Browsing Over Morning Coffee

Yesterday was such a nutty day. Just plain hectic and hectic doesn't sit well with me. I am happier in a lazy day. Well, lazy sometimes... I am really really happy in a day that flies by while doing something I love. But then, aren't we all. Thankfully, today isn't an over scheduled day like yesterday. I do have a few must-get-done things, but other then that, the day is open. I started it at the dining room table, with coffee in my favorite mug, and a fresh copy of 101 Wire Earrings.

It was released to bookstore shelves on Aug 1st and I have been stalking the Barnes & Noble website waiting for it to read "In Stock" for my zip code. Why didn't I just pre-order it? There is just something about walking into an honest to goodness bookstore and seeing it there on the shelf with all the other books. You might remember my reaction this time last year when I discovered Wire Style by accident. This time, I had Lauren and Andrew with me to help find it. Lucky for us, there was one still in stock.

As an aside, I must say, strange things are happening at my local B&N stores. I went to the one in my town and one just one town over (Rochester has several of them) and the "craft" section where the jewelry books are held has gotten very. very. small. Where I used to see 4-5 copies of a book, I am only seeing 1-2. And where there used to be 6 shelves for jewelry, there are now only 3. Anyone else seeing this? Is it just a sign of the times? Hmmmm...

Anyway, I am babbling. What I really wanted to talk about today is the earring deliciousness that is ooozing out of this book. Over my morning coffee, I went page by page checking out all 101 earrings. Denise has really out done herself, the inspiration in here is FANTASTIC. If I am totally honest, although I am a contributor (seven designs in the book are mine), I really struggle with making earrings. There have actually been shows where I didn't make a single pair to sell. I like earrings to be unique and sometimes unique earrings ideas can be hard to come by. I think this book is exactly what everyone needs to keep the 'unique' ideas flowing. There are just so many possibilities that can come from these examples. You can make one of the pairs in the book... totally love them... and then think "what if I do this..." or "what if I do that...". Now do that for every pair in the book and you are going to have hundreds of designs to make.

*sigh* earrings

Actually, I have an earring challenge coming up. Next week is my friend Lindsey's birthday. We always exchange handmade gifts (remember her birthday is my half birthday and thus, vice versa) and this year, she requested some handmade earrings to add to her collection. With this book now in my hands to spur on new ideas... I think I can handle that.

Did You See?

I told you I wouldn't send you out to buy anymore magazines until Fall but I didn't tell ya I wouldn't send you to buy another book!! Yep, I am in another one. Check out Kalmbach's latest Creative Beading Vol.4.

Creative Beading is a collection of the "Best Of Bead & Button Magazine" and my bracelet that was in the Dec 2007 issue was selected for the book. It is beautiful, hard cover, coffee table style book with tons of projects, photos, and the instructions to make them all.

Also, my post on Making Felt Beads will be on Watch Me Create later today. Pop over and check it out!!

Tales of The Taping

(aka... what happened on Thursday?)

After a rather restless nervous night of sleep, I was up bright and early on Thursday. My make up was due to be done at 8am and I needed to get in early to set up (or so I thought). Running on the adrenaline of excitement along, no coffee, I was up at 6am... showered, dressed, and checked out of the hotel by 7:15am. Did you notice what I was wearing in the photo with Jean yesterday? Yep... SueBeads, come collect your give-away prize! I did end up wearing the same top that I wore in the head shots I had done a few months back. Sue, just send me an email with your address, I will get a goodie in the mail to you.

Now back to the tale.

The Beechwood Studios are just around the corner from the hotel we were all staying at. I was there bright and early, ready to get my stuff set and make up on. But, um, yeah, I was a little over eager I think, lol. No one else was there yet but a fella named Billy that was setting up the set.





Slowly but surely everyone else started to trickle in. I set my things up on a huge shiny silver tray in the green room (makes for easy switching of 'stuff' after each segment is finished) and then, I waited... and waited... and waited. The order got mixed around and instead of being first on the make up list, I was third. I didn't mind. I got to hang out in the green room and chat more with the other artists and see the goodies they would be showing.



Melanie was there to talk about Steampunk. I am sure you have heard of it. If not... just ask her, she is an expert! In fact, she wrote an article for Beadwork magazine all about it (though, I can't seem to find a link, sorry). And Jean has a new book coming out about Steampunk style jewelry. Cool huh?



Jean was the first to film. She has been on the show a few times and the producer thought it was a good idea to have her go first so us newbies could have a good example. GREAT IDEA!! Jean, though she said she gets nervous, was wonderful. She is so knowledgeable about the things she talks about. You can tell she is the kind of person that likes knowing about what she talks about, she reads about... finds out more... finds out all she can. You know what I mean? And if she isn't that way... she sure has me fooled! I think she is awesome, can you tell?



