distracted...

I have work to do...I have design stamps to design...I have Sterling to scavenge for, so I can add weight to my load to be refined...I have new product to add to the cart...BUT
I am distracted by things on the damn interwebs!  Shocker.  Here is what is stealing my head...

OIL CLOTH...I can't help it, I just love the stuff
OUR ONGOING DESIRE TO LEARN TO WELD UP SOME LAWN ART, Paul and I...big, we want to go big!
VINTAGE EYE GLASSES...I mean, c'mon
COLOR BRAVERY...well done!
NEW CLASSES IN METAL!!!

oh and the usual.

Sale at Beaducation...

I just turned on the Sterling Blanks sale over at Beaducation.com.  I am working late, tunes are cranked and although the sale won't be officially announced until tomorrow, I have turned it on tonight!  Jump on over there and stock up!  20% off of Sterling Blanks (in stock items only, no rain checks). Please remember that Thursday is a national holiday so USPS is closed.  Shipping times may take a bit longer than usual.

All Online Video Classes 20% off at beaduation.com

Remember, they never expire, so now is a good time to STOCK UP :)
And with the sale, we have launched a new class with ME, Continuum Earrings!

 

Sale expires Oct 21st

Yay cover piece!

Hey check it out.  My piece made the front cover of the new Wirework magazine by Kalmbach Publishing. 

That looks purty!

Todd Reed show starts today at De Novo in Palo Alto

If ya live in the San Francisco Bay Area and you have a sec to pop over to Palo Alto, consider stopping by my favorite jewelry store De Nova.  This is my go-to place when I need to be around overwhelming beauty.  One of my favorite artists is Todd Reed. His show starts today at De Nova.  In fact, he will be there today.

I have one of his rings (10 year anniversary, woo) and I absolutely treasure it.  I love the look of raw uncut diamonds.  There is a great article in the recent issue of Jewelry Artist about raw diamonds, featuring a few pieces of Todd's work.

Whether or not you are able to make it to his show (I am going next week), it's worth a loop around his website.  Amazing!

Seedbead 911...hello old friend!

I've been called in for some seedbead repair work.  Looks like the wine bottle that I covered in seedbeads for my dad, FIFTEEN years ago, has some age spots.

This bottle was a gift to my father for his 55th birthday. He turned 70 this year.  It took me about 30 hours to make it. I covered the whole bottle using single needle right angle weave stitch, yellow size B Nymo thread and light green transparent size 11 seedbeads (oh and yellow ones at the top). I picked the beads and thread color to match the color of the wine in the bottle and the color of the glass. 

It is a joy to be fondling and working with this old friend.  This project has a comfy spot in my heart.  I have done maybe 3 or 4 projects like this....ones that have taken a nice big chunk of time.  This particular one is my favorite, especially since it is so loved and sits on my dad's desk.  I remember loving working on this bottle.  It was very zen.  There wasn't much to distract the mind, it was more engineering than design.  No crazy thread path or color variation, just the same bead and the same stitch for hours.  It was a bit of a challenge though, to decrease the stitch to fit the beadwork snug on the bottle.

Fifteen years later, I still have the beads and I still have the thread.  Time to stitch this bad boy back up :)

Incoming ...must get my hands in shape!

I am so excited, Lindstrom has come up with a new plier series.  I got to play with the Flat Nose a bit at the Bead&Button Show and they were really really nice.  I just got confirmation that a full set are headed my way so I can test and review the line before they go into full production. 

I plan on bending every wire I can get my hands on.  I am doing my hand exercises...stretchin', finger squats, hip hop cardio finger dance and hand jumping jacks.  I have almost perfected my hand balance handstand like this guy.