"Get Your Identity In Order"

Oh what a birthday present I just got from the Office of Homeland Security.

Apparently my maiden name is still on my social security account but my married name is on my passport and drivers license. Until there is complete and utter harmonious conformity on all my documents New York State will not renew my drivers license.

I have been married for 22 years. So it's been this way, unbeknownst to me, for a very long time. You'd think it would have come up when I applied for my passport or when I renewed it... or the last time I renewed my driver's license. Nope, today on my 52nd birthday.

"Ma'am, it's all part of Homeland Security's plan," deadpanned the clerk. A dedicated woman who did not think refusing to renew my license was at all stupid, she gave me the stink-eye as she sized me up as a potential terrorist.

I tried to stare her down but she's a pro at this bureaucratic stuff, so I sighed deeply and asked politely "what do I need to do in order to renew my license?" "You will need to go to the offices of the Social Security Administration," she pushed a slip of paper at me printed with an address, "and get your identity in order."
 
Who wants to drive me around for the next few weeks?

It's time to take a deep breath and drive myself up to the lake with the last few valid hours on my license.

I will do the same thing I like to do every year on my birthday - have a Genny Cream Ale with a fat slice of red velvet cake and then watch the sunset over the vastness of Lake Ontario. So goes another year - I am very comfortable with my identity, even if the powers that be are not.

These snapshots are of last year's sunset and cake.

Cannonball

Everybody into the pool.

It took a couple of hours last night to clean all the beads I torched last week.
Lots of birds, hearts, spacers sets, hollow 'moons' and one giant hollow.

It's the size of a small clementine - it was a blast to make.
I used a puffy mandrel and all the patience I could muster.

Rhubarbarian

I have this thing about rhubarb.

This new plant for my garden is a lovely gift from a friend, other friends enable my rhubarb habit by bringing me extra from their gardens. Early summer - it's all about the rhubarb. Rhubarb pie, rhubarb syrup, stewed rhubarb, rhubarb infused vodka, rhubarb cobbler...

Juicy Ideas

While I was hulling berries, for a Father's Day shortcake, I got a couple of ideas for variations on my strawberry headpins and earrings.

On my way to the studio to make some pale berries.

Fruits Of My Labor

Strawberry earrings - coming soon to my 'Belvedere' Etsy shop.

Pumpernickel

The Professor of Rap would like to know.

Wild Strawberries

My first foray into production work - 18 pairs of tiny strawberry earrings.

Half sold.

Next week?
I'm thinkin' lilies of the valley.

Berry Picking

This morning I unloaded another 'harvest' of strawberries from my big red bead kiln.

By tomorrow morning they'll all be earrings and on their way to the market for sale.

Earring Cards

Getting ready for the summer show season.
This morning my earring cards got dusted off and freshened up.
I just print these on card stock, snip them apart, punch holes in them and viola - custom earring cards.

Summer Fruit

A whole serving of sweet little strawberry headpins.

Perfect in pairs for earrings, they're ripe and ready for charms, dangles, jams or links.
I put a couple pairs up on Etsy but most will be made into earrings for upcoming early summer shows.

I grabbed a few snapshots of my work area as I made them, just for those of you who like seeing some hot studio action.

If you have any questions - just ask. I will be glad to share how I made them.

Hooked

A large, end of the mandrel, pendant.

Drip Drop Flop

Clearly, it is never going to stop raining.
April showers dragged into May showers which have now aggravatingly become June showers.

It had better not be one of "those" summers.

Studio Snapshots

A small handful of photographs of my glass studio. These were taken by my daughter, Margaret. It's fascinating to see something familiar through someone else's eyes. To find out what they think is interesting.

 

Bigga - da - bugs

Our family vacation to Maine was wonderful.

The purpose of our trip was to deliver Miss Margaret to the Maine Media Workshops, in Rockport, where she has a three month photography residency.

We did it all... stayed in a cabin, walked the beaches, picked up loads of rocks, ate lobsters and drank beer for breakfast.

One highlight was a tasting tour of the Allagash brewery in Portland. Now that's good beer.
My favorite? The Curieux which is aged in Jim Beam whiskey bottles. I know - it's witchcraft.

This sexy guy watched us eat lobsters. Many a lobster gave their life for us last week. Margaret has always loved lobster, when she was three she ordered "a bigga-da-bug." in some restaurant. I imagine that waitress still remembers her - same with the waiter she ordered "dog balls" (hush puppies) from.

It sure is scenic in Maine.

I can't wait to go back at the end of summer.
Maybe I will finally see a moose. I really want to see a moose, I need to see a moose.

New Beads On Etsy - Squeal of Delight

Here they are - the first beads from my new studio making landing on Etsy.

Birds! Including two iridescent blue black crow focals.

Hearts! Big crazy ones, very organic and sculptural.

And, the very first marble from my new studio.

Suddenly it's all so very real, I actually have my own studio and I am back in the business of melting glass.

O! I do so love playing with fire.