hands Gallery is located at 249 W. 19th Street, Houston, TX 77008. 713.869.3099

Evening at the Opera

What a great evening I had last night!  Seeing my grandson on stage at the Wortham Theatre in Puccini's LaBoheme. 

It was a rainy evening, NCIS and The Debate were on TV, dodged an extension ladder falling off a truck that could have come through our windshield, and the traffic was awful getting  downtown.  BUT I'm so glad I was able to go.  Granted, it was not a leading role, or even a supporting role but he's not an opera singer - he's an actor.  AND he's already started rehearsals for another play at Main Street Theatre.  Following his dreams.  I'm so proud of him! 

Mismatched Earrings Swap Reveal

Last month I joined a swap (my first!) to create a pair of mismatched earrings.  I thought How Fun! since I had been making and wearing mismatched earrings for several months.  Diana Ptaszynski randomly assigned swap partners and asked that we include at least one art bead in each earring.  My swap partner was Rana Wilson  who sent me these great fun earrings.  The delightful skull bead is perfect and they swing with every movement I make. 

 

 

And look how they were packaged.  Adorable!

 

 

To see the earrings I sent to Rana, click over to her blog.  

 

 

And then check out the other participants:

 

 

Diana Ptaszynski    http://www.suburbangirlstudio.com (hostess)

 

Lisa Liddy   http://www.lisaliddy.wordpress.com

 

Kari Asbury    http://www.hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com

 

Jayne Capps    http://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com/

 

Rebecca Anderson    http://www.songbeads.blogspot.com

 

Lesley Watt    http://www.thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com

 

Lori Bowring Michaud    http://www.artfullyornamental.blogspot.com

 

Renetha Stanziano    http://www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com

 

Holly Westfall     http://www.silverrosedesigns.blogspot.com/

 

Theresa Fosdick    http://www.thoughtful-notions.blogspot.com/

 

Ali McCarthy    http://www.northwoodscreativestudio.blogspot.com

 

Shai Williams    http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

 

Iveth Caruso    http://www.CreativeAtelier.net/blog.html 

 

Carolyn Collins    http://www.sparklingwaterstudio.com 

 

Elaine Ray    http://www.elaineray.blogspot.com

 

Kristen Stevens    http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/

 

Charlene Jacka    http://www.clay-space.com/blog

 

Jan Onipenco    http://www.MoltenMayhem.typepad.com

 

Stephanie Woods    http://www.rainydaysdesigns.com

Eleanor Burian-Mohr    http://www.cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com

 

Shelby Foxwell    http://www.sundownbeaddesigns.blogspot.com

 

Pam Sears    http://www.crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com

Mary Harding    http://www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com

 

Lisa Johnson    http://www.Whimsyswonders.blogspot.com

 

Kashmira Patel    http://www.sadafulee.blogspot.com

 

Penny Neville    http://www.copperpennydesigns.blogspot.com

 

Dee Elgie    http://www.cherryobsidia.blogspot.co.uk

 

Sarah Small    http://www.bysalla.blogspot.com

 

Carolyn Lawson    http://www.Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

 

Ashleigh Becker    http://www.seladesignsjewelry.blogspot.com

 

Kay Hand    http://www.creativetangent.blogspot.com

 

Rana L. Wilson    http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com

 

Sandra McGriff    http://www.skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com

 

Dawn Pierro    http://www.turtlemoondesigns.me

 

Shelley Graham Turner    http://www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com

 

Karen Mitchell    http://www.overthemoon-design.com

 

Melissa Trudinger    http://www.beadrecipes.wordpress.com

 

Studio Reorganization

It's been a long hot summer here in Texas so I've hibernated in my studio purging, destashing and rearranging - a total reorganization.  My grandson has been a huge help in all of this moving the heavies,  carrying out the throwaways to the garbage and loading my car with the donations.   The studio is not quite finished but it's already so much better than it was.  I'm a visual person so I like things where I can see them.  The upside of this for me is twofold:  immediate access and inspiration.  BUT the downside can be visual overload beyond organized chaos.  I'll share photos as it all comes together.

My tubes of seed beads and Delicas are sorted in acrylic frames by color and type, i.e. cubes, triangles, bugles, etc.  This works out well for me as I can quickly see what I have available.

Then there's the fabric - and more fabric.  I loved the filing idea from Karen at Sew Many Ways blog so off to Walmart for hanging folders and bankers boxes.  It's a bit time consuming because I had to put the boxes together wrong side out but it's so worth it.  Here's the first of several filled boxes. Eventually, I'll organize the fabric by color, etc.  Eventually.........

As Good As It Looks

This delicious dessert was served at our monthly bead group.  So pretty in the green depression glass.  Must get the recipe.