PB&J knob...

I made another great knob last night that I really love. I used the same colors as the PB&J beads. I also made 4 new bottle stoppers but the photos of those turned out terrible. I will have to reshoot them later when the sun is out.

It is going to be a quiet day here. Not much going on at all. I started another case of the sniffles Saturday so I am trying to keep this cold at bay. I like quiet do nothing days... they are the best medicine.

Over Hauling

I just finished a major overhaul on my website. It has a totally new look. I hope you will check it out. And I would love to hear your feedback! A special thanks to Jessi Kelly for her awesome new logo the "Kabs girl" in the upper left corner of the page. I tried to simplify things a bit by having index pages with the items and buy it now buttons. Rather then the index page that took you to a different page. I also did away with my "Bridal Boutique" since it has been about 6 months since my last wedding and I am focusing on glass now. It took about 5 hours but I think it was worth it! I really like the new look. Let me know what you think!

I made two new bracelets yesterday. One is shown here the other is on the website and that one you'll need to hunt for, LOL! This one is called "Sock Hop". The black white and turquoise has a very fifties feel so thus the name. I love it, it is fun, funky & chunky. It is just gorgeous in person! And I hear chunky substantial jewelry is in. It is 8 inches so it comfortably fits a 7-7.5 wrist. It is made with my lampwork beads and one of my handmade clasps. I also made all the sterling swirls in there and there are lots of swarskies for sparkle.

A La Peanut Butter Sandwiches...

Do you all remember the magician on Seasme Street that says "A La Peanut Butter Sandwiches"? That kept popping in my head last night while I was making these beads. LOL! I ended up spending 3 hours on them, and there are 25 beads! It is a big set but I just couldn't stop making them. This color combo is awesome... I could go back out to the torch right now and make a whole nother set with out making a duplicate! I love 'em. I am really temped to keep them for my own jewelry designs because I love them soooo much! But I will pass them along to you guys and make more for myself when my show season gets closer. I will list the auction later tonight if you wanna bid. I am definately going to make a wine topper in these colors too! So watch for that.

Yesterday was a great day, not only for my torch time but the mornign and afternoon as well. After Lauren's playgroup in the morning we went to help my sister paint her kitchen. If kitchen isn't much bigger then a small walk in closet (you know city apartments in converted Victorian houses.) It had the ugliest brown panaling and 20 year old greasy wall paper. It is now Swiss Coffee white panaling and Sand Stone (like mocha) wall paper. It looks worlds better then it was.

Jacob's "Smile Day" assembly was great. we are so proud of his "Citizen of the Month" award. He also was recognized with a "Character Card". The school promotes positive character building skills by giving the students a card when they are caught doing a good deed or being a good friend... that kinda thing. He really is an awesome boy! I am so lucky with that one ( I think he is just like his Mom :D)!

My abs ae still hurting for Thursday's jazzercise class so I am skipping class this morning. I have tons to do around the house, I need to run to the post office and I want to make beads later (of course). I will share any new goodies again tomorrow!

Shhhh... its a secret!

Morning! Jacob doesn't know it yet but this afternoon he is getting "Citizen of the Month" for his classroom! I am one proud Momma!

I was in a foul mood last night so I didn't work on my "Peanut Butter & Jelly" beads. Hopefully tonight. Question for you all... what is our favorite shape beads? Do you like rounds, lentils, hearts, pillows, tabs, tiles.... what would you like to see more of?

I need to get Lauren ready for her playgroup and start the day. Check in tomorrow and hopefully the "PB&J" beads will be ready!

Lost in space

I had great fun on the torch last night. I was working really large which is a challenge for me and my torch. I made a new knob, I made a large Valentine's heart, I made a large bead for a wine stopper that ended up too large and I made a few large space beads. I love this space bead especially. Isn't it wild! Cosmic jellyfish!

More goodies...

Good morning!!!!!!!!! I posted another Valentine's Special last night... "Love Sick". They start at 99 cents so go bid! There are so many possiblilties for these ones. Since they aren't the tradtional red pink and white they don't scream V-Day at you. You can mix and match 'em in all sorts of designs.

I am still planning on torching my brains out tonight. I have ideas for beds I want to work on (that PB&J set), I have custom orders to fill, I have new tools to play with and of course a knob or two! Check back again tomorrow to see what I have made!

Don't forget... "Coffee Mug" ends tonight. Last I checked the bid was at $43. I great price for an awesome set of beads! Don't let them slip away!!!!

Monday

I don't have any fun exciting news to report. Things are kinda quiet around here. I am really excited about going to pick up my car in a few hours. And of course, "24" is on tonight. My current most favorite show!