Soon it was my turn! A big thanks to Diane Hawkey for running around the set while I was setting up and snapping pictures for me. You know, I didn't really know what my make up looked like until I got home and downloaded all the photos. HA! I don't wear make up. If I do, it isn't more then a line of eye shadow and some mascara. This is for two reasons, I am allergic to everything and I can't wear a ton of make up and two... I am lazy about it. I think I have fairly nice skin, I don't want to cake on a lot of product. I am pony tail and jeans kinda girl. I told that to the make up artist, who has been in the biz for more the 30 years!, and she said she would keep it light and clean. Her work on everyone was wonderful. Just a shock to my system, though. And looking at the photos, I feel like I look like Weeble, with a spare tire of a belly, that got made up like a China doll. Oh well. I am who I am, right?



This is me, with the show's host, Katina. Just so you know, I hate this picture... so moving on.



Set up took about 5 mins. Then, the producer sat on a stool in front of Katina and me and said "so talk me through what we are doing". We basically made up the script right there on the spot. It is funny... they tell you not to look at the camera and just pretend like you were having a conversation right before Katina turns and says "I am here today with...". So we are looking at each other and nodding, but we weren't saying anything, lol. Would you believe we shot my segment in one take? YEAH! JUST ONE!! But oh how I wanted another one!! Things went fine, everyone said I was a natural (though I think they were just saying that), I sat and talked to Katina and showed her how I make a fun pendant from my book. We did it all with about 10seconds to spare. Which is good, because they are going to need to edit in a cover shot of my book. I was supposed to have the book there on the table to show as reference, but the cover isn't ready yet.

The entire thing was 15 mins. I drove four hours, went to dinner, stayed in a hotel, got up at 6am, had make up done and stressed about what to wear... all for 15min. But it is MY 15mins and I so loved it.

Now, I could have left at 11am and drove back home to NY. Could have had my tile floor grouted by dinner and been lounging in the back yard with a glass of wine, BUT NO WAY!! Nothing was gonna make me miss seeing the other gals do their bits. (I did have to wash the make up off, lol... my eyes started to burn and water... told ya I was allergic to everything.)

Melanie was up next. I think she was the most nervous of us all. But I could be wrong. She was so quiet in the green room. She did really great though. She showed this really cool trick to taking a bead made of natural brass and popping it open and using it to set a cabochon. Which has me thinking.... hmmmm? What is there was a Steampunk carnival and I was the ring master? What kind of wild and crazy colorful, yet dingy and tooled kinda jewelry would I wear? There would definitely be stripes involved... and spray paint...





Diane was up after Melanie and I LOVE this picture!! Diane was doing a clay segment about how to make one of her signature heart beads with a special word on it. She kept having to wash the clay off her hands.

Once the tapings wrapped up, we were treated to lunch at the studio. The four of us, Jean, Melanie, Diane and I sat up in the atrium for a while after everyone left and talked. Diane has the very best estate sale story ever. Jean told us about how hard it is to get books published these days. It was such good conversation. I love those ladies. :)



And here is where my tale winds down. After lunch it was time to hit the road and head back home. There is a rest stop on I90 between Erie PA and Buffalo NY. I stopped there on my way down to Cleveland and then again on the way back. On the way down, I had a plain ol' bathroom stall with no graffiti, but on the way home... when I was feeling yucky about the outfit I chose, and my chubby cheeks... my bathroom stall said this...



Funny how the universe throws things at you.

Ring-A-Ling-A-Lings

Helloooo...

You guys remember the book Wire Style that I contributed on last year? Follow the link and scroll down and check out the last page of the "preview". You can see my "Ring A Ling" design on the back cover. It isn't on the back cover of the book sstore shelf copies but it is there online. Out of the blue, this design popped back in my head and I decided I had to do a few for this week's show.

I decided to have fun and do them up in BRIGHTS! Lots of brights! You know what is great about these? They fit any one. If you think it is too long, squeeze together those coil and you can shrink these up at least an inch. If you need something a little longer, pull those coils out and you can add length. Cool huh?

I am very excited to have met my goal of 30 new pieces fof this week's trunk show. Actually, I passed the goal! I am taking 32 pieces in this afternoon. Everything has been polished and tagged. Today is the day that I will drop things off to the gallery so they can input it all into their system. One of the nice things about this show is that I don't have to handle the transactions. They do it all! It does mean I have to give them a huge percentage of the sale price, but it all benefits the museum so that is good.

As a reminder: the show starts THURSDAY June 11th and I will be there from 6-9pm. I will be there FRIDAY from noon - 4pm. And again on SATURDAY from 10-4pm! I hope to see lots of you there.

