Re-Inspired Junk Collection

Okay, to be perfectly honest, I am feeling very vulnerable at the moment. I have been working behind the scenes on new jewelry designs for this summer. The process has been awesome. It makes me all giddy and excited. At the same time though, I am very unsure. I am worrying, holding them close, and not wanting to share. I have six new pieces sitting on me desk and I can't decided it they are genius or junk. I don't think you all could stand another fluffy post about nonsense on this blog so it is time to share what I have been working on...

"Respired" is the first piece in the "Re-Inspired Junk Collection". You had to know that if I was going to jump on the repurposed jewelry band wagon that I would find a way to do it with wild color. Yes... repurposed jewelry. The photo at the top is of an enameled metal brooch I bought while out thrifting with Lorelei last weekend. Very sixties/seventies. It is BIG and BOLD, measuring more then 3inches across. I totally busted it apart. I used wire to bring the pieces together in a new way, added big lampwork hollows, then strung them up with vintage enameled chain. I love using enameled pieces. Essentially, enamel is glass... so I am still using glass in a creative new/old way.

Why am I feeling all insecure? Several reasons. First, I can't decide if I love it or hate it. Is it too much? I have worn it a few times, outside the house, and it is light as a feather, you hardly know you have it on. Yet, everyone else knows you are wearing it and you gotta be prepared to have your chest stared at all day. Second reason, I really think I am on to something here. And I am very worried that the minute I show this light bulbs will turn on over peoples' heads and I am going to see tons of flower pins turned jewelry components show up every where. I am feeling very protective of it, at the same time, I can't not show it. How will I get feedback about reason #1 if I don't?



So far the reviews have been great. I previewed this photo on Facebook last week to lots of love. I am really loving an orange and hot pink design setting on my desk that I will share tomorrow. Now it is time to hear from you... leave me some feedback. Have I gone off the jewelry deep end? LOL.

Spoiled Rotten

"Habe MOMters Day" My make-shift card from Lauren on her dry erase board. I had to get a photo before she is on to the next thing. She is a writing fool these days, lol. I am sure the spelling will come along in time :)

How was every one's mother's day? Or, just because you are a girl day? (you don't have to be Mom to celebrate) I was spoiled rotten all weekend. Not only was it mother's day, but Saturday was Ron and mine's eleventh wedding anniversary! Saturday we got to have some kid-free time and we snuck out to a movie. We saw Star Trek. Yep, we are a bunch of Trekies. LOL. I don't know many other couples that would get as excited about having their anniversary weekend the same weekend a movie is released as we did. We have been counting it down for months! And the move didn't disappoint. You just can't look at it as if that is James T Kirk and Spock and McCoy, it is a whole new Star Trek... everyone just happens to have the same name, ha! After the afternoon flick, Ron and I came back home to have some leftover pasta and sauce. Not very romantic, but the peace and quiet was wonderful for a few hours.

Sunday was equally as nice. The kids gave me lots of hugs, and cards like the one above. We worked on the house... they made me new window boxes and we planted strawberries, and broccoli, and we took the shutters down on the house. Right now the color scheme of the outside of the house is faded mint green with cream trim and red shutters. By the end of the week the shutters will be dark navy blue. I still don't care for (insert, loath with a passion) the faded mint green, but Ron is baiting me with remodeling the kids' bathroom if I hold off on painting the house. The kids' bathroom is old and yellow, and no matter how often I clean it there is an odd smell wafting in there. So, bathroom remodel is winning over the painting of the house, but the shutters should help a little.

Dinner was amazing here. I have said before... I don't cook. Ron is the master chef in this house. He dolled up some amazing rice with carrots and green beans and white wine.... and oh my stars... the shrimp! Sweet chili peppered shrimp... yum. And oh yeah, some grilled teriyki steak on the side. I was a glutton and couldn't get enough. Though I did call my Mom and Sister and offered to share. Speaking of my Mom, the project I started for her last week was a total bust. Beautiful colors and inspiring, but ugh, horribly sized. It just didn't work. So I need to figure out another way to spoil her.

Not For Mom

(Mom.... don't look....)



No, I was not stumped about what to get my Mom for Mother's Day.
No, I didn't find a pattern last minute to crochet her something special.
Heck no, I didn't already have this yarn and fabric in my stash.
No, I have had something in mind for weeks... thought way ahead... yeah. LOL.

Pre-Orders Available!!

Yesterday I was mindlessly surfing Amazon.com and found two very exciting things! Remember back in Aug/Sept when I was scrambling to finish up projects and tutorials for books to later be announced? Well, here they are! And they are available for pre-order on Amazon.

The first book is Chain Style: 50 Contemporary Jewelry Designs by Jane Dickerson. I am really excited to get my hands on this book. I can't wait to see all the projects in its pages. I know what my projects look like, and they are very different from the style shown on the cover. Which leads me to believe there are a wide range of designs shown! Something for everyone!! And the cover there... why it is my new jewelry pal, Lorelei Eurto! Congrats Lorelei, you rock!