We had a conference with Andrew's teachers this morning and an appointment with his doctor this afternoon. We are really struggling with behavoir issue and we are trying to get some help. We are going to have him evaluated though Strong Memorial Children's Hospital. Hopefully they can give us some insites and stradgies to help us with Andrew. I know you are coming to my blog to see new jewelry and exciting sneak peeks at new bead auctions... not to read boring mundane things like this... but oh well. That's my life.

I am planning on getting in some torch time tomorrow night. I have a few orders to work on and a couple of new Zoozii tools to play with! I forgot to mention that.... my Mom gave me my birthday present early! I have two new Zoozii tools, a lentil trio (smaller then my current one! will be great for earrings) and a heart duo. As a Valentine's baby, she couldn't resist getting me a heart one! I will post beads when I have them!

In the meantime... in joy this photo from our family "Fall Walk"! This is a photo I took at the falls on the "Old Mill Trail" in Penn Yan NY. If you can make the trip there it is a beautiful hike!

Riding In Style :)

I have a terrible headache... mostly because I ran out of my favorite cream for my coffee. So no cream... no coffee... headache. I know I know... it is terrible to drink so much coffee that not having it causes you physical pain but it's only one cup a day. LOL! I can't resist my French Vanilla cream. I had another Jazzersize class this morning with my friend Julie and it went great. Jacob is over at a friends house and Ron BOUGHT ME A NEW CAR!!!!!!!! I am so excited. We have never had a "new" car. We always get 8-9 year old end of their life cars that are cheap and last a year or so. This one is a 2002 Toyota Sienna XLE with 31k miles... it has leather, power everything, quad seating (kids might actually stop fighting if they don't have to sit next to each other,) driver's side sliding door, basically it is fully loaded. LOL! And it is silver... my favorite color for cars! I pick it up on Monday. I cant wait. Only problem.... I have to make the payments, LOL! SO I will be working my tail off to make lots of beads for you all to buy!

I posted a photo of my new "Caliente" bottle topper. I love this bead, it is beautiful! If you remember my "Pheonix" set of beads from a few months back there was one bead that had a sort of matchstick look to it... this is very similar. It is on my website in the "Glass Gallery" if anyone is interested.

Running Around

Wow.... what a crazy day! Things finally calmed down this afternoon and I got in some really good torch time. I can't remember the last time I made the number of beads I made today. I rarely get in the kinda quality bead time I got in today. I made another Valentine's set, red black and white ones. I made some beads for my new icicle earrigs that arrived today (shhhhh don't tell Ron) , I made some beads for a few bracelets I am working on and I made a huge bead for a bottle topper that I think is going to be awesome. I have a lot of running around to do again tomorrow but check in late in the day.. I'll have lots of goodies to share!

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I have already had a crazy day and it is only 9:30am ! I had a flat tire so this morning my husband tried to change it only to find that the spare he had at my in'laws had the wrong nut pattern so it wouldn't fit! I had to run him to work then race home while running out of gas for Lauren's speech therapist, then I will be running her to playgroup, then onto Jacob's class play at 11:30... and oh by the way "Honey I want to go golfing later so I'll need you to pick me up from work early..." ugh! I also have to fit lunch and the post office in there some where too. YIKES! I best get back to it....

A little surprise....

I decided to go ahead and list my Valentine's beads a little early. The start tonight at 6:00pm PST and I am making them a "Valentine's Special" by starting the bids at 99 cents! Go bid your hearts out! And for those who don't know... my birthday is the day before Valentine's Day so the more you bid... the better birthday gift I get to buy myself, LOL! I have a list of lampwork tools a mile long I want to order from Zooziis. =)

Have Fun! I hope you like 'em!

More Good News

I just received word last night that my "Berry Wine" bracelet has been accepted as a project for the Fall 2006 issue of Step By Step Wire Jewelry Magazine! I will be writing a tutorial and there will be a photo and bio about me. I am so excited! Two publications in two magazines during at the same time. I am so very excited. I will work this weekend on photographing and writing the article. The entire issue is going to be divoted to lampwork & wire together. Right up my alley!

I am hoping to get out a torch more tonight. The new Valentions Beads will be on Ebay this weekend too. The auction should finish in time to have the beads in the mail and to you well before Valentine's day.

New Stoppers

I was able to get a couple of new winestoppers done last night. One in pinks ("Lovely") and one in purples ("Berry Wine"). They look great so go check 'em out! I also did another knob. This time with silver foil. It looks great too. I will post photos when I have a chance. I am in a bit of a hurry... kids are just getting home from school. I plan on doing more stoppers over the next few days so check back often!