Blooming Bangle & Book Bummer

Those checking in today may notice that I took the sticky note off the top of the blog. Bad news. :( Turns out that book two isn't going to happen. The British publisher, Quarto, who asked me to write the synopsis and articles used to create presentation spreads, needed a US publisher to sign on to the project before it could go live. The US publisher decided to pass on the project. Without a US publisher, the project can't move forward. So it goes. I am really bummed about it. This book had such an awesome concept and I really think it would have done well. You can't win them all, right?

But as one door closes, another one opens. I don't know if I can share this yet, but what the heck! I have been asked to do a spot on PBS's Beads Baubles and Jewels!! HOW COOL IS THAT?!? Me, on TV!! LOL. As always, there is the chance that things could change, everything is always tentative until it happens. But I will let you know more details as it gets closer.

A huge thanks for all the wonderful comments on the jewelry this week!! I will keep things coming right up until the show on Thursday June 11th. Today's design is a bracelet for the "Re-Inspired Junk Collection". It is made much like my "Sandy Lanterns" bangle. The way I attached the hollow to the top allows it to pivot and spin on the top of that bloom. So fun, but the bangle/cuff style wire work keeps it tight to your wrist so it doesn't go any where. I worked in the studio for a few hours yesterday and made a bunch of hollow for even more new pieces!! Some turned out exactly as I hoped, some not so good. Oh well. I better get back to work.

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. :)

Whatever The Case May Be...

I was an irresponsibile reader last night and stayed up until 4am to finish that last book in the Twilight Series. Yeah, stupid. But... couldn't . put . it . down . Yes, your math is right, I got threw all four books (more then 2300 pages) in just about a week and a half. couldn't . put . it . down . The after 4am bedtime, and the restless sleep that followed has left me wishing I could cuddle back up under the covers. Oh well... maybe later.

In the meantime... I have a new post of on Watch Me Create. There is a certain, basic, lampworking skill that is suddenly eluding me. Go find out what it is.

1:00am

I got totally sucked in.

When I wrote yesterday morning's blog post, I was sure I was going to have a lazy day of watching movies while Lauren rested. I was wrong. She ended up feeling right as rain. She begged and pleaded to get to go to school. So, I let her. The whole thing threw me for a total loop. What would I do with my couple of afternoon hours. Would I paint... would I bead... would I read?

I decided reading was out, I couldn't justify being lazy reading minus the sick one, and my desk was too messy to paint (lol maybe I should have tidied up). So I settled into making beads. I have a project I am working on that I am not sure if I can share. But I will tell you this, I need to make four sets of the same beads and have them in the mail very very soon. Anywho, I did what I usually do, I grabbed some fresh rods of my favorite colors and cranked the music really loud. Have I ever told you I am pretty hard of hearing? I started getting ear infections at a few weeks old and really haven't stopped yet. So certain tones, especially low tones, I can't make out. And background noises are extra loud to me. Enveloping myself is sound drowns out the constant ringing I have too and lets me concentrate better. I like music loud so I don't have to try to hard to hear it.

I passed those couple hours really quickly. Got some good work done and before I knew it the kids were home again. Now what? What should I do to pass the time now? Kids were playing (aka bickering and mindlessly fighting with each other to the point of screeching and shrieking). So, I picked up the book I have been working on. Twilight. You that have read it know it is 497 pages, I had gotten to the 150s with out even trying last week, LOL. I got totally sucked in last night and 350 pages later it was 1:00am. I haven't pulled an all nighter reading in AGES. I love to read. Love love love the escape. I love learning new words too. I like finding sentence structures that don't make sense that the editors missed. (though I am very bad a self editing) I like to think I am a fairly fast reader too. I finished the nine billion page Harry Potter in one night, lol.

Now this story.... hmmm.... Edward and Bella. First off, I can't stand the names in this book. Hate, hate, hate. But what kept me reading it? As I lied in bed last night trying to fall asleep after all that reading (it is really hard to turn thoughts off after they have been so active) I was tying to decide just that. I certainly don't have a secret desire to have a vampire fall head over heals in love with me now,lol. I won't be tatooing the word "Twilight" on my body or running up to TV cameras screaming "OMG... I love Edward, I want him to marry me" (did anyone else see all that buzz on the Today Show?) But, I wish that kind of love that was whipped up by the story teller was really out there. Maybe it is. The magical, swept of your feet kind, that has you constantly telling each other how much you love the other during every conversation kind. Is that my age now? I'm I forgetting how to be magically or is it that I am being more realistic. Ah well, I decided it was a good read anyway. Even if it is showing me that I am becoming a skeptic.

