Crazy snow!!

This is more snow than I have ever seen here in town...see more in my Flickr pics

Color themes for Tucson

Since I call my business "Desert Designs" I'm trying to stick to some "desert" color themes for my show in Tucson. Here are a few lovely Indian Pots that are inspiring me at the moment (Acoma and Jemez).

I love cornstarch!!!!

okay guys (?) and gals...here's the deal. You can use cornstarch to smooth your beads before curing. I just barely dip a finger in it and then gently smooth each bead all over (after I've put holes in). You can use a medium touch and not worry about distorting the swirl pattern. Then after curing, they go in the icewater bath for a while, and then....I only hand sand with 1000 grit and I get a lovely finish. The very best part of this is that I've been skipping the glazing step and I'm so much happier with the feel of them. There are more pictures in my flickr photo album. Try it, you'll like it!! *g*

A little late for Halloween perhaps...

I was not thinking of Halloween when I made these...but, oh well. If you like orange, it's all good...*g*

Took a while...

to get the brown paint dug out from under my nails...*g*

I can only go so long...

without sparkley, shiney...

Anyhow, why sparkley, shiney on Election Day? Could it be the beginning of a new vibe in the country? Will things begin to look and feel sparklier and shinier? Please go vote if you haven't yet...

Hugs all,
~ru

New sets, before antiquing (sp?)

We're off to the movies...wanted to post this set first. I just finished rubbing acrylic on the first bunch and was tempted to add some kind of gold edges. They look better left alone...

Love these colors together!

More new stuff...think the next set will be antiqued with brown acrylic. Feeling the need to do something earthtone or monochromatic.

Where have all the bead buyers gone?

I have a strange feeling that my mass emailings are getting eaten by my buyer's junk email filters. I guess I'll have to put some beads either on eBay or JustBeads. I really want to try a few sets starting at 99 cents, but here's the rub. I figure I'll spend most of my time watching the auctions and getting upset because of not*enough* bidding or hoping people don't bid too high!! I think I've already decided on eBay, sadly JustBeads doesn't get much action...but I hate the type of PC beads that are on eBay. And the last time I listed on eBay, I listed in the lampwork category as well. I got a few emails from lampworkers that didn't want me listing in *their* category.* Have you seen some of the prices that they get for their bead sets? Some go for over $500. Anyway, I don't think they should be threatened by lil ole me... ;o)

Blue Green weekend

These are basically the color of my shower tiles. Some of you know that I can get inspired in the shower *g*

Almost ready...

These are a set of sculpted, capped lentils that I made yesterday. I think I'll be sending out my mass mailing tomorrow sometime. Need to start earning some Christmas cash :o)

Last Flowers of 2006...and some beads :o)

I made these when my site was down. Haven't decided how to group them for sale yet. I like them all shown together like these are...and I'm always toying with the idea of starting a large set on eBay for 99 cents, like some of the lampwork artists do. For them it might work, but I'm not sure about a "lowly" set of PC beads *g*

And I just had to shoot a picture of my flowers out back...I know they won't be here much longer. They sure are pretty aren't they?

Color, shape and style inspiration

Occasionally, I look at the glass beads on eBay to see the pretties. Today I found three auctions of just beautiful beads...thought you might like to see what might inspire me from time to time. Hope they inspire you too :o)

Bluff Lampwork beads
Si Designs
Sisters Beads

My website host is down :o(

In the...what, four years since I've been hosting my site through Homestead, it's never been down. Well, the day finally came yesterday. It was down all day yesterday, and still is this morning. My site is still viewable which is good, but I can't edit it at all. I was right in the middle of getting an enormous amount of work done on it, and now it's on hold. Oh well, good time to make some beads right? :o)

Morning everyone...it's the annual Albuquerque International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta here...I took a few pictures at the Special Shapes Mass Ascension yesterday. If you like to see them, look here.

I also made up a necklace a few days ago...

Here I is... :o)

Son Dan was hamming it up on Saturday morning...and here I am Sunday afternoon. The show wasn't spectacular, but I met some neat people and my booth was between two really cool ladies. I'll include a few other pictures as I changed the booth set-up and used bamboo blinds from my porch and put the table inside. When the sun hit some of the pendants on Saturday, I overheard a woman say "this thing would burn a hole in my chest!" That's when I had the table facing south. It was about 85 degrees...crazy hot!