Berry Wine Bracelet

Well that was fast... I got a pic taken already.... you didn't have to wait very long LOL! It's the purple awesome! I love the bracelet. Of course I love all my bracelets, lol. Details on this one... it is approx 7 1/2 inches so it would fit a 7 in or 6.75 in wrist perfectly. As always, it is all Sterling silver and I have hand done all the wire work and made each bead! The cost for this one is $58 and it is listed on my website in the "Jewelry Shop" if anyone is interested.

I forgot to mention... my wine bottle stoppers finally arrived yesterday so I will be spending the rest of the week working on beads for those. I should have a bunch ready by Thursday or Friday. I have had requests for purple ones and pink ones.... any other colors you wanna see, just let me know!


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I had more fun with wire yesterday and made links for another bracelet, then late yesterday I also made new beads for it. I was able to acheive a really unique and beautiful purple. I haven't had a chance to photograph it yet (Jazzercise Class again this morning... I will get in shape I will get in shape.) But I will get a pic soon before it rains for you to check out. Otherwise it is going to be a rather lazy day.

Check back soon for a new photo...

No School

I hate it when there is no school. It is only 9:20 and Jacob already "Can't take it anymore..." Andrew say "I didn't do it..." and Lauren says "I wan pay paydou". I will be pulling my hair out by noon for sure! Which means this post is short... I made a great set of Valentine's beads last night. They are in my glass gallery... go check 'em out!

It's 15 degrees... let's go pool shopping

It seems like a very ridiculous thing to do when it only 15 degrees out but that is how we spent our Sunday afternoon... pool shopping. We were hoping to get a "off season" closeout or discontinued pool but unfortuately, no luck. Prices are the same in the dead of winter as the are in the height of summer. We will just have to wait and see what we end up getting. But I will tell you this... I refuse to go through another summer like we did last year without a pool. There were more the 20 days where it was more then 90 degrees. With no air condition and no pool... it was a rough summer!

Yesterday was a bad bead day again. I think I get too many ideas going at once sometimes so I can't concentrate. I did make a nother BEAUTIFUL bracelet and the cool "Star Bead" that is posted up top. If anyone is interested in the bracelet.. it is a very comfortable 7 1/2 inch bracelet. All sterling silver and my lampwork beads. Cost on this one is $63 ( there is a lot of work in this one.) I haven't had a chance yet to post it on my website but I will shortly. If you want it before then... just send me an email!

Oh... I just had to share... I love the site www.blackberrybeads.com Donna Mehret makes amazing beads! I splerged and bought myself an early birthday gift of a pair of her "Icicle Earrings". I can't wait to get them. And I can't wait to make my own beads for them!!!! I can't afford her beads unfortuately. $75 for 7-8 beads, YIKES! $16 for just 2 plain solid rounds, double YIKES! Full sets of 20 beads go for $200 plus. BUt I am sure they are worth every penny... her beads are beautiful!

Jazzercize

I am up at the crack of dawn to go to an exercise class with a girlfriend of mine. She is going on a cruise in March and wants to get in shape. I need to be in better shape too so I offered to go to class with her as moral support. We will have to just wait and see how long this will last. I am terrible at following through on exercise programs, LOL!

I made a new bracelet yesterday. I am really liking getting to make funky wire bracelets! The are so fun to wear. It is all sterling silver wire and findings with my handmade lampwork beads. I made one of my hand swirled clasps too. If anyone is interested... it is $58.00 and it is about a size 8. My wrist is about a 7.5 and this hang a little loose on me.

We have had a couple of wonderful weather days! Thurs & Fri were both 50-60 degrees with sun. I can't tell you how unheard of that is here in Rochester NY. Last year we had 120 inches of snow and to have warm days like this is a blessing. I had torch time yesterday afternoon and I had the studio door wide open, the music was on... I was in heaven! The beads from yesterday are for Jessi. I am having her design a new logo for me and we are swapping services. I also made a bunch for another new bracelet. Black and white pokadots with turqoiuse here and there. Really retro, really fun.

Friday's Agenda

I received a very unexpected email last night. It was from a friend of a wife of my husband's cousin (don't you have sentences like that LOL... aka, someone I didn't know.) She asked if I would ever consider hosting a "Jewelry Party". She said she knows lots of people who love my jewelry. I have thought about jewelry parties in the past but I am not one to impose on family memebers and beg them to host parties. And since I don't have a lot of girlfriends who would host one I kinda let the idea go. But if a total stranger knows lots of people who love my jewelry... heck, why not! I would need a few weeks to properly prepare, this being my off season I don't have a lot of jewelry just laying around. But I think it would be fun and I am definately one the thrives under pressure so the stress of getting ready would get me going. Maybe someone else at the party would want to host a party of her own? Hmmmm... lots of things to think about.