You know, I didn't plan this blog post... it is just sort of writing itself. And I don't like that last bit. I don't want to be a skeptic, I don't want to think there are things not possible. I am thinking now that I need to make another Token Journal. This one for Tokens of Magic.

Okay... now for something fun. Let' have a little book club discussion in the comments! Please, feel free to leave a review, or start a conversation... ya know, book club style. I will be around most of the day so I can moderate comments regularly. I will start us off. Wait, I guess I already did... do you think the kind of love portrayed in Twilight is possible? is it possible at such a young age? or maybe only possible when so young?

What Is Love?

Don't worry, I don't really want an answer to that question. Every answer would be different anyway. But I want to show you the start of my answer to it.


Yesterday afternoon, I was torn. Should I make beads or work on my Token Journal? My free time that isn't free, it is actually "work time" has been very limited lately. Things keep getting in the way of me getting in my groove. Between long weekends, doctor appointments, and play dates... my time hasn't been my own. Usually, I am fine with it... I go with the flow and work when I can, but I really really want to be working right now! I have lots of ideas and I wanna make them happen before they slip outta my head.

As you can see from the photos, my journal and painting won out over torching.


The process of making these pages just felt so right. I sat in my studio, in the quiet, and let the paint flow. I still have colors crusted in my finger nails, and I freaking love that. I cut the covers off of some old circa 1907-1919 hardcover books (a technique shown in Taking Flight) to use as the pages in my journal. I mixed and layered paint for simple backdrops to write on.


On each page I added words from one of the books that I de-covered. The book is called "The Garden Without Walls" and the copyright is 1913. (I love how old it is!) I could open to any random page and some where on that page the word "love" would appear. I took that as a sign of the direction I should take my journal. Check out an article I found in the NY Times' archives reviewing the book.


Don't you just love the language in old books? My pages say; "What Is Love?", "turn your mind to the really important things in life", "A wonderful kindliness nowadays", "power of dreaming now broke loose.", "Love in the world.", "My secret was too big and beautiful to keep to myself.", "I shall always love you.", and "Star-Dust Days".


I have already started to find TOKENS in my days and I am going to keep my tokens of LOVE here in this journal. And I am guessing I will need more journals for other tokens. *sigh* I can't say that I'll mind having to work on that. lol.

Today though, the paints are put away and the glass rods are out. I am hoping to get in some quality torch time. If it is really good and we can manage a couple of good ones next week too, then I'll be having a Bead Box Update next Friday!! YOO HOOOOO!! I'll keep ya posted.

Tokens

You know how when you are reading blogs and one click leads to another click? You end up some place you never would have found otherwise. This happens to me a lot. I will be at one of my "usual" blogs and they'll link to another blog, I get caught up there and click links they have posted in their blogs... it just goes on and on. I LOVE when that happens. I love coming up on an unexpected corner in some one's life. It is kinda like when you drive around the city at night when lights are on in houses and buildings, often without curtains, and you get a glimpse into a moment in some one else's life.

Well, there are two blogs in particular that I have really been enjoying lately. The first is Ali Edwards blog. I don't know much about scrapbooking but oh how this site makes me want to experiment with it. Ali's projects and photos are intriguing to me. I love her graphic style, her loopy handwriting, and the nostalgic tone to images. I may never know how to use digital scrapbook pages... but I know a blog that keeps me inspired when I see it.

A few weeks ago, Ali started talking about her "One Little Word" project. If I am understanding it right, you pick a word that speaks to you and keep it in your mind through out the year. She says, "A single word can be a powerful thing. It can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything. It can be sharp and biting or rich and soft and slow."

I see projects come up on blogs all the time. I try them once in a while, like last year's "A Year Of Everyday Life" which I totally fell off the band wagon on. I know I am a bandwagon faller offer. I get excited about things, then loose interest, and end up letting it slip. I have always been like this. Which is one of the main reason's that Ron never wanted me to buy my own kiln and torch 4 years ago. He thought for sure that it would end up being a waste knowing me and my short attention span.

I am okay with that. I am okay with being a bandwagon faller offer. Instead of a faller offer, maybe I should consider myself a jumper. I know when my attention is starting to falter, and I start to look for other things to fill the need that whatever the project was filling. At least I can say that I tried and had an experience, right?

Anyway, I am getting off track. I saw Ali's One Little Word project and it has been with me for weeks since seeing it. There wasn't a single word that came to me as "my word". But as I was typing "words" for my book... or listening to "words" being spoken to me... or seeing "words" in the world around me, I would stop a second, think about it, and wonder if it was "my word". Nope... nothing was fitting.

