I love Michigan... and Michigan loves me.


Just got back from teaching for the Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild. Those girls ROCK (and I'm not just saying this because Deb is reading... it's true!) They've become family over the years... and I love coming back year after year to see them (sometimes more than once a year!)

(some of the guild girls from the first class with me at lunch)

This was the first time I'd taught for their guild, however and it was a wonderful experience. I had some new students, who hadn't taken classes with me at Pam's Bead Garden, so it was really nice to add to my Michigan friends! They made the Flora Flora Bloom Boom necklace project and I think they all really enjoyed it. It's such a fun project because the parts are individual and you see all sorts of ways you can vary the look by changing/adding components. LOVE THAT!

I came home with GAZOODLES of ideas thanks to these great girls. I'll be back to see them in October, so hopefully I'll have something to show them that came from our brainstorming sessions!

But before I start on those ideas.... I have to get through the ISGB Gathering (my social anxiety weekend... the convention of Glass Beadmakers) and the Bead and Button application deadline!

so I'm off to pack....


tiny blah blah blah

coffee - NEED
music - interested to see what playlists,
created by a 13 year old await. :/

Packing... it's my verb

(do you remember that public service announcement? It always made me laugh) But seriously, I feel like I pack and unpack a LOT and I'm not good at it! I need different things for each venue, so i can't leave the bags packed PLUS I need things in between trips... so pack and unpack I must do.

In 1999 or 2000 (I can't remember which) I traveled almost every weekend and I just left bags packed... but that was a different era for me. I was doing shows, not classes and each time I pretty much needed the same stuff. It's different now. Not as many trips means that things DO get unpacked which means that I have to re-group every few weeks and RE-pack.

So, packing is my verb. Maybe I'll get good at it eventually.... but don't cross your fingers!

tiny blah blah blah...

too late at night for coffee, but I will definitely be indulging early tomorrow morning!
music - nope... watching The Closer while I make to-do lists! (and blog)

Just READING the instructions to apply to teach at Bead and Button stresses me out. I keep visiting their site again and again to re-read these scary (and a little bit confusing) instructions so that I will be ready to go when all my samples/instructions/photos/recommendation letters are.

I'm not giving up or letting my confusion/frustration get the best of me. I will continue to apply until they accept me.... or I die. Whichever comes first.


back to beading samples. This is my life this summer!

Today is the beginning of a CRAZY few weeks...

I have 2 back to back classes THEN a convention....and THEN one week to get everything together to apply to teach at Bead and Button....THEN back to school stuff. That all fit into a couple of lines here on the blog, but it's a HUGE undertaking in just a few weeks.

Not to mention there is other behind the scenes stuff that has to be done in these next weeks as well.

Someone please send me those wonder woman bracelets. I think I might need them.

I am chicken. There... I said it.

I never apply for anything that requires jurying.... never. I procrastinate and then at the last minute come up with reasons that I shouldn't submit OR I just allow myself to miss the deadline.

The ONLY things I've ever submitted have been rejected... maybe that's part of it, but I don't think it's ALL of it.

Not sure what the block is, but today, I'm sticking my toe in the big scary pond of possible rejection. Hopefully I won't fall in.... and hopefully I finish my stuff in time to get to the post office.


UPDATE.... just had to pop back in and say that I finished all the things that had deadlines today. NOW onto the next daunting application... Bead and Button 2012!

Doggie emergency surgeries can really screw up a "plan"

I'm way behind finishing things and meeting deadlines and now I've got a major monkey wrench... a big furry one. My poor dog had emergency surgery on Sunday and is now recuperating back at home... needing constant attention and near hourly feedings. I have a tiny baby again (only he's 85 lbs. He's sleeping just about the same amount as a human baby... in spurts and crying (whining) when he wants something. Very sad.... and very time-consuming.

SO, I'm trying to work during breaks and hope that anyone who I owe something to understands that I can't really GO anywhere until he's on an upswing. Hopefully that will be by the end of the week. The dr. says he came out of a scary situation doing way better than expected.

Yay cooper!

In the meantime, I will be operating on small amounts of sleep, HOPING to have my pieces finished by the Friday deadline. cross your fingers for me!

tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - I would really like some. Starbucks please start delivery service!

music - kid #2 is playing uekelele... unidentifiable tune

Happy Saturday!!!!!

I have 2 items of news...

1. There are still spaces in my Flora Flora Bloom Boom classes in Detroit in 2 weeks and they are a GREAT deal... great enough that I'm telling you that don't live in Detroit that you should STILL look into this! The girls of the Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild are SO fun and they've worked hard to make classes affordable for their members (and many of their members live as far away as Texas, but know how worth it it is to belong!) The 2 day class is EIGHTY DOLLARS for members (and membership is $30!) I've given the girls of GLBG a special price on the Flora Flora kits just because I love them so much. The kits for this class ALONE (so don't expect to see this price again) are $175 ($50 discount!) SO... if you do the math, it's worth the travel!!!


2. It's official! Two Babes and a Bead Party is hosting its FIRST New Years Eve Party!


Jill Wiseman and myself (the 2 babes) are hosting a 3 day retreat (the party) in the North Georgia Mountains this New Years Eve. You can keep up with all the details at our website OR through our Facebook page. (and you know once there is a facebook page it really IS official) There is some basic info on the retreat there now , but more will be forthcoming (after we get through the deadlines that loom over us this month...and there are a LOT of deadlines for bead instructors this month)

So, that's some good news for your Saturday!


tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - mais oui!
music - movies instead... not sure what, but I'm doing some major sample-making today which goes better with movies than music.

I'm back! Sorry for the away-time.

Here's what you missed...

Went to Baltimore for Best Bead Show
Came home and worked on class samples for upcoming applications (still working)
Booked new classes

and...

drumroll...

Started planning not ONE but TWO bead retreats. Watch for more details soon, but these will be FABULOUSLY FUN! Two Babes and a Bead Party - New Years Eve (Georgia) and a fall event planned in Texas featuring classes with the oh-so-fun Jill Wiseman of Tapestry Beads and myself.

Stay tuned for details!


tiny blah blah blah...


need some coffee
stat