Also up now on Amazon is 101 Wire Earrings: Step By Step Projects and Techniques by Denise Peck. I am really excited to be a part of this book too. I think earrings are my weakest skill design wise so I can't wait to see the inspiration these pages have to offer. This is my second time contributing to a book by Denise Peck, editor of Step By Step Wire Jewelry magazine. The first one, Wire Style, is a great addition to every jewelry book collection.

While we are talking about books, I am entering the "presentation" phase of new book. If anyone is interested in putting together a mock project for me to use in the pitch, zing me an email! I would love to have some fresh ideas to use in the examples. I can give you more information when you get in touch. :)

State Of The Studio

It has been a few months since my last State Of The Studio address. Since I am kinda at a loss for words today, I thought it was time I did another one.



On Jewelry Things: I am in the throws of "research" for the new book. I am finding it incredibly inspiring, yet sorta frustrating. I am discovering worlds I wouldn't normally ever delve into and it makes me want to try things. Unfortunately, I just don't have the time to experiment right now. Why? Well, I am currently: preparing for a trunk show, working on the new book, getting ready to head to Loveland CO for the photo shoot of first book on May 19th.



On Beading Things: My beading time keeps getting thwarted. I have had a few windows of opportunity to torch, but it is really limited. I am trying to use it wisely, but that doesn't always happen. The colors I am craving are BRIGHTS! But, brights that lend themselves to lots of blue. *sigh* Who woulda thunk blue would become my favorite color... I always thought I was a purple/pink kinda girl.



On Life Around Here: Things are in bloom! Compared to the last State Of The Studio: Around The House image, things look really different! The Sugar Magnolia is pretty much spent already, but the Dogwood is coming in nicely. We have built several raised beds for veggies and strawberries, but I want to wait to share that until it has a little more life to it. LOL. It still looks like a bunch of boxes full dirt and hay at the moment.



On Knitting Projects: I am still working on my "Pucker" top that I have show in process a couple of times. I have finished the back and I am working threw a tedious part. I need 15inches of stockinette stitch (yawn). I have about 10inches done so far before I get to do the cool puckering. The yellow yarn there is for the next project I have lined up. It is a top called "Buttercup" by Heidi Kirrmaier. My pal, Lindsey, and I are going to do it as a knit-a-long. Meaning, we are knitting the same top at the same time. Her's is a different color thought. *sigh* I really wanted yellow.

Something In Air

I don't really know how to describe the buzz that is in the air at the moment. It really is only the "early spring" around here, but it feels like the middle of summer. The sun is bold in the sky, and the breeze is fresh. Only tell that the summer isn't really here is the lack of leaves on the trees and the empty veggie gardens. I am really feeling like I am thriving of this buzz. I feel good mentally, I am working on getting my butt moving so I feel good physically, I feel inspired artistically, and (knock on wood) things are actually going good right now with the kids and my hubby too. I am in the midst of an all-is-right-with-the-world high and I want to relish it and keep it close for when the mood changes, as it always seems to do.

So... on to details from my amazing weekend. Friday... I know I didn't post, that's because I was totally distracted by THIS new estate sale find. And... Friday night, I got to attend the Glass Gala at the Memorial Art Gallery. I had a bit of a last minute dress disaster. Last week, I bought a cute black cocktail dress from TJMaxx. It was a great deal at $20, but I didn't pay close enough attention to the length of it when trying it on in the dressing room. When I got home, Ron told me it was kinda short, but that I looked cute and young. And he assured me it wasn't too short. Apparently, I grew a few inches in the past week, because by Friday night, it was way.too.short. I discovered this about a half hour before I was due at the museum!! I finished my hair, threw on my make up, and ran out to TJMaxx again. I grabbed a dress, tried it on, made sure it was past my knees, and bought it. It worked out well! I am assured by my sister that it is a fabulous dress (Calvin Klein) and looked great. I was so wired with energy after the gala that I popped over to her place afterward to unwind.



The Gala was awesome. The live auction was so much fun. I got to anonymously bid for a member on a gorgeous piece for a dollar value I would never write a check for, lol. I acted as a spotter too, while the bidding was going on. I saw pieces going for thousands of dollars!! My necklace ended up going for a good price too. And I got to meet and talk to the couple that purchased it. I got a big hug!! LOL and turns out the woman that got the high bid went to High School with a bunch of my Dad's sisters (remember he has 10 sisters). I am really excited for the trunk show at the Gallery Store in June. Mark your calendars! My trunk show is June 11-13th. I'll give more details as we get closer.

To see how I spent most of my Saturday, check out Lorelei' blog!! I had spotted that cabinet weeks ago and have been lusting after it. I got a firm no way from my hubby on buying it. When I saw the new studio Lorelei was working on, I knew she had to have it. It would organize her beads too perfectly. She lives here in NY, just a few hours away. We made a whole day of it!!



Now on to some much needed studio time for me! I have lots of cool things brewing that I can't wait to share. I am really excited about the direction things are going. :) OH... almost forgot! The two photos up top are of the piece I wore to the Gala. I got tons of compliments. It is just so fun. Random and blue... what could be better?

Let's Take A Ride...

What kind of ride? A Ferris Wheel Ride!