I started this saying there were TWO blogs that I have come to love recently, and it is time to introduce the second. Months ago, when I was doing that photoshoot for that magazine article that I didn't end up liking, my friend Cindy sent me a link to a blog with another artist and her photoshoot results. The artist is mixed media painter Kelly Rae Roberts. At the time, I didn't bookmark her site for some reason, but through one link or another, I have ended up back there a few times. Now, I check it everyday and the other day, Wednesday to be exact, I finally picked up a copy of her book, Taking Flight. I wasn't sure I needed what I thought was a "painting" book. When I picked it up, and started to flip through the pages, I discovered it reads like a book book, not a project book. Though, yes there are projects in it... but the point is the journey, not the finished project.

I started reading Taking Flight last night.

I am about to go off on another tangent here... hang in there, it'll all come together by the end.

Something that I struggle with as an artist is the feeling that I lack a lot of depth/thought/feeling in my "work". So many artists have messages they try to convey in their work, deep thought behind the decisions they make for a piece, or feelings evoked in them/others through their mediums. Yes, I put thought in to my work. BUT... I feel like I don't put enough effort into the thoughts I have. Maybe that is just the perfectionist in me... nothing is ever enough for a perfectionist. And try as I might to let the need for perfection go, I just can't seem to do it. I can find fault in so much that I do. Who wants to go around feeling that way?

As I was reading the first chapter of Kelly Rae's book last night, the descriptions along side her work struck that cord of my feelings of shallowness. She would describe how she was creating with an intention and the descriptions were making me wonder what my intentions are with my work. Can beads and jewelry have intentions? A strong theme through the dialog in Taking Flight is listening to the whispers of your heart about the life you truly want to live. It can be a longing whisper to run a marathon... or a whisper of a desire to learn to paint.

One thing I am very good at is hearing my whispers. I know the things my heart is longing to do. One of things I am not good at it is giving those whispers a chance to be realized. I think that comes from my perfectionist tendencies. Often times, I think I have a fear that I will go for one of those big dreams and fail. If I fail, then I am not perfect. I know, I know... everyone is scared of failure. I have no reason to feel like I'll fail. I have shown myself is more ways then one that I am a strong woman and when I do put my heart into something I don't fail. And then, failing at something teaches you lessons that make the chance of success that much more the next time you try, right?

Anyway... reading Kelly Rae's book has really left me inspired. I want to give more of my whispering dreams a chance to take flight in my life. Something else happen while I was reading last night too... my One Little Word came to me... "Token".

Token (tō'kən)
n.
1. Something serving as an indication, proof, or expression of something else; a sign.
2. Something that signifies or evidences authority, validity, or identity.
3. A distinguishing feature or characteristic.
4. A keepsake or souvenir.

v., -kened, -ken·ing, -kens.
1. To betoken or symbolize; portend.

adj.
1. Done as an indication or a pledge.
2. Perfunctory; minimal.
3. Merely symbolic.

I think it is a perfect word. It is "my word" and I am excited about spending time this year looking for tokens in my life. A token of love, a token of possibility, a token of forgiveness, or a token of sadness. It can be so many things. My personal hope it to find a token in each day and as suggested by Kelly Rae, I am going to start a journal. My journal won't be for my heart's whispers though... it is going to be to keep track of my tokens.

See how it all comes together?

To celebrate my word and get started on my journey, I am naming my first mixed media piece of 2009...

"Token Of Possibility No 1"

Another Artist Spotlight

Can anyone guess who's beads these are?

When I got my book deal, I knew, knew, knew, knew that I HAD to ask Jill Symons to contribute. I was turned on to Jill's beads a few years ago through the blog of another artist that is contributing (and yet to be revealed). I have quietly stalked her beads over the years. I lust after her control of color. At times her beads are simple, focusing on the combination of colors and quality of form. Other times, she is demonstrates a master's power over silver glass. Her beads are nothing less then amazing. Don't even get me started on what she can do with copper and clear glass.

Working on the book, I first came up with an outline of the projects I would write instructions for. When it was time to pick beads, I matched artists with projects I thought would show off their beads best. I had a very ambitious project in mind for Jill, and I was thrilled that she was game to take on the challenge of creating more then 30, THIRTY, transparent beads in all different shapes and sizes.

Just wait till you see what I am going to teach you to make with Jill's beads. You are gonna love it. But, you are gonna have to wait. LOL. In the meantime, check out Jill's website (ton of eye candy there), see beautiful photos on her blog, and she has an Etsy Shop too.

(ps... I am experimenting with a new photo style for the blog here. Bare with me till I can get it right!)

Beads For The Book

It has been a while now since I had a book update. Too long. And now is the perfect time for an update! A few things are going on in the bloggy background and lots of it will have to be kept under wraps. BUT, I can give you a little sneak peak at a couple of details.

