DragonFly Beads

Movin' on up!

2010-10-08T13:46:00.002-04:00

Thanks for checking out my blog! I've moved locations, so please find me, read and comment at

www.dragonflybead.com/erins-blog/

See you there!

The collection begins!!

2010-10-05T20:29:00.004-04:00

I am loving this bouquet idea. I've had such great feedback, and everyone I've heard from is really excited about the idea! I can't claim credit for it, since I found it through Etsy, but I know mine will be unique and will have it's own personal story, which is unique to ME and much better than buying a pre made bouquet.

Yesterday I had 4 little packages in my mailbox, which was SO exciting! The pins I've ordered on Etsy and Ebay are starting to arrive. I'm taking a break from my ordering now so I can start assembling some stems on the pins, and I have several friends now scouting out thrift shops and antique stores looking for treasures. My mom found two today, and the shop owner was quite taken with the idea, and said she has more pins at home AND several more sources! I have another friend I met through Metal Clay who lives in Colorado and is scouring stores out her way for unique pins (Thanks Donna!)

Here's the start of the collection (minus the two my mom picked up this afternoon)

The butterflies are from Wichita. I only ordered once, but Etsy seller EnamelOwl was SO sweet and sent me the second one for free! The large daisy in the top right is from Chicago, and from Etsy seller RobertRagdoll. The wonderful black eyed Susan (probably my favorite one!) is from Texas, Etsy seller GypsyFeather. They were all wonderful to do business with, and sent my pins so super quick! The blue flower is my "something new" and "something blue". It was made by a local artist, Lucia. She hand cut the flower from copper, and then enameled it. Love it! And finally, the mosaic pin is a true antique. It belonged to my great (or possibly great great, my mom couldn't remember) grandmother! A family heirloom and a lovely addition to the bouquet.

LOVE this one!

I'll keep posting as I assemble the bouquet. Next step will be attaching the "stems". Stay tuned!

Ace of Base

2010-10-02T20:37:00.003-04:00

Day 1 of class with Hadar Jacobson, heretofore the "Ace of Base". (http://www.artinsilver.com/). She's developed her own metal clay powders in copper, bronze, white bronze, steel and pearl steel. I love base metal. It's a new found love, I admit. But I see for us a great future. I even like the way it's grunge-ing under my fingernails.

My goal today was KISS (keep it simple, stupid) projects, and indeed, they are pretty simple, but the possibilities, oh my god, I hope I can sleep tonight without the ideas running endlessly through my noggin. I'm excited about finding this love, as I've poo pooed the base metals to some extent, and haven't given them enough of a chance. But with my new fire brick kiln arriving shortly and the gunk already established under my nails, I've got no good reason not to start cranking !

Unofficially Official

2010-09-30T15:55:00.006-04:00

Or is it officially unofficial? Either way, we have a tentative (but pretty certain) day and location for the wedding! Which means that weddingitis is setting in a bit. I'm finding that surprising, as I'd like to consider myself as something of an "anti-bride". I don't want to get so caught up in the hooplah of planning the sucker that I lose sight of WHY I'm getting married. So, ok, I love my fiance, and now I'm getting really excited about planning, of all things, my bouquet. Not my dress, not my colors, not the decor. The bouquet.

I found the COOLEST bouquets on Etsy. Several sellers are making (incredibly expensive) amazing bouquets using vintage flower pins and brooches.

From Etsy seller LionsgateDesigns

From Etsy seller TheRitzyRose

These bouquets are great for several reasons.

1.) The flowers never die! Hooray! Many of them haven't even faded after 20 plus years in existence.

2.) Each flower has a story. Each pin graced the blouse of a mother, daughter, grandmother, sister...perhaps a cross dresser...and each of them have a story too. The mother who wore a daisy pin to her daughter's wedding. The grandmother who wore a bright sunflower pinned to her Sunday best each week....the cross dresser who used it to complete shis Marilyn Monroe get up? I love things that have a story to them, and I like the idea that my wedding bouquet has numerous stories, since I'll be carrying the dang thing all day. And here is where you, dear reader, come into the equation...

I've been finding these pins on Etsy and Ebay, but apparently they are quite the hot item right now, and I just can't afford to spend $12/flower (let alone $450 for the bouquet!). Plus I intend to have this be a very crafty DIY wedding, informing you of my progress and process along the way. So if you have one of these pins gathering dust in a jewelry box, or in a box destined for Good Will, bring them into the store and have a part in my bouquet! I'll give you 15% off your purchase for your effort, and I'll gush and excitedly tell you all about my plans. Ahem. I mean, my amazing fiance. (It's a good thing he loves me too!)

Not local? No problem! Send me your flowers, and I'll send you a little somethin' fun from the shop!

In other store news, there is a brand spanking sparkly new website in the works! This updated format will allow me to keep the site much more current, bringing you information as it happens! As part of this new website, I'll be making some changes to the blog, bringing you more tips and jewelry ideas in addition to regaling you with fun little facts about my life as a business owner!

Success!

2010-09-22T21:44:00.003-04:00

Sigh. Class is over, and it was great! I'm really happy with my "dated wallpaper" piece. It just needs to be assembled into a necklace now.

Last night after class I went to see the Brinks in Fletcher. Their house is really starting to come together and feel homey. Courtney made a delicious tofu and kale dish and we had some apple crisp that another friend Laura made. I introduced them to eating apple crisp with a bit of sharp cheese. Mmmm! Then this morning I checked out a few potential wedding venues. I saw Dreaming Mountain in Johnson and the Echo center. Really different places. Feeling like I need to start making some decisions but it's hard! Do I want a rustic dreamy wedding, or do I want something that is convenient to Burlington and full of fishies?

Ready for bed. It's been a fun but tiring week.

Metal Clay Day

2010-09-20T19:52:00.004-04:00

This day started off so nicely. I went for a jog in the fog, had a delicious breakfast, then took a drive up past Celie's house to an artist whose name I forget, but who has a bit of a Andy Goldsworthy thing going on (or as Barb in class called it "Andy Goldsworthy lite".) It was very peaceful. The fog kept getting thicker, and in the midst of it were stone walls and cairns, sticks and branches neatly stacked and placed, and a pond so still and reflective I almost didn't recognize it as a pond. My Zen moment didn't last too long, however, as I tend to get a little bit persnickety and snappish when in class mode.

All in all though, today was much better since we were finally working in metal clay! It seemed like a breeze after struggling with the polymer. i made a tiny boo-boo by not listening to Celie who said NOT to embellish the back of your piece, so we'll see tomorrow after the piece is fired if that did damage to the piece. That piece also has a lot more going on with it than I typically would do. Tim Gunn would have told me to "use an editing eye". I was just trying to fill up a few gaps with some decorative elements, but it may have gotten a little busy. Then again, this is the 70's wallpaper piece, so maybe more really is more.

Everyone's pieces are really coming along nicely, despite a few setbacks and breakages. I'm really looking forward to seeing the pieces out of the kiln tomorrow.

I'm beat. Time to hit the hay and rest up for the final day. Sniff. Can't believe it's almost over.

A great wave and a swatch of dated wallpaper

2010-09-19T20:03:00.005-04:00

Day two was better, though with it's own share of doubts and moments of triumph. We finished putting texture on our little polymer canvases, and then it was time to add paint. Watching Celie gracefully streak a paint-laden finger across the polymer with no apparent anxiety or doubt was truly watching an artist in action. I was itching to add paint to my own canvas. And initially, I was loving it. Absolutely freaking out with love for this process. But, then there came that moment of needing to self-govern, and, as that is something I have trouble with, I kept bringing my piece to the edge of perfection and instead of going, "ah ha! that's it!" I continuously plunged over the cliff of over-doing it and into a pile of poo. (Sort of like that ridiculous run-on sentence, which any English teacher would have cut off at just about "govern" but I, lacking that shut off valve, keep going until I'd gone too far.) I did end of getting two pieces that I am relatively pleased with, and I can't wait to visit Golden paints to pick out some acrylic paints and try this technique in my own space and time.

One of my pieces has a sort of Hokusai "The Great Wave" feel to it, so I'm planning to make a little porthole type metal piece to display my canvas. In my excitement, I forgot to double-check what a porthole looks like and went from memory. I should point out I've never been on a cruise ship and my boat knowledge is limited to a few sunfish and a ferry or two. So my "memory" of a porthole was not quite right and I'm afraid I've put the "bolts" on to the wrong section. And of course, I'm overthinking this bit too, but dangit! I want my port hole to look like a port hole! Porthole? Portal?

My other "canvas" looks rather like a dated wall paper sample. My first attempts at coloring this particular swatch of polymer were gifted, I must say. Then I came to the edge of that cliff...then I went over it...and then I went over it again. After about the 5th time of wetting and sandpapering off my paint, I turned to a paintbrush. The end result looks something like this:

But tomorrow things will start to come together, and again, I'm learning a LOT! Even just watching Celie and others in the class work is teaching me a bunch. And I'm not the only one struggling. It's hard to see work from a master and then try to duplicate it even a tenth as well on the first try. Some in class have done amazing work, but even they don't recognize it. We're our own worst critics.

All in all, a good day. Ready for a bed and a fresh start tomorrow!

Back in class

2010-09-18T20:32:00.005-04:00

Today was day one of Celie Fago's polymer inlay technique class. I must say, I'm having a hard time getting into "class mode": That willingness to try something new and fail or have the end result less than perfect. For a perfectionist, it can be brutal. I'm not even sure if I'm so much a perfectionist as much as anal and a bit of a control freak. It's hard to work outside your comfort zone, not only in technique, but also in physical space! Especially coming after a week in England in class mode. I just want to make something I'm proficient in! I'm anxious to get into my own studio, and letting all these new ideas and techniques imbue my new work.

But, complaints aside, there is nothing like taking a class at Fago Farm. Check out the view I have from my work table:

So amazing. I think all I need to do is let that beauty in and whatever I make will reflect that in some way. Today was working strictly in polymer, which I haven't done in years. And the clay has changed a LOT since I was making little scientific models and miniature food for my doll house. First we made some tear-away techniques with Sculpy III then moved into Premo to come up with a color palate. I was REALLY good at making baby poo green, mud brown and grey. Siiiigh. I kept getting these great color combos, then I'd want to put it through the pasta machine just one more time, and it was that last time through that messed me up every time!

Look at this lovely palate!

So, I've had less than successful results with my tear-away textures, less than successful results with my mixtures of poo browns, but tomorrow is another day. I'm going to go to bed, let these ideas absorb into my brain and hope that tomorrow I will be inspired and in class mode!

I've lost that loving feeling.

2010-09-08T18:47:00.004-04:00

So, first the plane is almost 2 hours late taking off. Supposed to leave at 3:45 and left at 6:30 because of a broken wheel. Coming in for a landing above Chicago was like flying over a circuit board. Went from a gorgeous patchwork quilt of greens, yellows and browns above Ireland and Southern England to a circuit board. It felt less like flying over my homeland than did flying over the UK. Plus, upon landing the girl in front of me had to use her vomit bag. Frequently. Juicily. Welcome home.

Ugh

So I got off the plane and there are pieces of paper taped to a wall just after the walkway from the plane. One of the papers has my name on it...inside is an apology for making me "miss my flight" and a voucher for a hotel room. My thoughts went immediately to the dogs. I have to get back to them tonight. I'm NOT missing my flight! It's 7:50, my flight leaves at 9:15. I rush to customs, where there is a massive line. I get through the huge line and the two checkpoints and asked the last checkpoint guard if I could still make a 9:15 flight. She looked at me like I was crazy and said "if you run". So I dropped off my suitcase and ran to the commuter train. Which took for stinking ever. At this point it is 8:35. So then I get to my terminal, and I had to run like a mile to get to the security gate. At which point I discovered that the security gate was closed and I had to run the whole way back to the other side only to realize I didn't have a boarding pass. I was only able to print one for London, and was supposed to get the Syracuse one in Chicago. But there is not a single ticket open and the self serve kiosk doesn't accept my booking number. Finally I find a person with American Airlines. She tells me she can't print my boarding pass because the flight is in final boarding. I ask her if she can try. She gets into computer and has to override stuff, and she is able to print pass, but says "you probably won't make it". A bunch of quitters. So I go again to security and I'm putting my shoes back on when my carry on bag gets taken off the line because it contains "liquids". The guy tells me I can't take the ginger preserves or pickle that I got at the duty free in Heathrow because they are "liquids". Ok, glass is one thing and yes, they are glass jars of preserves. But they are also sealed containers from duty free which made it safely on a 7 hour plane ride from London and I have a 1 hour flight to Syracuse and they get confiscated. I understand the whole needing to be vigilant against terrorism, but seriously. Sealed. Jam. Receipts. Not liquids. Not bombs. And they took my dang pickle! Then he started to tell me that "once you leave the airport you can't get back in with liquids" and I was like "I never left the airport!". Then I realized that arguing with an inflexible security guard was a huge waste of time. So I was like "great thanks" and grabbed my un-confiscated stuff and kept running. At this point it is 8:50 and my flight leaves at 9:15. Leaves. As in in the air. I run and turn the corner for my gate, which is G16. To my dismay, I round the corner to gate G1. Sixteen gates may not sound like a lot, but try it after traveling for 13 plus hours, carrying a bunch of extra weight in the form of carry on luggage and with an untied shoe lace. I squeaked into the departure gate as they were announcing the final boarding for Syracuse. Finally someone in this hell hole of an airport was friendly to me (after his coworker barked "Syracuse? Hurry up!") and for what it's worth, he gave me a first class seat...though this is a mini plane with no real class differentiation. But I was right up front, second one off the plane. The tears started to well up at security but I resolutely held back. They started to well up again when I sat in my seat, sweating profusely, and realized there will be no one to comfort me with a hug and welcome me home when I touchdown! But I can't wait to see my dogs they and they were the compelling force behind me high tailing it through my least favorite airport in the world.

Saw a lightening storm on the plane. The ground and sky were clear outside my window and I could even see the big dipper, but there was a major storm in the distance. Very cool.

After gathering my bags and finding my dad's car which he left for me, I headed for home. About 5 minutes away from house, I see the red lights behind. Yup. Got pulled over. Apparently I'd driven for the past 25 miles without my lights on! Oops! The officer took pity on me though and sent me off with a warning.

When I finally made it home, Colby and Arrow were besides themselves in their delight to see me. They gave me a warm welcome and snuggled up to me, licked me profusely and generally wiggled and wagged. A nice welcome home after a long and stressful day.

Lymington and beyond...

2010-09-08T17:44:00.007-04:00

The last few days...

Sept 6th:
Driving through countryside with Carol on our way from Lostwithiel to Lymington. Passing fields and part of Bodmin Moore. Saw some Druid ruins/temple on a hill and this amazing little pond with a mini cliff overlooking it. Love seeing the sheep with their fluffy sweaters and black socks. All the sheep here seem to be the black legged ones. Lots of cows grazing. It’s pouring rain, seems appropriate for the final day here.

Bit of a change of plans. Wanted to try to do Fowey or Eden project today but with the horrible rain, decided not to. Carol Douglass invited us to ride home with her and spend the night in her house and she will take us to the airport in the morning. Such a generous offer and we took her up on it. Met for a coffee at the Duchy Coffee Shop and I FINALLY got my scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam! I’m happy. Holly also gave me a tiny silver spoon, which was really so sweet. She also got one for Lisa and Robert. Mine says “GRM” on it, which made her think of the Graham/Meharg last name thing. The story behind the giving of spoons is that Holly has a tiny demitasse spoon that she likes to use to eat ice cream (because you feel like you can eat more when you use a little spoon!). But then her kids started to want to use the little spoon, and it became the coveted spoon for ice cream eatage. Now she picks them up as a souvenir of the places she's been. When she told Lisa and Robert about the mini spoons, they loved the story too. I think it makes for a really nice souvenir of our time here. I can’t wait to eat ice cream with mine!

Breakfast of Champions.

We stopped on the way to Lymington at a grocery store, and I was tickled to see Tropicana OJ advertised as "Smooth"' or "With Juicy Bits"! I guess "pulp" has a negative connotation in the UK, so it's Bits instead! We had dinner in Lymington and I had the most delicious venison burger with melted brie and a Guiness. Mmm! Then Carol took us on a super fast tour of Lymington. I really wish we'd had more time! So many places to explore. It was dark by the time we had our car tour, but still could tell it was a neat town.

Juicy Bits.

Carol's house was so cool! Lots of exposed beam and stone, with stone floors, cool old doors with lifty latches that actually were a little complicated for my tired brain to maneuver but I figured it out. Definitely some history there.

Sept 7
Carol was so sweet and bought me clotted cream and made fresh scones this morning! So I got my final meal in the UK and it was the best meal I could imagine. On our way to the airport, Carol gave us a bit of a tour. She lives in the New Forest, which, despite it's name, holds very few trees! The New Forest was originally woodland, but parts were cleared for cultivation during the Bronze Age. New trees weren't planted, so now the area is covered in heather and scrub brush. There are trees naturally, but not as many as New Forest would make you think. The thing that was super cool about the area is that is is now all unenclosed pasture land. Cows, horses, little ponies, pigs and other farm animals wander freely through the area, and are kept in by grills set into the roads that border busy intersections. It was pretty wild to drive through and just see cows grazing right next to you and horses saunter in front of you. We drove through the village of Beaulieu, and I kid you not, there were horses just walking in the street. The cars and trucks gave them the right of way, and every thing was copacetic. The vehicles respected the animals, the animals took their time, and I scrambled to take photos! What a cool thing to see.

Note the horse to the right. There is also a horse to the right of the van/truck but he's behind the thing on the windshield.

Purveyors of clotted cream!

Horse. Car.

The next phase of the trip starts at London Heathrow. And believe me, I lost that magic feeling right quick... but that's a story for another post!

The end is nigh. Sigh.

2010-09-05T10:39:00.002-04:00

Two more incredible days have just gone by. It’s hard to believe I’ve been here a week! On the one hand, it seems like I’ve been here longer, but “a week” doesn’t sound long at all, and I’ve only got another 2 days left before we fly back. I don’t want to leave, but my body can't afford me staying (I need to sleep and stop eating heavy food!)

The past two nights we’ve gone out with Julia so that Lisa and Robert could spend time together. As it happened we ate at the same restaurant both nights, and the food was excellent. Local and home made, can’t beat it. Tonight I had a chicken and bacon pie with mashed potatoes and local veg, and last night was fish and chips with minted peas! Really good. This evening Carol Douglass also joined us, and the conversation, once again was stimulating, exciting, charged and full of idea sharing. I keep thinking we’ll have an “early night” but the conversation just keeps on rolling and I wouldn't want to miss any of it.

Last evening after dinner, we went back to Treesmill and did some experimenting with glass clay. I’d mixed it up earlier in the week and it was stored in the fridge. Interesting consistency, a bit like sugar cookie dough. Julia and I were content to let Holly be the ringleader, or perhaps the mad scientists and we were conducting the experiments! A fun evening at any rate, but not in bed till midnight.

Today was the first day of negative space caning. I was SO tired today and really dragging. I tend to work so small and thin, so I’m not sure about the integrity of my piece, but I’m enjoying learning this new process, and I think it has a lot of possibilities once I’m back in my own studio. Still do wish that studio was in Lostwithiel though, just need to find a job for myself and my fiance and find some way to work around the 6 month quarantine for the dogs!

It was great to meet yet another like minded creative soul and I had some really good laughs with Carol. She is such a sweet person and SO creative! I kept oohing and ahhing over her incredible carving.

I wrote this last night and was actually in bed before midnight! Today is the last day of classes. SOB! We'll do dinner tonight with Lisa, Julia and Carol. Will let post about that either tomorrow or when I get back.

Stirring up old memories

2010-09-03T05:24:00.010-04:00

I’m starting to miss Lostwithiel already and I’m still here! I'm feeling a bit sad because Robert is leaving tomorrow, and it’s been amazing to meet and share ideas with him. It's also been such fun to spend time with he and Lisa! But I’m also sad for he and Lisa because it will be some time before they are able to see each other again. They are living out some Shakespearean tragedy, which while being very romantic, is in reality a big suck.

Main St., Lostwithiel

Lisa lent me a copy of the book “The House on the Strand” by Daphne duMaurier. Treesmill, Par, and Lostwithiel feature heavily in it. As I've been reading it, I have been remembering a past-life regression I did in college with Fred Fengler, author of “Manifesting your Hearts Desire”. I can't actually remember what the class was, though I think it had to do with his book. I’m a big believe in manifesting, as it got me to where I am today in a lot of ways. I credit it for my fiance, my house, my work, my trip here... I recall from the PLR that we were to imagine finding a door in a clearing in the forest. When I went into my door, I went into an old stone building where an elderly man and woman sat by a large stone fireplace. The woman was doing some type of piece work, and the man was smoking a pipe in front of the fire. The low-ceiling-ed room was sparse and dark, the furniture basic and rustic. I remember being able to picture all of this clear as day, more vivid than a dream. As I looked at who must have been my forebears, Fred's disembodied voice told us that we would now leave the door in the clearing and enter into our life’s most important work, and next thing I knew I was in a barn with a pair of heavy shears, the likes of which I’ve never seen. They were some sort of scissor used for cutting the wool off of sheep, and that was clearly my job, as the barn contained sheep and I knew my job was to shear them. I'm not sure what it is about Cornwall that brought that memory back, but it does almost feel like I've been here before. And I don't mean when I was a child and we traveled to England. I mean some deep memory that I can't fully recall but get glimmers of here and there. I know I'm repeating myself again, but there really is a inexplicable magic here.
Treesmill.

Yesterday I started to tally the results of the previous evening’s jurrying of the calendar photos. The competition was stiff and it was not easy to narrow down the finalists. Part of me wishes I’d entered a piece, but another part of me is glad I did not have to subject myself to hearing any kind of critique whatsoever of my work! I need to get over that, I know, but I’m not ready for it just yet. Julia assures me that putting your work through the Masters Registry will take away any fear of critique, because you get SO much that you can't take it all personally! Granted, the calendar jurrying was more silent: having critique on paper in front of you, undeniable... that's what I dread, though I know it would be invaluable to the advancement of my work.

We ate at the Bodmin Gaol again tonight. I just had spicy parsnip soup and sauteed mushrooms, thinking I’d save room for clotted cream and strawberries. But there was a huge platter of chips served, and between that and the 4 slices of bread, I was too full for the splendid wonder that is clotted cream. Hopefully we'll be able to do a cream tea on our last day here. Ahh, it's fast aproaching! Siiiiiiiiiiiiiigh.

Mmm, spicy parsnip served with a smile!

and finished with a smile too!

After dinner, a brave crew of 5 did a self-guided tour of the gaol. It was creepy albeit a little cheesy. Had we gone during the day, it would not have given the chills, but at 10 pm after a cask pulled ale and a glass of wine, the imagination was a little loose. It only added to the spooky atmosphere that we had a prankster with us who delighted in popping out of doorways to scare us! Certain rooms in the prison gave you that feeling that you weren't alone. It was great!

Today I'm trying to get my piece past it's ugly phase. I'm already thinking of other photographs that I'd like to turn into repousse pieces. This isn't an easy technique by any means, but it has such potential, so I intend to keep practising.

This one's for Robert

2010-09-02T09:00:00.003-04:00

In high school I wanted a ferret. Desperately. I used to visit the pet shop at least once a week in my too-cool for school black leather jacket (an old Harley Davidson that I got for 5 dollars in a trash bag sale). This particular shop let you take the ferrets right out of the cage and handle them. I liked that the cuffs of my jacket picked up their musty smell and I always left the store in my Canadian Army combat boots, shaking pine shavings out of my sleeves and knowing that my entire vibe of casual teenage indifference could only truly be completed with a ferret.

I never did get that ferret, but in college, my then-boyfriend told me he wanted to buy me a rat , cause “they’re kinda like ferrets”. So we went to a store and I chose a female (I think for fairly obviously reasons). It wasn't a puppy, but it was a start.

She cost 6 dollars.

In addition to developing a fondness for her over time, I also developed pretty severe allergies. I couldn't even come near her cage without my throat closing and any inch of skin that came in contact breaking out in a rash. So I gave her to my roommate, a known feeder. It shouldn't have come as a surprise that the rat was overfed to the extreme and developed fatty tumors that ruptured as she waddled around her cage. And even after she developed those tumors, my roommate, feeling sorry for her, fed her more treats. "Oh the poor thing, she's bleeding! Here you go girl, get your treat!". It was a miserable existence for this poor creature and I made the decision to have her euthanized.

It cost sixty dollars.

I had to pay for it. I was in college and broke. My roommate went with me to the vet "for moral support" but was strangely absent when the bill came.

In time, this same roommate got me a full grown cat. I'd never in my life owned a cat or expressed any interest whatsoever in owning one. Though I have to admit the cat was sweet, she did have one rather significant character flaw that I found hard to ignore: She had the unfortunate tendency toward expelling her anal glands. This occurred when she was startled..or when content...or when sleeping...or when I was sleeping...in my ear. When she expelled across my roommate's wall, it was funny (though I had to clean it). When she expelled on a friends lap as he was petting her and she was contentedly purring, it was less funny (and who do you suppose was responsible for the cleaning?) When she expelled in my ear (right IN my ear!!) while I was fast asleep it was not remotely funny. It was 3 in the morning and required two vigorous showers.

SO!

The moral of the story is (and this is a choose your own ending):
a)A rat is not a good gift
b)A cat is not a good gift
c)Never look a gift rat in the mouth (especially if you have allergies)
d)No rest for the wicked (especially when a cat expels in your ear)
e)My parents should have bought me the damn ferret.

The other way I like to tell this story is as follows:
I had a rat once. She cost $6. My roommate overfed her and she got so fat I had to have her put down. It cost 60 bucks.

Which version do you prefer?

Repousse and cheese and pickle sandwiches...

2010-09-02T05:03:00.006-04:00

Today was the first day of second session of Repousse, and it's another talented and creative group. It's also quite a large group! So as to not be in the way, I busied myself photocopying images for the molds, mixing some glass clay for future play, and writing blog posts.

This evening, Holly and I went over to Lisa and Robert’s home again and met up with Julia Rai there. It was a night for pizza, wine and beer and to jury the photos for Holly’s 2011 calendar. (And I want you to know the process was taken quite seriously despite the convivial tone of the evening). It was quite elucidating for me. What an education! I have a much better understanding of how a piece is jurried into a publication and what I really need to pay attention to and focus on. This entire trip is making me itch to get back to my tools and supplies and to really up the ante with what I'm making. Now I just need to find someone to do the work expected of me at the shop!

As a final note, big thumbs up for cheese and pickle sandwiches Not pickles like we know, but pickled stuff. And not kimchee, pickled carrots, rutabaga, onion, cauliflower, marrows (?), gherkins, chopped dates, aples and tomato as well as spices. Crazy and delicious. I think my enjoyment of these sandwiches is enhanced by the packaging. You can pick up these nifty little triangular containers with a whole sandwich in it, cut in half. I don't know why I am enamored with these "packets" but I am. Hooray for England! Three cheers for sandwiches!

A Castle and a Gaol

2010-09-01T07:48:00.009-04:00

Another truly amazing day. It was a day off from “work” today (I use that word very lightly as I’m having an excellent time “working”). I got up around 8 and went for a run along the tidal river. It was really lovely (and by the way, I’m fully adopting some British terminology, like “lovely”.)At any rate, my run was lovely and my turn around point occurred in a dewy moor, with sunlight refracting off the steam rising from the wet grass. There was a little copse of trees and shrubs and the path continued inside and through it. I had to avoid some of the more reaching branches, but it was again, magic to run through an area like that.

After another delicious breakfast of local eggs, the most delicious sausage I’ve ever tasted, (also local) bacon, my first taste of Cornish clotted cream this trip (I’ve been craving clotted cream since the first time I had it 1o plus years ago) and this wasn’t even clotted cream done right. I just had it on bread with a bit of strawberry preserve. But it really needs to be on a scone with a cup of tea. Then Holly and I did a walk around Lostwitheal and got some souvenirs. I’m quite pleased with the cobalt blue medicine vial I picked up, and after a trip to the local museum, I discovered that cobalt blue bottles with ridging at one time indicated poisonous contents. Kind of a neat fact. I’m looking forward to adding it to my collection of cobalt glass in my studio window.

We met Lisa and Robert at lunchtime and went up to the local castle Restormel (don’t you love it? “The Local Castle”) where we had a lunch of pasties (no, we did not nibble on the naughty bits of strippers)...Pasties are a local delicacy. The are something like a hand-held pot pie. Traditionally, tin miners ate these as a hearty lunch. It’s a pastry pocket which was originally built with potato, then steak and veggies, followed by sweet fruits, and was eaten potato side first. Ours was a mixture of steak, potato, onion, carrots and savory seasoning with the sweet part left out. Where the two halves of this half-moon yummy filled pastry come together, they are pinched into a crusty handle. One end of the crust is thicker, and back when miners took these as their lunch, they held the thicker end because their hands were dirty and greasy. This little dirty bit was thrown to the "knockers" (again, not a reference to strippers...I asked for an explanation of the word, and Lisa said that before a mine collapsed, the miners would hear a terrible knocking sound through the walls as the earth started to give way. The miners called the evil spirits that could cause a disaster in the mine “knockers”.) They tossed them the crusts to appease them. Our Pasties were followed by “fridge cake” which is a cross between fudge and a no-bake cookie/cake. Delicious.

Pasty Smiles!

As I walked through the castle and touch the walls, I was again astounded by the age and history in England (and Europe in general). I touched the same walls that have been touched by human hands for more years than I can imagine and have witnessed so much life and death and are still standing, albeit crumbling in parts. There is such magic to these places it's hard not to have your imagination run wild with ideas and inspiration .

After lunch and our castle tour we popped in a few more shops. I found a little lead sheep which I had to have due to the family's checkered past as sheep stealers. I also found the coolest little compass. It really is a magnificent little find, and not only do I love it for it’s tiny complexity, but because it is the perfect souvenir and reminder of my time here. It makes me think of Robert because he has a thing for compasses, and it makes me think of Lisa because she has a thing for Robert (and vice versa) and it makes me think of Holly and this amazing trip, which would not have occurred if I hadn't met her. This compass jumped out at me in this shop,and it's pointing my life in a new direction.

We had dinner at the Bodmin Jail/Gaol. Walking into the courtyard and looking up at the broken window panes in the unrefurbished pportion of the jail gave me the feeling someone (or something ) was looking back. The execution gallows were still intact and looking at that sends a chill down the spine. On the wall adjacent to the execution area was a list that told of the prisoners executed and the crimes committed. There were more than one sheep stealer listed. Had the Graham clan hailed from Cornwall, I might have seen an ancestors name on that list. Bodmin jail is also the jail that the early settlers of Australia hailed from. How incredible is that?

I had baked cod for supper, with some chips (not to be confused with crisps) and sautéed mushrooms and a salad. For desert we had a syrup pudding (pudding is the word for dessert here, so syrup pudding was a cakey-type lovely with a custardy cream sauce) and meringue with clotted cream, raspberries and blueberries. Mmmm! Really dang good. Again, the conversation was delightful and insightful, full of contrary opinions, revelations laughter and every bit of it so interesting. I’ve never had such exciting and thought provoking conversation as I have with this group of people. I’m having such a time here. Really really really I am so thankful.

Working in the UK part deux

2010-08-30T13:43:00.003-04:00

Another amazing day

After class at Treesmill (in Cornish it’s Tywardreath which is the name of the little village it’s in...did you know Cornish is a language? I had no idea), I walked around the village of Lostwitheal briefly and took tons of pictures. I'm fascinated by the doors! So many cool doors. Such great texture too with the stone buildings and cobblestone and walls covered in moss and ivy.
Dinner at Lisa’s home built in 1670. It was so cool to be in a space that has been lived in for over 300 years (longer than our country has been around). There were exposed beams and an adorable little wood stove (which may or may not actually burn word. Might be gas powered? The meal we had was prepared by Robert with fresh local ingredients. Really special and wonderful. Started with cheese and crackers and a delicious hand made dip, then had a rubbed local chicken with potatoes and veggies, all sauteed to perfection and melt-in your mouth delicious, topped off by a generous portion of home made gravy (more generous for some than others!) For dessert it was sauteed apples in a vanilla yogurt sauce with ginger preserves. MMM! The dinner conversation ran the gambit (gamut?) but focused heavily on teaching and learning. I wish I remembered more of it but there is just so much information going into my brain I hardly have time to sort it all out!

We stepped outside Lisa’s home to view a church built in 1228. I looked up into the sky and saw a shooting star streak across the sky in slow motion above the moon. The night was cool and it was like something out of a movie. Truly truly magical and amazing. I feel like I need to pinch myself constantly.

Today was the last day of the first session of Repousse. I didn't get my piece done, because I started to hate it and couldn't get past the "ugly phase". Holly helped get me through that and I'm actually looking forward to finishing it after taking some time away from looking at it and getting frustrated! The work the students did was really amazing and I definitely can't wait to practice the technique a bit more.

Holly helping me through the "ugly phase"

I set up this evening for the second session of Repousse, and now it's time for another English dinner. Tomorrow is a day off, and I think we're going to a castle. Need to get to bed early tonight, starting to feel a bit laggy today.

Working in the U K

2010-08-29T12:33:00.008-04:00

Today was the first day of the first session of Repousse Techniques. I was pleased to be able to participate in the class! I chose to work from a photo I took this morning of the building we're having classes in. I thought it would be nice to have a little souvenir of my time in England, and this building is quintessentially English!

Early in the day, I was feeling a bit discouraged. After reworking my polymer clay several times, I felt like my piece was too plain and boring, especially after seeing what some of the other students were working on. There are some truly incredible minds and talented hands in here!
The first part of the process is worked in reverse, so I was also having a hard time getting my jet-lagged mind thinking in the opposite direction. But now that my mold has been fired and I started actually working with the metal clay, I am excited by the way the project is coming along.

Trying to upload photos, but it's not working. Hrrrumph.

Off to dinner with Robert and Lisa. Robert is cooking for us!

My jump over the pond

2010-08-29T06:20:00.002-04:00

In England

just finished dinner with Robert Dancik and Lisa cain. Ate local fish super fresh called place, and had some cask pulled ale. complements from rd re; my reliquary locket, quite a compliment.

flew british airwaves, so giddy re; our ‘goodie bag’ containing socks, adiorable toothbreath and paste combo and as holly put it “eye shades..ooh, how sexy!” never expected to be so excited by the cheap gifts given us, and really, after the price paid for the tickets, a bit of toothpaste and thin socks is not much to be excited over, but i thought it was the best. It’s been since i was 17 that i flew trans-atlantic and it was so great to be making the trip again. Flying over ireland/southern england and wales, so unbelievable. Sunny blue clear skies, verdant green feilds checkered with brown and divided by rows of dark green hedges and trees, looked like a earth-toned crazy quilt. Hardly a building in sight, so much prettier to look down at the red rooftops and neat and tidy way the towns and villages are set up. Had about 19 hours of bonding time with holly and we get along like peas and carrots, peanut butter and jelly, franks and beans! So many ideas put out there and discussed. really felt we met for a reason and looking forward to figuring out the specifics of our pre-destined meeting. also thanks to mom for manifesting me a tutor! Glad i have many more days to spend to let all this absorb. Train ride through English country side, lovely stone farms, cows, sheep pigs and horses co habitating and mingling on the hill sides. Some of the homes reminded me of Belgium, all very european imbued with such history and character (crossed a brindge in Lostwitheal (totally butchering name? Not at all sure how it's spelled, but it sounds so magical when pronounced correctly by Lisa and Robert)..bridge from 1228. 1228!!! Can you even imagine? Passed red cliffs, almost looked like the beach in goonies. Passed this crazy muddy marsh area with a boat so old weathered and broken you would think it was the con tiki

Am writing this after full day of travel. Narrowly missed our train and had to take a later one, which got us in to Cornwall around 6 pm. Met RD and LC and set up a bit for class tomorrow before going out to dinner. It’s Robert freaking Dancik and lisa freaking cain, did i mention that? had a bit of RD brewed french press coffee. and i’ll still sleep no problem. Ate some cookies and mamrveled at the fact that i’m in england and it’s beautiful.

think i’ll post this sans correction, should be fun for all. My head and body are pretty sure i’m still on a moving object, be it plane or train. A bit dizy and ready for a soid sleep!

Jolly old England.

2010-08-15T20:09:00.003-04:00

Ok, so now it's official. I just booked my flight to England, where I will be accompanying Holly Gage and assisting her for the 3 classes she is teaching at the Mid Cornwall School of Jewellery. (http://www.mcsj.co.uk/masterclasses/index.html)

(plug your ears for a second...)

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I'm SO excited! Not only do I absolutely love and admire Holly's exceptional and innovative work (http://www.hollygage.com), she's also so dynamic and fun that I can't wait to travel with her and learn from her! It hearkens back to the good old days when a master craftsperson took on a young whippersnapper who worked for and was trained by the master in a specific skill or art. Granted, most of these youngsters were between 10 and 15 years old. Or maybe I could compare it to the Karate Kid, and Holly could be my sensei? Either way, it rocks big time. (At least I sound like a 10 to 15 year old. Totally. Rad. Do teens still say rad?)

Holy effing excrement! I can't even believe it, and I'm so insanely excited.

SO, what does this mean for you? Well, if you are hoping to visit Dragonfly Beads, never fear. The store will stay open with my lovely mom and lovely Laura and lovely Carrie covering for me. If you were hoping I'd come to your birthday party or cookout between August 27th and September 7th, I'm terribly sorry but I shan't make it. Instead, I shall be in merry England, learning the trade of metal clay and carousing through the countryside. Tra la la! Tee hee hee. Ok, I'm so giddy I'm making myself sick.

I do intend to bring my computer and keep you posted!

Harder, better, faster, stronger. Work it.

2010-08-03T14:22:00.004-04:00

It's my first day back after the PMC Conference. I wish I'd been able to write from there, because there is so much to report, however...writing an entire blogpost from an i phone is a lot less fun than it may sound. And at this point, I have a whole week worth of experiences! So, in order to not bore you, I will give you the highlights.

The first day of the conference, Linda Darty, a renowned enamelist, gave the key note speech. She does absolutely gorgeous work, and her life story was so fascinating and inspiring and full of art and learning. She and her husband met at the Penland School of Crafts, and later bought 20 some acres and built a little house there. The house was wonderful, with window and exposed wood throughout. That little house is now her studio (jealous) and they've built another house on the grounds. From the pictures she showed, it would be impossible NOT to be inspired there. I especially liked the photo of her husband circa 1974: the carpenter who never sketches a single idea, sitting in a tub en plein air, beer in hand, as he contemplated the tilt of the roof while looking at a few two by fours leaning together at different angles.

After Linda's speech, Tim McCreight announced that Mitsubishi had an announcement to make. The buzz had been building. We all knew the new Fast Fire Bronz was being released by Rio, so I think everyone was wondering what Mitsu might have to say. First, the PhD who came up with the whole concept of metal clay (in the jewelry world) spoke a few words to us. This was a big deal in and of itself, as he's never been to any of the conferences. Then a slide show began to play. I will try to paint this visual to give you the same impact, but it probably won't quite translate. Picture a dark room, day one of the conference, excitement and creativity in the air. The screen is white, a greeting in Japanese translated into English is simply "hi". Then we see the following flash up onto the screen every 5 seconds...

1994. PMC Standard

1999 PMC Plus

(ok, so now we're getting excited, because we can tell something big is coming)

2002 PMC Three...

Here's the pregnant pause...what could it be!! I had coffee with Chris Darway earlier that morning and he to had alluded to something really exciting. But what? It's not the bronze, so what is it?? ??

Introducing...PMC PRO, High Strength Clay!

I seriously felt near tears at this point. Really giddy. PMC has only been on the market since 1994 and it's already making a huge impact in the jewelry making world. It's been cool to be working with a product that is so new and innovative. There really isn't anything that compares to that. Sure, polymer clay, plastic and resin are relatively new to the scene. But this is metal. Metalsmithing has been around for centuries. Ancient works are found in tombs, under the sea and buried deep in the ground. To know that I am taking part in something while it's still in early inception...something that down the road will be dug up from tombs, collected, found in museums...and then on top of that, to be there at the release of a product that solves a lot of the problems that metal clay is currently being criticized for (not enough working time, weak end product) was just unbelievably exciting. So what is PMC Pro? It's a new silver alloy, which is stronger that any of the silver metal clays before it. It has a much longer working time, it works like butter, it's easy to carve and texture, and it is MUCH stronger as a fired clay than any of the clays before it. That means it will hold up in rings, bracelets and can withstand traditional metalsmithing techniques once it's fired. The firing takes 1 hour in activated carbon. I can't get my hands on in until October, but I can't wait! Whew! So if that wasn't exciting enough, I left the auditorium and went into the gallery to see my reliquary piece that was on exhibit. I was excited, but it wasn't until I walked into the gallery and saw the level of work (as well as the names of some of my mentors and idols) that I realized, "this is a big effin deal!" I felt even giddy-er!

Here are some photos from the exhibit:

So official!

A big big thank you to Marianne for being willing to part with her reliquary so that it could be at this exhibit.

Other highlights from the first day include my impromptu coffee with one of my mentors, Chris Darway, a compliment from Terry Kovalcik on my locket (his aesthetic is so similar to mine. When I listened to his lecture it was like he was speaking directly to me!), when after introducing myself to Patrik Kusek he said "oh, I was just on your website!" (I die) and meeting Holly Gage and receiving a compliment on my Gonzo reliquary. Meeting my mentors and receiving unsolicited compliments from them was such a huge rush.

I think that is enough for one post. I'll have to fill you in on the other days...another day!

Zentangles

2010-07-23T20:37:00.002-04:00

I'm currently a little bit obsessed with Zentangles. For those of you who have never heard of a "zentangle" (which was me last week), it's glorified doodling. I've always enjoyed doodling, but often my doodles got carried away, and marred an otherwise stellar page of notes. But now, with Zentangles, I can focus all my doodling energy on a little 3x3 card. There are books, you tube videos and kits full of different doodle patterns, so you don't have to think too much "what should I draw". You just zen out and doodle. Personally, I think they should have called it a Zendoodle, but what do I know?

Check out this youtube video (but turn down the volume and put on something cooler) and zen doodle away.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56n7_1FGgiw&feature=channel

PS! Gearing up for the PMC Conference in Purdue!! I leave on Monday morning and I'm really looking forward to it.

Design Contest Winners

2010-06-26T11:25:00.002-04:00

The mail-lady just came into the store with a really heavy box. I couldn't think of what it might be, as I haven't made any orders recently. I looked at the return address, and it was from Metal Clay Artist Magazine...I was still a bit miffed, as I didn't expect the new edition until August. But, sure enough, it was the Summer edition...And guess what I found on pages 18 through 22? The Design Contest Winners!! And guess who placed in the top 3? THIS GIRL!

I'm pretty excited! I came in 3rd place, which is fine with me. Naturally, 1st place is what you strive for, but I'm not disappointed to have made in into the top 10, let alone the top 3! Thank you THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to vote. It certainly helped!

This certainly rekindles my drive to create. So that's what I'm going to go do!

2010-06-17T18:19:00.002-04:00

I'm the guest blogger today. Yup, it's erin's Mom who made the mistake of saying that she should blog more often, you know what happens when you do that! I just wanted to report that erin has been caught up in the Silly Band craze. I picked up some for her and Mike (her dad, the orthodontist) in NYC and brought them into the store on Tuesday. They literally flew out the door. So she had to get some more from another vendor so that her father could have some for Franklin Square Orthodontics. After all, the kids that we treat like them too. The best part of the whole thing was that a lot of people came into the store and erin had lots of people to talk to. She sometimes gets lonely when the day passes and there are only a few customers. So buy up those bands and tell her that Mom sent you!

Your VOTE counts!

2010-04-20T11:28:00.004-04:00

Yay! I am so excited to tell you that my locket made it into the final 10 for the Metal Clay Artist Magazine/Metal Clay Findings contest!!

I have been eagerly awaiting an email telling me one way or another, but alas, my mailbox has stayed empty. I knew judging was between April 20 and 30, so this morning I checked http://www.metalclayartistmagazine.com/ and Voila!! There was my locket!

PLEASE VOTE! You can vote through the website (go to the main page, and you'll see "VOTE HERE")

It's going to be hard to calmly pass the next 10 days. I can't wait to hear the final results! Either way though, I'm pretty sure my piece will still be pictured in the Summer edition of Metal Clay Artist Magazine...But it would be even better to be featured in an article!!!

Do your civic duty and Vote today!

I'm a Winner!

2010-04-02T11:40:00.001-04:00

Woo hoo! I just got off the phone with Bruggers and I won the business-card-in-the-fishbowl drawing. So I get a platter of bagels, all sliced and with cream cheese, anytime I want it. Anyone out there want to carbo-load with me?

Libellula comanche

2010-03-31T19:40:00.004-04:00

I got it done. Just in the nick of time! Submitted my photos about 15 minutes ago for the Metal Clay Artist Magazine (www.metalclayartistmag.com)/Metal Clay Findings (www.metalclayfindings.com) collaborative contest. This is submission #2. I call it "Libellula comanche" which is the fancy name for a type of dragonfly, the Comanche skimmer. It was the most like the one in my specimen box! Silver-blue body and transparent wings.

The wings were made using a syringe. I am pretty happy with them, but I feel like they could be a lot more crisp.

I love the way Carlton photographed the back of the piece, so you can see light shining through the faceted stone. I typically wouldn't have set a stone like this in a piece, but the contest forced me to step outside my "normal" procedure a little bit.

I like both of the pieces I made for the contest (the Forget-Me-Not Locket and the specimen box), and they have really gotten the creative cogs turning in my brain. Neither of them is "good enough" in my mind but I had a great time making both and I can't wait to make more along those lines. The first specimen box I made was of a little butterfly, and I'm SO into the specimen boxes right now, I plan to make a few more before I burn out!

I'm also inspired (and terrified!) to get started on my Masters Registry projects (www.mastersregistry.com) . I do not take criticism all that well, (because I take it SO personally) so I will want the pieces to be flawless, but I know I also have to gear up for some negative feedback. I can't decide where to start, but I've got to complete 10 projects before I can even submit, so I've got to get crack-a-lacking. I will keep you posted on my projects, complete with photos!

It's so silly, but I feel like the first piece I attempt for the Masters Registry is really important, because it will always be "the first piece I made" for the program. I should probably start with something simple, or within my comfort zone, but I'm really tempted to try the "Bracelet with Frames". Here's the description:
"Make a wearable silver bracelet that contains five or more frames joined so they articulate. The connection can be with jump rings, split rings, hinges, partial hinges, or any other metal-based arrangement that makes a viable bracelet. Stringing on cords or attaching to leather or fabric, for instance, will not qualify. Each frame will use cold connections to include a graphic element such as a photo, drawing, or print, either found or made by the artist. Examples could include calligraphy, advertisements, currency, stamps, labels, etc."

I've got a great idea kicking around in my head for this piece, and I'm anxious to get working on it. I just hope I can get what is in my head into metal clay! I've gotten a lot better about sketching my projects out first, which does help in implementing them.

So I'm very excited to report that my good friend Courtney has started a blog at my prompting. As a matter of fact, I think I might have "shoulded" her about it. But so far, she seems to be enjoying the process. See what she has to say about the delicacies she's been creating: http://finedayforapicnic.wordpress.com/

I want a Schrute sandwich!

Procrastin.............

2010-03-26T15:58:00.002-04:00

So, I just received my second kit in the mail today for the Metal Clay Findings/Metal Clay Artist Magazine collaborative contest. The deadline is 6 days away. It's time for me to get started! Mind you, I submitted my previous piece about 1 day prior to the original deadline. When the deadline was extended, I had almost a full 2 months to work on a new piece. I didn't intend to make a second entry, but I joked with friends that "knowing me, I'll probably decide to submit something, like, a week before".

Prophecy fufilled.

I intend to make a second entry. I have less than a week. Enough chatting, I've got to get to work!

Shoulding...

2010-03-11T13:25:00.012-05:00

So there has been a running joke in my family about "shoulding". My mother finds it incredibly annoying to be "should-ed". Future "shoulds" are ok, but past "shoulds" are not. (I think. My dad is constantly looking for the acceptable should, but my mom's standard response is "don't should me!" often followed by "you shouldn't should yourself or others".) That is her golden rule. Should onto others as you would have them should onto you.

Anyway, I think the worst "shoulds" are when you know the should is accurate, and yes, you SHOULD do that thing, (or should have) but didn't do, forgot to do, don't want to do or don't have the time. Case in point today: My mom said I "ought to" (See, that's how you get around it) write a blog post. I got all whiny (amazing how a 30 year old can revert into an whiny adolescent when told they should do something by a parent) and like "meeehhhh, I don't WANNA write a blog post! No one reads them anyway!" And my mom said "well, you have to write more so people will want to read more." And thing thing is, she's totally right. Sigh.

Lucky for you my dear reader, I actually have some interesting things to say. Of course, I will be completely tooting my own horn, so if you enjoy hearing about my successes and happiness, then this blog post is for you!

I recently entered a contest, but I didn't tell anybody about it. This is not the contest I wrote about before, which was the locket piece I entered in the collaborative contest between Metal Clay Artist Magazine and Metal Clay Findings (jury is still out on that one. They moved the deadline to April 1, so it will be a while yet before I find out if I was accepted). I didn't mention this contest, because it is (in my eyes) very prestigious, and I didn't want to jinx it. I guess "contest" isn't really the right word. It is a juried exhibit. This exhibit is part of the PMC Conference, which takes place every two years and is a mecca for all things PMC (pretty much anyone who has every written a book on the subject will be there!) This year's exhibit is called Cultural Messages: Symbolism Through the Ages, curated by the director of the PMC Guild, Jeanette Landenwitch. The prospectus describes the exhibit as : "... an important international exhibition of preeminent work made using metal clay. In the summer of 2010, this exhibition will be on display in the gallery at Purdue University where in addition to the hundreds of metal clay artists who attend the conference, the work will be seen by visitors to the college. This juried exhibition...will receive national coverage...and will celebrate the many and varied forms of symbolic expression from ancient to contemporary times."

I thought my reliquaries were a perfect fit with the exhibit. (hang on, let me put on my nerd hat...) Historically, reliquaries were made to contain the relics of saints, and housed the physical remains of a holy person or holy site. Often they held bone, hair or pieces of clothing. In Christian belief, reliquaries were thought to provide a spiritual link between life and death. During the Middle Ages, reliquaries were a major form of artistic production across Europe and Byzantium. Since the contents were considered "more valuable than precious stones and more to be esteemed than gold", they were enshrined in vessels crafted of or covered by gold, silver, gems and enamel. I made a reliquary when I lost my dog Gonzo, not because I thought he was a saint (though he was a really good boy!), but because I needed a memento, and if not a spiritual link, than certainly a physical one. Once I began making reliquaries for others who had lost loved pets (and loved humans: I have made one for a friend who lost her beloved grandfather. Her reliquary contains fabric from the plaid shirts she fondly remembers him wearing) I found that I wasn't the only one who felt comforted by having a tangible reminder of a loved one. I've received feedback from numerous recipients of a reliquary who tell me that they "feel closer" to the loved one when they are wearing the piece. Those ancient Christians may have been on to something!

(Nerd hat removed). So long story getting longer...I entered 5 photographs of reliquaries I'd made. I had seen some amazing entries of intricate Calacas (Dia de los Muertos masks) and carved Milagros and thought at the least, perhaps I'd get some constructive feedback. (Can you see where this story is leading?) Last week, I opened my email and saw I had an email from Jeanette. The title was "Cultural Messages exhibition". Upon opening, I scanned the first line and read "Jurying for the Cultural Images exhibition at the 2010 PMC conference has been completed". I figured I was being let down gently. But I'd noticed there was an attachment to the email (as one customer put it, "you got the THICK envelope!") So then like any normal person would, I actually READ the entire email and guess what! (I'm trying to build the suspense here, but since I'm sure you sleuths have already figured out the punchline, I'll cut to the chase) I WAS ACCEPTED! Woo hoo! I was (and continue to be) so excited that I was actually a bit shaky. My initial reaction was of shock and delight. My secondary reaction was "oh crap! I don't even have that piece! What if the owner of it doesn't want to part with it. Will I have be able to make a stand in? Why did I submit a piece I don't even HAVE?!"

Luckily, the owner of the piece was as excited as I am and is happy to have her Leia reliquary exhibited. She said "It is beautiful so I am not surprised it was chosen". Aww, shucks!

Congratulatory remarks and accolades welcomed in the "comments" section. Let the horn tootin' begin!

This is the title

2010-02-23T12:25:00.004-05:00

I had my first "outside" teaching gig last night. I taught an introductory PMC Class for Cazenovia College's continuing ed department. It was great! It shouldn't come as a surprise to me, I suppose, but I do really enjoy teaching. And it is especially exciting to teach Metal Clay because it's so NEW!

So the deadline for the Metal Clay Artist Magazine and Metal Clay Supply contest has been pushed back to sometime in April. I suppose I could try to make another piece for it. I'm pretty happy with the locket I made, but now I'm thinking that I've got so much more time, I could make something REALLY great. But I'd probably wait to make it the last week of March, I'm such a procrastinator! What is that about?

I'll be teaching at Caz College again next Monday, and then I've been scheduled for several classes over the summer. I'm so pumped about the Metal Clays that I have been pondering and ruminating on rearranging the store a bit to put a greater emphasis on Metal Clay. It's a scary process though, as I don't want to alienate any of my bead customers or give people the impression that I'm "not doing beads anymore". I just think the Metal Clay is such a great ADDITION to beading! You can make your own toggles, bead caps and cones, one-of-a-kind focal pieces. Whatever I end up doing, the store is due for a re-arranging and make-over!

I'm trying to decide if today will be a "work" or "play" day. I'm leaning towards play (making jewelry!) but that deadline for the newsletter and class list is fast approaching. Sigh

In other news, I've recently discovered and fallen in love with Regina Spektor. Her music is so unique and lovely. It makes me want to create unique and beautiful things! Check youtube for her videos of "Us", "Fidelity" and "Apres Moi". Just a few personal favorites!

Submission Day

2010-02-01T18:26:00.005-05:00

I'm excited and hopeful. I submitted my first contest piece over the weekend. It's momentous, because I've never submitted a piece to a contest before. I'm proud, but I also know that I rushed it (found out about the contest a week before the deadline!) so I'm not all that confident I'll even be a finalist. But I'm on the right track. I've been in a bit of a rut. I am currently obsessed with hinges and all things hinged, but I've been stuck. I actually haven't tried them again since the class with Celie Fago, because I was SO intimidated. But I came up with my own twist to make them (much less difficult) so I plan to make a lot more hinged pieces.

The contest was a joint effort between Metal Clay Artist Magazine (www.metalclayartistmagazine.com) and Metal Clay Findings (www.metalclayfindings.com) If you haven't already checked out the magazine, please do so! It's a BRAND NEW magazine, and I'm so excited to have Volume 1, issue 1! How crazy is that? It's amazing to be at the cusp of anything, and I certainly feel that Metal Clay is starting to explode in the jewelery/craft scene. At any rate, the contest required that you submit a piece that was more than 50% metal clay, and that you used at least 3 products from Metal Clay Finding's contest kit.

How amazing is that logo? I really REALLY love it, and thanks so much to Ralph Sciattano (I'm sorry, I know I misspelled the last name!) for making it for me. Incredible talent.

I used a large embeddable jump ring for the top/bail, a small embeddable jump ring for the dangly on the bottom, and all of the Fine Silver casting grain for the "seeds" in the pod. My concept was a "modern day Johnny Appleseed". It gets so dreary come March in the Northeast, and I thought it would be nice to carry a reminder of Spring, and better, to be able to plant some flowers when the snow thaws.

Fingers crossed! After Feb 16 (ish) you should be able to vote through metalclayartistmagazine.com. If I make it to the finals, I will beseech you to vote for me!

More hinges to come. I've been ruminating lately on dollhouses, birdhouses, doors, oh my! Can't wait to see where this leads.

Belated PMC Certification

2010-01-06T09:43:00.004-05:00

I meant to post these pictures two months ago. Better late than never?

Wolff and Ralph. Two very talented jewelry artists. Their wives are psyched!

The group at work.

Judy's work station is very neat and tidy!

Less tidy!

Hopefully we'll do another certification in April or May. I might even see if we can get Tim McCreight to teach it! Though I'd miss Chris Darway, who has taught the certification at DFB 3 times now.

Here are a few photos from the amazingly huge trunk show we had from New Mexico. It was pretty insane. Kind of like having a second bead shop within a bead shop!

I'm a sucker for Chalcedony. Doesn't it look like candy?

He brought tons and tons of turquoise from American mines in the southwest. I don't go crazy over turquoise, although he had some really unique pieces and I ended up getting a fair amount for the store. The chalcedony I got is almost gone, as are the super sparkly multi-gemstone briolettes. I want more!

Time Flies...

2010-01-05T17:27:00.008-05:00

Ugh, has it really been two months? So much for my promise to blog once a week! Between the certification class, getting engaged, my big 3-0, and then the holidays, it's been a busy few months. But I'm back and I truly will try to do better (that is, if anyone is still reading)

The store had a very busy holiday season, which was wonderful as I was biting my nails and losing sleep over a lacklustre September/October. The Swarovski snowmen and Christmas trees were the top seller for the season. Again I sold out of the trees, as I did last year. Also, my "Wedding Belles" were featured in the Syracuse Post's gift guide! Very exciting, and I sold all the ones I had in stock!

I was kept busy constructing 7 memorial pieces, which was really quite amazing. I was thrilled that customers thought of giving them as Christmas gifts. The third week of December though,I was a mess, thinking I'd never get them done in time. The first one I was working on I had to re-make 3 times due to issues with firing. Then once I got the piece assembled, I cracked the glass while setting it! I was so cranky and discouraged, but with the calm and patient encouragement of my fiance and mom, I was able to salvage the piece (and it ended up better than the first attempt!) In the end, I got them all completed and will soon be posting them on my new website, http://www.commemorativejewelry.com/. Here's a sneak peak of a few that I was particularly pleased with:

This is Hefty, a yellow lab. Looks a little like Gonzo. The woman who commissioned this piece wanted one after seeing the one I did for Gonzo and saying it looked just like Hefty. Very cute pup.

Alta, a super cute kitty. This sweet cat is still alive, and her mom is a little obsessed :) I think she was as excited about the stamp that comes with the piece as she was with the pendant!

Eibhleann (Yvonne). A wolfhound. Her hair was the softest thing. Her mom actually has a hat made out of her hair! Pretty cool.

I very much enjoyed the process of making each and every one of these pieces. I woke up early in the morning and hit the home studio for a few hours before getting to the store, and took a few days off so I could work from home without interruption. It was quite refreshing that 3 of the 6 pieces I made were for animals that are still alive, and have owners who just love their pets so much, they want to represent that all the time! The 7th piece I made was for my friend Cocoa who just moved to San Diego after living with me here in CNY. I made one containing scraps from two of her grandfather's shirts. It was the first piece I did to commemorate a person, and she was thrilled with it and put it on right away...before I was able to get photos of it!

I can't even express how much it has meant, and how much I have enjoyed making these pieces. I think it's part of the social worker in me: the desire to help people, and I am finding these pieces help people move through grief. It also really pleases the jeweler in me: each piece is constructed in the same manor, but they are all different, imbued with the image and spirit of the being they represent. I never know what the end result will look like until it's time to put on the finishing touches. And that's a huge part of the enjoyment. As is the response. I had the pleasure of witnessing one woman view her piece for the first time, and she burst into tears, telling me "It's her". Of course, I teared up as well. I think the tears are a mixture of pride, compassion, comisseration and hope. I actually get a little sad saying goodbye to the pieces but it's a huge honor to know people are wearing them and remembering loved ones.

Ok, I'll move along now. New class calender is up on the website (www.dragonflybead.com). I'm really focusing a lot on PMC classes, as that is what I am strongest in (and what I like to teach the very most!)

Rio Rewards PMC Certification Class

2009-11-05T13:00:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow is the second PMC Certification Class I've offered at my store. I feel like there's so much work to be done to prepare for it! Namely, clearing out the back room, so that I have someplace to work while the class is going on. By day 3 last time, I felt like I was in the way in my own shop! So I want to make sure I have space to work this time.

I'm excited to see Chris Darway again. He is a wealth of information and it's great to be able to pick his brain! I'll also have him check the temperature of my kiln, as it seems to be firing ultra hot.

Right now, I'm completely procrastinating from cleaning the back room. I've got to do it, I just don't want to. Siigh.

Will try to post some pictures of the Certification students in action, so stay tuned!

Dog on a ...cool, shingled roof...

2009-10-20T16:34:00.002-04:00

Hoo boy. I was sitting here at my desk and looked up when I saw some motion on the roof across the street from me. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a little dog on the roof! He didn't look like he was comfortable up there. I racked my brain, trying to figure out how to get in touch with the owner. As I called the Manlius Insurance Agency (to find a phone number, not for insurance) a customer of mine stopped in at Accents, and then I called Ling Ling's as well and got the name of the building's landlord. Meanwhile, a kindly tow-truck driver (perhaps less kindly if you're illegally parked and on the towing end of the deal) backed his truck into the alley next to the building, and with a lot of coaxing and some stale dog treats (Arrow hasn't been to the store since his escape several weeks ago, and consequently the treats have gone stale) was able to get the dog close enough to grab. Quite a bit of excitement. We had representatives from Accents, Ling Lings and the Manlius Insurance Agency, all whistling, "kiss-kissing" and "good-boying" to coax him our way. Glad it ended positively, I had horrors of him falling or trying to jump off. Time to get that boy fixed. He's in search of a little lady to corrupt and will, apparently, go to any lengths (and heights) to find a mate!

Trunk Show Bonanza!!!

2009-10-20T14:47:00.004-04:00

Well, the economy is slow. No doubt about it. It's been a little stressful actually. There's been a good deal of laying, sleepless in my bed, wondering how to generate more sales while not being able to invest a lot in additional inventory. So you can imagine my delight when today I was presented with a great way to bring in spectacular new inventory with minimal investment! Serendipitously a vendor from New Mexico came into my store today to see if I might be interested in the gems he sells. After seeing the exquisite gems he had, I inquired if he would be willing to do a trunk show, and he was amenable to that. We agreed upon a two-day trunk show in November, and this is going to be the largest and most incredible show this store has had to date. Eric is a wholesale vendor at the Tucson Gem Show and and will be bring 100's of POUNDS of beads in for your convenience. No need to travel to find great deals and unique beads, he's bringing them to us! He also deals directly with several Southwestern Turquoise mines, including the Nacozari, Sleeping Beauty, Kingman, Campetos and Mexican Blue turquoise mines. He has a ton of REAL turquoise that he purchases directly from the mine and he is currently processing over 3000 pounds of turquoise. 3000 pounds!! He will also be available to answer questions about Turquoise and show you how to spot the difference between the real thing and phony imposters.

So, have I piqued your interest yet? Good! Because that isn't it. He has authentic Zuni Pueblo jewelry from New Mexico, a huge selection of precious and semi precious stones in different cuts (think the little tiny sparkly faceted cuts that look great with the little black dress!) authentic Baltic Amber (gorgeous huge hunks of it), Buddhist beads, natural shell heishi, finished pendants and bracelets in silver and Argentium. He'll even be bringing in LOOSE beads so you can pick up a few things here and there to finish projects. I'm pretty excited about it. He will be more than filling the bead bar with goodies, and will be bringing in racks of beads as well. Whew!

Mark this date in your calendar: November 18th and 19th. On November 18th, the store will be open late and we'll be serving refreshments. More details will come, but I just wanted to share the good news right away!

Mystery Delivery...

2009-10-15T13:29:00.002-04:00

So this morning I came into the store almost two hours early! Not because I was feeling especially chipper, but because I dropped off my car this morning to get some brake rotors replaced (ugh) and my ride had someplace to be at 11. I was working on earrings for Courtney's wedding in the back room, and I heard the door handle clicking, as if someone was trying the door to see if it was unlocked. (It was about 1 hour before I open, so I had locked myself in). I went out to see who was there, but there was no one at the door or in sight down the road in either direction. I didn't think much of it, and went back to working on the earrings. When I opened for the day, I stepped outside to hang the wreath, and found a shopping bag on my doorknob, with three vintage beaded necklaces inside! They are funky and look like something I might have taken from my grandmother's costume jewelry stash to play dress up. No note, no explanation. It was kind of cool! So if you are the deliverer of these goodies, thanks! You brightened my day.

Accomplishments..

2009-09-30T14:26:00.002-04:00

Ok. So once every two weeks is not as good as once a week, but better than once a month, right?

Today I am pleased to report that both the newsletter and class calendar are finished and have been mailed out! Now comes the large task of inventory-ing a BUNCH of new gemstone beads that arrived yesterday. These beads are part of the month long TRUNK SHOW at the store. My friend Nir of Nirvana Beads selected a great range of colors, shapes and sizes of gemstones. Green opal, amethyst, agate, lots of goodies. If my dang camera wasn't broken, I'd share some pictures.

My cousin is hard at work on a major project for her PhD in computer sciences, BUT! She is also working hard on putting together yet another website for me. I am thrilled that I will soon have a site dedicated to my memorial jewelry of dearly loved pets who have passed away. I will let you know when it's finished, but the site to be on the lookout for is www.commemorativejewelry.com. I just cleaned up the piece I made for Gonzo. Since I wear it all the time, it was getting a little dingy, so I polished the chain, did a little sanding to take out dings and scratches and re-patina-ed it. It looks great and it still is a comfort to wear. It's surprising how much I still miss him, and how much my memory of him has faded. I can't remember how tall he was, or his bark, the way he wagged his tail or tilted his head. It gets blended up with Arrow, who is a hellion and much more hyper and naughty than Gonzo was. The other day he ran away from Carlton and was gone for two hours. Then he just sauntered back, like "ok! Ready for supper!" It drives me nuts that I can't trust him off leash. Sigh.

Ok, back to the inventory. Keep your fingers and toes crossed that I can get my camera fixed!

Buyer Beware...

2009-09-15T15:33:00.002-04:00

Wow, so I totally got a scam phone call today! I can't describe how I feel...kind of proud that I didn't totally fall for it, kind of stressed that I gave them too much info and may be getting a phoney invoice after all... . I was in the middle of working on a project with a customer, so I was distracted when I answered the call. The caller ID showed "Unknown name/Unknown number". The caller asked for the "person in charge of advertising" and I, already on my guard, asked who was calling. She told me her name (didn't catch it) and that she was calling from ezyellowpages.com. But, she said it quickly so I really only heard yellow pages. I said "are you trying to sell me something?" and she said "oh, no mam we're just updating our records. You had an ad with ezyellowpages.com last year and we are calling to confirm the info is correct". Still assuming I was speaking to someone with the ACTUAL yellow pages, I answered YES to a few questions, which I guess it not a smart thing to do, as they often record the call, send you the "invoice" then when you say "hey, I didn't agree to that!" they say "well, we have a recording of you saying "yes" to it" and they doctor up the call. Freaking CON artists!! So then she hands me over to the quality control supervisor or some such nonsense. At this point, I'm like what the hell is this? I don't remember ever signing up for this directory. I asked the quality control woman when I "signed up", and she was like "oh, well last year it was complimentary" and I said "well who initiated that, I don't remember contacting you" and she said "oh, it was probably through your website" (HUH? What does THAT mean?) So I asked her the cost of advertising, and she said $479.99. AHHH! WHAT! To which I said, oh, well then I am NOT interested in continuing to advertise with you. At that point, she actually got WHINEY! and said "well why not!" and I said "because that's quite expensive". She started to get very pushy and I said "you know, I'm in the middle of something right now, why don't you give my your phone number and extension and I will call you back at a time that is more convenient to me" and she said "what time would be more convenient for us to call back?" and I said, "no, I want your number" and we went back and forth with her refusing to give me a number, and me refusing to give her a call-back time. I finally said "if you won't give me a phone number, I'm not interested in purchasing advertising through you. That sounds like a scam" and she said "we're not a scam, you can go to our website www.ezyellowpages.com and see that we are a real company". My response...are you ready for it? it might be my favorite part (drum roll). "Great, then I'll go to your website and find a number to call you back" then I HUNG UP! Yeah! (I'm never rude to telemarketers or solicitors so that got my blood pressure pumping! I'm such a nerd).

So, curious about ez yellow pages? Go ahead, Google it. You will find complaint after complaint after compliant. If you are a small business owner, please be aware of this scam. I am not a chain letter. I am a really business owner, and this really happened! Don't let it happen to you!

2009-09-01T15:05:00.003-04:00

Siiiiiiiiiiiiigh. I'm back home. I miss VT already. Can you imagine working in a setting like this? Look at this amazing studio! I do, however, feel like my creativity has been re-kindled and I can't wait to play more with PMC, after a solid sleep!

The Studio

Celie's mo-hawked poodle

Only finished one of my hinged boxes yesterday and then did some keum-boo on it (adding 24k gold foil). The un-fired box is my favorite, and if it fires well, it will be amazing. I'm really hoping nothing falls apart, it was a lot of freaking work! It's very locket-like and I love the way it looks now. Here are a few pictures of the locket pre-fire. It may not look like much, but keep in mind those tiny little hinges were made by hand. Which consisted of rolling out rods of clay, using a flex-shaft to sand them, then drilling through them! If you've ever tried to drill through leather-hard clay the diameter of a spaghetti noodle, then meticulously attached 2mm tubes to a narrow ledge, you will appreciate those hinges!

I'm so exhausted! I had such an amazing time, and part of me wishes it could have gone on for several more weeks. Another part of me doesn't think my brain could have handled any more! I need a nap.

She's coming unhinged...

2009-08-30T17:21:00.002-04:00

Wow. My brain hurts. We've spent the past two days constructing boxes in PMC and today we attempted the hinges. It is NOT easy! I had every intention of coming home with 4 or 5 hinged boxes...I finished one...the easiest type of hinge, a swing hinge! I am working on applying a hinge to a lentil bead currently, but it's not an easy endeavor, (and Celie said the hinge-on-lentil is one of THE hardest. Siigh!) I am having a great time though, and feel that I have, at least, gotten more confident in making boxes, and I at least understand the concept of making the hinge. Meanwhile, I'm in Vermont, working with Celie Fago in PMC. Not much can trump that.

I've got to hinge away. I'd like to try to get the lentil completed tonight!

I LOVERMONT!

2009-08-28T18:32:00.008-04:00

Siiiiiiigh. I love it here. Really wish that I was taking a PMC class every other week with Celie Fago in Bethel VT. I'm sitting outside the studio now, looking at the beautiful mountains in the distance, tired but invigorated and filled with ideas and inspiration.

Our magical view from the studio.

Blogging, however, is proving more difficult than I'd imagined! I'm staying at Marge's B and B in Sharon VT. It's 4 and 1/2 miles down a dirt road. Very cool, but very low tech! Which is great when you're on a creative vacation, but not so good when trying to keep your public abreast of what's going on (I sound like royalty! My "public"??)

Neighbors at the B and B!

I arrived around 8 last evening, after scrambling around my house and store gathering up supplies in a haze of caffeine. As soon as I crossed into Vermont, I felt like I was home again. What a beautiful state. I took Route 4 E from Rutland to White River Junction, a scenic and twisting road. I drove through Woodstock at dusk, and it was bustling with activity. Woodstock is one of my favorite cities in Vermont....I wished I'd have more time here to explore. When I got to the B and B, I was greeted by Marge and my "roommate" Kellie...we're staying at a working farm, in the old farm house with not much privacy. Which is actually fine, as Kellie and I chatted amiably until bed and are getting along quite nicely. Wendy will be joining us this evening (she's in the CNY Chapter of the PMC guild with me!) Marge had baked fresh chocolate chip cookies, fresh bread, fresh zucchini bread, and fresh brownies! Such a treat. I slept so well.

The Round Barn

Today I arrived and we did the tear-away texture in the morning. Since I had worked on this technique in the past, I knew what to expect and am pleased with the Indian motif collage I put together, and the textures that I created. Celie demo-ed some hinge-making techniques, and we got started on making hinges. She tells us it's a very advanced technique, and when I tried my first few hinges, I very much believed her. By the end of today (currently) my brain feels over-loaded. I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep, and another day of creativity tomorrow!

My work space

Memorials

2009-08-19T14:45:00.007-04:00

I finished two more memorial/reliquary pieces over the weekend. I was kind of in a panic over them. One had been on my to do list for a long while, but I had the most difficult time designing a good image and a good stamp. I then discovered the joys of Photoshop! No longer do I have to rely on my dismal drawing skills! The second piece had a deadline (of today). A young woman leaving for college today wanted to get it for her stepmother, who had just lost her doggie companion Leia, and whose nest was going to be emptier than ever. I was so pleased with how they turned out, but more importantly, Natalie and Ellie were delighted with them.

This is Mouser, a sweet domestic short-hair and big time purr-er. She was very loved by Natalie, who still misses Mouser, even 2 years after losing her. It's incredible how profound the loss of a loved companion animal can be.

And this is Leia, loved by Marianne. What a thoughtful gift from her step-daughter. Leia was a yellow Labrador retriever, and was Marianne's constant companion and shadow. I know she is very missed.

I also made a few pair of earrings for Blue Prints Dog Studio, who was hosting a Pet-Wash to benefit the SPCA. These were my favorites...

It's been great to be creating again. I want more of it!

Bouckville Antique Bounty

2009-08-12T16:28:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I took the day off work to...well...to work! I have two memorial pendant's I'm in the process of making and I have a deadline on one of them. They are not the type of piece I like to work on in the store, as I like to be more mindful when I am making them. There are constant interruptions at the shop. The phone rings, customers come in and inevitably, as soon as I open a package of clay, a customer comes in who wants to design something, and my clay languishes and dries out before I've rolled it once. So, needless to say, I am able to work uninterrupted in the comfort of my own home, with my dogs at my feet. (Arrow was very interested in the PMC yesterday, so I had to shut him out of the room eventually. I was afraid he'd try to eat it!) I am happy with the way the pieces are coming along, and I hope they will bring comfort to the owners of Leia the lovely blonde lab, and Mouser the tuxedo-face kitty.

In the afternoon, Carlton and I took a trip out to the antique festival in Bouckville. The "main event" isn't until this coming weekend, but there are tons of tents and stalls set up already. I found some vintage French watch crystals which I hope I will be able to use in future memorial pieces. They are slightly domed, which may present a bit of a challenge in fitting them, but I think the end result would look great, and might even help to magnify the contents a bit. I also found a few more copper book plates...great for texture! One of the ones I picked up has this old fictional map of the ocean, complete with sea monsters and many-sailed ships. Very cool. There is such a plethora of golden oldies at the show, it makes my head spin. I want to outfit my whole house in unique and well-made vintage and antique pieces.

It was nice to have an extra day off. I could get use to that. I probably shouldn't...but I could.

Pretty in any language...

2009-08-06T16:16:00.003-04:00

The past few weeks, I've had a friendly customer come in and purchase an assortment of unique and lovely beads. She speaks very little English, and occasionally comes in with a gentleman who translates for her. The pair came in yesterday, and the gentleman explained that she is Italian, and they met online. He has visited her in Italy, and she is currently on a 6 month visit in the United States. Her sister, apparently, is quite the beader, and she has been picking out beads for her. Her boyfriend (the translator) is a photographer, and asked if he could take some shots of the store to send to the sister in Italy, as they've never seen anything like this store in over there. I obliged and today they dropped off a CD with the photos on it. Take a look!

Here's some of the new lucite:

And some of the naturals...

And cinnabar!

Some nice shots! Doesn't it make you want to shop?

A bunch of good peas...

2009-07-30T22:31:00.006-04:00

The past two days have been really nice, so I thought I'd mention them. The store has been busy with kids and adults coming in to make jewelry. I've seen a fair number of grandmothers and granddaughters on their "girls' day out", making a souvenir at my store!

Yesterday Chris and Jackie Rice of CNY Glass were at the store for a trunk show and a class. Chris, inspired by his new work in welding and metal, made an adorable pea-pod using copper and lamp worked beads, and pretty soon Jackie was in on the action too. Look at how cute they turned out! I think I see a future class collaboration between DFB and CNY Glass!

At the end of the day, we went out for dinner in Caz, and had a great time talking, laughing and sharing a meal. I consider Chris and Jackie to be some of the most talented artists I've met, as well as really good friends! I only wish they lived closer. They are great about coming to this area frequently for visits. I should be making more trips to their neck of the woods!

Today was another nice day at the store. I called Laura in for back up, and managed to get the newsletter done and mailed out! Whew! After work, I went out for dinner and drinks with my friend Casey, and the meal was topped off with complimentary cotton candy! It doesn't get better than that.

I'm hoping to actually find time this weekend to work on some newly commissioned pieces. It's been great to have the store so busy, but between getting new items in to inventory, writing the newsletter, and teaching classes, I've had very little time to create. Though, with friends and family visiting from out-0f-town, and a PMC Guild meeting on Sunday, this weekend may pass by in a flash too. I know I'm getting old by the trite expression I'm going to use next: I wish there were more hours in the day. When I was 9, heck, even when I was 18, even my early 20's (the school years)..the days, weeks, months and years seemed to tick by much more slowly. I remember sitting in classes and lectures, watching the minute hand on the clock move in agonizing slow motion. And summers as a kid lasted forever. Boo hoo. But I guess I must be having a good time.

Sometimes the best laid plans...

2009-07-28T17:44:00.005-04:00

Ok..so at least I'm sticking to my plan to blog at least once a week. But I have had such a good week, it's going to be difficult to remember all the specifics!

My mom spent the last week at Quilting by the Lake, held for the first time this year at OCC (she's been attending for the last 20 some odd years, first at Caz College, then most recently at Morrisville). On Thursday night, (or was it Wednesday...see what I mean about remembering specifics?!) she arranged a "Road Trip" and brought several of her class mates, and her teacher Anna Hergert (http://www.annahergert.com/ert.com/) (Check out Anna's work, truly amazing.) to the store for a mini "ladies night out". They enjoyed browsing around the store, and I enjoyed the purchases they made, including some of the new earrings I just came up with, and which I LOVE called "Thought Bubbles". I'll have to get some photos on this site. Their evening ended at Kimberly's for ice cream. Sigh. Wish I could have joined them there!

Last week was also our first session of Kids Summer Bead Camp. The campers were all so sweet and they made about 6 great projects. They had such a good time they were begging to come back for session two! Meghan came up with all new projects in case they come back. Look at this creative group!

The other day I met with a student of the Neuhaus school at Syracuse. Unfortunately, I forgot her name, a very large oversight on specifics. I met her through Jen who is the owner of Thanks a Latte. This young woman was working on a project for her class about businesses using social-networking sites. As a blogger and a new Twitter-er, she wanted to pick my brain about what social networking has done for the store. I know I'm only just scratching the surface of the available resources online. But it was interesting to contemplate the impact things like Twitter, Facebook and Blogging have on businesses these days.

On Sunday, I went to the Quilt Show at QBL with my mom. We'd planned to also go to the craft fair downtown, but didn't get to it. I made some really wonderful contacts at the quilt show, and sold 5 pair of my "Though Bubble" earrings!! They are so popular, again, I've got to get a picture up here.

Yesterday I picked up Cocoa from the airport, then took a most wonderful nap, took the dogs for a bike ride, and had my friend Jenny Ryan over for dinner. With Carlton out of town, and Cocoa just back in town, it was nice to have a group of ladies together to giggle about men leaving the toilet seat up (I'm sorry men, but you know you're guilty), and enjoy a little wine and Canoli (I was convinced I didn't like Canoli. Unfortunately...I do!)

Today was a really busy day. I felt kind of "chicken-with-head-cut-off". It's nice to be busy, but today I felt like I wasn't able to give people as much of the kind of attention I'd like to be able to. I had a rush of 7 people come in at once to make jewelry! Ahh! So I felt a little divided. I'm exhausted and ready for a nice glass of chilled white wine. Which I don't have in my fridge. So looks like it might be luke warm tap water.

One final note, here's Arrow hard at work (or hardly working) as Store Dog

New Weeks Resolutions

2009-07-21T17:44:00.003-04:00

Ok. I'm lighting a fire under my own butt. It's time to get my act together and get myself in gear. I have a list on my desk right now, reminding me of the things I need to do daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly:

DAILY

Twitter post. I kept hearing about Twitter, so I joined, but then I never tweeted. What gives? So silly. So expect a daily Twitt (except, perhaps on Sunday and Monday. A girl needs a day or two away from technology!) Then there is answering emails, phone calls, daily to-do's. And, after doing some reading on The Crafty Retailer (www.thecraftyretailer.blogspot.com) I am going to spend time every day MAKING something rather than get mired in frustration over "never having time" and then losing the momentum and motivation to create.

WEEKLY

A blog post! You loyal readers deserve more than a monthly update. Interesting things happen to me at least weekly, and it's time to tell you about them. As an example, I went for a bike ride yesterday with Carlton and the dogs. We went along the Erie Canal to Green Lakes, which, by the way, has some spectacular lakes with aqua water that would make you think you were in the Caribbean! I received a bugbite which is literally 1.2" by 1". I measured it. As if that weren't interesting enough, I ALSO got a LOT of new beads and findings at the Syracuse Gem and Mineral show, and they are inventoried and out in the store. I also got a new PMC book called Silver Clay Keepsakes. I liked it so well I kept one for myself. I will also strive to take photos and update my Etsy site, (www.elmbellishments.etsy.com) as well as get to work on my NEW website, which I will reveal once it is set up and "launched".

MONTHLY

Stinking newsletter. I complain about it every month, and it's time to just shut up and get it done. I'm also going to start working on monthly promotions and other communications.

I have other things listed in each of these columns, but I don't think they are of much interest, ans they include the minutiae of running business. Sigh.

Feel free to stoke this fire with gentle (or not so gentle) reminders to keep me on task! Thanks for reading and supporting.

A bright, rain-shiney day

2009-06-26T20:48:00.007-04:00

I just had such a great day. I taught a PMC class (which always makes it at least a very good day) and had the best kind of students in Linda and Dawn. Curious, creative, asked good questions, could view a demonstration and then work independently. Love it! They turned out some very nice pieces (a bracelet and several cool pendants) and seemed to have a great time. I think I made two new PMC converts!

I finished three more drawings for memorial pieces, and was lamenting the fact that when I am done with those, I won't have a new one to work on. Which isn't to say that I wish harm on any one's pets. But making these pieces is so spiritual: it makes me feel close to Gonzo, it makes me go to a place that making "regular" jewelry doesn't take me. It's just SO amazing to be asked to create one of these memorial pieces. I was so happy to get an email today from a friend who commissioned me to another piece. This is for a woman who works with dogs in Nashville. Her dog is still alive and full of energy, but she wanted a commemorative piece anyway, cause she just loves her dog so darn much! I can understand that! I am hoping to spend Sunday or Monday working on those.

I'm also really looking forward to tomorrow. CNY Glass will be doing a trunk show, and Jackie Rice and I are teaching a class making dichroic glass and PMC sandwich pendants! Here is a photo of one of the samples.

It's been a slow few months, but I'm starting to feel inspired again, and motivated to try some new things in PMC. I was BLOWN AWAY by this video that artiste Jennifer Kahn put together for Etsy. Check it out, have your friends check it out, have your mom check it out... The more people who view it, the better chance Jen has to win! Support Jen and support PMC!

http://www.etsy.tv/video/Etsy-Handmade-Metal-Clay-Moment

By the way, for you regular readers...the Maid of Honor toast to my cousin? I nailed it. Went over brilliantly! I had people I didn't even know approach me afterwords to tell me how nice it was. It was witty, genuine, heartfelt and sentimental, all in one speech! Sometimes, I can be pretty cool. Here's a photo of me delivering said speech, one of me and my "twin" cousin, and a few other wedding beauties. Thanks Chia Lin! You naughty photographer you!

Procrastination Junction, what's your function?

2009-06-17T14:41:00.004-04:00

Trying. To write. A Maid of Honor Speech for my cousin's wedding. ACK! Hard to focus, so instead, I'm putting things in inventory, feeding tomatoes to Arrow and otherwise just stalling. Sigh. Hard to be witty, genuine, heartfelt and sentimental all in one speech!

So in the next few weeks, I should be getting a website together for the memorial jewelry I've been making. I'm really pleased about that, because I have never experienced anything like making these pieces. It means so much to be asked to create one, and it helps to keep Gonzo's spirit alive. I was happy with how Meg's ultimately turned out, though of course, neglected to get a picture of the back. I am working on one now for a sweet little kitty. I've been handing postcards and business cards out to every pet-business I can think of in the area. Here is what the postcards look like...(thanks SO MUCH to Jackie Rice of CNY Glass for designing them for me! She's amazing. And I got them through gotprint.com. They did a quick and wonderfully professional job.

I'm definitely starting to forget things about Gonzo, and getting memories blended with Arrow. I have a hard time remembering Gonzo's gait, the feel of his coat, his expressions, his bark, even the way he looked at me. It's such a weird process. It still catches me off guard sometimes-the realization that he is gone. It's nice that Carlton and Colby live with me again. I miss watching Colby and Gonzo play, though I'm starting to forget what that looked like too.

Arrow is a sweet pup, and I'm trying not to expect him to be just like Gonzo. He has his own personality and his own cute mannerisms. He's a lot taller, a lot thinner, and a lot less devoted to me. Would run away for the smallest squirrel or chipmunk. But we're still working on manners and obedience.

I suppose I should get back to this speech. Don't have much time to finish it!

Pet Reliquaries

2009-05-19T15:46:00.005-04:00

This weekend I finished my first commissioned Reliquary piece. This was for the Jones family who just lost their lovely girl Sierra. They asked me to make a piece similar to the one I made for Gonzo. I was pleased with the way it turned out, and I sent it today. I hope they like it and that it will bring them some comfort.

Here is a picture of Sierra and the finished piece:

I've also been working on the piece for my cousin's dog, Monster. I am less happy with it, and may re-do it. Here they are, side by side:

I think this is the first time I've felt really fulfilled since making jewelry. When I make a piece, I think of Gonzo, and I feel like I'm doing something that could really help someone hold a loved one close.

I don't only want to do these for sad occasions though. I think it might be kind of cool to do "Baby's first Tooth" or first hair cut, or maybe a wedding date with a bit of the brides dress. I've always liked Victorian jewelry, and symbolic pieces were popular back then (for births, weddings, and even deaths). I find inspiration in that.

Next weekend I'll be making the final trip to VT to help Carlton move. I'm excited to have him and Colby here, but I'm feeling sad about the "loss" of VT. It's been nice to be able to visit and have a place to stay (and not on a friend's couch or floor!). My goal is to get back there some day, own a neat little farm house in the country, and work on memorial jewelry full time. I'll say that's my five year plan! But for now, it's time to write another newsletter. Siiiigh.

Photos from Certification Class

2009-05-13T18:13:00.002-04:00

What happened to my store!!

Admiring each other's work

Congratulations to Detta Poster, who "won" the kiln at the end of the three days! I was rooting for you Detta! Enjoy your new kiln.

The store is back in order, and I just received a new shipment of beads! I'm excited to show them off.

PMC Certification Class

2009-05-10T13:20:00.003-04:00

We're on day three, the final day of the certification class, being held at the store. It's bizarre to be here 2 years later as the owner! I took my certification class about 2 years ago at DragonFly Beads, with Chris Darway, the same instructor here today. I never imagined the next certification class at DFB would be hosted by me.

It's been an interesting three days. I don't really know what to do with myself. I was delighted to think I'd spend three days working on jewelry...Except I didn't! There are a LOT of people in this class (12 students!) which means the store was rearranged, as was my studio space. It's cramped in here! I did do a little work today, but I feel sort of blah. Creative block. I've got the time to create, I just don't know what to make. I was hoping to work on some enameled pieces, as I'm planning an Enameling on PMC class in June or July. But I didn't want to bogart the kiln or mug warmers.

It's pretty cool to see all of the different pieces these ladies are making. It's the same 7 projects, but each person has their own interpretation of the design, and it's great to see. They're all so different than what I made too. They are working on the pens now. This was the point that I just about reached meltdown, but everyone seems calm, cool, and collected at this stage. I'm looking forward to the final showing of every one's work!

Craft Bazaar and Memorial Jewelry

2009-05-04T16:05:00.006-04:00

It's been such a productive day. I shipped out a box of my jewelry to Carlton, who will be selling it for me at the Queen City Craft Bazaar. I really wish I could be there, because I LOVE the QCCB. This will be the 4th time I've sold there, alongside such talented artists as Jennifer Kahn! It's a lot of fun in an awesome venue: the old train station in Burlington is converted into an indoor shopping gallery, filled with hand crafted goods of all varieties. Pottery, clothing, jewelry. It's a juried show, and only takes the best (not trying to toot my own horn, but I'm proud!)

I also dropped off business cards for my Memorial Jewelry to the Emergency Vet on Bridge St, where we took Gonzo. I also took them to the SPCA, and to Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital of Manlius. While there, Connie asked me if I'd be interested in having some examples of my work shown there at the end of May, when she plans to have a little open house, showcasing local artists who specialize in pet-themed artwork. Of course I said I'd love to! More details to come.

Thanks to the help of some of my customers who are making deliveries, I will have my cards at the Animal Hospital in Wampsville, Liverpool, and Baldwinsville. I've also dropped them off at Cazenovia Animal Hospital and The DogGone Inn in Manlius! Oh, and I also met with Kelle McCaan from Eagle Papers today, and they will be doing a little article about my jewelry in their May 13th Pet-themed insert! Quite a day.

Last week I picked up another foster pup, Tanner. (He has caught the scent of something, and is pacing around the backyard right now, trying to find it! I wonder what it could be? Another dog scent? A bunny? Squirrel? Tanner is a real sweetie. I've been calling him Arrow. I can't wait for him to meet Colby. I hope they adore each other. He's only about 6 months old (which means he was born around the time Gonzo died.) He's quite mellow for a puppy. Kind of hard to believe he is that young. And NO bad habits! He's eager to please, likes treats and petting, and is a great running buddy. I really enjoyed having Harry, but he wasn't a good fit for Colby and that is a top priority for me. (Lets face it too, I'm "fostering" with the hope to find my next pup). I would have liked to keep fostering Harry though, to help find him a home. He was so well liked by everyone who met him, I don't think it would be hard to find a home for him. He just needs some exposure. I was fostering him while I was also watching Colby, and it got to be too much! I couldn't give them both enough attention, so he went back to his original foster mom. I intended to pick him up again, but didn't hear back from his foster mom until I'd already picked up Tanner (Arrow). I wish there was more time in the day to foster dogs, make jewelry, and run a bead shop!

Here's a picture of Arrow enjoying his first bone, and out for a walk at Stoney Pond. If you live in the area, make sure to check the Eagle Bulletin (or Caz Republican, and the slew of other Eagle paper names!) for my article and ad! (Did I spell that right? The spell check isn't working)

PMC Guild

2009-04-26T21:53:00.003-04:00

Today I held the first PMC Guild meeting since I've owned DFB. I'd say it was pretty successful! It was great to get all of these like-minded individuals together to brainstorm and figure out what we'd all like to see happen for our guild. I'm glad I finally got my act together and got it done!

I've been feeling so guilty for not keeping up more with writing these posts. I signed myself up on Twitter too, thinking that I'd be more likely to just do status updates, but I've yet to Twitt. There just aren't enough hours in the day to do it all.

I'm SO thankful to Jackie Rice, who put together a beautiful business card for me for my memorial jewelry pieces. After I made Gonzo's piece and started wearing it, I got many compliments, which usually led to stories of other pets that people have loved and lost. When Meg lost Monster, she asked me to make a piece, then they did a little blurb on my Gonzo piece in the Post, and I got to thinking, "why not make these for others?" It helped me so much with the grieving process, and I'd love to be able to help others through their grief in some way. I feel like it takes me back to my social work "roots". So now I guess it's official. I've started leaving cards at Animal clinics and other pet-related establishments. I'm afraid there will be even less time in the day now.

Copper Clay

2009-03-17T01:31:00.002-04:00

Had a little play session yesterday with Laura and my mom. We worked with the brand spanking new copper clay. It actually comes as a powder, and gets mixed with water to form the clay. It was trickier than it sounded. We never got a very good consistency with the clay. The first round I think was because we forgot the shake the container first. The second batch we did exactly as the directions described, but still there were issues with the clay. It did handle a lot like the Bronz clay, but the consistency was more like the Bronz as it's drying out. The clay felt cold and moist, but looked and acted dry. Finally mom and I just started making stuff, figuring it was an experiment. I was able to make component pieces for some copper bells. I'll have to post a photo of the ones I've been making in PMC, I love them! They make a delicate sound when worn, and they make me want to turn my head a lot so I can hear them tinkle. I've been furiously trying to get jewelry done for the beCAUSE show in VT, and I'm actually feeling like I'm in relatively good shape. I've chosen the North Shore Animal League as my charity and will make my donations in Gonzo's name.

I got some really sad news today. My "twin" cousin (we share the same birthday, a year apart) lost her dog yesterday. He was attacked by another dog and shaken to death. I know she is devastated and I am so sad for her. She is preparing for her wedding in June and working on her Phd, and this just came out of left field. Monster was her first dog. She and I shared many dog stories and training tips. I wish I was closer to her so I could give her a big hug.

A good week

2009-03-13T19:22:00.008-04:00

It has been a good few weeks. I wish I'd written about them earlier, because now there's too much to report! I met up Chris and Jackie Rice, with Mindy, and with Holly and her husband Ron for dinner last Saturday after the Innovative Bead show. It is always great to see Chris and Jackie, and it was additionally great to spend some time with Holly and Mindy! On Sunday I went to the Innovative Bead Show and finally met Renu and Serita, who organize the show. What lovely people! Serita gave me a really great idea, that should have been obvious to me, but wasn't. I've been complaining about the parking issue in Manlius, and she suggested that I just tell people where to park! DUH, right? In every email, on the business card, on the blog, etc. THERE IS MUNICIPAL PARKING BEHIND THE BURGER KING! There is also municipal parking on the little street that goes to Burger King (I'll have to get the name of that street...would really help with whole telling-people-where-to-park thing.)

This past Saturday I had a PMC class and Christie came from Utica to take it with me! It was a really good group and I was impressed by everything the class made. I'm really looking forward to Christie's Chain Maille class, and need to get a photo posted to the blog and sent out and get more folks signed up for it. I also am looking forward to a class coming up in April where we'll make Russian Leaves...I met a woman named Kyla at the bead show, who agreed to teach the class! Uses delica beads to make very pretty and delicate leaves. I'll be making an elm leaf!

I brought Harry back to Camille on Thursday. It's only temporarily, while Colby is staying with me. It was hard to go from no dogs to two, and I felt that I couldn't adequately give either dog the attention they need. I do feel less sad though, with Harry gone. Kind of weird. He was bringing up so many memories of Gonzo, that I'm not sure I'll be ready to peel that scab again when Colby goes back to VT.

When Harry met Colby (and Spruce)

2009-03-04T15:30:00.003-05:00

Had a nice (albeit brief) visit to Vermont the past few days. Carlton left for Montana today for snowboarding, so I went to pick up Colby. I brought Harry, thinking it'd be nice for him and Colby to meet on Colby's turf (they met once before in my backyard which was new territory for both, and they just did a lot of sniffing and peeing on the fence). Colby was tickled pink to see Harry, and Harry was mostly indifferent. We took them for a walk to the park where they did interact a little bit more. (Chasing each other around at top speed!) I think the car trip was stressful for poor Harry. He drooled a lot, threw up and didn't eat his dinner. His appetite was back the next day though, as was his prey drive...Spruce the cat is NOT a fan of Harry! I assumed Harry was fine with cats, because he's fine with Dusty (Cocoa's cat who is pretty dang sedentary). Spruce, on the other hand, is young, spry, and likes to run around. We were sitting in the living room, the dogs were chewing their bones, and suddenly Harry started making a crying sound. It sounded like he was in pain. Then he jumped up and tore after Spruce. There was a little standoff, a skirmish, then Spruce hid in the bathroom and Harry ate some poop out of the litter box. Such excitement!

I was able to see my friend Ann while I was there. Ann is my dog-training mentor and trainer. (I was an apprentice dog-trainer, she was the dog-whisperer!) She liked Harry a lot. In fact, everyone who meets Harry likes him a lot! I've had many people tell me "he's a keeper!" He truly is such a sweet guy, and pretty easy to train. But I've also been getting more and more depressed about Gonzo this past week. I'll be dog-sitting for Colby while Carlton is in Montana, and I'm so glad to be able to spend time with him. He was our first dog, and we had him for two years before we got Gonzo. It's been a while since it was just me and Colbs. I miss him, and he's still alive! I feel like I took Gonzo for granted for 2 years, thinking I had another 10 years with him. I don't want to take Colby for granted either, and I am feeling like I'm not ready to share my heart with a new dog. I'm ready to give my love to Colby and the rest of my heart is still Gonzo's. I still think there is another dog out there for me, but Harry is too similar to and too different from Gonzo at this point.

Maybe I'm feeling over tired. It's been a long day. Sigh.

Newsletter Time...

2009-02-28T11:31:00.002-05:00

Argh. Glad the newsletter is done. It's not so much the writing it, it's getting it to look right on "i- contact". Apparently there is some issue with HTML, Microsoft Word, and it was suggested I used Dreamweaver (which makes me think of Wayes World). But I don't HAVE dreamweaver, so that doesn't solve the problem even remotely. So, I'll put my newsletter on the little template, then as soon as I start to add in photos, things are bold that weren't bold before, things are underlined that I didn't want underlined, and the most annoying part is that I can't un-bold or un-underline things. Sometimes I can't even change font size. ARGH! It quite literally took me 4 days to put together the newsletter and calender and send it out. And two of those days were devoted to trying to make things work on I Contact. Sigh. But it's done now, so that is a relief! Now time to work on stuff for the beCAUSE show in Vermont. It's coming up quick and I'm so unprepared!

Oh Harry...

2009-02-26T23:16:00.002-05:00

So. Today Harry chewed almost entirely through Gonzo's (sacred) harness (he left about 1/4 inch which I duct-taped together) and chewed entirely through his 40 foot lead (while he was alone in the back yard) in under 3 minutes. That's an annoying trait that I feel ill-equipped to counter. I have to catch him in the act. I caught him in the act with the harness, but he was already 3/4 of the way through it. That took him maybe 5 minutes. And with the 40 foot lead, I looked into the back yard (seriously, about 3 minutes after I let him out for his before-bed pee) and I saw the line go around the corner. I whistled for him, and he came tearing back, and I watched the line, but it didn't come slithering back to me. I saw him run inside the house, and still, his lead stayed in the same place outside. He had about two feet left attached to his collar. How the hell? He has the tiniest mouth. How can he saw through these things so quickly? And what do I do about it? I guess I have to stand outside with him for the nightly pee. It's hard to not say "wow, Gonzo and Colby never did that". And it's true, they never did. Granted, Gonzo jumped off a cliff, and Colby got kicked by a horse. Colby jumped out of a car window (multiple times) and went galivanting off, and Gonzo once ate an entire plate of cheese that we had prepared for a party. But never did they chew through a leash. Damnit! That leash was so handy! Siiiiiiigh.

Progress and setbacks...

2009-02-26T10:56:00.003-05:00

Harry did a great job again yesterday at the store. He clearly loves people and loves to be pet! I've been keeping him on the leash and preventing him from jumping so we aren't reinforcing that behavior. This morning I took him for a long run, and I used the gentle leader harness. It was amazing the difference it made. It was kind of hard for me to use that harness though, because it was Gonzo's. It was adjusted to fit him perfectly, and I had to enlarge it for it to fit Harry's chest. I felt like I was erasing another memory of Gonzo. That was the last thing I had that was a document of his size. I know it's kind of silly, but it was still hard. All of Gonzo's leashes and collars are sacred. Those won't be used for any other dog. But the gentle leader I look at as more of a tool. And it worked wonders on Harry! Rather than running in front of me, pulling and weaving back and forth in front of my path, he ran next to me or behind me the whole time. I was feeling pretty good about my leadership. When we got home, I asked him to sit before we went inside, and he tried to bolt in (a bit of a setback, he's been good about sitting at doors). I closed the door a bit so he couldn't make it in, and accidently pinched his paw between my leg and the door and he yelped. He foot was fine, but he seemed to think I'd done that on purpose. I felt his leg, gave him some love, then fed him breakfast, but he won't eat it, and he put himself into his crate. So now of course I feel awful, and I can't reason with him or explain accidents. His stomach is making terrible rumbling noises too. I think he must be hungry. Or maybe he doesn't feel well. Gonzo's stomach made those noises at the end, so that kind of scares me too. The woman who had been watching him was surprised he ate the first few days he was here. She said generally when he leaves her place and is fostered elsewhere, it takes him about 2 days before he will eat. So maybe he just had a delayed reaction. I hope that's the case. I may try to entice him with a little tasty meat scoop on top. We'll see... ok. That worked! Harry has eaten and is ready to be store dog for another day.

PS. Don't forget to come in on Saturday and see all the new goodies from AZ! Oh, and I had been overcharged at the Amber booth, so I'll be reimbursed for the overage...in amber! I'll keep you posted as to when that comes in...all the way from Lithuania.

Harry's second day.

2009-02-24T22:48:00.002-05:00

Harry was SUCH a good store dog today! I was expecting there to be a lot of jumping on people and getting into trouble, but he was on his best behavior. It helped that I had him on leash. There were a few attempts at a jump, but I was able to prevent them. He really sucked up all the loving and petting today, and more than one person commented on how cute he is. My friend Christy from Utica stopped in tonight, and she completely fell in love with him. I am afraid she will hurt me if I don't adopt him! I'm still going to take it one day at a time though. He's a real love, but he's still not Gonzo and that's who I want.

I had a little preview show tonight of the beads I got in Tucson, which was a huge success! There is still plenty left, and it will go out this coming Saturday. I didn't think it could possibly happen, but I did find myself wishing I'd gotten more of a few items which, at the time, seemed like impulse buys. Sigh. Sometimes you just have to trust those impulses!

I'm working on the newsletter and hope to have it out by the end of this week. Then I've got to get cracking on making some jewelry! I've got a show in VT on March 21. It will be here in no time, so I must get busy. And now to bed.

shhh, he's sleeping!

2009-02-23T18:31:00.002-05:00

Too cute. Harry ate his dinner (daintily, again) and put himself to bed! He's snuggled up in his crate, and comes out periodically to see what Cocoa and I are doing. Pretty sweet little guy.

Harry-the first 24

2009-02-23T17:31:00.003-05:00

So I've officially been a foster (dog) mom for 24 hours. I picked up Harry yesterday and in the first 3 minutes of being in the house, he peed on my bed. Sigh. He did well last night, but he's got some habits that need to be broken. He's a "counter-surfer" and has a hard time staying out of your face when you're eating. He definitely doesn't get "stay" yet.

I didn't sleep that well last night. I worried that Harry would be restless in his crate. He was fine though, and was laying calmly in his crate when I let him out this morning. Of course, once he was out, he was bonkers and jumping, so happy to be released! But he calmed quickly. I fed him breakfast, and what a dainty eater! Nothing like Colby or Gonzo. He would take a few bites, then a few laps of water, then a few more bites. It probably took him 2 minutes to finish. I think Colby can do it in under 30 seconds, and Gonzo was no slouch either. Cocoa and I tried to take Harry for a walk, but it was SO cold, and we weren't dressed for it. So later we bundled up and took him for a showshoe at Stoney Pond. He was cute in the snow. At one point a cross-country skier passed us, and Harry showed us his houndish nature. He was ready to CHASE! He was able to follow her scent for quite a while, and when the path hit a Y, he knew just which way she had gone. Pretty impressive. By the end of our excursion, he was wiped out. He slept the whole way home in the car!

I'm having conflicting feelings about having a dog in the house again, or this dog in particular. He reminds me in some ways of Gonzo, but I am also so much more aware of Gonzo's absence, so aware that his is NOT Gonzie, and I miss him more than ever. I miss him more now than when I was dog-less. Watching Harry in the snow today, I couldn't help thinking of Gonz, wishing it was him. I have been thinking about when I first met Gonzo, what I felt about him, how I compared him to Colby (and he didn't hold a candle to Colbs at the time, though eventually he became my number one). I keep having little bouts of sadness and tears. I don't know if I'm ready for another dog. And I know Harry is a foster, so he's not actually my dog. Still though, I wonder if I will compare every dog to Gonzo (and if they'll all fall short). I was so convinced Gonzo's spirit would find it's way back to me, and that it would be through Harry. But now I just think I'm not enough over his death to accept a new dog for just who he is. And I know that's OK, but it's painful to still be having these feelings, and still miss him so sorely.

Well, Harry is hungry (he is sitting very patiently in his crate. I'm glad he likes the crate so much!) and so am I. I'll keep you posted on Harry Huckleberry Hound..

So long Sonoran desert...

2009-02-18T11:21:00.002-05:00

Well, I'm sitting in the Phoenix airport waiting for the flight back home. Sigh. Saw Air Force One on the Executive runway on our trip in. Obama is speaking at a school here in Phoenix today, then will be flying back to DC. Kinda neat to see his plane. Pretty impressive.

So I had another successful bead-shopping day yesterday. I finally got to meet JR from Beadrageous (my dad was able to meet him in June, and got some great deals on gorgeous beads). I also got a great deal on some gorgeous beads! More pearls...the rest is a surprise.

My mom and I then wandered around Old Town Scottsdale while my dad golfed. We went through a few galleries and were accosted by numerous pushy sales-people (my mom was looking at a bracelet at one shop, and the sales-woman took it out, put it on mom's wrist, told her it was half price ($250 marked down to $125...by the way, it was strung on elastic) then said, "so, did you want to get that?" She was pretty pissed when my mom said no). Had a lunch, or rather, high tea at the Sugar Shack (shak?), which is featured in many Bill Keane "Family Circus" cartoons...by the way, one of my least favorite cartoons. Had cute little tea sandwiches and super healthy milkshakes.

Did a little more wandering around, visited a rubber stamp/scrapbooking store, where I found some stamps for PMC, then went out for more food and margaritas. I could have sworn we were sitting next to Alan Arkin, and I spent about 15 minutes on my phone (which had no reception) trying to look up "Little Miss Sunshine", only to discover it wasn't him.

And now we're sitting in the airport. It was a great trip. I'm ready to go back, but not entirely (I hear there's more snow). I may be acquiring my foster doggie Harry this Sunday, so that's something to look forward to. I also can't wait to show off all my new beads! But give me about a week to get them into stock. I bought a LOT! I more than doubled my orginal budget. So I'll just plan to double that again next year!

Arcosanti and beyond...

2009-02-17T10:45:00.003-05:00

I can't believe the variations in this state's topography! Yesterday we did a little day trip, stopping first at Arcosanti. Arcosanti is "an urban laboratory". It's called an Arcology (architecture plus ecology) and was conceptualized by architect Paulo Soleri (who studied under Frank Lloyd Wright). Soleri is perhaps most famous for his bells (wind chimes). I'd LOVE to do a workshop there, especially if I could learn how to cast the bronze bells! Find out more about Arcosanti and arcology at www.arcosanti.org.

After that little stop, we went on to Jerome, which was an old copper mining town, about a mile up in elevation and with homes built into the mountain. It was pretty incredible. I wish I'd gotten pictures! It was like a "wild west" type of town. Back in the mining days, it was populated mostly by men, with a whorehouse for their "needs". It was such a quaint little town, made all the more interesting because it's populated mostly by artists now. There were cute little shops and boutiques winding up the steep streets.

Finally, we headed to Sedona. Wow. It looked entirely different than Tucson (which is in the Sonoran desert). The earth was RED! With these incredible formations made by erosion. Sedona is apparently a mecca for touchy-feelies and psychics. There are supposedly several vortexes there which emit a lot of energy. I can't say for certain, as we didnt' visit any vortex formations, but we did go to a church built into a cliff, and could see the "castle" and "bell" formation in the distance. The church was built by a woman who had done some studying under Lloyd Wright (Frank's son). She felt the US needed a church that was simple, and that celebrated the natural beauty surrounding it. It really did have a stunning view. You even had a view of the "showoff" formation, directly below the church. This formation was created by some guy from Michigan who had more discretionary income than he knew what to do with. So he built a really ostentatious, braggy type of house riiiiiight under this simplistic church. The house was built like an Italian villa, complete with fountain, waterfall, four-car garage, and observatory deck for watching stars! I just think, if you've got that much money, why not build where you have some privacy....ooooh, unless the whole point is to show off?

We ate dinner at the Cowboy Club, an old saloon. I had rattlesnake (consistency of shrimp...kinda tasted like shrimp too, but less "fishy") and cactus fries! They were really good (of course, anything fried is good). Kinda tasted like pickled cucumber (not to be confused with pickles). Of course we had the obligatory margarita, then a little fudge for the ride home.

Today I'll be doing a little more bead shopping, seeing what Scottsdale has in store, then packing up for the flight home tomorrow. Sigh. Not quite ready to get back to reality.

and the money just keeps on rolling...out

2009-02-15T12:58:00.002-05:00

Well, despite the most frugal expectations, I spent more money yesterday! We went to another gem show, and I found some great deals on pearls, so I couldn't resist. Couldn't resist some new gemstones either... and some silver. I was even able to fill a few customer requests! I don't last long at these venues though, before I start to get a little panic-y and ready to leave. I think I was at yesterday's show for 3 hours, and once the money-spending seal is broken, it's hard to staunch the loss of cash. I knew if I stayed any longer, I'd just keep spending. And my mom is pretty good at limiting me, but she has her moments of weakness too. And once you spend $10, it's easy to spend $20, and if you've already got the check book out, why not drop another $50...and on it goes.

We met up with some friends (Foster and Cher) that my parents have known since before I was born. They hadn't seen each other in 15 years! Cher accompanied my mom and I to the gem show, and was pretty impressed. She's not a beader, but kept commenting "I could SO get into this!" We stopped for a late lunch at another great Mexican restaurant in South Tucson (margarita's, of course...it was 5:00 somewhere!). My dad played golf with Foster all day then we had dinner at their house, which is up on a hill and had a great view of the sun setting over Tucson. It was kind of surreal but neat to see my parents interact with friends they met when they were my age. It would be kind of like not seeing Chris or Jackie Rice again until we were all in our late 50, early 60's, and reminisce about the things we did at 30.

I was hoping to meet up with Lucy Pirro, who is a customer of DragonFly Beads when she's summering in NY, and a resident of Tucson in the winter. We never were able to make our schedules collide though.

Supposed to be a high of 70 here today. My house-mate called to tell me the heater is broken, so it's 46 degrees in the house in NY. I'm pretty glad I'm not there, though I feel terrible that Cocoa has to be cold and displaced (up the street to my parents WARM house) until Monday.

Leaving Tucson today, but already made reservations for the Gem and Mineral Show next year! (Will arrive earlier, stay longer and hopefully take some classes). We're on to Phoenix/Scottsdale today. Will go to a desert museum, followed by a trip to Ikea. Of course, I have NO room in my suitcase anymore, and I really need a bed frame and a rug which certainly won't fit, so it might be a very frustrating trip. But I do like Ikea.

The next report will be from Phoenix. And yes, there is one more stop on the Gem Show trip, to a great bead shop in Scottsdale. My dad visited Beadrageous in June, and brought back some beautiful Lapis, Kyanite and Apatite. So I'm not done spending just yet...

Whoooah

2009-02-13T18:44:00.002-05:00

Holy freakin' expletive. This is one over-whelming gem show conglomeration. I went to just one venue today and spent my entire budget (and then some) in under 2 hours...unbelievable the quantity of beads and findings here. I got a LOT of new chain, silver and some green amber from the Carribbean. Very rare, and so cool! Almost a bottle green. Gorgeous. I got the traditional orange/yellow amber too. And some lovely lapis with golden splashes all over it. And I'm learning a lot about how to approach the show next year (come earlier, spend more!...that's where the bank will have to come into play!)

Around sunset we went to the San Xavier del Bac mission on the Tohono O'odham Reservation. It's a Franciscan mission know as the "white dove of the desert". It is a stark and pristine white building with rounded cupolas on top, landscaped with numerous types of cacti and heat-loving trees. And dust. I was glad to be there in the "winter". Pretty neat. We walked up a little hill beside the mission and looked out over lush green fields (irrigated) and to mountains on all sides. I think one range was the Santa Canalinas? But I forgot the name already. That was a rocky mountain. Then another smaller pimple of a mountain, which had the saguaro's dotting it so that it looked like a little hedgehog. It's so neat and uncanny to see cactus-lined streets! They're as tall as the trees we're used to seeing on our Eastern streets, but such an odd shape, spiky and kinda top-heavy. People's yards are planted with prickly pair, barrel cactus and saguaro's instead of grass and rhododendruns.

Had another great meal tonight, this one was at Crossroads, the oldest Mexican restaurant in Tucson. I had mole chicken which was so perfectly tender and delicious. And a delicious margarita! And guacamole aplenty. I love that you can have avocado at every meal here! So tasty. I'm well ready tomorrow. Hitting another show tomorrow (but will need to keep my hands firmly in my pockets to resist spending more than I alotted myself!)

Greetings from Tucson!

2009-02-12T20:14:00.002-05:00

Wow. So, after an entire day (starting at 4 am) of traveling, I'm finally in Arizona! It's sunny and 60 degrees, and at 6:15 pm, still bright out. Feels like 8:15 pm though, and I'm pretty exhausted. I inadvertently set the alarm for 3:30 am, and didn't need to get up until 4, so that was something of a bummer. And I tried to sleep on the plane, but it was a fitful sleep and cramped to set the least. I'm not a tall person, but being squeezed in the middle seat on a 4 and 1/2 hour flight felt like being squeezed into a sardine can.

I've never been in the Southwest. It's pretty crazy. Palm trees and cacti abound. Saguaro's jut up all over the mountains and stand on the ridges, looking like spines. The mountain themselves are so different than anything on the East Coast. On one side of the road, you'll see a dusty, barren expanse with large, rocky, craggy mountains jutting up. On the other side of the road, and entirely different looking mountain, green and looking much more verdant. Even the McDonalds, Walgreens and Target's are more interesting here, housed in adobe buildings with red tile roofs. I can't even believe I'm in the same country. I keep expecting to see some large body of sparkling turquoise water: I've have been "south of the border" before and the scenery is reminiscent of parts of Mexico, Belize, Guatamala (primarily the palms and cacti!) But these mountains! So incredible. The really tall ones have snow on top!

So tomorrow begins a day of beads. Tonight it's time for a little food and a margarita...I should sleep like an unbound sardine...

In Memory of Gonzo

2009-02-08T10:37:00.003-05:00

It's been ages since I wrote. I wonder if people are still reading?

I finally finished my Reliquary piece for Gonzo. I've been contemplating this piece since he died, and it has been cathartic to plan it out, sketch ideas, start working on the piece, and finally complete it. Of course, I burst into tears as soon as it was done. This has been my way of coping. I was careful with this piece, spent a lot of time on it. And I love it. The reliquary contains a little of his hair, some fuzz from one of his tennis balls, and some soil from where he is buried. Now I feel like I have a physical way to bring him with me wherever I go, even though I always hope he is there is spirit.

I also made this piece (before the reliquary was finished). It is a little more simple, but what I love about it is that the two disks hit against each other and make a sound like Gonzo's dog tags. The front disk has his image, and the back disk has his name and some of his nicknames. I've been wearing both necklaces as once. I really love that dog! I still miss him too. The process of making these pieces has helped tremendously but it's still been hard to go back to "normal".

Next stop Tucson. The posts from there should be more upbeat. Stay tuned..

Scribbles and lists

2009-01-08T18:44:00.002-05:00

Argh! Owning a bead shop is a lot of work! Especially after taking 7 days off! The stress of being back at the shop after a break is finally starting to wear off. I had a very nice, low-key and relaxing holiday, and my brain has been on vacation for a while! I am feeling more caught up now, though still not enough to work on my own jewelry. Sigh. Need to whip up a few more store samples, come up with a survey, decorate the shop, organize the back room, and THEN I'll start to create for myself.

I'm a big fan of lists. I've got several lists going right now actually. Groceries, things I need at Target (both for home and the store) things from Staples (again, for home and store). It's such a good feeling to check somehting off the list. I actually prefer drawing a big thick line through items, or getting a little frustration out with a scribble. But the biggest and most daunting list I'm working on right now is my Wish List for Tucson! What should I get while I'm there? Gemstones? What kind? Pearls, silver, gold-filled, copper...I could get myself in trouble out there. I want to mention that if there's anything you're dying to work with (some nice new apatite perhaps?) now's the time to tell me! I'll do my best to fill requests in AZ.

So, now I can cross "write blog post" off my list. With a scribble.

Anniversary

2008-12-22T12:30:00.002-05:00

Not the celebratory kind of Anniversary today. It's the month anniversary of Gonzo's death. I can't believe it's been that long, though sometimes it seems even longer. I miss him so much more when it snows. Yesterday I did some snowshoeing with Cocoa, and could picture Gonzo being there with us, bounding through the snow like a deer, wearing his little horse-blanket jacket. He was have eaten the snow, rolled around in it, buried his nose in it, searching for a tennis ball. Even the snow today, it's Gonzo snow. The light, fluffy, swirling kind. The day we put him down, it snowed like this. It stopped briefly on our way to the vet. We even got a glimpse of sun as we dug his grave. Then it began to snow again. I sort of feel like he's closer to me on days like this. I'm sure it's his way of visiting me and comforting me today. Now if he could just arrange for this kind of snow on Christmas Eve, instead of the fore casted rain. I can't wait to see Carlton and Colby, but I think Gonzo's absence will be even more profound and painful in the presence of two of his best buddies.

I want to put in writing how much I've appreciated (and relied on ) Laura Slivinski's help over the past month. She covered the store for me the day I put Gonzo down, and has been a God-send ever sense. She has great ideas, she's a hard worker, she understands computers much better than I do! I am glad to have gotten to know her better, though I wish it had been through different circumstances. THANKS LAURA! Laura will be covering the store tomorrow. We'll be open from 11 - 4. Then DFB will be closed until Dec. 27th.

Happy Holidays to those reading this blog. Tell your family how much you love them, and give your dog an extra pat on the head from me. And if you let him lick the plate, I won't judge you.

A Kindly Couple

2008-12-16T16:37:00.004-05:00

This past Saturday was the 3 week anniversary of Gonzo's death. It is getting a little easier every day, though I still miss him as much as the day he left. It was a quiet day at the store on Saturday. Cynthia Cameron (Glass is a Gas Designs) Sandi Canellos (Peace of my Heart Designs) and Laura Slivinski (Designs by Elle) were all at the store that day selling their jewelry. Colleen Ney was giving chair massages. I had just gotten a really relaxing massage when a young couple came into the store, looking for Christmas gifts. We were making small talk, trying to convince the husband he needed a massage. They mentioned they were from Baldwinsville, and I asked what had brought them to the store. "You" they responded! I thought that was cool, and wondered how they'd heard about DragonFly Beads. "Oh, we got a gift certificate actually." The young woman handed me her card and I ran it. Lisa Heitman was her name. Still in a fog from the massage, the name didn't register. She then said "This is my husband Ben by the way". Oh. Nice to meet you-I said..then...um.. do I know you? "No" she responded. I was a little confused. Laura was standing next to me, and I could see recognition dawning on her face. Then it hit me...The couch people! This was the couple that I meant to buy a couch from, until Gonzo got sick. The same couple that sent me the money from the sale of the couch to off set the vet bills. I got up and gave them a hug and thanked them profusely, and told them I wanted to be their friend. I hope they come back. I really enjoyed talking to them even before I realized who they were. Plus they're my age. Nice. I consider Laura, Sandi, Colleen and Cynthia my friends as well, and had told them all the story of the Craigslist couch couple. They were as excited as I was to meet them. Cynthia was actually getting a massage from Colleen at the time, and in a muffled voice (her head was on the massage pillow) called out "I want to see the couch people!"

Thanks again you two. And thanks to Sandi, Laura and Cynthia for selling their goodies at the store! Everything looked so nice. I'll have to post some pictures. And Colleen Ney, thanks for the great massage!

A picture is worth...

2008-12-02T10:58:00.003-05:00

I was excited to see the Syracuse Post this morning. It's their holiday edition with a special Gift Giving Guide section. I have an ad in their (look for it! There's a coupon for 25% off one item!) They also featured 3 of my PMC pieces! It was really neat to see them in the newspaper.

So I'm still really missing my little buddy, but it gets a little easier every day. I've also appreciated the kindness and compassion of my customers (and of strangers). Thanks to all of you for helping me get through this.

The Kindness of Strangers

2008-11-26T18:51:00.004-05:00

I think of Gonzo at the weirdest times. Today, when I was turning the lights off in the store, getting ready to go, I really missed him. He used to get really excited when we were leaving (supper!) and would follow me around the store, dragging the leash. If I took to long, he's start to whine a little or give a long sigh. I was trying not to cry as I walked to the car. I stopped by the mailbox, grabbed my mail (only one letter) and drove home, remembering how Gonzo used to sit in the way back of the station wagon, staring straight ahead. I catch his eye in the rear view mirror and just tell him "cute" or "good boy". I got home and opened the letter I'd picked up at the store. Didn't recognize the name on the return address. When I read the letter, I burst in to tears. My parents, concerned, asked what was wrong. When I showed them the letter, they became choked up as well. I had found a couch I liked on Craigslist early last week. I was high on the excitement of my new house, and couldn't wait to equip it with new furniture. I contacted the sellers, and we had a deal! I intended to pick up the couch on Saturday. When I knew Gonzo was really sick, and Carlton was going to drive him up from VT (I'd gone there for my birthday and I had to leave Monday for the house closing, and knew I wouldn't be able to get Gonzo to the vet here until Tuesday), I contacted the sellers to let them know I wouldn't be able to take the couch, and why. The letter I got today was from Ben and Lisa Heitman. They were the people selling the couch. They had ready about Gonzo's passing on my blog, and sent me condolences. They also sent me the money from the sale of the couch "because we know how expensive the vet can be". I am floored and so touched by their generosity. I want to pass this generosity forward, and will donate the money to an area shelter or SPCA (once I do some investigating to find out the most in need). THANK YOU SO MUCH BEN AND LISA! You two are beautiful.

Bye bye buddy

2008-11-24T18:31:00.004-05:00

Gonzo passed away on November 22 at noon. I had to sign the paperwork allowing his euthanasia, which was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. He was in acute kidney failure, and there was nothing we could do. I am completely devastated. He was such a good boy, and his ghost is everywhere. Under the desk where he used to sit to keep my feet warm, the back of the car where he deposited tons of hair, the front window where he used to peek out with a alert perk to his ears when I arrived home, the tennis balls thawing in the back yard, and waiting to be tossed, still stuck in the chuck-it. His food bowls, water dish, bones, collars, leashes. It's so painful to get through each day. He was my shadow, my constant companion and best buddy. I miss him terribly.

Goodness Gracious

2008-11-21T09:03:00.005-05:00

Has it really been that long since I wrote? October 30?? I'm sorry! It's been really busy, and I'm just trying to keep up. I had a great and very successful trunk show with Chris and Jackie Rice of CNY Glass. They are so great, I wish there could be here every weekend. And I celebrated my birthday, went to Vermont, bought a house, and recently, Gonzo has been very very sick. So, consequently, I've been worried sick and am still waiting to see what happens with him. He spent the last week in VT, as he needed to go to the vet on Monday, and I had to be back in NY by 4 to close on the house. He is still sick, and he will be being transported today, and then will spend another night at the Emergency Vet. Sigh. I miss him terribly. There are traces of him throughout the store and the house: his dog bones, leashes, water bowl and food. I keep remembering him sitting at my feet under the desk at the shop, bringing out his biggest bone and dropping it with a THUD every time a new dog-loving customer came in that he wanted to impress. I've only had him for 3 years, so he has to get better. No other option. Please keep him in your thoughts and hearts and send him positive energy! He's the black doggy on the right.

Ok, I need to get to the store.

Another month, another newsletter

2008-10-30T17:25:00.002-04:00

Ugh, newsletter time again. Bane of my existence. But I got it done, with lots of pictures of the upcoming classes. And there are a LOT of classes this month! I'm excited about every one. There will be some amazing hand-crafted goodies under a lot of trees this Christmas.

Exciting news...I got a call today from Tammy Zimmerman, Editor of Eagle Newspapers, and they want to do a little question/answer article for (I think it's their next...) issue. So I have to answer all these soul-searching questions like "who inspires you" and the dreaded "if you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why". I feel like I'm supposed to say Ghandi or Jesus, but it's more like Hunter S Thompson, because he'd be out of control...Or Kirsten Dunst, but I think that makes me a bit of a narcissist. So I'm going to have to give some consideration to this. Keep your eyes peeled for that issue.

Speaking of peeling your eyes, I have some coupons in the newest Clipper Magazine. Some good shopping incentives, so go to www.clippermagazine.com if you don't already get their insert.

Almost time to go home and carve pumpkins. LOOOOOVE me some toasted pumpkin seeds.

Who steals?

2008-10-28T16:41:00.001-04:00

So I haven't noticed anything missing lately, though today I realized that a pair of dragonfly earrings I'd made is gone. They were to give people an idea of what to make with these little brass wings that are in the store, but someone thought they were made specifically for them. To take for free. They were wrong. Just because something doesn't have a price tag on it means you can have it? No. I hope the stealer is karmicly punished.

Freshies

2008-10-23T11:30:00.003-04:00

I just bought SO MUCH new stuff for the store! Silver, Czech glass, and tons of new gemstones, holiday Swarovski earring kits, tools, findings. I actually lost a little sleep over all the goodness. You've got to come in and check it out...or better yet, BUY it! I'll post some pictures if I can figure out where to upload them. My mom took her lap-top to Belgium, and that's what I was using for the photo-dumps. Stay tuned, and don't lose faith. Speaking of Belgium, my dad had his hip surgery done there, and is recovering beautifully. He's already walking around with just 1 crutch and he had surgery 2 weeks ago. What a trooper.

I can't believe October is nearly over. I need to start cranking out some jewelry for the Holiday season. It's weird, this is my first holiday season in several years that I haven't had a show to prepare for. Sigh. I really love those craft shows. It's nice to buy and sell beads, but there is nothing like slaving over a piece, putting your heart and soul into it, and then selling it to someone who is as enamored with it as you are, and impressed beyond belief that you made it yourself. It's been hard to get my act together though, in terms of making my own stuff, because the store always takes precedence.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORED!

2008-10-15T16:00:00.004-04:00

Hello? (ello, ello, ello). That's an echo. "Chirp. Chirp." That's a cricket. "Tink". That's a pin dropping. Where is everyone?

Yesterday actually felt busy because I had two classes. I did "guided PMC" time during the day, which was pretty cool. Students were instructed to come in with an idea for a project, and we ended up making lentil beads. I'll be doing more guided PMC time next week. It's nice because it's a good excuse to play with the clay and refresh my rusty memory with some of the techniques. Then I did the "Earring Sampler" in the evening. All my students were such quick studies, and walked away with three great new pairs of earrings.

Today I decided to start working on my Masters Registry for PMC (check out the details at www.mastersregistry.com). I'm excited to get crackin' on it, but also a little nervous. I've been feeling creative block. Sigh.

So, I need some customers. Start thinking Christmas gifts. It's a great year for DIY projects!

Signs, Signs, everywhere are signs

2008-10-07T09:08:00.004-04:00

I have been approved for signage! Hooray! I'm allowed to put my sign out for one more week...and it can only have an arrow on it...and I can't advertise sales, events, etc on it...but a sign none the less. It was rather interesting to have to "fight" to be allowed to have one at all. I honestly don't see the harm in businesses advertising with A-Frame signs. The TOWN outside the VILLAGE that shall not be named has them all over the place, and I don't find them an eyesore. Granted, if it was a picturesque, small, historic town without a highly busy, main road going through it, and with no vacant store fronts, they may detract slightly from the beauty...But...I don't think they detract from buildings that went up between 1950 and 1970. And who is it hurting if I advertise a sale via the sign, and someone who otherwise didn't plan to stop in, decides to shop at my store, spend a lot of money, thereby allowing me to pay my rent, bank loan, and utilities (whew, that would be QUITE a sale!) While I'm glad I'm "allowed" to have a sign, I'm still a little irked. It does seem that certain Villages are not making it easy to do business within their hallowed streets. They kept suggesting I get new $ign$, or do adju$tment$ on my $ign, so that more room is taken up with my logo, add just the arrow, and leave no room for messages. I'm not sure if any of these people have ever purchased or maintained a business, but there is only so much money you can allocate. And I already own the freaking sign. I'd rather spend my advertising money on other things.

Anyone out there agree? Disagree? I'm open to and soliciting feedback!

I love silver

2008-09-27T09:37:00.002-04:00

Check out this pendant that Wolff G. made in the Basic Silversmithing class. I'm really impressed! It's a gift for his wife, who is an avid quilter. I should commission him to make one for my mom! Don't you want to take this class?? Just think of the gifts you could make! Joan! Sandi! Send pictures of your finished products!

My work here is done...for now...

2008-09-24T14:03:00.003-04:00

Well, the newsletter/calender is completed for another month. I even put a little teaser for November in there! I've made my orders, paid my bills, tidied my desk... Now I'm going to actually sit down and make some pretty things! It's been too long.

Sandi! You're a fine girl...

2008-09-22T17:45:00.003-04:00

It's always such a pleasure to see Sandi. She lives in NYC, so it's not as often as I'd like. Sandi was just in town, and took the basic silversmithing class. She was wearing the PMC necklace she made in the Discovering PMC class, and she'd added to it since the last time I'd seen. It looks great! So when she came back for part 2 of silversmithing, she wore the tee shirt that inspired the pendant. Cool right? She is such a spunky gal! I was also thrilled when Sandi came into the store on Friday with Cynthia Cameron (Glass is a Gas Designs). Cynthina and Sandi were my very first PMC pupils, and I am so happy that they have maintained a friendship.

Joan Morris and Wolff Garritano have also taken multiple classes from me, and share tips and ideas with each other. Ahh, isn't it nice how jewelry-making brings people together?

Check out these earrings. I made them for an upcoming class in October. I rather like them!

Remember me?

2008-09-16T17:48:00.007-04:00

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind! My good friend Lindsey was married off, my cousin successfully chose a wedding gown and bridesmaids dresses, and I met metal clay guru Celie Fago and learned all about "Bronz Clay".

I spent 3 days in beautiful Bethel Vermont with the wonderfully talented and generous Celie and her (equally gifted) apprentice Jennifer Kahn. I shared my work table with two other bead shop owners! (Nicole of Not Simply Beads in Plymouth MA www.notsimplybeads.com, and Pat of Colorful Creations Bead Company in East Longmeadow MA www.colorfulcreationsbeadcompany.com). We were able to talk shop while we played with clay, so I've got all sorts of new ideas for the store and for classes. I've got to do more experimenting!

The bronze was pretty interesting. It's very similar to silver PMC, but different enough to make me glad I took the class. The firing schedule alone was well worth the trip. It's a tricky and imprecise process. A nine hour firing time! And the clay has to be buried in coal-based, acid-washed activated carbon (I don't know what that means either). This causes the bronze to come out of the kiln with a gorgeous rainbow patina. The colors come off if you brush the brass with a steel brush, but I didn't want to remove any of the effect! I did one little hydrangea leaf that came out the perfect shade of sage green. The other aspect of Bronze Clay (BC) that was hard for me to get used to, was the fact that you don't need to keep any of the filings! The stuff is CHEAP! There were pieces that broke, and rather than try to fix them, I just chucked them. GASP! Because the BC oxides so qucikly, trying to make a slip of the shavings would be a waste of time and engery. The oxidation renders the slip useless, and prevents the clay from adhering. It's much more difficult to attach two pieces of BC than it is with PMC. However, 300 grams of clay is a LOT OF CLAY! I felt the freedom to make things as big as I dreamed, and as much as I wanted. The first day, I felt frozen. I couldn't think of what to make. I wanted to conserve all this beautiful terra-cota colored clay and make some stunning show-stoppers. Then I realized the true volume I had to work with, and at that point went balls to the wall (by the way, that's not even a dirty expression. It comes from pilots; their controls have balls on the top of them, and when they are going full spead, the push the control (the "ball") to the furthest position (the "wall") hence "balls to the wall"...kinda like when I put my car into fifth gear...but I digress) By the time I'd used up all my clay, there was no room in the kiln to fire it! So now I've got to get all the equipment so I can fire it here. But I've got some fired/unfired pieces if you're curious to see them. I'll try to take pictures, but I've got a lot I want to try to do today, so we'll see if I get to that. What I noticed about the un-fired pieces since I brought them home, is that they've begun to oxidize somewhat, and they smell TERRIBLE! I'm not sure what that's all about. I swear it's not me.

Belated Post

2008-08-29T17:56:00.006-04:00

Yesterday I met Ann, who made a great turquoise necklace as one of her first beading projects. I asked her if she minded if I took her picture for the website, and she obliged, though she felt sort of shleppy and said "I'm not wearing the right shirt for this necklace!" I said "oh, just let me take it and you can come back later with the right shirt (thinking I'd never see her again and lose out on the photo op). Well, she came back today and I didn't even recognize her! So I took a second photo, and doesn't she look great?

Today is Sept 2. I had a great weekend. I went to my friends Lindsey and Matt's wedding in PA! It was a lot of fun. A lot of driving too. So nice to hang out with old friends, so hard to get back into routine. I've wasted this whole morning farting around on the computer. So this is my last computer-related procrastination of the day, then on to breaking more 16" strands to 8".

Not feeling creative juices flow.

New Website!

2008-08-28T19:35:00.002-04:00

My cousin rocks. She is smart and pretty and I love her! She just completely changed the DFB website, and it looks great! Plus it will be much easier for me to keep it current, with class lists and newsletter, etc. Check it out! www.dragonflybead.com. Hooray for Meggles! (She hasn't told me yet if she loves/hates that nickname. I personally love it, and if my name was Meg, I'd answer to Meggles). Meg and I share the same birthday, but we're separated by a year, so it's not quite like having a twin. It's still pretty cool to share a birthday with someone you know. Whoopi Goldberg shares our birthday as well, but it's not the same.

Surprise Visit!

2008-08-23T11:48:00.007-04:00

Wow. Guess who came to visit today? Nancy Miller (www.nancymillerjewelry.com) and her brother (all the way from San Diego!) Dave Robbins. Who is Nancy Miller? Well, she is a PMC artist and I'd say one of my mentors. A really generous, giving teacher and all around great person. I learned to enamel on PMC from Nancy, and was then invited to assist in teaching PMC at the Double H Ranch (www.doublehranch.org) in Lake Luzerne. From Nancy's website, "She developed and continues to coordinate a summer time jewelry program for seriously ill children at the Double H Hole in the Woods Ranch, a camp founded by Paul Newman and Charles R. Wood. This entirely volunteer effort has been well received by the teen campers and has the full support of the PMC Guild and Rio Grande". It was so amazing for me to get to participate this summer. In the session I was a part of, two of the campers were native French speakers. I did my best to assist these two campers in French, but my French is rusty to say the least, and I've definitely never learned all the vocabulary necessary for PMC. I knew "l'argent" was silver, "couper" was cut, but I was at a loss for most everything else! There was a lot of gesturing and hand movements, but we got through it and the kids turned out some really great jewelry!

Nancy agreed to teach Keum-Boo at DFB! A guest teacher all the way from Saratoga Springs. Pretty cool. Probably won't happen until after December, but it will be worth the wait.

Today was a slow, but great day. I also got a surprise visit from Jenny Ryan Albicelli who is a good friend of mine from high school. I'm so thrilled to have reconnected with her since returning to NY. She is a big fan of my jewelry, which is great advertising. She's like Cocoa in the shameless promotion of erin. Yay ladies! You rock, rock. Jenny brought a friend in too, Rachel? And 2/4 of a family of jewelry-makers came in today for supplies: mother and daughter. And grandmother was in the car, and grandaughter is also a beader! Kind of neat to have 4 generations of women crafting together! My mom was also here for most of the day, and she was super helpful in getting the back room cleared and purged of stuff I don't use, and she even vacuumed. The rugs haven't gotten a good clean since I've been here, because the vacuum at the store really sucked, and not in a good way. That is to say, it didn't suck as it should. It blew. Literally. I attempted to vacuum the rugs in the front of the store this am. First I swept, then I vacc-ed, and when I was done, the vacuum had just blown the dirt off the rugs, so I had to re-sweep. The red rug still has cat fur on it. Mingled with Gonzo fur. Bleah.

I'm nursing some indigestion right now. Had delicious but very spicy Indian food for lunch and I'm hurting now. Need to have some alka-seltzer before going to a picnic with Casey. Ugh, more food?

Shiny Happy People

2008-08-22T19:33:00.006-04:00

Met the sweetest sisters today. And just all around good kids. I know that shouldn't come as a surprise. All the kids I've met at the store have been stellar. Libby and Claire came in with their aunt (Nancy?...I said I was going to remember all of their names, but that was 4 hours ago. yeesh.) They made mostly-matching necklaces and agreed to pose for a photo that I will put on the new website! (Launching in September). The were such lovely girls, sweet, polite, and silly. It just occurred to me as I uploaded these photos that Libby and I could be sisters. She looks like me at about 12 years old. I'd be a fun older sister. Unfortunately, the photos came out a little shakey. They were cute, striking poses, but I didn't really get a non-blurry photo. (Like that quilt in the background? I love it. My mom made it years ago. Perfect in the store, and perfect backdrop!)

I have been so happy and impressed by the people I've met through the store. Like Bobbi, who came in the other day to show me how much progress she'd made on her chain maille bracelet, and she brought me a little packet of fabric with dragonflies on it. So nice! She said that when she saw it, she thought immediately of me and my crafty mom and figured mom would find a nice use for it (maybe another Friday-night bag?) Or she could consolidate all the dragonfly fabric and make some sort of little quilt. My mom is seriously accumulating dragon-fly paraphernalia by the way. Fabric, knick-knacks...and every time we're out somewhere, she's the one going "ooh! look, this has dragonflies on it!" not that I'm complaining. It's nice to have her so enthusiastically involved. It's kind of catching. I find myself taking a second-look at anything dragonfly. It is stalker-ish of me to now give another shout-out to my stalker in Utica region? Ok, ok, it's my friend Christy, and she's hardly a stalker. But she another quality folk met through jewelry and DFB. I will stop there though, because if I keep listing the great people I'm meeting, I'm sure to leave someone out, and I'd feel badly about that. Bobbi and Christy are fresh in my minds because I just saw them. Not to diminish their greatness. Have I dug a big enough hole yet?

So, apparently people are reading this. I mean, not just people I've told about it in countless acts of shameless self-promotion. But folks are stumbling upon it through the magic of Google, and then they'll come in the shop and say "oh, yeah i read about that on the blog." How neat! And terrifying! But mostly neat. (Hi Blakes!) There was a young girl in the store today (hi Mia) who is taking a PMC class from me on Tuesday and apparently has seen the blog. She was looking summery and breezy. She re-strung a cute multi-color necklace. I should have gotten a photo for the website. Crap. I'll have to get photo of her PMC creations. She and her mom (hi Tia!) seemed excited about PMC, and her mom, who is an art-teacher in Syracuse, recently acquired a kiln! I'm hoping she can get some sort of grant so she can work with maybe the Bronze clay. I feel like that would be a PERFECT thing to introduce kids to. It incorporates science and art, and you can't beat that. Sintering, annealing, melting temperatures, combustion, fusing...oh my! Come to think of it, that's sort of where this whole journey began: in high school, I made scientific models (embryos, zygotes and mitotic division) for several biology classes out ot Sculpy (polymer) clay. Then in college I took an anatomy and physiology class that involved weekly labs with a cadaver. (I passed out the first class. But I swear it was the heat!) Seeing the human form so up-close and personal, but yet detached, I began working on making fairies, trying to concentrate on proportion and form. I enjoyed working with the polymer so much, that when I heard about PMC, it was a natural transition.

Ok, I'm trying to watch the Olympics opening ceremony (I recorded it) and it's very distracting, so I'm going to focus my attention on one thing.

Full of Glass...

2008-08-14T15:03:00.014-04:00

I had the NICEST visit today from Jackie and Chris Rice of CNY glass. (www.cnyglass.com, www.cnyglass.blogspot.com) They were so down to earth, pleasant and artistic! I went a little crazy with a shopping spree, but I just love glass so much I couldn't help myself.

How cool is that toggle!

I keep meeting these great people who are my age and who I want to be friends with, and they all live far away. Speaking of which, "shout out" to my stalker in the Utica region! I heart you!

Back to Chris and Jackie. Wow. I want to take a class with them. I never knew how much I like lamp work. But it's amazing the color and depth that can be created with glass. Chris did one piece that looks like a little vial (I've been obsessed, by the way, with small glass vials and perfume containers since I saw the BBC version of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe circa 1988 . The way I remember it, Lucy had this little glass vial that had a magic potion in it that could cure wounds. I'm actually re-reading the series now, and as it turns out, the "vial" was more flask size and supposedly made of diamonds. I had a ruby red version in my 8 year old mind. But I digress.) I'm super tempted to keep it, because it's so freaking amazing, but it doesn't actually open, and that was part of the obsession. I actually found the perfect little vial a few years ago at the antique fest in Bouckville, ruby red glass, sterling filigreed top...but it was around 200 dollars, and that was beyond my budget. Again, digressing.
Jackie makes these amazing pendants with flowers that she (to my understanding) kind of paints on meticulously with strands of glass. Freaking crazy. I did keep one of the little daisy beads for myself. I really love flowers. I also kept a bottle opener (a house-warming gift is my justification..oh, by the way, I'm in the process of acquiring my dream house! Hope to be a home-owner by October). Um...and a ring, but I might put that one out for sale eventually. Man, I'm bad. Glass is just too cool.

Speaking of glass...tonight I taught my first Copper Enameling class. And now that it's over, I can admit that I was losing sleep over it. I've only just dabbled in enamels, and I didn't know what I really could offer. But I determined that I do actually know more than some, so the class was a success, and my students Wendy, Karen and Melissa claimed to really enjoy the class and loved the pieces they made (I say "claimed" in jest. They did actually quite enjoy the process!) They were troopers too, working on fairly delicate work on an uneven floor and wobbly table. Wendy's two daughters came along and stayed in the store, coloring and drawing these GREAT pictures of Mario and Pokemon from memory. I was pretty impressed, as someone who grew up with the "dawning of the age of Nintendo(ious)" . They were such sweet, polite girls, and a breath of fresh air after crisis work. Check out the work of Wendy, Karen and Melissa!

PMC-RAZY!

2008-08-12T15:15:00.009-04:00

Today was fun. I wish every day was like today, minus the getting home at 10:45 pm part. But even that wasn't so bad, because I got to teach PMC (which I love to do!) and make chain-maille jewelry. Actually getting to work on jewelry (not just "store" stuff) is such a joy.

Today I taught PMC to Natalie, a very creative gal and aspiring graphic designer. She's going back to college at RIT pretty soon, otherwise we'd be friends (it's true, I even asked her). Look at what we made!

I love the pieces she made. Love love love. The ones that are like bubbles were inspired by a bead I didn't even know I had in the store! Check out Natalie's lovely work. If you'd like to see it in person, check her out at her mothers store, Caz Fabrics in Cazenovia! (I wonder if it's officially "Cazenovia Fabrics?") I'm sure she'll be wearing it every day. She also works at Commercial Art, but I'm not sure if she's out on the sales floor. Shout-out to Commercial Art, by the way, who sent several people my way for PMC.

I also made some more ginkgo leaves, and right on time, because the "Ginkgo Lady"'s husband was in today. The Ginkgo Lady is a woman who came in during the "Treasures of Manlius" event and admired a ginkgo necklace I'd made of PMC. She admired it for quite a while, but didn't buy it, deciding she would send her husband it to get it. She returned a few weeks later, after determining she really wanted it, and I'd sold it. I promised to make her another, and I did. The next visit from she and her daughter, she again decided not to buy it, since her anniversary was coming up, and her little girl promised to "bring daddy in". That ginkgo necklace sold last Saturday, and today, the little girl brought in her daddy, as promised, and I didn't have a necklace! So I showed him what I'd made, and took his number so I can call him when the necklace is finished.

The day was relatively slow in terms of customers, but holy phone! It just kept ringing and ringing, and everyone was asking about PMC! My "taster" class is filled for this month, and my full day class is already full for next month, even with the date TBD! So for those of you dying to try, I'll be doing another "taster" in September (don't have a date yet) and for those of you who are super serious about it, you'll have to wait until October! If the interest continues, I would be happy to offer two full-day classes per month, but September is a little hectic for me. I've got my Bronze Clay class in VT, a trip to NYC to buy beads and try on wedding gowns (not me, my cousin), a wedding in PA, and starting my intermediate silver smithing class! I only have two free Saturdays, one of which will be the "Discover PMC"

Then Christy came in to teach Chain Maille. Look at this "before" photo. Christy cut all these jump rings by hand! Such a trooper.
The class was a lot of fun, and I hope to have Christy back for more. She was a great teacher, and I'd venture to say a bona-fide new friend! I hope to have all the ladies who took the class back for more. Bobbi is a riot, she wanted to make a chain-maille bikini until she realized the work entailed. It's possible she was kidding ;) Bobbi is new to the area, and I've enjoyed her visits to the shop and our conversations. Two more new-comers, Zoe and her mom Linda just moved here from Switzerland. This is the second class at DFB for Zoe, and she'll be in the PMC taster. I enjoyed their company, and need to start practicing my french, they both have such perfect accents! And "the other" Christy (to differentiate from the one teaching the class) was a sweet new contact as well. I think she'll be back, and I look forward to seeing her. Putting the chain-maille together was somewhat challenging to start, but as we warmed up, the conversation turned to hair, homes, a "love shack" and bras. It's such fun to get groups of women together! By the end of the night, I felt closer to everyone.

I'm really enjoying this "job"!

HEY!! Shoplifter!

2008-08-08T16:24:00.003-04:00

I can't imagine that whoever is stealing from me would actually be reading my blog, but if you are, here is my message to you. You are not cool.

Over the past week, I've discovered multiple things were missing. Not wanting to be distrustful, and convinced I must be jumping to conclusions, I double and then triple-checked the items I thought were stolen in inventory, and yup, sure enough, things are being pocketed. It makes me sick to my stomach. It also makes me feel paranoid. I don't want to stare down every customer as if they are all potential pilferers. So I'm going to get security cameras. I'm sorry to the majority of my customers, who are honest, wonderful people. But it sucks that some jerk thinks they're entitled to take things from me. Not cool.

I waited a few days before posting this, to make sure I really wanted this message to go out. I do. I just want people to know my reasons before I get the cameras. I'm going to write a more positive post later, today has been PMC-razy!

It's Official

2008-08-01T13:57:00.002-04:00

Ok, I made an executive decision today. I was going to let the vote on "icontact" vs "constant contact" go until the end of the month, but I noticed that more people were responding that they had received "icontact" so my assumption (yes, I DO know what it makes when you ass u me) is that "icontact" is more deliverable, and less as "spam". Also, I prefer the lay-out and use-ability of "icontact" on my end, and I can do more in terms of font, colors, etc. I think some had difficulty with the font I used in the icontact email, so I'll stick to a more legible one. Ok. This is pretty dry. At any rate, you should be receiving welcoming email messages from DragonFly Beads (through "i contact") and I'll send out the newsletter anew. Thanks for you patience, and keep your fingers crossed that this gets out to as many people as possible on the list!

Friend?

2008-08-01T10:58:00.003-04:00

It's been a good week. Sue came back yesterday with her daughter Nellie and spent a few hours making earrings, a bracelet and a necklace. Such lovely people, I love having them in the store! Sue does land-scaping right now, and I keep meaning to ask if she knows anything about orchads. Orchids? I'd really like to try to grow one, but worry I've not got the touch. Clearly I can't spell them, which may not bode well when I'm trying to google "How to revive the "orchad" you just killed". (Orchid. That's what spell check is telling me. I knew that)
I also had 7 very sweet young ladies come in and make bracelets together. All very polite and a pleasure to bead with. Then first thing this morning I met Ashley, who is a real, honest-to-goodnes metalsmith! She's setting up a bench at her home, and she lives close to the store. I'm hoping she can help me gain confidence with the torch. I'd LOVE to spend some time with her and pick her brain. She loves to do chasing and repousse, which I've heard are some of the most difficult techniques in smithing. She also does black- smithing at the Manlius Historical Society! How cool is that?? I was telling her about my new found love of sawing and filing, and she showed me the rings she'd made. So cool. So I'm feeling pretty giddy! Could be the coffee, or the fresh smell of potential...friends...will you be my friend? I'm actually not as desperate as I'm coming across. I have some great friends here, but they don't make jewelry. Be-friending like-minded artistic souls is always motivating and enhances the creative process. Ok, I'll stop before I sound like too much more of a dork.

T-minus 7 hours until I see Carlton and Colby!

Good, Bad, Ugly

2008-07-29T20:33:00.015-04:00

Good: Lots of new friends and customers. I spent a large portion of the day with Sue, who made some jewelry for her daughters and herself. She brought a great presence to the store. She was calm and patient when the store got busy, and interesting to talk to when the store was quiet. A sweet woman named Nancy invited me to swim in her pool anytime, and dropped off her address and phone number today. Nice, right? And I have a grandmother who has come in just about every day since last Tuesday with her granddaughters, and they've made bracelets. I feel terrible that I'm blanking on her name. I want to say Deb, but I don't think that's right. I know her grand-daughters, but I can't place hers. But she's a big fan of my jewelry. She bought a necklace and earrings from me today before I'd even put them out for sale (I gave her a private showing! Actually, I'd just finished the stuff and thought she'd like it. She did.) So, these are no longer available! I tell ya, when I make one of these necklaces, I can't go wrong. They always sell quickly. And the earrings are kinda fun, they have cork-screw posts that squiggle through the ear. Not for the squimish.
Also good. I took some more photos of upcoming classes, and spoke to Christy yesterday (she's doing the chain-maille) and I'm really excited to have her come to the store. I think I can safely say she is a new friend. But she lives over an hour away. Sigh. I also have a potential local teacher (and friend?) who may teach a class in September. That's Callie, who is just so genuinely nice, and nice to talk to! So I look forward to getting to know her better too. Though she did just get a new job (congratulations!) so may not have a lot of extra time. Keeping fingers crossed. But I'm sure you're anxious to see the class shots...so I'll stop the tangents and get to it.

First up is the patterned bangle. Super simple, but oh so stunning, and you can bang it out in under an hour!Next up is Christy Abend's chain-maille. You won't believe how nice this bracelet feels. It's got a nice heft to it, but it's also very slinky and sexy. I can't WAIT to make one! I may never take it off.

I also made a new sample for the "Discovering PMC".

Ok, so by now you're probably wondering about the title. You've heard the good, and I don't like to complain...but now I'm going to a little bit.

BAD and UGLY! I'm grouping them together because they belong together. I kind of vascilated on whether I should even mention it, but I'm really bothered by it. I discoverd today that I'd had merchandise stolen from the store. Stolen from me. And it really bothers me. I'm a trusting person, now I think maybe too much so. But I don't want to be paranoid and dis-trust every person who walks in the store. Unfortunately, someone that I trusted blindly stole from me. Really really bums me out. I'm not sure if I should put in security cameras. It's a big investment, but so is the merchandise, so I've got to consider it. Blah.

Ok, so I'm going to end on a positive note. Debbe Webster also came into the store today, and dropped off these amazing mosaic mirrors that she makes! They're really unique! And it won't hurt to have more mirrors around the store. Carlton (my boyfriend) and Colby (my first dog, and Gonzo's "brother") are visiting this weekend, so I'm going to put him in charge of hanging the mirrors, and doing all of the "handyman" stuff that needs to be done around the store. (Carlton, not Colby). I'm really looking forward to seeing both of them! My brother and sister-in-law will also be here, and Carlton's brother, so it's going to be a busy weekend! But I think I'm going to fully give myself a weekend, and not go into the store Sunday or Monday! Shock! Suprise!

(well, I'm not really "over it". But I'll stop here anyway.)

New news is good news

2008-07-27T19:03:00.013-04:00

It's been a while. I have had a few people ask "are you gonna blog tonight?" Now that I know people are reading this, there's a lot of performance anxiety. But I finished the newsletter and class calender today, so I figured I should write a post as well. I want to include some of the photos of the upcoming classes! I'll add more as I take them.

First up is the Peyote Wrapped Cabochon by Tamyra Gates. That's on August 7th. The nice thing about this class is that Tamyra is bringing kits, so I just have to be there! It will be nice to learn the Peyote Stitch. It's a popular one.

Next up is Discover Precious Metal Clay, taught by yours truly on Aug 12. I've really enjoyed teaching this class thus far, though I have to say the pieces I've made during it have been sub-par. I think I'm concentrating more on making sure the student gets something out of the class, and putting less effort into the pieces I make. I've aslo discovered frustration anew when the piece brakes before it's fired, usually when I'm trying to sand it. That doesn't happen when you saw silver. Not to say I'm a total convert, but I do love to saw.

Then I'll be teaching Copper Enameling on Aug 14th. Enameling is kinda what got me into this in the first place. I was doing some wire wrapping, then had the idea of the enameled dog-paw pendants when I worked as a dog-whisperer. Actually, I just worked in a doggy day-care, scooped a lot of poop, and did some basic-obedience training. A whisperer I was not.

I think I took my first enameling class 11 or 12 years ago. I don't feel old enough to claim that, but it's true. I think it was 1997. Maybe 1998, maybe only 10 years than. But at any rate, a while ago. Around the same time, I took my first basic silversmithing class. I'm taking a refresher right now, but I'm proud and excited to offer the first basic silver-smithing class at my very own store! It's a two-parter. Part one is Aug 19th (my mom's birthday). Crap, I just realized that. We'll have to do a nice dinner on the weekend. Anyway, during part one, students will practice sawing, piercing and filing on a piece of copper.

During Part two on Aug 21st, they will put those newly acquired skills to work on a copper or silver pendant. I just made a pendant myself that I am completely enamored with. I don't mean to toot my own horn (though I have been known to toot) but I just love this nexklace. So this is "saving the best for last"...

Voila

Busss-ted

2008-07-18T13:34:00.002-04:00

Awww man! I got busted today by a "certain town" in NY where I may or may not be doing business...hope that's cryptic enough for the fuzz. Apparently I need a permit in order to display my sign on the sidewalk (the sign, by the way, that at least 5 people have mentioned in the past two days as good advertising "Hey! I saw your sign and had to stop in!"). So, now I can't advertise until I present my case before a certain town board and hope they approve my signage. Grumble. So, if you are reading this PLEASE tell people about the store! I may not be able to advertise with my sign until September, depending on when the next board meeting (and whether they approve it) and I have to bring it in by October 15 anyway. The rest of the summer without free advertising in the form of a (tasteful and simple) sandwich board. I need some good word of mouth. Wow, is this my first complaint blog? I apologize. I try very hard to not put out negative vibes, but this was a little irksome, to say the least.

On a positive note, my dad brought me an ice-coffee and delicious donut! It's a good thing I'm writing this entry now, before the caffeine and sugar high kicks in. OtherwiseI'dbetypingandtalkinglikethiswaytoofastandwithoutpausingforairspacingspelingorproperpunctuationwhew!

Nice Glass

2008-07-17T22:49:00.011-04:00

Glass is cool. I kind of feel like I have to go there and quote Paris Hilton by saying that it's actually "hot". Glass is hot. Oh god, I'm ashamed. Seriously though, I'm astounded by all the different things it can do. Glass is like the tri-athlete of the beading world. I've finally got my friend Donna's dichroic, fused glass pendants up and labeled. They look like jewels! Some even have an Opal-y look to them.

And of course Denise Sachs Mischlanie (I like using her full name. It's sort of a test to myself if I can remember how to spell it. I actually think I spelled it wrong there) of Whirled Peas and her gorgeous lampworked beads.

This week I acquired some unique pieces from two new artists. David (I forget his last name. I'll edit this post tomorrow and include it) ...McKenney of gbd (glass by dave) studio...in lowercase! Love that.) in earlier this week, and he does lamp-work focal beads. I picked out some neat pendants and these crazy big marbles that look like vortexes or far off galexies.
Today Dianne came in (Does your name have to start with D to be a glass-artist?) whose last name I also forget. I've got her card at work, I'm writing this from home, don't have their cards in front of me, and have so many new names swimming around in my head, it's no use racking my brain to come up with them. Seriously. So many names, and I feel so guilty, because repeat customers come in and say "Hi erin!" and I'm like "Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii", and I just draw out the end of the word as a feeble attempt to stall for time and miraculously come up with the right name. I was relatively lucky today, I have to say, when Laura Sliv...(ok, I can't remember the last name anymore. Slivinski maybe? Except I said the wrong last name earlier today too, and I think that was the same one I used) I did remember her first name, though it took probably 5 minutes. But when Dianne came in with her glass pendants, no sooner was the name out of her mouth that I was thinking "damn, what was it? Dana? Denise?" Ok, but back to "Di's Delights". (Diane Radclife. Just checked the card. No website (yet!). Dianne does fused glass pendants similar to Donna's, but she also does pendants with "Wasser" glass, and now I have to gush a little bit about those. I like the jewel-y dichroic stuff, but let's face it, I'm a bit of a touchy- feely, crunchy- earthy girl, so when I saw the trees,I got pretty excited. She also makes pendants that look like gemstone cabochons: jasper, turquoise, etc. And she paints glass on glass! She uses tiny bit of glass called frit to make the trees and background. Amazing.

Have I boggled your mind yet? Mine's bogged. I need to go to bed!

Nice day for a blog

2008-07-13T17:43:00.007-04:00

Also a nice day for a jog, though not when I went for one. I was running at quite possibly the worst time of the day. It was humid, muggy and sunny at 9 am. I hate running in the sun.

So I spent the weekend at the Syracuse Gem and Mineral Show (www.gmss.us) at the state fairgrounds. Yesterday I demonstrated PMC and must say, think I blew the minds of a few people. They couldn't comprehend that I started with a lump of non-descript clay and ended with pure silver jewelry! I met so many DragonFly customers, past, present and future. It felt productive and good to introduce myself as the new owner and make new contacts. I think I've got three potential teachers for wire-wrapping, chain maille and peyote stitch. I sat next to Lynda Pickard of Living Transformations (www.livingtransformations.com). She is a Hypnotist, Reiki Master, Holographic Sound Therapy Practitioner, and all around nice woman! She was using crystal singing bowls, so I got a good sacral cleansing. She had two bowls going, but I forgot what other chakral area I had cleansed. My crown perhaps. I negated the soothing benefits of sitting next to Lynda by going into the wholesale section though. There was about an hour of frantic shopping with no real rhyme or reason to what I was purchasing, other than "ooh! I like that! I'm getting it." Then I was overtaken with nausea when I started to contemplate the amount of money I was dropping, and whether or not anyone else would like the stones I was selecting. I saw Sandi there, and was pleased to hear that she and Cynthia went to the show together. I feel like I made a nice little connection there. Sandi was conflicted about buying silver, remarking "I could MAKE this!" Ahh yes, the power of PMC.

I went back today with my mom and Donna (friend, neighbor, graphic designer and artiste extraordinaire) who helped me "think outside the box" so to speak, and pick out some items I may not otherwise have considered. I saw Rika Muratone, Mindy (of both Rikreations and Market Beads), my new "stalker" Detta (Detta is just LOVELY and not remotely stalker-ish but we've run into each other just about every day now for the past week!) I made some great new contacts for bead purchasing, but have to apologize to pretty much everyone I encountered after 2pm, because I was completely and totally overwhelmed and undernourished. (However, I was served a delectable deviled egg by a very fine gentleman who is certainly a new wholesale account. Thanks "Harry and Mom"!)

It's going to take some time to sort and label the new goods I picked up, but I plan to go in to the store tomorrow to get started. Now that some of the sticker shock is subsiding, I'm excited about adding new merchandise to the store. Come see what's new! But maybe give me until Wednesday.

Today's also a good day for Wii! My dad just got one, and I've got to go see if I can set it up.

A "Feisty" Weekend

2008-07-10T11:50:00.004-04:00

The past week has flown by. I can't believe it's Thursday! I've been convinced since I woke up this morning that it's Wednesday. Last Thursday I went to Vermont for a long (relaxing) weekend. A whole week ago?? Really? Spent some time on the shores of Lake Champlain, saw a dragonfly the size of a helicopter. Literally. Well, ok, more like when you see a heli-copter in the distance, not like standing right next to one. On Sunday I saw Feist perform on a grassy hill at Shelburne Museum. I think if I was a singer, I would have really liked that concert. I liked it as a spectator. The crowd was docile and happy, neo-hippies were dancing on the lawn with giant hula hoops and flowy skirts, it was a beautiful, warm night. I keep listening to the same Feist CD over and over at the store. Then on Monday I arrived an hour late and with Gonzo in the car to my silver-smithing class at the Kirkland Art Center with Lisa Oristian. Luckily no one minded, and Gonzo was able to come inside and eat his bone. He was very well behaved with only a little barking and whining to let me know he was thirsty.

I don't really remember Tuesday, but Tuesday evening Denise Sachs Mishalanie of Whirled Peas came to the store to take a "condensed" PMC class. I wish Denise lived closer than Utica, because she is just so pleasant to be with! We were so busy enjoying ourselves that all of a sudden it was 10 pm and we hadn't fired our pieces yet! I didn't get home until 11:30, and was at the store by 9 am Wednesday to set up for another PMC class! Cynthia Cameron (www.glassisagas.etsy.com) and Sandi Cannellos (who, by the way, were the two lovely ladies who were patient and understanding on that crazy Saturday that I was freaking out) spent the day learning PMC. And I mean spent the day! The class was scheduled from 10-4, but we didn't finish until 7! They were good guinea pigs for me to figure out my teaching method and realize that I need to do less talking and more doing. Also, need to really stick to one simple project for the first class. Both Sandi and Cynthia picked very tricky pieces. But they turned out so beautifully! Cynthia made a little bud vase that she intends to put fresh (or dried) flowers in and Sandi made a pendant that represents the design she came up with for a tee-shirt for the summer camp where she is a counselor for a week (I hope there are no English teachers reading this because that was one of the worst and longest run-on sentences ever written). Sandi reminds me sooo much of my friend and upstairs neighbor in VT (hi Emily! This is a "shout out" to you). Similar look, style, tattoos, jobs, etc. Kinda weird...That whole "doo de doo de" thing. I wanted to set them up as pen-pals, but was afraid that they would hate each other and be offended that I thought they were similar (actually, they are both such sweet and wonderful ladies I highly doubt they would dislike each other). I don't have great photos of either of the pendents Sandi and Cynthia made, but I'll post what I've got:

So, teaching the PMC has been a blast! My mom was wonderful and ran the store yesterday. Luckily it was rather slow. But I'm feeling now more than ever that I'm going to need an employee or two. I'd like to be able to sit in the little studio and teach PMC more often than once or twice a month. How about once or twice a week! YESSSSS