Oh how I love what-if-I-do-that ideas! On Sunday when I was working on the custom necklace I showed earlier this week, I was building up layers to make the cool hollows when I though... what if I do just that? See, I had the idea in my head that I would be creating those big coils of wire... so I wondered, what if I only made half a hollow, and "capped" the big coils?

What is half a hollow, you ask? The way I build a hollow is from a tutorial in one of Corina Tettinger's booklets by Jill Symons. Essentially, I build up two discs on a mandrel and slowly add rings of glass until they touch somewhere in the middle. So I was thinking... what if I built up a disc and it didn't meet something in the middle? What if it was just a sorta cupped disc?



That got my mind really whirling. Then, "what if I make them all different colors" started running in my head. I worked on these beads Tuesday and just went crazy. I pulled stringers and twisties... I grabbed one of every color for a whole rainbow of rods on my desk. It was FANTASTIC!! It was exactly the creative outlet I needed after a wild week home with the kids.



As I built the necklace and twirled the wire, the capped coils reminded me of Ferris Wheel Carts... Like These. (Only mine are way more colorful.) I am thrilled with how it turned out, though I think I want to made a few more and make the coils go a little farther around the neckline. When you hold it in your hards, it is so slinky, I love the way it moves.

What I find awesome about the creative mood I am in right now is that ideas keep building on each other. As I was making this side winded discs, I thought... okay what if I make hollows now? So the idea kinda went ful circle. Hollows... lead to discs... lead back to hollows. I thought, what if I layer the colors into a wild colored hollow?!? You gotta be careful when using opaque color in hollow forms, it isn't as "stiff" as transparent glass and becomes much more soupy when molten, which leads to colapsing hollows. I was patient and things seemed to come together.



I want to experiment more with color combinations for these. I am so so with some and extrememly psyched about others. This is the "Funny Hollow" lariat! I know you all are going to be asking about that blue chain!! Well, I have been wanting to add even more color to my work. I knew colored chain was out there and I did a little research. Basically, there are three types of colored chain... plastic (YUCK!), anodized (like the colored wire I use), or enameled. This chain is the later. Enameled chain isn't made anymore so the only way to find it is in vintage form. I love it! Enamel is essentially powedered glass, so the colors I have found work beautifully with my work. I have several sketches with design ideas for this lovely new finding of mine. But we can't put my whole line of jewelry for the summer in a single post.

Important Announcement!

I am interrupting this blog with an important announcement!!

It is a little early to let you in on this secret, but I could use some guidance from you beading divas of the world. So here we go!!

A couple weeks ago, I was approached by a British publishing house about acting as the author/editor of a new book they are working on. That's right!! I am working on a second book!! Well, not quite yet. This project is still in the very early stages. I can't disclose any details, it is all tightly under wraps as this is a super wicked cool project. Were I to reveal this totally awesome new concept, everyone would be all over it wanting to get a piece of the action, lol. So mums the word, don't even try to get it out of me.

I am spending the next week pulling together the pitch for the book. It is a rather detailed task and I am asking you... my beading crew... if you could learn any beading technique under the sun, what would you want to learn and who would you want to learn it from? And not just as it relates to glass. I want to hear what is going on in the beading arts outside glass that you are fascinated by and the artists doing it.

Send me emails... or leave comments with links... I am eagerly waiting to see where your links lead me.

More Thrifting Goodies

This past weekend was a big one for estates sales around here. I couldn't get to many, but my Mom got to all of them. She took me back to some of the "second" day ones on Saturday where everything is 50% off. Gotta love on sale left overs!!



The first goodie is the one I see the most now that it is here in the house. Old crates! You are thinking "Kerry, why are you excited about old crates?" Cause, they are just so cool!! I have been wanting some crates since seeing what Amanda Soule (aka SouleMama) did with some crates. Such.A.Good.Idea. I have wanted a way to break up the monotony that is the large brown back to my couch, and since the perfect table has yet to make it's presence known to me... the minute I saw these crates I knew they had to be mine.



They have been stored in an attic for who-knows-how-long. Which is great because it really preserved them well... no mold or rust to be found and the labels... OH.MY.STARS I love the labels!! The color is just so rich and fantastic. It really speaks to me... it whispers... "kerry, oh kerry... aren't we pretty?" HA! My dad checked these out and he seems to think that from the graphics that they are from the 1940s... I wonder if you could find that out for sure? Any who... they are in my living room. Waiting patiently to be filled with books and nick knacks and to hold drinks for loungers on the couch. Oh, and the price? There are 3 crates (they are doubles) there... they were $2.50ea. There is another 4 hole crate that I got along with these for the same price and that is hiding out in the spare room, waiting for the big spare room reveal.



This next piece is one my Mom found and brought by for my to see and I instantly stole it. Yeah, that's right... I stole it... took it right outta her hands and put it on the mantel in the dining room with out her even realizing what was going on. This bottle. I love it! I love the height, the shape, the color. It is more then 2ft tall and the loveliest shade of gray/green. And the price? $10. Thanks Mom!! If you click on this photo, it will take you over to Flickr and you can read notes I put on the photo about some of the other things you see there.