One thing going on is title talk. I have title ideas, and Interweave has title ideas. Remember those two books I wrote projects for back in August and September? Well, I need to turn in my "artist bio" for both those books and we would like to mention the new book in the bios. You need a title to mention it, right? I mean, sure we could say "Kerry is currently working on writing her first book..." and leave it at that. But that's no fun. I wanna say "Look for Kerry's new book, fill-in-the-blank, coming in the spring 2010." Oh well, we'll figure it out.

Almost more exciting then figuring out the title is the BEADS!!

Back in early November, I started sending out emails to some of my favoritest, most amazingest, beads artists. I am so psyched that everyone I have asked has said YES!! I am honored to be working with every one of them. The bead packages have already started arriving in my mailbox. (Which seems early, but considering I have to turn in more then half of the book and as many finished projects as possible by Jan 19th, I have get my backside in gear.) One of the first things I did when starting to write the book is come up with a project list. I work on writing the steps for each of those projects, then check it off the list as written. As I was thinking of who to ask for beads, I looked at the project list and tried to visualize the best project for that artist's beads. I don't know if that makes sense... but it works for me.

The first beads to arrive were the ones from farthest away. The super talented Melanie Moertel sent me this lovely set.

You can purchase Melanie's beads HERE in her Etsy shop. Melanie's beads are truly miniture masterpieces. She has stringer control like no other. I wish you could see how fine the detail lines are in these beauties. Not only are they wonderfully high quality, but the colors!! OH THE COLORS!! One of the topics of the book is going to be using color in design. For beads like these, it is all about contrast. Orange and Blue are just about as opposite as you can get on the color wheel. Melanie choose to use a subtler shade of coral orange with pops of dark periwinkle blue. The contrast is softened just a little bit with some bits of opal yellow, cobalt blue and turquoise too. Just dreamy.

These beads are going to work perfect in the project I picked out for them. And no... I am not going to tell you about it. You'll just have to wait for the book.

Pendulum

First off... a HUGE thanks to those that left inspiration comments for me yesterday. They did just what I'd hoped they would. I have some more sketches of the ideas you all sparked and I already started on the beads to bring some of them to life. I wouldn't say I officially found my groove again. But I think I am getting closer to it. Keep the comments coming though! I love hearing what you like to see.

Now, a mini book review. Actually, it isn't a review, just an I-bought-this-book report. In 2007, when I went to the big Bead & Button Show, you might remember that I took a class with Susan Lenart Kazmer. During class she talked about the book she was having published later that year. Turns out it wasn't available until this past Spring. I finally broke down and ordered a copy of it on Amazon last week. It's called Making Connections: A Book Of Cold Joins For Jewelers And Mixed Media Artists. The thing is positively gorgeous. It is a heavy hard cover book with shiny glossy pages that are full color with really cool illustrations.

I have skimmed through it and read a few bits here and there. From class, I remember Susan saying that she intended this to be a reference book not a how to project book and it definitely has that feel. I thought there would be more about other artists working in the same medium, and there are a few shown, but I really would have liked to see more. It is interesting to read the background behind some of her pieces. Like the "Energy Talisman" and how she felt the energy that her son's 2nd grade class put into their learning, so she had them save their pencil stubs for the piece. Kind of made me wonder if I am really a shallow artist that should put more "thought" into why I make the things I do. Then I reminded myself that each artist is different and I put a different kind of thought into my pieces. I put in pride of design, perfectionist craftsmanship, and a heart of color into each piece I make.

Anywho... as I flipped through the book, I stopped at a design she called "a trapeze". I was instantly drawn to it. I knew I wanted to see a hollow swinging in a similar design. I had to modify it quite a bit. Although the book is about "cold joins" meaning no soldering, you still use a torch to "draw a bead" for some of the techniques. I won't bring a torch that close to a glass bead after it has been annealed. So, it was great to set my mind to figuring out the new construction for it. I also wanted to keep with my bright, crisp, and clean style of jewelry too.


I am thrilled with the way it turned out. I like the size, I like the shape, I like the look of it... there isn't a think I don't like. Well, except that it is being a pain in the behind to photograph. I am calling it a "Pendulum" pendant. And I even have ideas stirring for other ways to use this technique... hmmm. The bead is one I have been saving for a few weeks waiting for just the right project. It is a hollow (duh, Kerry, we can see that) and while I worked those dots on the surface, an air bubble popped out of it. I didn't want to scrap it... for 1) I rarely get orange to strike as evenly and beautiful as it has in this hollow... and 2) I kinda like the little hic-up of a hole in it.

Try as I might, I couldn't get the color balanced right for the photo. It is NOT that obnoxious an orange. And when I went to take a picture of it on, Lauren said "Momma... not with that shirt." (Gotta love my 5 year old fashionista!) It'll just have to be one that is loved and admired in person. *sigh*

My Big News...