Another realization

So, doing my daily deep-thinking in the shower again... ;o)

I have realized that I can obsess about things...like planning for a show. I make lists...lots of 'em. Matter of fact, I probably have 3 or 4 in my purse at this very moment and I have a new one started on the dining room table.

...but, if I forget something or don't have everything figured out down to the last iota...I just don't seem to care as much as I used to. Life is more fun if it's spontaneous when it can be, right? I think I'm just getting in touch more and more every day with the creative me. Life is just more exciting if you just "let it happen and go with the flow..."

~ru

5 more days to prepare...

I think I have everything pretty well under control for the show this weekend. I have quite a few pairs of earrings and focal beads. I have a few bracelets too. Rudy is getting the tables for me from work...still need some fabric. I'm thinking a burgundy satin...I saw some at Hobby Lobby that I liked. Also iron-work is on sale there this week too, so I'm going to look for something neat to display some earrings on. I also have some pretty purply sparkley pieces of fabric that I want to use too. I have the canopy which I'll go and set up on Friday. I'm a little stressed about the weather...worried about rain and wind. I'll take some pics at the show for sure.

A few notes about my dad. His catheter is out, after having to wear it for 5 months. He's feeling pretty darn good about that. He still has some pain in his back...they found a tumor on his spine, so that's why he feels the pain. But, he's not taking as much pain medication as he was. He's enjoying the football season...his favorite time of year. I think I can say, all in all that the prostate cancer and the tumor they found on his spine have not slowed him down much at all. I'm very thankful that he's relatively happy and not depressed or down about his condition.

Evan is playing in his first varsity golf tournament today :o) I may go out and walk 9 holes with him...just waiting for him to call me with his tee time. All is well...

Here is a pic of a necklace that one of my favorite buyers made with some beads of mine. Isn't it beyootiful?

Wishing you all a great week,
~ru

pretty beads :o)

I haven't been showing you any lately...so here's some.

Remembrance and Honor ~ 911

This is a cottonwood tree carving that is just down the street from me. It was just completed by the artist about a month ago. What I hear is that the Bear signifies terrorism and the eagles, America. The bear never reaches the eagles...here are two different sides. Not sure what they are hanging onto...either ears or corn, bananas or chiles?

Hugs, all...

How well do you know yourself?

I was doing my usual deep thinking in the shower this morning (don't laugh), and I realized that finally, at this age (47 in January) I really do know myself pretty well...and that's comforting.

I realize it's hard to get to know people when you communicate mostly with them on-line, so what I thought I would do is write today a bit about *me* as *I* see myself.

First off, I'm very honest...almost to a fault. Sometimes, I probably say things I shouldn't. I don't like anyone to be the boss of me. I know what I want, and I don't want anyone else to try and influence me. I like to know what's happening in the world and with my friends, but I don't want to be in the middle of anything. I'd be happy to give you my opinion on something if I think it will be of value to you. I know that life is not a fairy tale. There are days when it all comes crashing down around me, and I can cry and vent about it. There are days when I know why I'm here and mostly those are the kind of days I have. I am a very lazy person, but an incredibly hard worker. If I know something needs to get done, I don't procrastinate. However, when it comes to my art...I can wait until it calls to me. I don't want any help in creating my art. I want it to be all me. I can drown in color...I love it so much. I think about color all the time. I'm very stubborn. My kids are keeping me young. I don't feel my age at all. I admit to being a little vain. I like looking at good-looking people. Art is everywhere, playing an instrument, writing a song or a book, singing, painting, dancing...it's all art and it all speaks to me. I feel lucky to have been able to *find* myself. I knew I was here all along... *sigh* Thank G-d for my husband. He really has no idea what he has allowed me to do these past few years. He's let me do my thing, even though he obviously feels pressure bringing home almost all the bacon. What I make with my art is really just enough to know that people like my stuff...so i just keep plugging along. It does get lonely here at home sometimes, but I know my best art is yet to come...it's there inside of me, just shouting at me every day wanting to get out. I don't know if all of this rambling is making a lick of sense, but it feels good. After my shower tomorrow...I may know even more about myself. I'll let ya know :o)

