I'm still here...

just trying to be focused and disciplined...it is so unlike me :o)

So sorry for neglecting the blog, I really haven't stopped to breath lately. I probably won't be doing another post again for a couple of weeks at least, since I have a big show in June...so you're forewarned!

Here is a necklace finally worth showing. I won't bore you with the details, but let me say I spent three days on one necklace and I ended up ruining it! I wanted to make connector beads and ended up drilling so many holes and laying out so many variations, linking and un-linking chain that I just about drove myself mad! I did learn that the best way just happened to be the easiest way on this one.

So...I think I finally have most of my line figured out for ACRE in Las Vegas in 2 weeks. Of course I still have the hard part left...making a line sheet with descriptions and sizes and of course a wholesale price list.

But, for this weekend I have to stop thinking about beads and upcoming shows. I have a high school graduate that has his party this Sunday. Congrats to my "baby" Evan and the 2009 class of Valley Vikings!

New Mexico Art and Celebration

The art is from a polymer clay artist living in Taos, NM that I ran across yesterday. Her name is Elizabeth Rusnell. I found her work on a site called New Mexico Creates which is run by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation Shops in Santa Fe. It's always exciting to find other artists in your home state who work with polymer. Shown is a lovely daffodil yellow necklace that she calls Yellow Abstract Shapes Necklace. I looked around the web, and haven't found a website for her or anywhere else that she sells from.

The celebration is the annual Founder's Day Fiesta, held in Old Town which is just a few blocks from me. It is Albuquerque's 303rd birthday this year! There is a parade, music and Old Town merchants sell their goods on the sidewalks and plaza. I'm so happy that the sun is shining and the wind isn't blowing after a few days of rain (which we really needed!) and constant howling of the wind.

On a side note, if you are interested in learning how I made some of my very first Flora Beads, I've added a link to the left sidebar where you can purchase my new PDF tutorial "Introduction to Textured Flora Beads." I also have buttons on my website here and here.

Happy Weekend!

You'll never guess...more flowers...

I have made so many beads these past couple of weeks that I'm seeing texture and color every waking moment. It can get to be exhausting when you are trying to get new work done and narrow down your product line. I'm getting closer, but ready to take a break this weekend.

I wanted to give a shout out to Cynthia Tinapple of Polymer Clay Daily. Last month at her home in Ohio, she hosted the past and incoming board of the National Polymer Clay Guild newly named International Polymer Clay Association. You can view some of the photos on Cynthia's new personal blog and even a youtube video of a drumming session that brought on some serious brainstorming regarding the direction the new board will take. Thank you Cynthia for all you do!

Sidetracked...sort of

Only sidetracked from working with the colors I had planned on, as in the last post. Got to finishing up some beads that I already had going and decided that I needed to get more jewelry made since I bought a day (Thursday, March 26th) in the Gifts Guide Showcase at Etsy. I'm still working on getting my shop noticed there, but it's sort of been taking a back seat lately.

Anyhow here is a necklace that looks nice and since I'm going to be doing a double strand Flora Bead necklace for my "wow" piece at ACRE, I need to get comfortable with the shape and how the necklace will drape. Need to stop thinking about it and actually *do* it though!

Speaking of Flora Beads, my Intro To Textured Flora Beads on-line class at thatcreativeplace.com will be available to download through next Saturday, March 28th. I'll be checking the message board and will be available for chats too. Did you know that I have a fan page on Facebook? I usually post news there too.

Something else that I'm working on for 2009 is more on-line classes. I will probably do a Swirl Lentil on-line class from my website, since I remembered today that I can put a chat board on my site and make the page password protected. For now the old Swirl Lentil with Beadcaps tutorial is there, but probably just through April. If you want to download this tutorial, just email me (desertdesignsbybarbara (at) gmail.com) for the password. I hope to have a new Swirl Tutorial available for purchase in early May.

Today's starting point...

Working on some pieces for NM Arts and Crafts Fair, ACRE and possibly a Bead Dreams submission. Thought you might like to see what I'm starting with today. I should have a couple of different blends with a Vintaj selection to work with tomorrow.

It Ain't Easy Being Green...

Remember Kermit the Frog? That was his line, but when I realized that the color of this pendant was not going to tone down much with more sanding, that was what I heard in my head. I thought about antiquing, adding more copper....something. But I couldn't decide what if anything to do, so here it is...the color is crazy, no?

And I had a lovely 5 minute visit with polymer clay goddess Victoria (Tory) Hughes at Bead Fest Santa Fe. A couple of other clay artists had booths there as well (Klew, Jeanette Easley and Loco Lobo)The show was very busy and everyone was happy that Bead Fest was back in SF...where it all started I was told.

Here is an FAQ page for those interested in my Intro to Textured Flora Beads on-line class at thatcreativeplace.com. I'll "see" you all there on March 21st, next Saturday...can't wait!

And Happy St. Paddy's Day!!

gapingvoid.com...cartoons drawn on the back of business cards

Thought I would share with you the latest blog that I've added to my google reader...
this guy, Hugh MacLeod is insanely brilliant!
His advice is "Ignore Everybody" which is the title of his book coming out this summer...