Last but not least (and not really last, cause there are other goodies I got that I am saving for another day)... Pyrex mugs. You might remember THIS thriftiness trip where I picked up my set of Corelle dishes. Does Correlle have one "r" or "rr"? I can never remember. Anyway, my set came with the tea cups and on Saturday day I found a set of 10 coffee mugs!! For $1.25!! NO, not each... for all TEN!! Love them. They are Pyrex "milk glass", I think, and I have been having my morning coffee in these for days *sigh*... anytime you wanna stop by and have a cup of coffee with me and use my cool mugs, you just let me know.

Okay... in other news... you may have noticed there isn't much beading talk going on here. That is because there are BIG... I mean AWESOME & HUGE... beading things going on in the background that are super secret. I can't share yet... but you'll be the first to know when I can disclose things. ;) I will try to get you new jewelry to swoon over soon. I got a trunk show to prep for!!

Tagged... I am it

The lovely Lynn tagged me, and although I rarely take part in these taggy thingies, for Lynn, I will.

THE RULES:

Rules of the game: Respond and rework. Answer the questions on your own blog; replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention; add one more question of your own. Tag some friends to keep the flow going, let them know they've been tagged.

THE QUESTIONS:

What is your current obsession? Well until this past weekend, it was searching for a desk for the spare room on Craig's List. Literally, I would hit "desk" "search" about a dozen times an hour trying to get to one I wanted first.


What is your biggest pet peeve? This is the question that I reworked! HA! I have a few pet peeves... trim not painted white, lol... people who have blinkers on their rear view mirrors (big stupid suvs with their extra blinkers, it is distracting!)... people who walk down the middle of the road way in parking lots while I am trying to park (get out of the way people, walk to one side or the other, not down the middle! you sure as heck know that if it was me walking down the middle you would be beeping your horn and yelling out the window for me to move so what makes you think I shouldn't run you down?)


What was the last thing you bought? A burning bush from Lowes for the front garden. I had the best burning bushes at the old house... so I had to have one here.


What are you listening to right now? In the car it is Kings Of Leon - Youth and Young Manhood... in the studio it is Kings Of Leon - Only By The Night. I put them on repeat and listen to 'em over and over and over... I never get tired of these guys.

Favorite vacation spots? We don't take vacations much around here. I loved going to Cape Cod a few years back... and I love the trips I have taken to England. Hmm... once the book is released, I wonder if I could find a studio to do a class and book signing at in England?


What are you reading right now? I am supposed to be reading "Revolutionary Road" for book club on Thursday, but it ain't going so good.


What four words would you use to describe yourself? Hmmm... I would like to think that I am Creative, but I am Moody... I am Colorful, and I am Determined.

What is your current guilty pleasure? Cadbury Chocolate that is supposed to be for the kids from my Mom but I don't think they deserve it, so it is mine... all mine. Mom needs chocolate to survive more then the kids do anyway.


What would you do if the internet was irreparably damaged and you had to find another way to connect? Oh goodness... I don't know what I would do. I would probably shrivel up and die from loneliness, or talk on the phone way.too.much.


Where are you planning to travel next? I am headed to Fort Collins CO for a photoshoot for the book in a few weeks!!

What was the best thing you ate or drank recently? Did you see the answer to the question about guilty pleasure? Yeah... chocolate. Yum.

What flower are you most anxious to see bloom this spring? I am waiting for my hydrangas that I brought over from the old house. For one, I want to see if they survived, and two, I want to see what color they turn with the type of soil we have here. I am hoping they turn purple.

What are you most happy doing? Having a cocktail on the deck with the sun shining, warm and lovely, under the shade of a big tree, sitting barefooted with a good book nearby and a snack in arm's reach on a breezy lovely summer day. (yeah, what Lynn said)

Care to share some wisdom? Hmm... I don't think "Wise" was one of the four words I used to describe myself in the question above. LOL...

I've tagged:

Cindy at sweetbeadstudio
Holly at Stupid Is The New Awesome
Donner at Blackberry Beads

Hope they don't mind, and they'll keep the game going for Lynn. Besides, I want to know what is the best thing they've eaten or drunk, what they're listening to, and what they're reading.

And secretly, I bet, so do you, don't you? (I agree with what Lynn typed here too.)

Springs In Action

Oh My Stars... what a fantastic weekend. Compared to the week I had last, this weekend was worlds better. The weather was spectacular, the kids behaved, I got to work in the studio, and went thrifting, and did I mention, the kids behaved. :) I got a ton done that needed getting done. We worked in the gardens (front yard and veggie... more on that soon) and I was able to clean the studio. *sigh* It really was just dreamy. The kids are off today too. Some nonsense about not using any snow days (this winter with our record snowfall, insert eyes rolling here) so they have today off. Keep your fingers crossed that today goes as well as the past two!!

One of the things I needed to work on the past few days was this necklace. It is a semi custom piece. I say "semi" because other then they fac that I was asked to make a necklace, I had a blank slate. So it isn't custom in the way that was asked to use certain colors or a certain design... it just needed to be a necklace. It is for a member of The Gallery Council to wear to the Glass Gala on Friday night! What an honor it was to be asked to create something for such a special night. I have been hemming and hawwing over what to do for weeks now. Nothing like leaving things to the last minute to kick out something cool. We all perform better under stress, don't ya think?