I am relisting "Honey Roasted" tonight and then "Coffee Mug Creations" a few days from now. It is my husband's new "strategie" I told him I would try. If wants me to list 1 auction a week with the new auction starting 2 days before the first one ends. It couldn't hurt to try. I am lowering the price on "Honey Roasted" too. I hope you all bid this time... they are a really great set of beads! After I get sometime in at the torch I will make up my "Peanut Butter Sandwiches" set and I want to do a Valentine's set... and of course an all green one! I have so many ideas and so little time, LOL!

Look for the auction later tonight.

Tea for two...

My Mom should be by today for her weekly tea party with Lauren. Which means... I GET TO MAKE BEADS!!! I decided to spend the next few torching sessions working on beads for my own jewelry designs. I really want to try to get in to a few more shops so I need to build up my collection so to speak. I wanna make more fun funky wire work bracelets like the one I shared last week. I get the magazine "Step by Step Wire" and I pulled out a few designs I want to try out and give that "Kab's" flare. I also love the work of Cassie Dolan www.glassbeadle.com her bracelets are beautiful.

I need to order jumprings and wire!

Check out the cool knob! This is #4 of #34. Love it love it love it! And Tricia, if you are reading this... My Mom loved this one so much last night she tried to break one of the dots so you wouldn't want it! She would have glued it and then put it in her own kitchen! But alas, she couldn't break it, LOL...

Wednesday Morning

I started making plans to go to "The Whole Bead Show" in NYC at the end of March. I will be going with Heidi (my Aunt & Business partner). I am so looking forward to it. And although I have lived in NY the majority of my life I have never been to New York City. Time Square, Central Park, Statue of Liberty! I can't wait!

I made a few more knobs up yesterday while Ron cooked dinner. They turned out amazing! I used black ivory and turquoise. I haven't been able to photograph them yet, the sun needs to be up to do that, LOL! But I will update with photos when I have them.

Two auctions are ending tonight. "Honey Roasted" & "Poseiden's Pebbles". When I last checked "Honey Roasted" still had no bids, so they might go low! Which is really a shame because they are a wonderful set of beads! It makes me sad to see my little beadys go. "Poseiden's Pebbles" had just 1 bid this morning so we will see what happens with those. As I said before, the photos just don't do them justice... they are amazing beads.

I will be putting "Coffee Mug Creations" up on ebay probably tomorrow. I need your opinions... do you think my auctions would get more bids if I started the price lower? I was doing that in the begining and I was letting my sets go for less then $30 and I just couldn't bear it anymore. But it seems with starting them at a more reasonable price (but still less then I feel they are worth) I don't seem to get any bids until the last day and sometimes not till the last minute. I would love to hear from you about that...

AAAAAHHHH!!!!

AAAAHHHHHAAHHHH I am so excited! I few months back I submited a photo of one of my necklaces to Bead & Button Magazine (the top jewelry how to magazine there is) for their "Show Us Your Work Gallery". I hadn't heard from them for a while so I decided to make one of my business goals for 2006 getting something published. I just received a letter from Bead & Button yesterday! I AM GOING TO HAVE A PIECE IN THE DEC2006 ISSUE!!!!!!!!!!! I am not going to say which one... I want it to be a surprise! But I just had to share this really exciting news with you all! There will be a photo as well was a couple of lines about the piece with my name and website. I was jumping up and down for at least an hour after I got the letter... I AM SO EXCITED!! Anytime I start whinning and complaining about having a bad day or week can someone please remind me about this...LOL! It should have me in a good mood all year!

My cold is still them same nagging cold. I wish it would get worse so I could start feeling better instead of the same yucky feeling. Ugh. I don't think today will be much of a beading day. Ron and I might be going to look at a minivan... shale I list all the things wrong with mine? Maybe later. And my sister Bonnie wants me to stop by and visit with her... which means she wants me to do something for her and this time it is install her internet access. Little sisters... what a pain! I often ask my Mom "why did you have her anyway". Mom will say "because you wanted a friend" and then I say "well take her back I don't want her anymore." But I am mostly kidding. My little sister is great and I am happy to have her.

I have an idea for a peanut butter and jelly set of beads. Browns and purples. I wonder if it will work? I will share the results!

Enjoy your weekend!

