These Things Will Never Catch On!

Years ago, when I first subscribed to the internet, my husband always said that it was just a passing fad and that, regarding computers, "These things will never catch on!" Well to begin with, he forgets that I "caught" him when we worked at the same plant, by teaching him how to use email. Here we are, 18 years later, and not only have they caught on, but we (including Mr. pessimistic) have a difficult time getting by without them.



I have been fighting a battle, and losing, with a virus that has rudely infected my oh so well protected computer. It has eaten up a huge amount of time over the last week, as it really@#$$%^$ me off that I can't find and fix the problem myself! I just keep trying one more thing, that leads to one more thing.... Yesterday as I was trying to update this blog, it froze my computer yet again. Well, I finally had to call in the big guns, and the baby goes to the computer hospital later today. I hope she doesn't catch an anti-virus resistent infection while she is there!



So since I last wrote on Friday, I completed the Swarovski ring for my colleague. I actually made two, as I thought the first one was too wide, so I wanted to give her a choice. She ended up picking the narrower one. That would have been my pick. She was quite pleased and, although she originally ordered it to give to her daughter, she's thinking now that she'll keep it herself.








My chronic fatigue seems to have the best of me these days. I don't have enough energy to start many new jewelry projects lately. This disease is a tough one for we recovering type A's. Everything in me says: "work harder", "do more", " if you aren't doing more than you did yesterday then you're just selfish and lazy" and on and on. I'm getting much better at not getting sucked in by these messages, and I'm learning to listen to my body, but damn I wish I could turn off that relentless tape that keeps playing in my head.



Well, off to plan some April Fools pranks!

Things Are Looking Up

I got a little more business this week.

One of my colleagues had an amethyst ring she had inherited from her Grandmother and knew she would never wear. She asked me to make her a pendant from the stone. The ring also contained six little diamonds. The diamonds were too small for me to wrap, so I made a polymer clay pendant and embedded them in that. The wrap for the amethyst is the most challenging I have done so far, the design is from Mavis Llewellyn. I'm pleased with the result. It is slightly off center, but I think it looks pretty good.

Another colleague admired one of my rings this week and has ordered one in, coincidently, Swarovski amethyst for her daughter. This one was my original design, so I'm quite happy with that sale.

My chronic fatigue has gotten the best of me this week, so I've been taking it pretty easy. I don't have anything planned for the weekend, so resting and jewelry making are foremost on my agenda. I also got some a new set of pearlex that I can't wait to get into. I used some on the diamond pendant yesterday, but I think I'll enjoy doing some experimenting over the weekend.

Girl's Inc Auction

I accomplished a fair bit this weekend. My first priority was to create something special for the Girls Inc (Big Sisters) Silent Auction held in May at the Thousand Islands Mall in Brockville. I have been itching to use some of those beautiful Malachite/Amazonite stones I got at Bead Oasis in Toronto last weekend. Wire wrapping with sterling silver offsets the deep blue/green colours nicely.

Most of my pieces for the Clayamies spring flower swap are complete now. I'm pretty satisfied, but I'm not all that keen on how the second colour combination came out. I'm sure they'll be appreciated anyhow.

Last weekend on the train home from Toronto I started a peyote stitch necklace. I'm very happy with the way it turned out. The colours just scream Spring, which mirrors my soul who is also screaming for Spring! This was my first attempt at polymer clay toggles. I think it suits the necklace much better than the tibetan silver one I would have used otherwise.

I'm still slowly adding myself to free classifieds online. I got a bite on one I had placed for the Toronto area. They requested more info, which I sent, so I hope they follow through and come back to buy. I could really use a boost. I've been working pretty hard at getting my business off the ground and haven't had a lot of sales yet. I know that the groundwork I am laying is important, and that building a clientel takes time, but the impatient artist in me is ready for a little validation!

Heaven on Earth

Yesterday was a big day! I went to Toronto and back, spending over six hours on the train, to attend the Bead Oasis show. It was worth every second of travel time. There were not any really great deals to be had, but with my wholesale discount I faired not too badly. I bought quite a bit from one vendor in particular. http://www.gemsnbeads.com/ out of Markham Ontario had some really nice cuts on some of their stones. One particularly beautiful combination he had was amazonite and malachite. Here are some pics of my purchases.
Blue Goldstone Twists



Carnelian Faceted Rondelles


Yellow and Green Turquoise Teardrops (dyed howlite)




Amazonite/Malachite Graduated Rondelles and Ovals


The colours and textures at the show got me so fired up, I had to buy some brightly coloured seed beeds, needles and fireline to bead on the way home on the train. Imagine these 42 year old eyes trying to thread the needle, several times, as the train bumped and rolled along! It made the time pass much faster than usual, but needless to say, that project is still a work in progress.

Finally, here is a pic of the bracelet I made on Friday night. I just felt the need to make something Springy, so my limey coloured polymer clay beads coupled with gold filled wire did the trick.
LI'mA Fashionista


Ciau for now!

A Bead A Day...

Yesterday I had an appointment in Ottawa, so of course I had to make a little stop at Sassy Beads on Bank Street. Being surrounded by all those colours and textures feeds my soul. I kept telling myself that, since I'm headed off to Toronto tomorrow to the Bead Oasis show, I really shouldn't buy anything. Did I listen to that little voice? Noooooooo! I don't think I've ever left a bead store without buying something. I was, however, more restrained than usual. Mostly I got seed beads (on sale...could I really afford not to buy?) and stringing material, but here are a couple of beads that begged me to take them home, which of course I did. Hey... maybe I could start an SPCB to rescue stray and abused beads.









Here are some pics of the necklace and earrings I made on Wednesday. I really love the carnelian/copper combination. They're pretty conservative for me, but I guess even Radicals have their conservative moments. I think I'll do another necklace like this one, but shorten up the distances between bead groupings.

Well, off to enjoy the sun while it lasts here in relentlessly snowy Ontario!