I am kinda at a loss for what to name it. I was thinking "Spring Into Action" but that sounds a little corny to me. I like clever over corny when it comes to naming things. Anywho... the necklace has nine hollow beads with six hollow wire beads. These are made kinda like the wire coils in my "Temporarily" necklaces that were in WireStyle, but with a few more steps and twice the length of wire. They are as big, if not bigger then the glass beads. I really like 'em. As I was making the hollows, I had one of those "well, what if I do this?" ideas. I can't wait to get started on that design. Oh and look... I chopped my hair off again.



Oh, and if you ever wondered why I say Oh My Stars... it is from watching this Bugs Bunny Cartoon about a million times as a kid. Gotta love YouTube... the original cartoon is a lot longer, but this is the best part.

KABochons

Magical Mess-Making + Husband Holidays = KABochons!!!

In a recent post on Watch Me Create about the books currently sitting next to my big comfy chair, I swore I would learn to bezel set, even if it killed me. I ordered all the materials more then a week ago and they finally made their way here in my house yesterday.

It was a nutty day yesterday... doctors' appointments, swim classes, hair cut appointment, baseball practice, and a sleep over! I was running like a crazy lady. Thankfully though, Ron, in his infinite wisdom, knowng how rough the week was on me, took the day off work to help me out. In the middle of the day, I squealed with joy at the UPS guy bringing me my bezel setting box of goodies. And Ron was happy to let me stow away in the studio for a couple hours. He even brought me food while I was working away!

I quickly ripped open the box (you can see the packaging all over the floor in the photo above), I went nuts rummaging through storage boxes to find missing supplies I knew I already had somewhere, and set to work.

What.A.Learning.Experience.



Here is what I have learned so far:

1) Solder needs HEAT, so I am returning the crappy little "pencil" torch that I paid $41 for and I am looking for something hotter. Yesterday I ended up using my trusty hot head to solder, but that flame is big and bulky, and hard to control.

2) Bezel wire melts if you get it too hot with your hot head torch, lol. For those of you not familiar with bezel setting, basically you build a "cup" (bezel) for a bead/cabochon from metal. First I built the frame that wrapped all around my bead (from bezel wire), then I soldered that frame to a piece of sterling sheet metal...



3) I need better saw blades and dremels are good for more then just cleaning beads! After I soldered the bezel wire to the sheet metal, I needed to saw away the excess metal and file/shape/smooth/sand the edges around the outside edge of the bezel. I went though 8 jewelry saw blades before pulling out my dremel. HA!

4) Use less solder. You can see in the "back view" of my new bezel pendant that there is way too much solder attaching the bail to the back of the sheet metal. Oh well, I am learning.



I don't think these are ready to sell yet, I need to work on my technique... BUT they do make for a good "Random Act Of Kindness". I gifted a purple one of these to Marcia yesterday afternoon! Enjoy it Marcia!!

Oh, and before I go enjoy this G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S. weather we have in Rochester this weekend, I want to tell you all thank you so much for your comments on Thursday's post. It is a wonderful support to know I am not the only ragging lunatic of a Mom, lol. The kids head back to school on Tuesday... I am looking into summer camps... and I'll be alright. You are all appreciated so much... I hope you know that. Thank you.

huh? oh wait I remember...

I thought there was something I wanted to tell y'all about, but I forgot what it was. My head is a little fuzzy today. I woke up with a sore throat and clogged up nose. ugh.

I am counting the minutes till Spring Break is over so I can head back to bed or down to the studio in peace, lol.

-----------------------------------------------

I just remembered what I wanted to talk about. HA! See, fuzzy head. And when I get talking about it, you are gonna be thinking "how could you forget that is what was on your mind?"

I think it is just the kids being home for Spring Break, but I am feeling all pent up and ansie. Do you get like that? I am sure everyone does. I have energy, and eagerness... and no where to direct it. I have painting ideas, bead ideas, design ideas, garden ideas, house ideas... and surprisingly not to the point of being overwhelmed, but to the point of frustration. To the point that I am crawling out of my skin wanting to escape.

The weather has been dreary and it has me wanting to hide in the studio blaring music and twirling in my tutu. But I can't. And I feel like whining about it. I guess part of the frustration is that this feeling of wanting to create can be so fickle, there one minute and gone the next, that I want to relish in it while it is here. Before it is too late.

I tell myself that I should be enjoying the time I have with the kids while they are here. But they really aren't any fun right now. Jacob, the oldest, is being a tyrant, even going so far as to call me "stupid" which promptly got him a one way ticket to his room where he feel asleep for a two hour nap yesterday. Andrew is so-so. Finding balance with meds is still on going and he is floating in between places right now where if he isn't hyper-focused to the point of obsession on a very specific thing (right now it is baseball and talking to a certain friend on the phone) then he is complaining that "there.is.nothing.to.do... what.am.i.supposed.to.do?" Drag out each word to into about ten syllables when you read that and repeat it several dozen times and you might start to come close to what I have been hearing lately.