Coffee Mug Creations

Good Morning... Aren't these beads bright and cheery? They are the total opposite of how I feel at the moment, LOL! I have come down with Lauren's cold. My throat is scratchy and my nose is runny. I live is Rochester so the sun hasn't been seen in 14 straight days... just crummy all around. While snuggling a hot cup of coffee yesterday afternoon I looked at my mug and thought.. "Hey, this would make pretty beads." So my favorite coffee mug was my inspiration on these. I find inspiration in all sorts of places. You'll remeber my "Couch Cushion" beads ( inspired by my actually couch cushions ) and my "Pheonix" beads (inspired by image in a children's book). Finding new inspiration from your surroundings keeps the creative juices flowing. If you ahve a favorite object you would like to see in beads send me a picture and I will see what I can come up with!

Just another Thursday

Morning all... Have you had a chance to go check out the new auctions? I really don't think the picture of "Poseidon's Pebbles" does them justice. THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL! I just keep looking at them sitting on my desk. They are so yummy. I must say I am disappointed that no one caught my spelling error though. Poseidon has an e in it... LOL! Look close and I think you will see it is spelled wrong on the photo in the auction... shhhh its our little secret.

Added a bunch of links on the right over there.... HI JESSI. Jessi Kelly is an amazing young woman in Australia that does web design and makes jewelry. She is only 15! Such drive... I had to share the link so you can check out what she does. I also added the B&B community forum an wet canvas.com two forums you can find me posting and talking to others who do what I do. Browse the posts and check out work by same really great designers.

With Lauren under the weather I doubt I will get much done today. Hopefully this evening I can get a knob or two started.

An exciting new project

Here are the new beads "Posiden's Pebbles". I want everyone to go check out the website... I made a bunch of changes to the "Glass Gallery" and I would really like your feedback. I created an archive of all the 2005 beads and added the bottles stoppers & knobs. Well, I started adding them anyway. Hopefully after dinner I can get auctions started.

Turns out I was right and Lauren has ANOTHER ear infection and a very mild case of the chicken poxs. I have no idea where she got it, she hasn't been exposed and she had the vaccine when she was a baby. I new they didn't work.

I can't wait to hear what you think about the changes.

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I have some very exciting news to share... I have been commissioned to create glass knobs for an entire kitchen. There will be about 30 knobs in the set. We will be spreading the process out over the next few months (so don't worry, I will still be making beads!). I am really looking forward to the challenge and will share photos of the knobs along the way... I am already thinking of a swirly raku one and a turquoise one with an ivory looking fossil. Possibilities will be endless!

I just pulled a fresh set of bead out of the kiln this morning... Posiden's Pebbles. I have just finished cleaning them and haven't had a chance to photograph them but I will this afternoon and let you all have a peak at them.

Lauren is sick again. A very nasty cold started yesterday and she has had 2 sleepless nights. I am pretty sure it has gone to her ears so she will be visiting the doctor's later this morning. I have to run but come back and look for photos of the new beads soon.

Back to sanity

The boys are off to school and Ron went off to work. Lauren is watching some new cartoons on PBS and I have a nice cup of coffee while answering emails... things are finally back to normal. *sigh*

Yesterday turned out to be a bad bead day. There are always going to be days were beads just won't be right. Colors weren't working, things didn't want to be round, patterns were weird. Just a plain old "Bad Bead Day". So I filled an order for a custom glass knob instead and it turned out awesome! It is just like the "Seeing Spots" knob with puprle instead of yellow. It is going on a closet door in a little girl's room. Sweet. I also worked on an interesting "rebuild" project. My cousin gave me a bracelet to "remake" for her. It was one her brother's girlfriend got for her in Italy. It just wasn't right for her and it was much too big so I had fun remodling it for her. And that is today's photo. Audrey loves red! Now that I think about it, I really should have taken before and after photos. Originally it was just the two rectangle glass beads and the small round red ones. It was a plain straight stringing. I turned it in to "links" and added a few of my red beads, a few spirl swirls and TADA!

Today will hopefully be a quiet one. The house needs to be picked up, laundry folded... and the boring mundane usual things. I am hoping my Mom will stop by later and have a tea party with Lauren so I can make beads! Fingers crossed... today will be a better bead making day!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Hey everyone... I took a few days off for some rest and fun. I had a great New Year's Eve, and got to visit with a girlfriend from High School I haven't seen in 10 years. HI MANDY! I spent all day Sunday recovering from our get together though, LOL. We had a nice family get together at Camp Eastman yesterday as well. The kids had fun playing with their new snowboards and building snowmen. I haven't made beads in a few days so I am hoping to get to some today. I was thinking I would do an all GREEN set. I don't know why... maybe because I felt pretty green yesterday. Art imitating Life. I let you know what I come up with. Check out this new bracelet I made on Friday night. I had did all the sterling wire work! It fits perfect so I have to keep this one for me but if you would be interested in one... let me know.