I have never used Blogger's video loading feature... lets see if it works.








My stars, do I really sound like that? I hate the sound of my own voice. This took about 10 takes, LOL.

So there you have it!! I have a contract to write my first book!! YOOO HOOOO!!

Those stressed out days the past few weeks were about waiting to have phone meetings and going through contract negotiations. I was told not to announce anything until I had the contract in my hand. It arrived by FedEx this morning from Interweave Press!! AAAAGGGGHHHH!!!

Okay...so what is it going to be about? Basically, Glass & Wire... all wire projects, all done with glass beads. It'll be tailored to beginner wire workers, but have projects ranging from beginner to intermediate. I'll have lots of tips and tricks... lots of "alternative" (aka self-taught) ways of doing really basic skills... and the best part... there will be a HUGE focus on COLOR. Tons of color info. How to work color into design, inspiring color combos, and coloring dos/don'ts.

Are you gonna make all the beads? Now that wouldn't make much sense now would it? I couldn't make all the beads for all the people who would want to try out these projects (though I'll try). Then who would want to buy a book that you can't get the beads to make the projects for? So what I'll be doing is putting a call out to some of my favorite glass artists to see if I can't get them to contribute beads for me to work into my projects. What fun we'll have picking artists!!

When will the book be out?!? Publishing takes time. My first deadline is in January 09 (just about 3months away), then again in April 09. I'll be doing a photoshoot of how to make pieces step by step out in Loveland CO where Interweave Press has an office. And tenatively, the book should be out in March of 2010. I know, it seems like ages away. But it'll come sooner then you think. And in the meantime... I contributed on two books due out August 09 remember... so you'll have that to tie you over.

What does that mean for the blog? Well, what fun would a book be if you already saw every project in it before it was published? I'll be keeping things under wraps. I want the book to be a BIG surprise when you first open it. I want it to be viusally stimulating and creation inspiring. But, I can't leave you completely hanging, so there will be sneak peaks here and there leading up to the publication.

I hope my big news was worth the wait. I am so so so so excited about this!! It is going to be a fun year and a half.

These Are The Beads

Hmmm... yeah... it was wonderful getting to finally make beads and all yesterday. But opening the kiln this morning was rather anti-climatic. Thus the anti-climatic post title. I would have asked for a "drum roll, please" had they been fabulous. I think I had it in my head that my first time back on the torch after such a long stretch would yield copious amount of beautiful beads. Instead, I found this little lowly trio. Yes, they are pretty beads, but soooo not what I was going for.

Laura Sparling had a post on Watch Me Create about beads she made using techniques from Sarah Hornik's new e-book, Think Pink. The "spreading" effect is something that I have always lusted about learning but never taken the time to experiment with. I ordered up my copy of the e-book and that was the most recent beads I had seen, so I had this technique on the brain. Would you believe that those orangish colored dots were made with a transparent pink glass called Rubino Oro? Yeah... they are. Really!

I am inspired to have this new technique under my belt. But was bitterly bummed out when these beads come out of the kiln. They just didn't have the umph that I wanted them to have. I think it is the dark periwinkle. It didn't behave how I told it to. (Much like my kids these days.) I will say, I love the side view of these much better. Especially that last one on the right. So it's back to the drawing board.


Yesterday I said I'd tell you what the beads were going to be used for. But now they are headed to the "use eventually" bowl on my desk, so I think I'll keep the intended project to myself. That is until I get the right beads for the job made. That is of course unless one of you can't live without these beads. You could save them from the "use eventually" bowl. Send me an email or leave a comment.

IT'S HERE, IT'S HERE, IT'S HERE

AAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

LOOK WHAT I FOUND AT BARNES & NOBLE TONIGHT!!!

My good friend Lindsey and I were out for her birthday celebration, as we are every year at this time. We decided to hit Barnes & Noble for a little magazine time. They didn't have the magazine Lindsey wanted so we wondered to the craft/altered art/jewelry/paper/sewing book section. We were sitting (on the floor) for about 3 minutes when all of a sudden I saw it!!

Lindsey took a video of my reaction. I was totally flipping out. But unfortunately she hit end instead of save on her cell phone. Oh well, I know it isn't something I will forget anytime soon. I completely lost it. I couldn't breath... I was smiling ear to ear... I was laughing... I was kicking my feet... I was shaking... I was crying... I AM SO EXCITED!!

It took about 10 solid minutes for me gain my composure. Though I was still shaking. I flipped through each page and stroked each photo. I can't wait for you to see which projects are inside. I couldn't show you before, but I think I can now. Anyway... it is totally awesome. They changed the back cover from what is on the Interweave website, but who cares... I AM IN A BOOK!! YOO HOOOOOO!!!