Few new pendant/tile focal beads

I was again whining about my lack of jewelry making skills because of my upcoming show in a month. Wisely, Kathi said "why don't you concentrate on your focal beads?" What a smart cookie...here's what happened after that conversation :o)

Ft Lauderdale is fab :o)

What a beautiful city. We had a wonderful time even though it was crazy humid. Rudy and Evan got soaked playing golf, but other than that, it was sunny most of the time...but soooo hot! We couldn't spend much time walking around and shopping, so Rudy spent way too much time driving. The first day we went to Everglades for an airboat ride...very fun and educational. We also took boat tours of Fort Lauderdale and Miami, went to the beach at Lauderdale by the Sea. We wanted to try deep sea fishing and wave runner/jet ski, but the day that we picked to do that, the water was very choppy and rip tides made even going to the beach dangerous. All in all it was wonderful and very different for us. The boys seemed to enjoy themselves although they didn't get to really have any crazy fun, it was more of a sight-seeing trip. We're sooo happy to be home safe and sound, especially since the scary stuff with the flights all started the day before we flew out...but we had watched the news, so we checked all of our liquids. Oh, and Weston (we stayed at Weston Village) which is just west of Ft Lauderdale is so beautiful and clean. I took a ton of pics, so I'll just pick the best ones to show you here... ooops, no time now, will post more tomorrow or tonight if possible. Hugs all...~ru

vacation tomorrow...offline mostly

Hey ya'll...heading to Florida in the AM. I think we're bringing the laptop, so I might be around a bit here and there. Hope those going to Ravensdale have a wonderful time, take lots of pictures and tell us all about it when you get back! I'm adding a couple of pics of the boyz playing in the deluge we had a few days ago...hugs all.

So many beads to make, so little time ;o)

Gosh, I'm just having more fun than one person should be allowed. Too bad I didn't sleep well last night or I probably would have cranked out another strand of these today. Bad background choice, I know. Oh, and meet my buddy Mac. She lost her husband of 23 years on June 4th. He was ill with brain cancer for one year. He was an incredible guy and we loved him. She's doing great, btw. I just realized I forgot to resize these. If you click on them, they'll be huge, so be prepared!

Summer Sculpted Lentils

Made these today...I really love how they turned out :o) On another note, Evan starts Driver's Ed tomorrow... joy, joy... ;o)

Desert Designs by Barbara: ahhh...refreshing...

Balloon Fiesta RV info:

ahhh...refreshing...

I have been amiss again in my postings...I'm sure you don't want to hear all the gorey details. But mainly computer problems...but it's all good now. We finally got some monsoon moisture here in the desert about a week ago and it's still coming most afternoons. Here are a few pictures from yesterday and here are some beads that got a bath too ;o) And one more bit of news...instead of our condo trade coming through in Seattle or Vancouver so that I could go to Ravensdale, we ended up with a trade in Fort Lauderdale, Florida of all places. It looks like a beautiful place, even though it is hurricane season and the humidity will prolly do me in. We're outta here from August 5th through the 12th. Anyone been there? Hope you all are safe and well :o)

News Flash!

I'm going to be doing that show in Tucson next Feb. (To Bead True Blue) ...remember the pics that had lovely women shopping for beads photoshopped in? *g*

Anyway, I hear it's a great show...I figure if it's good enough for Christi, Sarah, Klew and Jana, it's good enough for me ;o)

Here is the first of many pieces of jewelry that I'll be making. Now, remember, I'm a bead maker not a jewelry designer!

pic of my Dad and boyz

Here is a picture of my dad from Christmas 2005. He looks like Santa doesn't he?

And while I'm at it, a pic of Rudy, boyz, and boyz uncles

(Rudy's bro Fred on the left, Robert on the right)

also from last Christmas.

the same, but different

Try as I may, I can't stop using shiny, sparkley...I tried only doing the "unearthed" series in "earth" tones, but before you know it, I had gold paint in my hands...

Heading out to see my dad today...Happy Father's Day to all of your's.