Puget Sound Bead Festival

It's that time of year again, folks and I'm looking forward to it. I will be at the Puget Sound Bead Festival in Tacoma this coming weekend. Unfortunately, there will not be any classes this year so I won't be teaching. I will, however, have a booth where I will be selling my kits, samples and some specialty beads. Please stop by and say hello if you're at the show. It runs Fri. July 9th -Sun. the 11th.

My table at Meet the Teachers Bead & Button. Ignore the suitcase.

Tales of a Slacker

I've been a bit of a slacker blogger since I returned from Bead & Button. I apologize. Forgive me. Please.
I've been busy and I've been having some fun, too! Fun that involved music, lots of music.

The good Dr.'s head & some unknown person's head

     I saw Dr. John. I couldn't believe that practically everyone in room sat on their asses while Dr. John performed. This was Dr. John, for Pete's sake! I sat for about half the show and when I just couldn't take it anymore, I slipped out of the pew (the Shed is an old church), made a beeline for the front of the room just off stage left, and found a small group of peeps to dance with. It was the best view in the house. I had ample opportunity to take some fantastic photos but this is the only one I got. I was just too busy dancing. 

     Next, I saw Steve Earle. Barry managed to purchase front row tickets! There's something so very cool about a performer looking you in directly in the eye as they are performing their hearts out. There's nothing like it. 

Steve in Action

     My good friend Peter Giri and his lovely girlfriend Rosemary stayed over Fri. and Sat night. It was wonderful to spend a little bit of time visiting with them on Sat. afternoon. We are always so busy that we rarely get to visit but we did manage to take some time to drink coffee, listen to music and enjoy some sunshine out on my front porch. Peter's full of great stories. I listened to tales of him sitting in a living room in Macon, Georgia, hanging with Duane Allman as he strummed his guitar. Duane wanted to jam with him but Peter was too shy to play. Peter's band Cowboy, used to tour with the Allman Brothers Band.
     I got to see Peter, Petee as I call him, perform Sat. night and danced my heart out at Traveler's Cove here in Florence. A great time was had by all. 

     Needless to say, after being around all of this music, I was feeling inspired to play my guitar. I really haven't played since I returned from Bead & Button so, I decided on Sat. afternoon that it was time to bust out Neil (my guitar). I was so pumped and ready rock! I tuned my tellie, hooked up the wah-wah pedal to the amp, turned the amp on, played for about 20 seconds and then.... static followed by a loud POP! The power light on my amp went out and then the smell of burning. Burning fuse I imagine. Doh! I wasn't even playing loud. My amp was not turned to 11, let's put it that way. What the...? Luckily my amp's still under warranty so, I'll have to figure out where to take it. Man, that's frustrating. 

     

Home from B&B

Shopping at Gary Wilson's Booth. Photo by Rashan Jones. 

I've returned from Bead & Button and I'm totally wiped out. I thought I was experiencing a nasty bout of allergies while I was at the show but after reading facebook, I've come to realize that many people picked up a bug with the same symptoms I've been experiencing. It feels good to relax.

Although, not for long. Tomorrow I'm doing a show with my finished work at the Mindpower Gallery in Reedsport. The show is from noon until 8 p.m. and will feature many talented local artists including some of my beady friends such as Nicole Campanella and Charmaine Pesnell. The address is:  417 Fir Avenue, Reedsport, OR, 97467 and the phone number is: 1-541-271-2485. Stop by if you are in the neighborhood. There will be wine, appetizers and of course, some fabulous art.

Stay tuned for more tales of my adventures at the Bead & Button Show. Plus, photos of my new stash...

A Girl & Her Geetar

Just a girl...

and her guitar.

Bead & Button Bound

I think I'm just about ready to leave for Milwaukee. I've got a few things to do and then I'm off! I'm looking forward to it. If you're at the show, stop by Meet the Teachers on Wed. and say "hi". Or... come visit me at Gary Wilson's booth (#'s 543,644,646) which is where I'll be working Thurs. and Fri. I will be working for stones!
P.S. There's still some spots left in my Bottle Cap Pendant Class on Sunday. Care to join us?

Look What Arrived in the Mail

I ordered this beautious Saguaro Cactus Flower ring from Kate McKinnon and it came in the mail on Tues. I'm in love! Here's a photo that I swiped from her blog.

This baby was made at the Seed Bead Summit gathering at her house a short while back. The ring will be featured in a book by Kate and Dustin Wedekind. Follow their adventures on their Beadmobile Blog. And... you can even pre-order your copy of the book here.

Uno Mas

One more special edition kit for the 2011 Bead & Button Show: Better with Crystals~ Crystal Verde colorway.
Kits are done, directions published... that's a good feeling.