Mrs. Wiffington

I've been itching to try sculpting a folk art doll since I purchased a tutorial from Nancye Williams a couple weeks ago. Nancye is a gift designer, (among other very artistic things), whose blog I follow regularly. Nancy is offering her doll making booklet here and she is now in the process of setting up a Ning social network for an online doll making class.

So after creating "Mrs. Wiffington", (on Ebay now), I can't wait to try another doll. Soon, I hope....

I had my bookkeeper here today to help me get the last of the tax preperation done so hopefully by next week I'll have that all buttoned up and I'll have more time for the stuff I enjoy. I really HATE paperwork! It's been so hard to concentrate on making beads when I've had all this uninteresting bookkeeping stuff to do. I was pretty new to the business side of things this year so I did'nt really have a concrete record keeping system. I limped through and got lots of help from my bookkeeper, (thanks Cindy!), but now I know exactly what to keep track of and how to do it. It will be so much easier next year.

My birthday is this weekend so hubby is taking me out to dinner and to see "Gran Torino". I love Clint Eastwood and I hear it's a pretty good movie. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

Record breaking flooding too close to home.....

Here is a photo from the front page of our local newspaper and is a shot of Stanwood, the little farming community that I have to pass through to get to my home on Camano Island. The water to the left of the photo is floodwaters covering farmland,(there are farmhouses out there also). The land that forms the horizon at the top of the photo is Camano Island and the highway that runs the length of the photo is the only way to the island other than personal watercraft. Meaning there is no ferry. Drive on and off. We came really close to being totally isolated a few days ago and the little downtown area of Stanwood came really close to being underwater. Hundreds of volunteers filled sandbags to insure the water didn't breach the banks. The rain and snow melt stopped long enough for the water to recede somewhat so the town and the highway are safe for now. The flooding is the highest it's ever been in recorded history! Too close for comfort. Thousands of families in other areas of Washington were not so lucky and many have lost everything to flood waters. If you would like to help out with a donation just go to American Red Cross.

HAPPY BIG 3Oth MICHAEL!!!! Wow, my baby is 30 years old! I can't believe it... Have a really great birthday Bub!

We have had some CRAZY weather here in Washington in the last few weeks. Wow, now after record snowfall and rain we're now having record breaking floods!!! I borrowed The photo above from our local news website. This is an area very near where I live. We are very close to being completely isolated from the mainland because of floodwaters. Hopefully the water will recede during the night and things will look better in the morning. If the water continues to rise we won't be going to work tomorrow, or anywhere for that matter. Strange......

I spent all day putting new beads and jewelry in my Etsy store so go have a look!

Hello 2009!!!!

Happy New Year!!!

It's been awhile since my last post. There's been lots going on at my house the last few weeks and I haven't made many beads. Hopefully now that the holidays are over and things slowly get back to normal I can allow myself to be in a creative groove again.

I got a new camera for Christmas! I have the most amazing husband. Somehow he managed to pick out the very camera that I wanted to buy for myself. I was so excited when I opened the box! A Canon Rebel XS! It's an SLR which means I am able to change the lenses if I want. A definite upgrade from my Sony Cybershot point and shoot camera. I love it! I've been practicing for the last few days to get to know the features. It's very easy to use and takes great pictures.

Hubby and I are going to see "Marley & Me" tonight. I can't wait! Family members have already seen it and say it's a wonderful movie. I read the book and really enjoyed it so I have to see the movie.

I've made another cone pendant. The cone bead design was inspired by Carla, (Carlee), Di francesco and the pendant was inspired by Linda Lawrence, (Bella Bead Jewelry), both are beadmakers whose colorful work I admire. The center drop portion of the pendant consists of 4 separate lampwork beads that are wired together, the bottom being a heart dangle. This center section is wired to the inside of the cone so it moves seperately, (hope that makes sense), like the clapper of a bell.

Snowy Island....

It just keeps piling up! One storm after another and no end in site.

I love snow........but only before Christmas. And only if I don't have to drive in it. I don't have to drive in it this year but my husband does. He has a very long commute on snowy, frozen freeways. People in our neck of the woods don't know how to drive in the snow because we don't have it often enough to get much practice. So that means the roads are a very dangerous place to be and things pretty much come to a standstill. It's a good thing my shopping is done. I haven't made any beads the last few days either. It's just too cold in my studio/garage. A couple days ago the temperature dropped to 1 degree. It's up to about 30 right now. The only thing to do is hunker down and enjoy it....

Enjoy the Holidays everyone!

The Sweetest Gift

I added a new bead shape to my growing list yesterday. It's a cone shape bead that's perfect for dangly pendants, which I love to make. I got the special mandrel, (metal rod upon which the molten glass is wrapped), at Arrow Springs. The have a few different sizes and I think I may try a smaller version also. I have some other design ideas for this bead shape and I can't wait to try them. Meanwhile "Sweetest Gift" pendant on an 18", 1.5mm, snake chain is available in my Etsy store. Sold! Thanks J.!

Loosie on the loose....

"Loosie Goose" just listed in my Etsy store.

The holiday season is upon us and it's a mad rush to get everything done and still have time to make beads. Our tree is decorated and the house is all lit up. Now to get the shopping and baking done and still have time to make beads. I think I'll turn on some Christmas music and head out to the studio right now. The cookies will have to wait till later....