Bringing It All Back Home

I had all good intentions to work on making kits for my classes last night and maybe even getting a bit of beadwork in until the wee hours of the morning. But... after soaking in the hot tub for a long spell, I felt like molten jello and got nothing accomplished. It's so nice to be outside and enjoy the night at this time of year. I turned the lights and the jets off so that I could do some star gazing and listen to the silence. Unfortunately, the clouds are rolling in and there wasn't a star to be seen but the sounds of "silence" made up for it. Just down the hill from my house is Siltcoos Lake, where the cacophony of frogs was especially loud this evening. From the deck I can also hear the creek that runs alongside the bottom of the hill, just at the end of the driveway. Behind the house, about a mile away is the ocean. I'm lucky enough to be able to hear that, too.
The hot tub is my "think tank." Last night I was thinking about all of the things in life that we take for granted. For example, the frogs. Listening to the frogs is one of my favorite things about living here and yet, I don't always make the time to pay attention to them.

When I lived in Long Beach, CA I took the music scene for granted. I could pick any night of the week to go out and see quality live music and it was all only a short drive away (ok well, maybe a little longer than short with traffic but still...). I used to spend a lot of time just down the street from my apartment, at the Blue Cafe. I would go there and listen to fine musicians such as Doug MacLeod www.doug-macleod.com/ (pictured above) every Thurs. night at happy hour. Doug is an incredible blues musician and was one of the reasons I ever picked up a guitar in the first place. He's played with some of the finest blues musicians in the world and even played with one of my other favorite guitar players, the late great Pee Wee Crayton. Yes, indeed folks, I was SPOILED.
Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCEfaeH0Iik

Ever since I moved here to Florence, OR I have been missing that music scene. Luckily, every Sunday night there is phenomenal group of musicians that gets together at the Traveler's Cove. The line-up includes regulars such as my friend Peter Giri (pictured left) on guitar and bass, Paul Biondi on sax, Suzanne Sheretta on sax, Nate Kaplan on drums and Mike Anderson on guitar and bass. These folks sure can play and once again I'm feeling a bit spoiled.

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This past Saturday night, I was especially spoiled, as we had a bonus night of music down at the Cove. Not only were we blessed with Peter Giri and Nate Kaplan but they brought along uber-talented harpsmen Lloyd Tolbert and guitar guru Byron Case (pictued left). Man, oh man, that Byron can play. We were treated to a long and fabulous first set of blues. Blues the way blues was meant to be played. It was exactly what I've been missing. It felt like going home. Three days later I'm still feeling good from that quality dose of music. It doesn't get much better than that!

Beads, Bees, Blossoms & Bass Guitars

Ahhh... the buzz of spring is in the air. I can feel it! I just went for an invigorating walk in my beautiful, woodsy neighborhood. The sweet smell of jasmine, honeysuckle and blooms a'bloomin was most intoxicatingly heavenly. I saw numerous bumble bees and along the way I came across two different families of deer. I'm happy to report that the deer are looking rather healthy this year. It must be all of the tulips they've been munching on in my neighbor's garden.
While walking, listening to Willie Dixon on my ipod (which by the way, is fantastic walking music that makes you want to strut your stuff), I stumbled upon some skeletal remains along the side of the road. I'm not sure if it was a nutria or an oppossum because the skull was missing. I've decided I'm going to go back tomorrow and collect some of the vertebrae to use in a beading project. I'm taking Laura McCabe's (http://justletmebead.com) Master Class at Bead & Button this year and the focus is on using unusual materials in your beadwork. So, my eyes are especially open to seeking out unconventional objects.
Is it the arrival of spring that has me feeling so good today? It could be. Was it the acupuncture treatment I had today for my allergies? That definitely helped. Was it the impromptu bass guitar lesson I had with my friend Peter Giri http://petekowalke.com/ yesterday? That was certainly a ton of fun. Could it have been a great weekend with two nights in a row of live music with incredible musicians? That must be it. Whatever it is, I ain't complainin'!

