Fridas

Lunch at the studio with some new earrings.

The Necklace Production Line

I did a bead show last weekend and it was great - but now the fun can start.
All the leftover beads can now be made into jewelry for my upcoming holiday shows.
Who doesn't love a delicious mess of leftovers?

Some bits of vintage chain, my glass pendants, a little bit of heavy gauge wire for clasps and some more glass beads.
Snip, snap, wiggle, hammer, hammer, tumble.

Close-up of the clasps I fabricated. One brass, one bronze.

The view through my 'new' magnifier. Wow! Is it helpful. It's a nice old shop piece from an estate sale. A giant magnifying glass with a swivel ball joint attached to a goose neck mounted on a big fancy cast iron base. I love it so much I think I will marry it.

Slag You're It !

A nice 6lb. chunk of slag glass.
It's getting harder and harder to find, which makes it all the more fun when you do score a nice hunk.

In The Best Possible Light

The light was so beautiful today that I had to take a few studio snapshots.

First, my new red chair. She must have six layers of paint (at least).
The tart wooed me at the end of an estate sale with her sad $4 price tag.
I mean seriously, why had no one adopted this sturdy little bentwood chair?

This paint-by-number garbage can is a crucial part of my painting process.
Seriously, you would roll your eyes if you saw how many kleenex get used while I paint.
Wiping brushes, wiping off paint off paintings, wiping off my fingers...

A Pyrex pie plate is my palette of choice.
I buy cheap used ones, they last a month or so before the surface is so gooped up that I toss it.
The black cabinet holds all my oil paints, lovingly sorted by color into individual drawers.

The rubber crickets have followed me from studio to studio for almost 20 years.
Crickets are lucky, right?
I love stupid faux nature.

Rubber rats, they're not just for Halloween.

Momma Said Knock You Out

The absolute best drawing I have seen in ages.

Purple Mercury

A new necklace in progress.
Glass heart, cut Mercury dime, sterling silver and a nice chunk of amethyst.

I procured a whole strand of these beautiful stones at the gem show.  They're just wonderful.

The dime has been cut away in places, a little bit of treasure that I found in a button box at an estate sale. I've had it for years just waiting for the perfect piece to add it to.

Bird Brained

I adore making birds.
I should be making earring pairs, I should be making hearts, I should be making buttons...

Again With the Bangles

A big mess of leather bangles.

These are so much fun to make and wear.

Above, is a super simple one. Just a glass bead and a piece of leather.
Below, a more complicated one with beads and little bits of stuff that moves freely to fidget with.

They look great mixed with other bangles.
I've been wearing mine with some vintage bakelite bracelets.

Leaf Litter

Oh well, it seems that fall is truly here, sigh.
I'm trying to make the best of the chilly weather with an new autumn inspired bracelet.
 

It's got it all, my glass beads, amber, jade, antler, rock crystal, citrine, pearls, real  seeds, tiny antique bells, bronze and a big sterling silver clasp.

It's available at Shop One 2 at RIT's Global Village.

I was inspired by all the little bits of stuff that is falling off of trees & weeds and capturing the colors that are this season's palette.

It's time for a hot cuppa tea.

Tweet Treats

O yeah, I am still making wee glass birds.
I can't help myself.

They've evolved a bit. They now have fatter, happier bellies and hand hammered bails.

With all the Val Cox frit I now have their speckles are more colorful and fun.

A wonderful bird mural behind the Rochester public market.
Silly bird girl.

Acorns

It's that time of year again, summer just got kicked in the nuts by the first cold nights.
Fall is here.

There are acorns all over the sidewalk a few houses away on my street.
Which means it's time to make glass ones again.

The caps are made from old brass, copper and pewter buttons that I hammered into domes.

Shop One 2

Big news here in Beadsville.

My glass jewelry work is now at the 'Shop One 2' fine craft gallery at RIT.

"Shop One² is a fine art and craft gallery representing RIT affiliated artists including alumni, faculty and students. Located on the RIT campus in the spectacular Global Village, Shop One² is a unique destination to find original art including paintings, prints, photography, ceramics, blown glass, textiles, jewelry, furniture, sculpture, music, and literary publications."

I am so happy about this. 
Please visit the gallery, it is absolutely beautiful and the work is amazing.

Bead Bangles

I had a request for simple leather bracelets.
Ones that could have a sweet cheap-o price.

I dithered and lolled about - not sure what I wanted them to be - floundering.

And then, w h a m.
The ideas started flowing.
A nice hammered clasp, a driblet of two part epoxy and a pretty bead...

A little bird told me there are charm bangles out there in the big world that are all the current rage.
The say nice things and have a warm fuzzy vibe.
So I made one with a charming dangle.

Not everyone wants a 'positive affirmation' charm.
Some ladies need a lone wolf charm, right?