Cilantro Love

One of my very, very favorite herbs is Cilantro. I often try to grow it in my garden. For awhile it does well, but before long it turns into Cilantro berries, which have their own special flavor. But for me the leaf of the Cilantro is where it's at. I love how it enhances any sauce or soup. Did I ever tell you how I grew up in the Southwest. ( At least a hundred times ) So this year I decided to make my love for Cilantro into a heart. And here it is. It came out well. You can see it in my Etsy Shop. I don't know if wearing this heart pendant protects you from anything, like garlic, but it will keep you in a happy, sunny mood thinking of all that delicious salsa and sauce you could make. And for me, it keeps that sunny Arizona/ California feeling close at hand.

Happy Thanksgiving

I am posting a picture of my Blessings Necklace that I made with friends last year in an exchange. I hope you all have a wonderful day and that your life is full of blessings. I am thinking about all of us who made the lovely charms for this necklace, my family and friends today. I feel blessed to be a part of this wonderful online community of bloggers and artists.

Lynn Davis wrote about this Blessings Exchange originally last year and it was reposted for the ArtBeadScene recently and you can see pictures and have weblinks to all the participants here.

MarshaNealStudio Buy 2 Get 1 Free Sale

I've notice that there are several of her new beads with decals. First time I have seen them for sale.

Here in Blog land fellow bloggers like to help each other get the word out. I am writing today about a wonderful sale from a wonderful ceramic bead maker, namely, Marsha Minutella of MarshaNealStudio. She is having a giant sale and probably her last one until after her baby is born. This is a great chance to stock up on some super pendants and beads. Check out the sale HERE.

Here is her description of the sale

***NOVEMBER 15 - NOVEMBER 22, 2009 SALE***BUY 2, GET 1 FREE

Throughout this week I'm going to be adding more items to my Etsy shop for this sale. When checking out, please choose Other for your payment type, and I will send you an updated invoice through PayPal once the sale is over and I have put all the items together and adjusted the pricing.I would be happy to create a custom listing for you if you need one for any of the Marsha Neal Studio Apparel, Porcelain Decal Pieces, and Silk Strand Bundles that have already sold. I have a number of them in stock, or can remake them for you. The textured pendants all come out different, and remaking the same item is quite difficult. Just send me a convo with what you would like, and I'll create the listing for you.All items will ship the week following the sale or as soon as your items are all ready to go. Have fun shopping!!!

Scenes from the Studio Tour

Here are some scenes from the Artists' Studio Tour in my studio last weekend. Above is a small printer's tray filled with rice to set the pendants in. This tray has a mix of fused glass and ceramic pendants. I grouped all the same priced pendants together for easy of labelling and shopping.

This is a photo of a good friend with a view of two of my three tables and windows in the background looking out on our pasture. I have used pretty standard jewelry displays except for the picture frame display that I don't seem to have a picture of.

This is a just finished free form peyote stitch necklace with many of my handmade raku beads. I was wearing this on one of the days. It now has a new home with a wonderful woman who loves jewelry and especially loves my peyote stitch necklaces. I am so happy this necklace with be worn and loved.

Here is a picture of two guests making a fused glass pendant. Edie and Cait (the barefoot weaver check out her beautiful handwoven scarves and shawls). They were among many who made a piece of art when they visited my studio.

A close up picture of one of my bracelet racks. Again, they were grouped by price. I just hate putting on those little price tags and they always interfere with trying on . I had especially good prices for this Tour. Since I live quite far out in the country, I feel folks should be extra happy that they visited me.

And last but not least, another peyote necklace that has found a new how with a wonderful woman who looks absolutely fabulous in it.

My drawing for the Adirondack Love pendant and $25.00 gift certificate was won by Barbara V. from Riparius, NY. Indeed a long drive from here. Thanks so much for making the trip.

Thank you one and all who came to see my work and visit with me during the tour. I so appreciate it. I look forward to doing this again next year.

And the Winner Is...

The winner of the drawing for the above pendant, Adirondack Love and a $25.00 gift certificate for my website store is Barbara V. from Riparius, New York a hamlet in the Upper Hudson River Valley of Warren County, New York. She traveled all the way from the Adirondacks to visit me and others on the tour. Congratulations Barbara!!! Your pendant will be in the mail along with the glass pendant you made in my studio, in just a few days.

Fun With Focals

I have really been enjoying Heather Powers' Fun With Focals challenge. This is my contribution to the Flickr! Group she started for the entries. I must say that I have been very inspired by all the wonderful pieces on display.

And I have just learned that the challenge may go on so please post a comment on Heather's blog if you would like to have it continue.

The picture above is of my take on the Day 1 Challenge: Create a horizontal focal using chunky beads lined up on wire.

I used some of my ceramic beads along with rich burgundy colored sea glass beads from The Beadin' Path. I thought the dangles were a good idea to enhance the focal and give it some movement.

NYSARC Donation Bracelet

This is a freeform peyote stitch bracelet I made for the annual fundraiser for our local NYSARC, an agency that provides services to adults and children with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. I especially enjoy supporting this organization because of its forward looking ideas of inclusion. I also donate at least one art class a year to the St. Lawrence NYSARC Community Arts Program, a program that includes visual arts, music, dance and theater arts. For the last several years I have brought my kiln and we have made fused glass jewelry. I have also demonstrated how the glass is melted in the kiln. Some of the jewelry we make helps raise money to support more opportunities in the arts.

Another Studio Tour

I can hardly believe that it is time once again for the St.Lawrence County Arts Council's 22nd Annual Artists' Studio Tour. The photo above is just a sampling of some of the work I will be displaying this coming weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday Nov. 6th, 7th and 8th. In addition, there will be some hands on activities and a giveaway. All this will be actual, not virtual this time. I wish all of you were in the area and could come.

I have always been a great supporter of this Studio Tour here and over the years it has grown and become a much looked forward to event. I can remember when the brochure was a piece of paper with a rough sketch for a map and a list of names. Now we have a wonderful glossy brochure with photos of our work and a detailed map with each site clearly marked. All this thanks to the great leadership and hard work of Hilary Oak and her staff at the St. Lawrence County Arts Council and some financial support from NYSCA ( New York State Council on the Arts).