2 days in a row???? Could it be?????

This is accountability blogging. If I say I'm going to the studio to make stuff, then maybe it will get done! I have a long list of "to do" that needs to be written on the blackboard of bossiness. The reaction to some of the new things I took to Bead and Button and then to Best Bead Show in Baltimore told me what I need to make more of (and less of) before the Gathering in NY late this month.

SO... off I go to the studio to make tiny faces.


Have a wonderful day everyone!!

coffee - SOON!

music - we'll see what's on the playlist for today when I get there!

So very far behind in blogging.

Very busy creating.

Here's what's been brewing in my studio the past few months...

Flora Flora Bloom Boom!

This project will be launched at Creative Castle in Newbury Park, CA in September, so if you're in that area... come see me!!!


ok... back to work!

no coffee, but I really need some

no music - it's summer and I seem to be competing with kid's choices.

Home again, Home again, Jiggity jig!

I'm back from Bead and Button!!!!! I was actually back a day ago, but I let myself "turn-off" for a full day to re-energize. It was a LONG trip, but it was great!

Quick notes, then I've got to get back to work....

1. As usual, whatever you have is NOT what people clamor for. lol I had PLENTY of Head Over Heels kits.... the ones people always complain that I don't have anymore, but what did they want???? Splish Splash and Clothesline!!!!!!

2. People love a sale. I am clearing out colors of my Halo kits because I'm re-designing the project. I've never sold so many of those kits! They had been overlooked for a while and suddenly, they're the belle of the ball! I'm not going to get the big-head and think it's because it's the best project known to mankind. I know it's just the sale.

3. I have to decide how much I want to travel and how far. Being invited to international venues is very flattering, but the logistics are difficult to figure out.

4. My customers are SO fun! Every year we spend a lot of time laughing at my booth!

5. I was brave enough to make a bead at the flame-off!!! That was a huge step for me, and was a bit trying (since I didn't bring tools or my glasses with magnifiers), BUT I successfully made a cute mermaid baby for the auction that benefits breast cancer research. (I have no clue what she sold for... hopefully she sold!)

6. I came home with more work to do than when I left! My blackboard of bossiness is about to fill up again with "to-do" lists!



that's it for now...

tiny blah blah blah
no coffee or music so far today. Sorry to disappoint. :)

Fairy Godmothers instead of Fairies and Mermaid Babies instead of Mermaids...

I just realized that I'm not making any of my "traditional" Sylviebead focal beads for Bead and Button (see the redhead in the title heading...that's what I'm talking about). I think I've just moved on from those and don't need to make them anymore. Not sure, but I'm thinking that's where my head must be at or I would have spent time making them for the show.

I got the Glass Bead magazine today from the Society of Glass Beadmakers and there was a whole article about various glass mermaids that are out there. Mine weren't in the article, but there were several that were similar to my "old school" mermaids... the ones I was making in 1996-2000ish and then again here and there after that. BUT my heart wasn't in it after 2000 and I guess I finally acted on that realization for this show. I don't WANT to make those mermaids anymore and I'm not going to! (unless I change my mind LOL)

SO... the mermaid babies, which I love, will be at the show and the Fairy Godmothers. I was looking at them today trying to figure out where they came from in my head (I know the mermaid babies came from an old book my mom had that had the story of the water babies. I loved the illustrations and my tiny girls sort of took on that look.)


But where did the fairy godmothers come from???

As I was making them today I had an OH MY GOSH moment and realized that they were inspired by none other than Holly Hobby... truly. Truly sad, I might add, that this bit of pop culture from my 70s childhood has rooted itself in my subconscious.

(I had a home-made version of this one... not sure who made it for me or where she is today)

But why Holly as a Fairy Godmother??? I then had to figure that out and was pleasantly surprised by the answer... it's not Disney's Cinderella's fairy godmother that I was thinking of.... it's Sleeping Beauty's!

I love love love that Disney movie, for 2 reasons... I love Aurora dancing with the prince in the forest and I love the 3 fairy godmothers who took care of her. They were so quirky funny... their battle over the cake and dress is my absolute favorite scene from the movie.

Fauna, Flora and Merryweather

So, my little fairy godmother is an homage to Flora, Fauna and Merryweather (but mostly Merryweather...she's my favorite!)

