It's almost August?!

Holy moly almost the end of July. On the one hand I’m glad – only 3 more months until it cools off. On the other hand, UT starts back in just a few weeks. When I started there, summers were slow (I’m on a 12-month contract). No more. I think there’s so much to do while the kids are here that piles of stuff get pushed back to the summer. Over time the piles that accumulate have become higher and higher. No complaints, though – I have a good job with health insurance.

Real live lampwork beads on Etsy

Woo hoo! I’ve actually got stuff up for sale on Etsy! Truthfully, for me making the beads – even cleaning the beads – is preferable to photographing the beads and writing descriptions. I guess if you don’t make beads and don’t have a huge stash, that seems funny. But at some point I just want to name them Bead 1, Bead 2, Bead 3, you get the idea. I mean, it’s a BEAD! What more can be said? If I start that yada yada yada crap about artistic vision, just shoot me, okay? I remember a long time ago working one day at Nomadic Notions…this woman comes in with an ugly rock and says, “this stone told me it wants to be wrapped in silver.” I didn’t know whether to laugh or call Shoal Creek (the local mental facility for you outside of Austin). And, yes, I digress….Just realize I didn't do a link thingy - my seller name is yellowdogbeads....

It's hot....(said with a whiny voice)

I did manage to get torch time this weekend, and whittle down the special order pile. Whew. Unfortunately, it’s just too hot to torch after about 3pm. Even with the AC running full blast, the house gets HOT. (And, I have NO IDEA how we’re going to pay our electric bill this month – if I set up a PayPal account, would y’all donate?) I’m absolutely a morning person, but as it’s the weekend, and I’m a work-a-day girl, I sometimes need to use Saturday mornings to run a couple of errands. It would be easier if stores opened at a reasonable hour – like 7am – instead of letting their employees sleep half the day and not open until 10! It takes the kiln about an hour to heat up once I’m home (I ramp it up pretty slowly, as it’s easier on the heat-thingy). Do the math – it might be noon before I get on the torch. I worked Saturdays AND Sundays when I was getting ready for the trunk show, but now I’m back to working on the house on Sundays. Someday I’d like to have a house that’s livable rather than craptastic, and that not-so-small feat is pretty much going to be up to me. I wish I had taken action when I was 30, not at the age I’m at now. Oh, well. They say that those who keep learning stay young, and I guess hanging and taping/floating sheetrock counts.

Don't drop dead

but there's stuff up on Etsy – at least a bit. I took a bunch of bead photos last weekend, and they all turned out looking like c-r-a-p. Probably because I was in a huge hurry, as usual….so I had to re-take them all.

Professional Development....

Otherwise known as lampworking classes.....If you ever wonder about how I spend the money you so graciously put in my pocket when you buy beads or beadweaving tutorials….

In August, I’m taking a class with Kim Fields. I’ve taken a class with her before (would you believe she’s an Emmy winner?!) but it was on your standard flowers etc. stuff. This time she’s teaching sculptural birds. I don’t always see very well in 3 dimensions, so I’m hoping she’ll have some tips on that.

In September, a class with Holly Cooper . The class is being taught on a hothead, although I’ve asked Jim if I can opt for a minor (yes). The class will focus on stringer control (which I don’t need) and design (which I feel like I DO need). You can see from her website that she has an artist’s background AND eye, and I’ve long admired her beads. Can’t wait.

I think that’s it for this year. It would be nice to pick up a beadweaving class – I wonder why we don’t have more “names” in that arena come through Austin?

What's next?

What’s next? Well, I’ll be at the Austin Bead Society show Labor Day weekend (September 5th & 6th). The show this year is at the Palmer Event Center (unfortunately the website says PARMER Event Center), which will definitely be a new experience. I’m pretty much used to bead shows being in little “odd-use” venues – so having it in a real, live convention center will be interesting. There are lots of amazing restaurants close, so maybe plan a trip to one of those when you come downtown.

I’m on the fence about doing the Houston Bead Society Show this year. The booth price has gone up the last two or three years, and it’s now up to $275 for an 8-foot table. Which, no, isn’t a TON of money, but I have to travel to Houston – which means gasoline, food, and hotel. Admittedly, I HATE to travel, so I’m trying to not let that negative emotion play a factor in my decision…anyway, the show last year was not good financially, and I certainly don’t expect it to be any better this year. So, just not sure….I try to keep the prices on my beads very reasonable, but I really just can’t (refuse to?) work for free.

Beadweaving

I’ve heard from a lot of people since the trunk show. Some with questions, some with orders, others just to chat. I’ve enjoyed talking to everybody. I got to work on some of the custom orders this last weekend, and will put in some time this weekend, but it will most likely be the first weekend in August before I get everything finished up (TOTALLY not complaining, okay?). I’ve also heard from a couple of people asking about Loretta – her visit to the doggie ophthalmologist – yes, she seems to be fine, and there’s a bit more about the experience in my dog-blog, Heartbeats at My Feet. I’ve also heard from quite a few people who have visited the website about when I’ll have new beadweaving patterns. Believe it or not, I AM working on it. I sketch a lot (how do YOU spend staff meetings?!), I’ve just not been very good about translating the sketches into action, so to speak. I’ve decided that that’s gotta change. It’s really a matter of having something at hand to work on. With designing, that’s not always easy, but I’m going to give it a go again. Part of my reluctance has been that I’m not teaching, and I really like the idea of being able to road test a pattern before offering to the masses for sale….

Woo hoo! Trunk show is over!

Thanks so much to everybody who came by the trunk show! We all (I hope!) had a fabulous time. The store stayed pretty busy Friday and Saturday, a little less so Sunday. But, overall, the traffic was good. And thanks also to the FABulous employees at Nomadic Notions. They all have a talent for making every person who walks through the doors feel welcome without being pushy. I do know that their customers appreciate them.

I also had a chance to eat a couple of times at the next-door restaurant, Casa Chapala. Mick (Nomads’ illustrious manager) said that the Austin Chronicle had given the restaurant a slam review, which was definitely not my experience. The fish tacos were great – everything very fresh; the migas, although not typical of this Tex-Mex town were also very good. I asked for fresh chopped jalapenos on the migas – and got TONS of them. So, no, this is not a restaurant review, but if you’re in a Nomads for a class or whatever I do vote that you give them a try. Their service was also good, a relative rarity this day and age. Oh, oh, and the beer was cold. What else could you want?

Counting down the days

until the Trunk Show! YIKES! It's almost here!

Can you tell I'm stressed?! It's debatable whether the best use of my time (considering the trunk show only) was spending the weekend at Blue Moon Glassworks at a Kristina Logan class. As far as the best use of my time NOT considering the show - YES - absolutely. I'm totally a dot girl, and I came away from the class with a new appreciation of all things dots. And, Kristina is one of the most genuinely sweet people I've ever met. I just can't say enough positive about her personality or her art. She's coming back (hopefully!) next year to do a glass/metal class. Fingers crossed I'll be able to attend that one. I snagged a couple of pictures off Jim's (Blue Moon) website - didn't take any of my own...





I did drop off some tease beads at Nomadic Notions - go take a look!