I called Ron from the store. And he was like "what book?" And he actually told me not to buy it and that I should wait for the free copy to come from the publisher. YEAH RIGHT! He is lucky I didn't buy all the copies that had!! Lindsey suggested I sign the copy that comes from the publisher and give it away here on the blog. BRILLIANT idea. I will have to think of a fun way to do the give away. I'll let you know what I come up with. Though honestly, I have been asked to sign things and I feel like an arrogant ass every time I do it. But Lindsey said no, I am not and she insists that you guys will want a signed copy. LOL.

AAAAAGGGGGHHHHH!!! I still can't believe it is here!!

I have an absolutely splitting headache and I could throw up at the moment but even feeling sick can't get the grin off my face. I told Lindsey in the store that I think coming upon the book in the store like that was the best thing ever. Sure I would have liked to see it come in the mail weeks ago. But OMG... IT'S IN BARNES & NOBLE!! Right this very moment... on the shelf... how cool is that?!?! I got to see it for the very first time... in the store... where people are gonna buy it. I had to show the girl at the register... see... the name of the artist... same name on the credit card... THAT'S ME!!

A Couple Of Cool Things!

First, there is now a button on Interweave's website that allows you to "flip through" Wire Style. It is very cool! And check out who is on the back cover!! Yep, bottom left is one of my designs.

I also saw today that when you visit the Beading Daily Project Store, my Berry Wine Bracelet is one of the "Best Sellers"!! How cool is that?!?! I added links on the left so it is easy to find what projects are available. :)

The Double Bind ~ A Book Review

First of all... thank you all so much for your comments and emails of support! You all ROCK and I love you!! I can't tell you how much I appreciate the fact that I can come here, vent/ramble/pout, and know that I have friends to give me the support I need. So, thank you!

Now, I know you are wondering when the hell I am gonna have beads on this blog again!! They are a coming... you'll just have to be patient, lol. I made beads yesterday... yummy beads... cool beads... so-delicious-you-are-gonna-want-to-eat-them beads! They are soaking in a tea cup full of water as we speak. I need to get them cleaned and inspected, then I'll make more to go with them, then I'll decide if they are jewelry beads or Bead Box beads (or both), and then I will make more, and then I will offer 'em up. But just to give you a little clue as to what they are... any of you peps remember what happens when you mix ivory and transparent teal?

Anyway... time has come to a crawl. It is all the anxiety and anticipation leading to tomorrow (the closing on the new house) that is doing it. Yesterday was incredibly tedious. Not only did I make beads, but I took Lauren to pre-op appointment, mowed the lawn, washed 3 loads of laundry, other wise cleaned the house, made dinner and read the first 207 pages of my latest book club book. In recent months I have been a bad book club member. I go to our get togethers, but have been boycotting the books. I didn't want to read Sharp Objects or the one before that (can't even remember what it was). But, I was happy when we voted that we picked the book we did, so this time I am reading it.

Having the book to read has been a HUGE escape for me mentally. It is an intriguing story and I am really really enjoying it. The book is The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian. Last year we read Midwives by this other author and I really didn't care for it. I didn't like the writing style or how a man was attempting to capture the essence of childbirth (no man will ever have a clue about THAT). I am having the total opposite experience with this book. I love the writing, I love the characters, I love the plot. It is a don't-want-to-put-it-down kind of book.

I haven't finished it yet, so this "review" is a little premature. But I will be sure to let you know if I am happy with it all the way through to the end. So far... you gotta read it!!

Wire Style Preview!

Look what I found hiding in a link in a Beading Daily email!!! I have been waiting for this for over a year!!!

Check out Wire Style, available for pre-purchase on Amazon.

Here is the book description:

Featuring original ideas from top jewelry designers, this collection covers a range of contemporary and stylish projects, such as bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and pendants. Beginning with a primer on basic tools and techniques and covering fundamental wire-working skills in detail, including wire-wrapping, weaving, coiling, chain-making, hammering, texturing, and oxidizing, this guide helps jewelry makers of all skills levels develop a range of talents. Each project includes a comprehensive materials list and step-by-step instructions that guide crafters through a variety of projects, including wrapping found objects with wire, making chain mail, creating spirals, straightening wire, making jump rings and ear wires, and creating clasps. Constructed with many different materials—from precious metals to plated and colored wire—these striking creations are a mix of funky and fabulous wire designs combined with stones, beads, and cords to create an interesting and eclectic jewelry collection.

I have 6 projects in the book!! I can't wait to get my copy and pour over the pages. I wrote the projects Winter 07. I can hardly remember what they look like. It will be interesting to see how they blend in with the other projects. I am hoping with this being published now, I can get more feedback about my own book. I want to see my name on the cover of one of those some day!!