Stringing Fall 2008

The Fall 2008 issue of Stringing magazine is here! Editor Danielle Fox and her lovely team did a fabulous job, as usual.

Danielle asked me to design a piece for her Ombre section. My necklace, Seasons Change, is part of the cover image. I'm a partial cover girl - whoo hoo. It's been over a year since I last had a project in Stringing and It's exciting to be there again.


Materials used in the necklace: Soft Touch Premium Wire from Soft Flex Company, pewter leaf and flower pendant from Green Girl Studios, Swarovski crystals from Beyond Beadery and Fusion Beads. Twisted Tornado Crimp Tubes from Via Murano, and Vintaj natural brass clasp and findings from me. (I'm making kits of all the brass materials used in this necklace, as well as for the bracelet and earrings below. They'll be availbe here early next week.)

I also made new bracelets and earrings for the design spreads:


Bracelet materials, top to bottom:
Soft Flex Metallics Antique Brass Wire and natural brass beads and clasp from me.
Bird clasp from Jess Imports, Soft Touch Premium Wire, and polymer clay beads from the very sweet Pam and Heather Wynn.
Lampworked glass beads from Joyce Rooks and lampworked glass flowers, beads, and button from my friend Michele Goldstein.

Earring materials, top to bottom:
Shell pendants from LillyPilly Designs, lampworked glass beads from Spotted Moon Designs, Swarovski crystals from Beyond Beadery, and gold-filled components and findings from Fusion Beads.
Polymer clay beads from Pam and Heather Wynn, Shibuichi fine silver components from Zoa Art, and natural brass findings from me.

Stringing holds a special place in my heart. I've been involved with the magazine in some way or another since its very first issue and I'm proud of how far it's come.

Happy Birthday Libras!

Dustin (as a Flying Monkey) and I (Wicked Witch of the West), Halloween 2005

Today is Dustin's birthday - hooray!

If you don't know Dustin, a.k.a. Bead Boy, you should. He's famous after all. He's also an incredible artist and a dear friend.

Andrew and I catching up during my last trip to NYC.

And a belated birthday wish to my friend Andrew Thornton! Andrew is an amazing artist and lover of owls. I look forward to seeing him next month when I'm in New York for the Soft Flex Company Big Apple Glass Art and Bead Festival.

The happiest of birthday wishes to my Libra friends. xoxo

New Kid on the Block

Last night I set my alarm clock for the first time in about, oh, sixteen months. When one is her own boss, it doesn't really matter what time she rolls out of bed.

As of today though, I have a new boss. I'm thrilled and proud to say that I'm now the Education Coordinator for Soft Flex Company! This means I get to make beading projects using the high quality wire, tools, and gemstone beads that make Soft Flex a company I've long admired.

I first used Soft Flex product about ten years ago. Looking for beads for a college assignment, I stopped by my local bead shop, Bead Cache in Fort Collins, where Heidi Gore and Keriann introduced me to Soft Touch wire. I've been hooked ever since. (Wow. I just realized I started college twelve years ago...)

Over the years, I've had the privilege to meet and work with several of my new co-workers. I must say that part of the greatness of Soft Flex comes from their lovely employees. They've made me feel welcome and offered many ways to help this new kid get the hang of things.

As I learn about the many tools and products offered by Soft Flex, I want to share that knowledge with you. Stay tuned! While I eagerly await the arrival of new tools in the mail, I'll be working an early bedtime into my schedule. Seven o'clock is a mighty early start time for this night owl (hence the poor quality of the picture above)!

What I did on my summer vacation:

• Moved to Colorado
  
• Took my first trip to Sonoma and was introduced to a delicious place called Broadway Market
• Finished making projects and writing instructions for my fifth book
  
• Traveled to Sonoma again for an exceptionally fun weekend of beads and wineries
• Tech edited a magazine and unpacked my bead closet
  
• Went to San Diego to see my cousin and her boyfriend, and visited the Self-Realization Fellowship Retreat and Hermitage in Encinitas, California (where the above picture was taken)
  
• Tech edited a book
  
• Flew to Tucson to teach at the Best Bead Show and eat at Cafe Poca Cosa
  
• Tech edited a magazine AND a book and unpacked my fall/winter clothing
• Spent a weekend in the Rocky Mountains celebrating a friend's birthday and meeting her lovely family and friends
  

This summer rocked! I was fortunate to be able to travel, read several fabulous books, spend quality time with family and friends, and make new friends.

And now it is fall. My favorite season. Fall is the beginning of new things: a fresh set of linens for the bed, new beading projects, building a website and publishing a blog, and, for the first time in a long time, buying new school supplies.

That's right. Starting next week I'm back to school. Well, back to learning anyway. I'm excited and a little nervous and will give you all the details Monday. Until then, I'm going to enjoy the last few days of my summer. It is 90 degrees here today, so Bead Boy and I are off to get a Thin Mint Blizzard and see Burn After Reading - yaay!