Saying that out load makes me feel like I am being selfish. Ugh. I just know me, and this is why I could never home school, and this is why I dread summers, and this is why I eat more chocolate then I should (it calms my nerves). It is okay to be selfish, right? It is okay to want more then watching cartoons and building forts? I never was much of a "player" even when I was a kid. My Mom says she used to have to take my books away and force me to go out side and play. Sorry your Mom is no fun, kids.

I was going some where with this but got lost in my fuzzy head. Anyway... I am here, in am bouncing on my heels waiting for some time to create, and I am trying to find some balance.

Just Because

Would ya take a look at that... I made something. Something bead related. LOL. I don't have much time in the studio this week. What with the kids being home and having to constantly referee their bickering, I don't get much time to stow away and bead. BUT, thank the heavens for my MOM!! She signed the kids up for Splash Week at the YMCA. So I get an hour each day to get a little done. I spent yesterday's hour making these little doodads.

Aren't they sweet? Nothing wild and crazy... just sweet and simple, playful pops of color. Perfect for the coming months of funner necklines and ponytails (if your hair is so inclined). The great thing? They were all made from beads I had just wasting away on my desk. Alone... they would have sat there for a while then eventually gotten sent to the bad bead jar... or the jar I take to shows to let people play with beads. Together though... they work. One happened to roll near another one and I liked it. So grabbed another one and liked it too. I think my beads watch out for each other. They know when they should have a fate better than the bad bead jar and they roll around my desk seeking each other out. Till... they find their little beady matches made in heaven and get made into doodads.

I will send today's hour of solitude posting these little numbers on my website. I hope you'll scoop em up. They need loving homes. While you are waiting for them to be posted... click on over to my FLICKR gallery and you can see close ups of each one. OH, and I ordered up new chains (snake chains and bead chains)... in my opinion they are the best chains to show these off on. They won't be here until Friday, but let me know if ya want one! Otherwise, they should easily pop onto any chain ya got.



Anyone else have projects like these? Doodads you come up with by chance? I would love to see!!
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The pendants are posted!! CHECK THEM OUT!

For A Beautiful Baby Girl

I bought some yarn at Christmas hoping to make some leg warmers for Lauren. It is Dream In Color Baby in the Ruby River colorway. A super soft, super colorful, super warm wool. Time got away from me, and the little leg warmer didn't happen. So the yarn has been in my stash just twiddling it's yarny thumbs waiting patiently for it's turn to be used.

Saturday morning, I got news that my cousin Audrey had a baby girl!! You might remember the necklace I made for her wedding in November 07. And you might remember that she asked me to be her son Ben's god mother. And now... Juliet Grace is here!! The minute I heard the news, I tossed aside the project I had started knitting for the new baby and grabbed that pretty yarn.

I decided a little sweater would work... and hey, wait a minute. Does anyone remember the name of the sweater I knit in January?!? The JULIET sweater!! How stinking cute is that. The pattern I started with is one on Ravelry called Boheme, but I changed out the lace pattern to the one I used on my sweater. Look at me and my sweater modifying swankiness. Who knew? Hey wait a minute... Audrey reads my blog... I wonder if this is where she got the name,lol. I am pretty sure she has her hands very full and won't be reading today. So this will still be a surprise.

Baby sweaters are so gratifying. They knit up so quick. I really haven't work more than couple hours on it and it is already almost done. I can't wait to see it on her. :)

Until I Snap

Okay, so I am hoping I am not alone in what I am about to tell ya about. We know that I have obsessive compulsive tendencies. I go into psycho cleaning modes where the baseboards want to run and hide from me. I am a busy body that always needs to be doing something. But then again, in a home with five people... four of them who can't pick up after themselves... things don't stay nice for long. It is a vicious cycle and I can't do it all.

I have developed a good coping skill though. I ignore things. This is especially easy to do with our upstairs. Technically, I only need to be up there to sleep so I can go hours and hours and hours with out stepping foot up there.



Unfortunately, my coping skill only works for so long... and then I snap. Does anyone else? See, on the way to my bedroom there is this little nook of a room. We call it "the computer room", lol. Though, I have been told by our neighbors that it was used as a bedroom by one of the previous owners. The owners that like to paint rooms a million different colors. Since moving in, this room has gotten on my nerves, when it shouldn't because it is so quaint. It has low ceilings, yes, but a sweet little cove in behind the room that would be an awesome reading spot. But, it was yellow... all yellow. Yellow walls and yellow ceilings and a yellow fixture that case a yellow hued light. I could have dealt with the yellow, were it not for the PERIWINKLE TRIM!! Not to mention the green door. UGH.

Can I just go on the record saying something right now.... NEVER... EVER... UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES... should you paint your trim a color other than white!! Don't do it. Step away from the paint chips and grab a premixed can of soft white. It is a pet peeve of mine. I hate painted trim. Trim should always be white. It frames the room. It makes for easy future paint jobs too. Who wants to try to match periwinkle trim every time the room needs a coat of paint? Say it with me... paint.trim.white.