And thus concludes... why I'm making what I'm making part 1 (because I needed a break from beadmaking/bead-cleaning/kit-making/jewelry-making and thought I'd share my thoughts)

Have a wonderful weekend!!!!! Back to work for me!!!


tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - a FREE Frappucino! (cinnamon dolce of course!)

music - my long mellow mix which seems to be on repeat a lot lately AND a crazy old-school dance music playlist that makes me laugh whenever I play it!

Happy Wednesday!!!

Looks like I'm blogging weekly instead of daily now.

I have been cleaning and sorting beads tonight and WOW! There are a LOT of beads!!!

Right now I have...

64 sets of heads and feet for Head over Heels kits (26 sets to go!)
75 tiny faces for the You are My Sunshine ring
24 alternate centers for the ring (no face, just colorful and fun)
and enough miscellaneous beads to make several bead totems and pendants

I'm not sure how many mermaids and fairies I have. I need to check with my old stock and add the new ones to that number.

ANYHOO.... I've got LOTS of beads.... and soon a good number of them will be packaged with their kits (thanks to Marie, the bead fairy!)


Hope to see some of you in 2 weeks!!!

Happy Wednesday world!!!

I know I'm way behind in blogging still...and I'm not going to promise to catch up anytime soon. I'm just WAY busy getting ready for the Bead and Button show in June. It seemed SO far away a couple of weeks ago, but now it seems SO close and I'm a tiny bit freaking out.

I have about 1/2 the inventory that I plan to have for the show, so I have a long way to go, but I think I'm on track.

I can't make the quantity of beads that I used to in a day. I'm not sure why, but I don't have that kind of stamina for bead-making that I did in the past. It's a bit frustrating, but "it is what it is" and I just have to accommodate for the difference.

(ok... I just read this posting and it's really boring, so I'm going to save you the blah blah blah and say "see ya!")

tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - OH YEAH!

music - all over the board. Ended with a country playlist FULL of guilty pleasure kind of songs like "Boot Scootin' Boogie" (yes... you read that right)

The studio has a blackboard.

The blackboard is boss.

Sometimes I rebel and make things that aren't on the blackboard's to-do list, but then I migrate back to the list again.... I'm working my way through the list slowly but surely.

I have 3 weeks (and one weekend) left till I leave for Bead and Button in Milwaukee. I have expectations of having a very full booth with lots of new and wonderful things... but I have to obey the blackboard to get them all done in time.

This is one of the reasons I've been visibly absent from the blog... I'm just SO focused on this list... getting all the things in order to Rock OUT at this show. I'm feeling good about it all coming together the way it should. I started prepping for this WAY earlier than I ever have and I love the pieces I'm making. YAY RAH, me!!

ok... time to head back to the studio. I just had to check in with my badly neglected blog first!


tiny blah blah blah...

no coffee - tea instead
music - Sara Bareilles (good for a sing-along sort of day)

SOOOOOOOO... far behind in my blogging.

The quick update...

I've been making beads like a mad woman!
I've been making samples like a mad woman!

I was glad to check a few things off my "to make" list yesterday. I have all the ring samples complete! YAY!!! I also now have all the beads for the Head Over Heels kits in the "Sylvie" color. (purple, lime, aqua and white) I'm working my way through the colors... tomorrow is Florida. I'm on schedule to be ready in time, but it's still a bit daunting, looking at the blackboard to-do list full of beads to make. I just don't have the same beadmaking stamina I used to have. Too much other stuff that i have to balance in my life. Single parenthood plus single-girl life plus volunteer stuff plus plus plus........ I'm just working on juggling skills this month!


ok... off to do non-beadmaking show stuff... ordering supplies, filling out forms... stuff like that.

I've got a full day scheduled for the studio tomorrow.

Ciao!

tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - yes! it's goood stuff!

music - Dixie Chicks... all 3 albums on repeat!

Honey... I'm home!!!!

OK, I realize I haven't been very diligent about blogging lately. I guess I'm just so focused on getting my studio work done that I haven't been checking in here to report on what I'm doing.

SO, here's what you missed...

The chalkboard in the studio is boss. It has the "to-do" list for Bead and Button and I'm working my way through the list. The only exception is Splish Splash beads. They're on "the list" but I've only attempted one so far and it wasn't good. SO we'll see if they stay on the list or not! I didn't take any to B&B last year and had lots of requests for them, so I really WANT to have them... it's just a matter of whether my hands want to make them or not.

You also missed my May classes being canceled. I'm not going to go into the details here, but I'm not a happy camper.

BUT I believe there is a reason for everything and sometimes we don't see that reason till much later, if at all. I'm not going to get bogged down and worry about it... I'm just focusing on the next big thing which is Bead and Button. I'm working hard to be ready as early as possible. I will have 1 new project, 1 re-vamped project, and 1 out-of-retirement for one week only project! That's going to be a LOT of kits when it comes down to it and I will be really happy when it all comes together!

ok... lots to do, no more blogging!


tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - YES!

music - 80s playlist (I was going to blog about the playlist... maybe I'll do that another time. It has lots of funny stories that go along with it. I smiled and "danced" through the whole thing!)

A few of my favorite things.... (not raindrops on roses....)

Because I know you care. :D (and I do know that I'm not the center of the universe and that probably no one will read this anyways... well, maybe my mom and a few "regulars")

SO...because I need a quickie blog post while I take a break from the studio)


in no particular order ...

A Few of My Favorite Things...

(I was thinking of this at the beadstore the other day when helping someone find a color and then the list grew to non-beady things as i drove home)

399J seed beads - YUMMY grape color
431 - my go-to green! (both of these colors are available at www.saybeads.com if you are in bead-need!)

CIM glass colors - I'm just discovering these and how much I love them

Starbucks (duh)

Pure Taqueria's Margaritas

The Mansion's Lady Sapphire (neither of these places are visited often, but they are good enough to make my favorite list and I'm thinking I need to visit the Mansion again soon!)

Chick-fil-a's Sweet Tea

Chick-fil-a Sandwiches

Corner Bakery's Swiss Oatmeal (who'da thunk that cold oatmeal could be so good??!! Thanks CCB band guys!!!)

James Taylor's Greatest Hits Volume 1

Corinne Bailey Rae's self-titled album

Adele - Chasing Pavement

Glee - Somebody to Love re-make

Dixie Chicks - Wide Open Spaces

(these are all the g0-to songs that I sing along with while making beads when I'm in production)

Ikea

Cinnamon Rolls

MAC cosmetics

Mac computers and ipods

Firemen (that was for you, Regan)

Jennifer Crusie novels

Sarah Addison Allen novels

Regan Leigh

Westin Hotels (I'm all about the Heavenly Bed!)

Publix

Vancouver, WA

The South of France (inside joke... I've never been there)

Maine... pretty much all of it that I've seen

Port Townsend, Washington (shout out to my friends there!!!)

My wonderful friends that I see all the time... and the ones that I rarely see, but enjoy every minute when I do AND the ones that I never see, but enjoy our "conversations" online!

Chaco flip flops

UGG boots

Everybody's Pizza Salad (I think I must be hungry... I keep coming back to food... better go eat lunch!!)

ok... that's it for now!

tiny blah blah blah

coffee time is past...time for lunch and then back to singing along with Corinne!

Happy Friday Sylviebead peeps!!!!

It's going to be a fun weekend for me, so I'm really looking forward to it! Seeing friends, going to an art show, going to a glass-beadmakers meeting (where we'll be electing officers and since I'm running unopposed for co-president, I guess it will be my big day! lol)

I was co-president several years ago and I really enjoyed my time on the board. It's a lot of work, but very rewarding at the same time. I decided it was time to return and do some work and hopefully I'll do a good job directing our group along with the other co-pres Becky!

I'm also going to the Dogwood Festival (hopefully with my son who loves art shows). It's one of my favorites in town and the weather is supposed to be nice on Sunday, when I plan to go.... can't wait!

In the meantime... it's studio time. Time to make some Head Over Heels beads!

And this afternoon.... time to work on the website and work on a customer email for next week that has some big news!!!


In other non-sylviebead news (but sort of sylviebead related)... I'm a Swagbucks addict.

It's a site that is somehow connected to google where you search, like on google, but when you do, you randomly are awarded "bucks" that you can trade in for gift cards to places like Amazon.com. There are other ways to earn bucks (watching promotional videos, movie trailers, etc.) because that's how the site makes money... advertising. But the big way you earn bucks is through searching.... stuff you search anyways. Every once in a while a message will pop up that says "you've won 20 swagbucks" and they go into your account.

Even better... if you refer people and they sign up through you... you get credit for THEIR searches too!!! So you both win. And they can then refer people and get double points. It cost me nothing and so far, in 2 months, I've earned about $40 in Amazon gift certificates.... not too shabby!

If you are interested in signing up... it's free... it's fun... here's a link...




Have a great weekend!!!!!

I'm back!!!

ok... I didn't really GO anywhere. I've just been busy and hadn't made blogging the priority that my readers might have liked me to have done. Oh well.

Those of you who are friends didn't worry because you've talked to me (or seen me) here or there either in person, on the phone, or online.

Those that don't really KNOW me, but are customers or other readers might not have known that and I'm sorry if you were worried (although I'm pretty sure that you weren't TOO worried)

I've been busy making samples for the new project, busy making beads for spring shows/classes and busy being mom over spring break. But today is back to normal... well, as normal as it gets around here.

Making beads for Head Over Heels anniversary edition today and still have a lot to do... so I'm making this short. Have a wonderful springy day!!!

tiny blah blah blah...

chick fil a tea and the Dixie Chicks. It's a very southern day in the studio!

Inspiration Tuesday!

I'm working on being inspired. I'm NOT inspired lately, which is normal for an artist... highs and lows of ideas and plateaus where you work on ideas. Thing is... I need a little nudge in the creative department this week. I'm fully energized and ready to work... I just am not finding the "it" that makes it happen. SO, until "it" shows up, I'm focusing on my inspirational room (see yesterday's blog post)

I've got it painted and today I'm moving furniture into it (all stuff I had in other areas of the house... just re-purposing/re-cycling), so that the bones will be in place. Next step is adding UMPH. Adding the things that make it ME... the things that will make me feel happy and ready to create. And as I started to write this post, I thought... SO, what ARE those things???

I'm not completely sure. I know that my old studio made me happy... for lots of reasons, but one of them was color. It was full of color. So, I plan to bring in a lot of accent pieces/pictures that fill the room with color. (and the clock that hung on the wall of the old studio, which I love... a funky garden-angel whose legs swing back and forth as the pendulum! I wish I knew who made her...she's so cute!... anyways, I miss having her on the wall, so I'm bringing her back!)

Next, I tried to think about other rooms I've been in/had and what I liked about them. My dorm room in college was one of my FAVORITE rooms I've ever had. My room-mate Elaine and I filled the room with all kinds of stuff... a mix of fabrics, an oriental rug, white christmas lights, movie posters... you name it, we had it. I LOVED that room and its coziness. That's one of the things I'm going for in my space.... cozy. (which is why in addition to having work-tables/chairs/storage stuff, I've got an over-stuffed chair and couch!)

In that room, we covered the walls with a collage from fashion magazines. It looked so funky and fun! SO, I intend to have a collage wall, where I can pin up stuff that makes me happy or makes my brain twirl around with ideas.

I have several artists whose work does that for me... so I plan on putting up pictures/prints from them, as well as snippets and quotes that make me smile. The book I referenced yesterday, talks about putting up a clothesline for hanging stuff like this. I love that! I'm pretty sure that's how I'm going to handle the collage idea. I have plenty of wall-space and that will be a great way to switch things out as I go along.

I LOVE having something to write on like a white-board or a chalk-board, so I'm putting up a "peelie thing" (I'm pretty sure these things have official names, but it's something that is easily removed from the wall) that's a chalk-board in a funky shape like an old picture frame. That way I can write myself notes or reminders or just write things that make me smile. I have that in the glass studio for "to-do" lists, but I'd like this one to be a little more fun.

I'll add nick-knacks that I've got in the studio downstairs, along with some glass pieces from friends that have never really had a home.

I'm also bringing in a bunch of different fabric swatches because colors and patterns are a great place to draw from when doing beadwork... PLUS I've got some new mixed media stuff brewing that i'll be using fabric for... so it's going to have a dual purpose.

