New Hearts on my Website

Here is a picture of some of the hearts I have made lately. Some are now on my website store and some are on Etsy and some of them went to the Beads-of-Clay bead swap. And some didn't make it into the picture.
When I look at this picture it helps me remember that Spring is not that far away, despite the big snow storm we had two days ago. Soon I will be ordering seeds for our vegetable garden. Just yesterday it felt almost warm out and I didn't freeze walking to my studio. Hurry up Spring we are waiting for you.

January ABS Submission

Here is a photo of my ART BEAD SCENE January submission. This month the challenge is to create a piece of jewelry based on the Van Gogh painting Irises. My color palette is a natural for this challenge. This is a freeform peyote beaded bracelet featuring my handmade raku fired ceramic bead focals as seen in the picture. This is a highly detailed bracelet that captures many of the peyote stitches and decorative detail that I love to use.
I am often inspired by paintings. I am especially interested in the colors used by the Canadian Group of Seven and Frida Kahlo.

We Have A Visitor

Flat Stanley arrived in the mail a couple of days ago. He is part of a project at my 7 year old grandson's 2nd grade class. He will stay with us for a week and I will write a Journal about his visit. It is a project based on the book Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown. Stanley is flat because a bulletin board fell on him. But luckily he can travel easily in an envelope. He and his cohort Flat Stella have been sent out to many places by the students in the class. When the Journals come back the students will have many interesting educational activities to pursue.

Below is Flat Stanley viewing my studio as I prepare a class for a student to learn glass fusing.

Beads Of Clay/Ceramics Arts Forum Bead Swap

This is a photo of the Hearts in Winter pendants I sent in for the Beads-of-Clay Yahoo Group/Ceramics Arts Forum Bead Exchange/swap/ I also have several new hearts on my Etsy Shop. I enjoyed making these and trying out some new colors and designs. Yeah for swaps!! They always get me trying new things.

The New Year

I am thinking about Blessings as I start the New Year. I am planning on staying positive despite the many changes and difficulties in the world.

I have been working on my expression of Blessings from the bead/charm exchange I participated in recently with:

Lorelei Eurto
Gaea,
Lynn Davis
Erin Siegel
Heather Powers
Cristi Clothier (2ifbysea)
(Lucid Moon Studio). Lisa Harrington

The photo above is the necklace I created with the art work we exchanged. I am choosing to wear them as a group on a necklace so that I can feel the power of these blessings and be more aware of what I am grateful for. It will be an important part of this year 2009. warmer climate.

You can read more about this bead/charm exchange here.