Yesterday was the day I snapped on this room. I just couldn't take walking by it again. Something had to be done about it. I ran out to Lowes about Noon and grabbed a gallon of white paint, randomly grabbed a pretty green swatch and had a gallon mixed up, and I bought a new $12.98 light fixture. I was able to paint the ceilings, all the trim, and cut in the color by dinner time. I have been hunting on CraigsList for an old desk for the room. And I am having dreams of finding an antique iron bed frame to actually be able to use this as a guest room. Shock.Horror... imagine using the room for something other then playing video games!!



I am headed up to the room right now to finish the walls. I will show more pics when it is finished!!

Laurelle's Flowers

Back on April 4th, while I was working away, a little friend of mine turned 4. Laurelle is quite a charater. She is very independant, spirited, and bright. She loves to be outside on adventures and hates pink (just like her Mama). lol. I put together this painting for her to pput in her room, with her new big girl bed and big girl quilt.

The canvas is 8x10, with acrylics, spray paint, pen and ink, with water colored vintage papers, and glitter glue. Oh it was fun spray painting! I have a can in the studio for a secret progect I have planned (if I can ever find the time for it). So I grabbed it and spray... so.much.fun. I highly suggest it. Oh, and the pages I used were from that same old book as I have used in other projects, "Garden Without Walls". Perfect for Laurelle.

Sent Away

I did it... IT IS DONE!! This is the box of finished jewelry for my book. YOO HOOO!! There are more then 20 pieces of jewelry in there! Some people might write a book and only show you one picture of one finished design... but not me. I did a couple of each and some with totally different bead options. I have put so much energy into this box. *sigh*

To celebrate, Ron and the kids took me out to dinner. With three kids, dinner out in a resturant isn't something we do. There is always fighting over who sits where or whinning over what there is or isn't to eat. Not last night though. We had a lot of fun. The kids asked me lots of questions... an interview of sorts about the book. "so Mom, how long did it take you to write the book?" "Mom, are you gonna be famous now?" "did they give you a lotta money?" LOL.

Once home last night, I felt a huge sense of relief. From the beginning I knew I could do it. I knew I could write the book, but at the same time... I am hard on myself and I had a lot of doubt too. But I look through all the photos I took of the finished things and I open the files of text and I am so excited. I can't wait to share it all with you!!

The work isn't done yet. There is still a lot more to do. There is editing that needs happening, and a photo shoot in May. I worked on a "shot list" on Monday (which is a list of each and every photo I want taken for the book) and we'll be taking about 262 pictures. And I need to get ready for all those photos. Kinda reverse engineering the jewelry and breaking it down into the steps that need shooting. Cool huh?

I have a little time in between though. And I have some new jewelry I will be working on for spring!! YOO HOO!! I have some fun ideas up my sleeves and I am itching to work on something I can actually show you, lol. I already started too. I have whipped up a couple fun and simple pendants with loose beads on my desk. I'll share 'em soon.

Things My Kids Say

(lol, haven't posted one of these in a while)

This morning while making breakfast... me, Jacob & Andrew in the kitchen.

Me: boys?... you gotta be better about closing the upper cabinet doors. Me and Dad have been finding Rusty in the cabinets in the middle of the night, knocking out glasses.

Andrew: This cabinet won't shut. (imaging his index finger poking the knob over and over and over and over and over)

Me: it would close if you quit poking it, just close it nicely.

Andrew continues poking the knob....

Me: dude, stop...

Jacob: God Andrew... you are so... perpetual.

Andrew: huh? what is that?

Jacob: you just go on and on and on and on...

Randon Acts Of Kindness

This is going to be fun...

A week or so ago, my pal, Lori Anderson, posted on her blog that she was taking part in a Random Acts Of Kindness project. I am one of five lucky people that will be getting a surprise from Lori sometime in 2009. How fun is that?!?

And as a lucky RAKer, I need to pass it on. The first five people to post a comment today will recieve a special goodie from me.

Here is the deal:
1) Sometime, anytime, in 2009 (that gives me until Dec 31st) I will send 5 people something.

2) The something I send will be hand made, by me, just for you. I can't promise you'll like it, but I promise it won't be hand made hot pink underwear or anything.

3) You gotta pass it on too. On your blog, post something like this, and pick five people to pass it on too. 'Cause ya know... it ain't about the getting... it is all about the giving... and the thank you emails you are gonna get telling you how good you made someone feel. And that is gonna make you feel good!!

On your mark.... get set.... comment.... I wonder who the five will be?!?!
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ALL FULL!! My five are: Christine, Marcia, snickers, Becky, and Ann. Send me your addresses ladies. Kerry(at)kabsconcepts(dot)com

Sorry to those who visit after the five who got in their comments first. I can't give things away to everyone, lol. But that doesn't mean you can't be a RAKer yourself. Pass on some random kindness!!

Down to the Wire & An Auction!

Things are really getting down to the wire here (pun intended, lol). I keep having flashes of panic attacks when I think about what I still have left to get done and when it needs to get done by. But I have lists and I am ticking things off one after another. As long as I keep to the list, I will be set.

