Bubble Up

I've started writing up my directions and illustrations for my Bubble Ring. This ring was inspired by a borosilicate lampwork glass ring I picked up in Tucson a few years ago. I decided I could replicate it using magatama drops and seed beads. This ring is so much fun to make, I'd like to make one for each of my ten digits. If only there were more hours in the day...
I'm working on another sample in a red and gold colorway that I will be making into a kit that will be available in addition to the Green, Aqua and Butterscotch one pictured below. I'm really excited to be teaching this class at one of the best bead shows in the country, the Puget Sound Bead Festival this year. Check it out: http://www.pugetsoundbeadfestival.com/store/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=39 

(Neko) Case of Beer (Bottle Caps)

The Bead & Button Show is rapidly approaching and I'm getting really excited about both teaching and taking a class. I signed up to take Laura McCabe's master class on encorporating unconventional materials into beadwork and was lucky enough to win the lottery. Apparently it was in high demand. I've really been trying to think outside the box and collect unusual items to bring to class with me.
http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/bnbshow/Default.aspx?c=a&id=128
Fortunately there is still room left in my Bottlecap Earrings class and time left to register. We are going to have so much fun in this class! I've collected several enormous jars full of a large assortment of bottlecaps to bring to class. It pays to have bartenders as friends, as well as friends who really like to drink beer! I've discovered quite a few cool bottle caps from some unuasual microbrews.
Here's a link to my classes at Bead & Button (please scroll down and click on the class of your choice for details): http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/bnbshow/default.aspx?c=classsearch&mode=results&ins=T635

By the way, as we speak, I'm listening to the new Jakob Dylan album- "Women & Country" and it is really good. It features Neko Case singing backup on a majority of the songs and as many of you know, I'm a huge Neko Case fan. The album was produced by T Bone Burnett so, you know it can't be bad. 

Check it out: http://www.jakobdylan.com/

Local Talent

As many of you are aware, the Pacific Northwest is a hotspot for glass artists. I'm fortunate enough to live in the beautiful coastal town of Florence, OR where I am even more fortunate to call several talented glass bead artists friends. One, of which lives just down the street from me- Denise Saunders of Dema Designs. Stay tuned for more on Denise, including picutures of the new little beauties I just aquired from her.

Another incredibly talented friend of mine is Allison Byrd of Vortex Glassworks. http://www.vortexglassworks.com/
In the four years that I have known Allison, I've watched her work progress and her style develop. Her work amazes me and I'm proud to say I have quite a collection of her beads, including a number of her earliest pieces. Here is a shot of some of her more recent work:

I believe this set has sold but don't worry, Allison also has pieces available on Etsy and Ebay. Check out the above link to her website for details.

I recently made a lariat with one of Allison's gorgeous beads from her Moon Series. The piece is entitiled "Raven Moon" as it also has a lovely pewter Raven bead from Green Girl Studios on it. http://www.greengirlstudios.com/

I will be teaching this lariat at this year's Puget Sound Bead Festival in July. http://www.pugetsoundbeadfestival.com/ At the moment, I'm working on putting together kits that will be for sale on my Etsy site in the upcoming months. Allison is busy at work creating more lovely moon beads that will be included in the kit. 

Here is a shot of the lariat: