plates and cones and a wild ride!

It has been another wild week. I feel like one of those jugglers, we saw on Ed Sullivan so many years ago. The ones that could keep all those plates spinning in the air. Unfortunately, I am not as good at it.

I am looking into this week and I don’t even want to get started. Usually, I can clean the slate  on Monday and begin the week with the resolve, “this week will be easier”. I guess what really tipped the scales last week, was my taking my Mother into hospital. Twelve hours in the emergency at the General, is just painful for me. I really hate institutions. I hate the responsibility of walking the tight rope, so you get attention for your loved one, and but not make too much fuss, you create a scene. I can create a scene just standing around so when I am emotional, it’s not good. I knew we were in the right place when they put us to the head of the line. She was in the observation area,( which I know I should be grateful for)  for six hours before we saw anybody. I will spare you all the details. She is alright, and she should get out either late today or tomorrow.

The cone Kirk is holding , is one of the ones I brought home.The one behind him might be the one Chris has.

I had family that visited on the weekend so I went to the cottage to get some uninterrupted beading time. I am working on getting to know the cones, I brought back from Tucson with me. I have never before approached someone’s work with the intention of making it my own. I it’s like familiarizing yourself with the voice of a new author. I find when I read a new book, especially if it is well written, it takes me time to become comfortable with the voice. Once I do I sit back and enjoy the journey. The cone has taken some time, but I think we are becoming fast friends. Late yesterday, I started playing with the shape. I sure hope I get some more one on one time with it this week. I will see Chris tonight and see how she is doing. She always picks up things faster than me. I am a lucky person to have her in my life.

The picture of the cones was lifted from Kate McKinnon’s blog. http://katemckinnon.wordpress.com/ If you don’t follower her, you should. Go over and have a read. She is a wonderful writer and is so very  generous with her access to her life as an artist.

You can also read more about the book, that the cones are aspiring to grow up and become part of.

 

It’s Friday and the weekend is looking great!

Valentine’s weekend is looking pretty exciting. Aaron was in southern Ontario for a conference this week and has decided to delay his flight back to Sunday. I am so looking forward to having lunch with him at Niagara-on-the-Lake this afternoon, such a nice treat. I’m sure he doesn’t know but tomorrow is his Dad and I are celebrating our anniversary. February is a good month to have little celebrations.

Lezlie's bracelet too by Lezlie Winemaker Feb 12th

I can’t believe I am not busy at the store this morning. The bogo sale started pretty slow.  Maybe because we are expecting a snow storm and extremely cold weather. Normally that doesn’t keep us hardy Canadians indoor. We have had such a mild winter, people might be think this is it. I hope not, Dave and I will be on the road right in the thick of it.
I really want to make a run to the cottage, I have some tools I need for Sundays class. I am looking forward to making some rings with Lezlie in the morning. One can never have too many rings.
“Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes,
she shall have music where ever she goes.”

In the afternoon, she is doing a bracelet or if you want, you

Ring Mania

can make it into a necklace. It is a fabulous piece and Lezlie is such a great teacher and so generous with her knowledge. She has been working with her hands and making accessories to sell since she was in her teens. The day is always so much fun, with lots of skills to learn. Also so many of my favourite people are  in the classes. Judy, Petra, Barb, Stephanie and Lise.  They are such a creative bunch.  I am so very lucky to get to spend time with all of these woman. Both classes have spots if you want to join us. Lezlie is bringing some copper and brass if you feel your budget just can’t take another silver treat right now.  It’s easy to justify, it is Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, be your own Valentine and treat yourself.

Happy Valentine's Day

 

Who is driving the bus?

Dustin's cones by Betcey (a friend of Kate McKinnon) Photo from Kate's blog today.(Chris and I are playing with these, right now.)

My days are so full. I’m not sure how my life got so busy. I have vague memories of my life when I was at home with the kids. Oh how I loved to wander out for a walk and just look at every rock and leaf along the way. Even when they got older, I was still able to pull things to a halt and slow everything down. These days I find it more difficult to slow my pace and just be. I love to let my mind wonder. Hell I am impossible to live with if I haven’t daydreamed today.  I am so thankful for the cottage and the lake because it encourages me to dream.

Attending the show and playing catch up when I got home, time to “just be” is in very small snippets. I did bead for several hours on Monday and a couple of hours  yesterday. I am working on some cones for Kate’s, Dustin, and Jean’s book, Geometrics.

Jean Power's bracelet (from Kate McKinnon's blog) to be in their new book, Geometrics

It is so exciting to consider working with such a talented group of people. I love the idea, it is the reality that I have to consider. I talked to Dave about the reality and he feels I am happiest when I’m into projects. He says he doesn’t mind picking up the slack, like meals and laundry. He loves when I am creating. I find the responsibility of my parents and their appointments difficult. Not that I don’t want to do it, I just want to do it with all the love and focus I do my beading. I hate when I rush them when I am taking them somewhere. I need to remember to focus on relationship and not the task of taking them to the dentist or the hair salon or for blood work. (Yesterday’s list)

I have asked Lise to take on two half days a week at the shop to give my life a little more breathing space. She has agreed. I guess I’m driving the bus, who would have thought. I will see if I can slow it down a little.

Four of the boxes I shipped arrived yesterday. Now, I just have to unpack them. Please, come in this weekend and help me make room for the new treasures. The BOGO sale begins Friday, for those of you who missed yesterday’s blog.

 

BOGO SALE!

BOGO SALE

Happy Valentine’s Day!

My trip to Tuscon was a roaring sucess. Now, I need to make room for all the new treasures coming, so I have to find a home for some of my fabulous beads. I hate letting them go but I know they will go to good homes. I am having a BOGO sale. Buy One and Get One.

Happy Valentines

I knew when I went to Tucson I was well stocked, I was just not going to buy big. Unfortunately, I bought more than I needed. (What a surprise!) It was  just such a great year for new concepts, that I just couldn’t resist and all of my favourite people will reap the benefit. If you bring in a copy of this blog or the e-mail  I sent out or the page from our web site, on Friday, February 10th, Saturday, February 11th or Tuesday, February 14th, you get two for the price of one. My Valentine’s gift to you.

Thanks for the great year!

Of course there are a few exceptions, finished pieces, new inventory, books, Troll Beads and tools . There is still lots to choose from, trust me. Thanks for sticking with me. I love having such great people to play with.

 

The Party is over!

The winter party in Tucson is over for me. I got so much done and I am so pleased with everything I bought, learned, and made. I even took a class this year. I am not sure how I crammed in all in. I have to say, Dave my date for the party, was on his game as well. He spotted so many great deals and innovative concepts and new products, he gets a gold star. Susan Skyler of Suzie Q Beads was there this year and we spent many an evening pouring over our discoveries of the day.  It was the first time in years she has been, I do enjoy comparing dance cards at the end of the day. Often we have to run back to a show to pick up something we missed, Great fun!

The lovely and talented Marcia DeCoster

My one regret is Marcia DeCoster had to cancel out on meeting for dinner Friday night. I was so looking forward to it. Life got in the way and we left it so late and I was just out of time. Ok I have another regret I wanted to get back to see Kate McKinnon for a fourth time to discuss some ideas I have running around in my head. Now that I think about it I wish I had scheduled another week in Tucson just to catch up with friends and not be focused on work. I wondered why I was a little down this morning funny how writing the blog can uncover  why sometimes.

Anyway I have some pretties to share with my favourite people. I am hoping Chris has some time to meet and talk about some new seed bead ideas I want to explore. Maybe even as a team. I have a bracelet I made that is stunning and Judy you are going to love the process. Lise I didn’t do so well, I gained a few lbs, help.  I am both hoping I have to and I don’t have to run out to the cottage today. I would love to wander over to the shop and see everyone but I just have to  make sure I have things ready for classes this week. Having a  studio at the cottage is great, I have to figure out how to keep track of everything. It is not 70 and sunny here. I miss the sun and the friends but I am looking forward to reconnecting with my life and friends here. Life is full of contrast distracting you. I am such a lucky person.

 

A lesson learned, a great party and a birth.!

this golden building is wonderful to watch and sunset. That is the sun reflecting off it to give it it's colour.

Greetings from Sunny Arizona. Truly this is a little piece of Heaven on earth. the sun, the warmth and the dry weather is an unexpected piece of colour in the middle of our muted winter. A place for the eye and the soul to rest.

David took every opportunity he could yesterday to soak some of this rejuvenating atmosphere up. Trust me though he didn’t neglect his tasks of scouting the new stuff. The day was filled with golden opportunities inside the show as well. I learned so much about so many things, and as always blown away by the amount of creative talent that can be captured into one room. I just could not believe, as I wander from booth to booth and I experienced how the passion these individuals have for their lives and their art manifested. Then to translate all this passion and creative energy  it into a sellable product, wow!  If you could add up the all years of creative adventure, in  that one show and then multiply it by 40 different event - is it any wonder why Tucson is a little piece of heaven.  You must be able to live on the residue from what is left behind after this winter party for months.

It is mind-blowing, and this little northern Ontario girls from a small mining town,  can only take so much in. For me,  it is a little like my night vision, it has gotten better as I aged.  Still I can only handle so much of this vibrant, rich, creative, exciting energy. Why? Why? Why?http://www.flickr.com/photos/nzdzeni/4273035457/sizes/o/

I guessing it comes down to my individual journey. First I want to run home and get some work done. As the day continues, I just  enjoy the ride and soak in the love and passion. Unfortunately by late afternoon I start to feel, I will never reach my goals of being able to express myself so  creatively, passionately and uniquely. I am positive  this is exercise for my emotional self. If you exercise properly and  you are  gentle enough, you get stronger. With experience you learn, not to over do it, not to  hurt yourself.  Yesterday was a good day.

Dinner with Gail Crosman Moore, Kate McKinnon, Jeannette Cook, Susan Blessing and David was filled with good conversation , good food, tons of laughter and “mind bending”  beading. Kate brought a cigar box full of little pretties to dance and play with. It was dark and so my hands ran across the sensual beaded pieces trying to explore how they came into existence. I am here until Saturday and  we need to get back together to actually discuss these amazing, thought-provoking pieces, where I can both hear and see.

If I could only whisper in your ear right now. This next piece of information deserves that kind of introduction.  The birth of a new bead! A new shape a pointed cone, with a hole that goes across the circumference of the circle at the bottom of the cone not at the point. Oh the possibilities.Yes girls I managed to get just a handful to play with. They have been laughing and giggling in the bag on the dresser all night. What fun we are going to have.  I will put them in my purse and they will come back on the plane, I promise.

 

I have treasures!!!

Having a wonderful time. I got so much done yesterday. I found some wonderful treasures. You are going to love the new wire and metal beads, the new bronze clasps and I am excited about new pendant made from bakelite buttons.

this style of bracelet hot. seeing them but they are a little short.

 Also had dinner with Susan  from Suzie Q Beads . I love reconnecting with friends. One of the major perks of this show. I know I should not be admitting this but what the hell. She showed me how to text. I sent my first text this morning. I think this is a major milestone for me. I didn’t even want a cash register in the store when I opened. I hated the noise. Of course David tells me it is a “good noise”. I always like silence in my studio. I am learning to adjust. The excitment level is growing in Tucson.

 

Colour and sunshine.

By Tim Riker from photobucket

 GREAT WEATHER

COLOURFUL SEED BEADS

INTERESTING PEOPLE

LIFE IS GOOD!!

Yesterday was spent with one of my loves,  a ship load of seed beads. My only difficulty is disciplining myself to bring some new colours back and not get carried away. When you have a feast in front of you, it takes a great deal of self-control not to blow the budget. I could just throw caution to the wind and  buy whatever you want especially when you are coming from the north with its lack of colour at this time of year. I do love the colour of our landscape in the fall , winter not as much. It is  warm and calming like a meditation. This is  like coming on a sudden party in the middle of the desert  and saying great …….  I will just stay for a minute and…… actually only staying for a minute. 

Hey  Chris you did a great job of our wish list. It gave me a place to tie myself down to and just enjoy the ride. I allowed myself  a few (quiet a few) indiscretions. I predict some very exciting colour combinations in the near future. Oh I also got some new tila colours, some new peanut colours and some fabulous bright eights we wanted.  Life is indeed good.  Not sure I can keep up this pace.

 

Travel day!

not actually plane, but shows the magic...

I have a love, hate relationship with travel days.

I love them because I get to read and listen to music, like I have nothing else to do. I caught up on some magazine reading for the first half of the tripand designed so many new wire pieces. Sure is easy to learn new techniques and design new pieces when you don’t have to solve any of the problems you encounter when you actually make them. The second half of the trip I read ” Getting started in Digital Photography”  a magazine I picked up for the first time  . If  anyone wants to learn more about their camera even if it is a point and shoot, this magazine is fantastic. This issue is so full of information. I wanted to read and it is written in easy to understand language. I didn’t finish all the articles and some that I did read I will reread. http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=getting+started+in+Digital+Photography&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=421&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=2xwqlKIJj0zdzM:&imgrefurl=http://gb.zinio.com/browse/issues/index.jsp%3Bjsessionid%3DCD0A3B77150E3E844ACE705A8EBFD8E1.prd-main-news19%3FskuId%3D416203402&docid=Xj3J8aFiuc2OYM&imgurl=http://imgs.zinio.com/magimages/500650293/2011/416203402_370.jpg&w=370&h=484&ei=Iq8iT9rbAqWGsgLeq9yyCQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=156&sig=101374900902627076054&page=1&tbnh=90&tbnw=76&start=0&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0&tx=52&ty=36

The hate part of the relationship,…..ok, that is not fair there is so much more I like about flying. I love the perspective, I love the magic of getting from place to place in such a short amount of time. I love airports. They are like little bubbles of nowhere….I could go on but I want to tell you what I don’t like.  Unfortunately stress bring the worst out in some people.  When we were leaving Toronto, immigration was backed up and the line up was extremely long.It was because it was so early morning and the ticket agents had just opened. People were a little unsettled about missing planes. This well dressed gentelman (not sure why we call him that, he looked the part just didn’t act the part) Jumped the que. He broke in line in front of me about 1/3 of the way through the line. Of course being who I am I mentioned to him that the line up was back further. He made several comments. The man in front of me responded to0. He poked at me to mind my own business. He took a spot up behind Dave and I. Every time I turned to speak to Dave he glared at me. To my amazement this same man was on our plane and guess what- he was a priest. Talk about destroying another image. It is not that I believe they are all good and that they can’t make mistakes. I just want to believe he would at least be respectful of everyone else that is traveling . People are people even if they have connections. Dave says he knows who is going to be in his prayers tonight. So he says I will have to be extra careful today.

 

Thanks to everyone!

Saturday’s registration went extremely well. We are 60% up from this time last year. I hope it is a trend. We are going to have such an exciting term with new teachers, new friends, new classes, new inspiration, as well as exciting familiar faces.

It was so great to see everyone. At one point, I looked around at everyone laughing, comparing pieces and renewing friendships and I felt so completely happy to know, I had something to do with it. We are amazingly lucky to have such a wonderful group to hang with, learn and be inspired by.

As much as I would like to just bask in the whole experience, I can’t. I spent yesterday running around doing errands so I can get ready for Tucson. I need to spend some time recording what we have lots of so I will not buy it again. Doesn’t it sound like a tough job? Not!

Anyway here is a shot of the sample from  my new Tila class. I am so looking forward to the sun and heat in Tucson. I will do my best to let you know what is going on.