SCAG Arts Guild Spring Art Show

I'm ready!! I have all my entries ready for the Spring Show. With a whole week to spare...

If you live in the area or you will be visiting be sure to stop by to see some world class art by local artists. I will be one of the hosts from 10-1:30 on Sunday, May 7th.

Memorial Day Weekend

We are having a well balanced Memorial Day weekend. Well balanced meaning just the right amount of work and play. The weather is PERFECT! Most everyone in the neighborhood is gone so it's really quiet. I can even hear the eagles talking to one another. Working around the house. Hubby is playing golf. And I made a new necklace for the gallery this morning.....

Special Etsy Sale and Window Saga

I need to make room for new stuff at my local art gallery where I show my work so I've put some older pieces from 2008 in my Etsy store at 60 % OFF. You don't want to miss this sale!

A few weeks ago...actually several weeks ago, I posted about our living room window replacement project and the fact that it had been delayed because the home improvement center, (which shall not be named but it isn't Lowes.), that we ordered these custom windows from, broke one in shipment and it had to be reordered. Which means, remade, from scratch. So grab a cup of coffee and let me tell you about the rest of the window story.....

We waited another 2 weeks for the window to be shipped to the store and when they called me and I went to pick it up it was for the WRONG side! There are a total of 8 custom sized windows on the front of our house and the top ones are trapazoid shaped. My very angry husband, sooo dissappointed because he is anxious to get this project done and move on to another, calls the store to try and get the mess straighted out and hopefully not only get the correct window expidited, (I hope I spelled that right.), but to get some answers as to what their problem is! I have to hand it to him, he was very calm for as angry as he was. He waited 3 hours for someone from the store to call him back and she never did! He then called the store back a second time. By this time it's 7 in the evening, and speaks to a window rep in the store and gets the correct, (hopefully), window ordered.

So we wait ANOTHER 2 weeks. By this time it's been about 5 weeks since we originally ordered and paid for the windows. The store calls finally, and I go pick the window up, taking the window that is the wrong side, with me. I get to the store, they give me the newly shipped window and I hold it next to the window that was a mistake, and sure enough, it is opposite of the one I'm picking up so I happily take it home with me thinking, "finally, we'll get this project wrapped up!"....... NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hubby, thinking he finally has the correct window gets his tools out again, erects the scaffolding AGAIN, and takes the old window out leaving a gaping hole in my living room. Keep in mind it was only April and not all that warm outside. He hefts the new window up to fit in the hole and..... it's an INCH TOO LONG!!!!!!!!!!! Now, my dear husband is a pretty patient man and deals with a lot of stress on a day to day basis. I have never in my 24 years of knowing him, seen him so angry! And rightfully so!

Fast forward to today.... 2 MONTHS from the original purchase date.

After calming a bit my husband talked to an understanding and very sympathic store manager who rather than lose our business, as well as other potential business, because of word of mouth, decided to give us a very large partial refund.

It's all good! The window project will hopefully be done by the end of the month and MAYBE we'll continue to shop at BRAND X.

Torch Petals

Even though I haven't played golf in months I out drove 3 guys off the first tee!!!! I love it when that happens!!! My score wasn't all that great but at least I didn't embarrass myself. We had a fabulous time and the weather was PERFECT.

Happy May Day!!!

It is such a beautiful day! Almost 70 degrees. Hubby is on his way home from work and we're going to go play some golf. It's been a really long time since I've had the freedom to golf on a weekday afternoon. It feels really good! After a busy week of beadmaking and weeding the yard I'm ready for a little relaxation.

I have some beads in the kiln that just might become earrings in the next day or so. I haven't made earrings in such a long time. So check back if you're interested. I promise, they will be really fun and colorful!

The bead above is another of my rectangle cube beads. This one is pea green with a white line design. It also has a stripe effect on each edge but the camera didn't pick up the detail in the bright sunshine.

Camano Island Studio Tour

There's my bracelet, on page 10. How exciting to see my work in print! I can't exactly say I'm published yet, but close... ("Scenes From A Mall" bracelet, pictured here in the brochure, as well as lots of other work, is available at Seagrass Gallery. #34 on the tour brochure map.)

If you live in the area, (northwest Washington), or planning a visit, the Camano Island Studio Tour is an event you don't want to miss. A free, self-guided tour. This is your chance to see where the fabulous art of Camano Island, (and Stanwood), is actually created and meet the artists in person. Some will actually be creating their art! You will also find art for sale that's not offered anywhere else. This tour is a 3-day event, May 8, 9, and 10, Mother's Day weekend, and you will need all 3 days if you want to visit each and every studio.

Spotbot

The end of another busy week. I've been at the torch every day this and I've made lots of beads but I still don't have much to add to my Etsy store. I'm finding it very hard to keep the store stocked and I know some my customers get frustrated waiting around for updates and then finding things have sold before they even click on the link. Like I've said before, you can always order a remake from me. Just send me an email, (and as soon as I learn how to add an email link here I will. I just haven't figured it out yet. Can anyone out there 'splain this to me?).

We've had some really nice spring weather here lately and hubby and I were able to plant our vegetable garden last weekend. It's a bit early and after a cold night like last night, (it was 37 degrees when I got up this morning), I may regret it. Yesterday we had a sudden hail storm and I had to run quick to the back yard and cover my tomato plants so they wouldn't be damaged by the rather large hail stones. Well, it was 70 degrees when we planted the garden. I just didn't stop to think Mother Nature may not be totally done with winter. This is, after all. the Pacific Northwest........

The open studio event went very well and I hope to do it again some time. I had a few ladies and Doris, the owner of Seagrass Gallery, here for about 3 hours watching while I made beads and explained some of the process. People seem to be so fascinated when there's fire involved

This is a new bracelet design that I just love. It's been a challenge coming up with new ways to use my handmade cone beads. This is a bracelet that I didn't want to give up and I may make one for myself. Then after making the bracelet I decided to make a pendant to match. Earrings too, maybe??? "Spotbot" bracelet and cone pendant.