Tucson Treasures

I've spent the past week filing paperwork for the upcoming meeting with our accountant. Urgh... I hate tax time. I have finally finished and now have some time to put my Tuscon goodies away.
Before we left for Tucson, we were down in Orange County for the CHA show. While at the show I stopped by the Soft Flex booth to say "hi" to Sara Hardin and Jamie Hogsett. While I was talking with Sara, I spied a fantastic lampwork glass bead on one of the samples. I completely fell in love with this enormous, bumpy boro bead. Sara wasn't sure who made it because it wasn't one of her samples. I just couldn't shake the memory of this bead.
Fast forward to the Best Bead Show in Tucson, which by the way, is appropriately named... Lo and behold, right there in the lobby was the maker of my coveted bead! It was Martha Proctor of Liquid Sand Studio. www.liquidsandstutio.com Below is a photo of the gorgeous "honker" of a bead with yummy bumps in tourmaline colors. I can't wait to make something with this treasure!

Memories of Tucson...

I had a wonderful trip to Tucson this year. Not only was it bead heaven, but I also got see old friends and make some new friends. Among the many wonderfully talented friends I ran into at the Interweave party this year was Andrew Thornton. He is a fabulously talented designer and artist who most of you know through his working with his family at Green Girl Studios. While at the party Andrew gifted me with this sweet artist trading card.

The following night I had the good fortune of sampling some of Andrew's cooking. He and Greg Ogden (also of GGS) treated us to some fine culinary magic. They even converted me into liking brussel sprouts! This fine dinner took place at the beautiful home of another talented artist, Kate McKinnon. Her home is a perfect combo of contemporary coziness & retro cool stuff. It made me want to move right in!I managed to snap of few pictures before my camera battery died. Doh!
Pictured below is Marcia DeCoster alongside the gracious hostess Kate McKinnon.
Bottom left are three beautiful women: Jean Campbell, Jamie Hogsett & Sara Hardin.

Deadlines

After having been gone for three weeks, there's a lot of catching up to do around here. One of my priorities is getting my Stringing submissions done and written up for the Fall issue since the deadline is rapidly approaching. Here are a few sneak peeks of the beads I used. The first is a snapshot of a gorgeous lampwork glass flower made by the equally lovely & talented Lisa Kahn. Lisa amazes me. She does it all: beadwork, lampwork... and everything she does is fantastic.

Second, is a lovely little borosilicate honeycomb bead that my awesomely talented friend Rashan Omari Jones made. I actually dropped this bead on concrete last fall and he had to put it back in the kiln to fix it. I owe him big time for this! Now I need to get busy and type up the directions...

Valentine's Day Bead

When I returned from Tucson last week I pulled out all of my treasures to drool on them while Barry and I were watching TV. I decided to "work" while I was drooling so, I got out my lil' Ziploc baggies and a sharpie so, I could mark and label all of my new goodies. As I was going through my receipts, I came across my Gary Wilson receipt. The last item read "special secret item". I asked Barry if he knew what the heck that was to which he smiled and replied, "yes".
Alas, the mystery was revealed on Valentine's Day when I received this super cool heart shaped pendant that Gary Wilson cut from a billiard ball!

Home Sweet Home

Ahhh... I'm finally home from my three week trip to southern CA and Tucson. I was so busy the whole time I was gone that I slacked in the blogging department. At least now I have lots to talk about.
I had a wonderful time in CA even though everyone blamed me for bringing the rain with me. My Mom took a week off from work and I got to spend some time with her, which is always much needed. I also got to spend some time with my Dad, two brothers and Grandfather.
While in Huntington Beach I taught two classes at my friend Erin's store Beadology. Check it out: www.beadology.net. The first class was my right angle weave class "Better With Crystals". Much to my surprise, all 7 students finished their bracelets. They did a fantastic job and it was such an inspiration to see their color selections.
The other class I taught was my "Bottlecap Earrings". Erin made a lovely pendant out of hers with a super cute owl bottlecap from a Japanese brew.
There is still room in the Bead & Button show sessions of my bottlecap earrings. For details visit: http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/bnbshow/default.aspx
Hey! My class is the pick of the day here! Or go to: http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/bnbshow/default.aspx?c=classsearch&mode=results&ins=T635