We had a simple holiday weekend around here. We built our raised bed veggie gardens (pictures coming later this week) and had a lasagna lunch at my sister's yesterday. The kids are all spoiled with candy coming out their ears. This year I was smart and grabbed an extra bad of peanut butter M&Ms for me and Ron rather than stealing from the kids' baskets. LOL.

I have an AUCTION Alert for you!! The Glass Gala at the Memorial Art Gallery is just a few weeks away. Each of the artists having trunk shows during the Glass Wear exhibit is offering up a piece to the be auctioned during the gala. YOU CAN BID!!! My piece is HERE, and I added a button on the side bar to find it easily. The piece being auctioned is "Honey & Rain". YES, out of state bidders are welcome! The gallery will happily mail the piece to the winning bidder. The website allows for "pre-bids", and the high online bid becomes the opening bid during the live auction on the night of the gala. Staff at the gallery is available to place bids on your behalf during the live auction, just send them an email!! The Memorial Art Gallery is such a gem in Rochester, so bid high, and keep it bring amazing exhibits like Glass Wear to our little city!



And I will leave you with a little preview... one of the beads from last week. I have a new Zoozii's press!! The 1 1/2in spree press. I did a bit calmer "Mod Dot" style bead. Oh, My, Stars... I am in love with this bead (and the finished piece it became). *sigh*... back to work.

Just Me

I had a pretty amazing experience a few weeks ago and I have been chomping at the bit to share it with you. But, I needed to wait until everything was ready. Now that it is, I am so excited to show you...

Way back in November, I got it in my head that since I am a big time author now, I need proper head shots. I couldn't very well have a photo of me holding the camera at arms length from my face taking my own picture. I typed in "portrait photographer" into google and started my search for someone who was able to take a nice portrait. I didn't want a standard issue Sears photo center portrait, or a "glamor shots" thing. I knew I wanted something fun, and relaxed... artistic, and colorful.

I found just what I wanted in Kelli Marsh. You can view her portfolio on her website HERE and there are more images HERE on her blog. Ya know, I complain to my family all the time that I am constantly taking picture of them... couldn't someone take my picture once in a while without making me feel vain or making me look like and idiot? Really would it be so bad?

I was a nervous wreck during the first, oh I don't know, hour, lol. I was thinking to myself "this was stupid, I feel like an idiot, I'll have two chins and chubby cheeks... why did I think I needed to do this?" Kelli made this whole experience so great. We chatted like two girlfriends that have known each other for years. She helped me feel at ease and the pictures.... Oh they are awesome!!

The two on the blog here are my favorites. I don't know if it is the lightning bolt part in my hair or the twinkle lights in the back ground, but something about that top photo makes me feel like a rock star. Would you look at my lashes? *sigh*... such an awesome photo. The bottom one will be my "head shot". I love the expression and the light and the color of this one. I dare say there is even a twinkle in my eye.



There are a few more shots in my Flickr Gallery. Check them out... and if you need a photographer for anything, ANYTHING... I am tellin' ya, you gotta get Kelli. She is the best.

Apropos

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."
- Henry David Thoreau

I picked up this bottle of wine back in September when we went on a day trip for my Mom's birthday. It is from a tiny winery in Naples NY, called Imagine Moore Winery. Each bottle they make has a single word for the title with a quote on the bottle. I loved this wine when I tasted it, but hadn't paid very close attention to the quote. It was very apropos to the situation last night.

I finished the text for my book last night!! And I do feel like I am getting to "live the life I have imagined." I still have a lot of work left, but last night was a time to celebrate this small accomplishment. I still need to make a ton of finished pieces between now and next Wednesday (the day everything needs to be in the mail). So, I am not back to my regular blogging just yet, but I wanted to share the news and let you know where I am at.

And while I am at it, since I am writing way already... I'll keep blogging. And I'll let you in on a little secret, I have writing ADD, lol. I could have finished the text in half the time had someone taken my wireless access away. I would write a step or two... then surf... write another step... then surf. I think it might be a disease. LOL. And OMG... if I never see the words "wrapped loop" again in my life, it will be too soon. Along with surfing, I did some shopping too. I have some new goodies headed my way, and it isn't a new handbag or shoes, it is jewelry "stuff". Oh yeah, don't you worry... this book isn't cramping my creative urges and burning me out. It has me chomping at the bit to move on and make new things!! I got cool ideas stewing, people. Cool ideas.

We woke to a few inches of snow this morning. I won't want to be outside in the sun and working in the gardens, lol. Just three more tutorials to write! And then I need to get a boat load of finished projects created.

It took a cup of coffee and a cup of hot cocoa to keep me focused on Friday.

Not the most flattering angle, but you can see... I am working!!

Until Further Notice

The time has come that I need to re-enter my work "bubble". I need to find my groove and do what I gotta do over the next two weeks to get this book done by the deadline!! I'll be here when I can (I am thinking just photos, no chit chat), but for now... my nose needs to be plastered to the keyboard shaped grindstone for a bit.

See ya on the flip side!!

Design Ugh But I Am Still Fabulous

Pop into Watch Me Create today for more on the "Design ~ Ugh" behind these pendants.

Cindy thinks I am fabulous though. LOL. THANKS CINDY!!