New Direction

I felt the need to take a small break from beadmaking and do something else creative. If I am having trouble getting the ideas to flow in glass, if I attempt to do something completely different it helps to get me back on track. I made this collage painting on watercolor paper and then cut it up to make cards out of. It actually turned out pretty well. The hardest part is putting the first stroke of paint down. More soon!

Silver Cored Beads

My bead group purchased a Retro Bead Liner and I got to bring it home to do a tutorial. It is much harder to use than I thought but these are the results of my first sterling silver lined beads. I had to complete them using dapping punches and a chasing hammer but I think they look pretty good for my first ones. I don't think I will be making too many of these because it is hard on my hands. I actually have to borrow my husband's hands to turn the wheel. We are also going to purchase the Jim Moore Bead Liner and I hope that one is easier to use.

Inspiration

It is so hot this time of year that I have a hard time motivating myself to sit in front of a flaming torch. The plants start begging for water and shade but there are a few that love the heat. This hibiscus blooms in different colors. It must have been grafted but it is fun to see what color will bloom on a certain day. I have not had all three colors blooming at the same time but hopefully that will happen sometime during our long summers. Stay cool and I will have bead photos soon.

Green Thumb

With the tomato scare this summer, I appreciate my Dad's green thumb even more. There is nothing like a big juicy home grown tomato. He can grow just about anything but the deer eat most of it. They were on the property before he was so he fences off a few vegetable plants and they are free to munch on the rest. I managed to get this shot while I was there. She is chomping away in a round garden bed with a bird bath right next to her.

St. Luke's Methodist Church

Two more weeks and the St. Luke's Show will end. Vanessa has worked very hard getting all the jewelry ready for this show and it looks great. I am very pleased with our collaborative work and I love what she has done with my glass. Come by and take a look if you are in the area. Attached is the postcard that Vanessa designed.

Rings

I only have one mandrel large enough for a ring and the ring is probably a size 5-6. My daughter wears the first one that I made and requested another one. I am happy to oblige as it gives me an excuse to practice using that big mandrel. They are heavy and I only have one but here it is. She likes it.

June Beads of Courage

Where did May go? Every month, my bead chapter collects beads for the Beads of Courage Program. I mail them into BOC for them to distribute to the member hospitals. I normally don't make bright beads but these were fun and gave me an opportunity to practice layered dots as well. I just grab whatever bright color is on my bench and start layering. Most of the time I forget what color I started with by the time I get to the last layer. Stay cool!