I'll add a small stereo because I can't live w/out my music.

What else?? Not sure. I'll keep you posted!

What inspires you??? Maybe it will give me some ideas too!

tiny blah blah blah...

no coffee, but I really need some.

music - about to turn it on!

Happy Rainy Monday my friends!

Well, it might not be raining where you are, but it definitely has been raining here in Atlanta. I'm ready for more sunshine... no more rain!!!

(and this concludes the weather portion of today's blog) :D

I've been reading a wonderful book on handmade craft and marketing written by Kari Chapin, "The Handmade Marketplace" In the book, she talks about artists needing a space to call their own. A space that inspires them to create.

Well, I don't have that. I have a basement glass studio which is also housing for kilos of japanese seed beads, but there is NOTHING inspiring about it. Even the walls are bleh taupe. I think I've talked about it not ever being intended as a studio in the first place and how I'd like to relocate it. After reading this book, I've decided that I need to MORE than relocate the studio. I need additional space. And you know what??? I can have it!!! I have a whole house and it's ALL MINE and I can re-purpose spaces to be what I need. So I am!

I began re-purposing another room as MY space. It's not going to be my glass studio (although that's getting an overhaul too.) This is going to be my work room. My inspiration room. My ME room.

SO... there is now a Granny Apple Green room in my house. The color makes me happy. It's the color that was my favorite wall of my old studio in Marietta. I kept telling people how much I missed that green wall... so I made a whole room of that green. And now it's time to finish the room, add a work table, add storage and add inspirational STUFF for the room! When it's all done, there will be photos. I promise! In the meantime, I've got a lot to do!!

tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - nope

music - a mix of mellow stuff while I painted.

Just sent out the Sylviebead News!!!

If you're not on the list and wish you were, then go to my website and sign up!!

Sylviebeads Mailing List

If you'd rather not sign up, but really feel you're missing something that everyone else knows (or you're afraid I'll know it's YOU signing up and for some reason you wish to remain confidential, but STILL want to know what's going on with me) you can go here and read it online....

The Sylviebead News Online

(see? I'm all about your needs... even those of you who wish to remain anonymous. I'm looking out for you!)

In other news, I did research and development stuff today and I'll talk about that another day.... but it's fun stuff!

and in OTHER way more important news... It's FLIP FLOP SEASON!!!! woo hoo! Spring is finally here!!!!!

Enjoy your weekend everyone!!!

tiny blah blah blah

coffee - OH YEAH... I totally needed it this morning! Cinnamon Dolce Latte (a free coupon too!)

music - just the type type typing on my keyboard getting the news out!

It was back to being cold and grey again here in Atlanta, BUT the trees are starting to get some color and that means SPRING IS ON ITS WAY!!!!!! It's even OFFICIALLY here next week!!

And in honor of spring... here it is, the official announcement of the spring retreat. Isn't it pretty??!!

You're going to have to click on it to see it larger... I can't figure out why it wants to stay tiny here in this blog entry. OR you can go to the site and read all about it!! GO GO GO NOW!!! I'm really hoping that when I send out the announcements on Friday it will book as quickly as the New Years one did. That was REALLY fast though... so I have to remember to be realistic in my expectations.

ok... this was a short entry, but I've got a lot of stuff to do besides blogging tonight! I'm still working on the color samples for You Are My Sunshine. I'm hoping to have the "new project announcement" in a newsletter SOON! (and I have to do some laundry too... but you don't care about non-beady things do you??!!)

tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - nope. iced tea felt better in a sore throat.

music - nope... unless you count the radio in the car. It was a run-around and do stuff sort of day, not a studio day.

I'm only slightly behind in my blogging!

Sorry. I know sooooooo many of you depend on my updates (ha!)

So.... what have I been up to while away and not blogging?? I've been busy in the studio making beads! I've been busy planning the next retreat. I've been busy working on samples for the ring project and the spring Head Over Heels and I've been busy brewing ideas for future things!

The invitations for the spring retreat were mailed to the New Years Bead Divas yesterday and the remainder of my email list will get notices later this week. I'm hoping that the demand for the retreat is like it was for the New Years one... hopefully it is! We had such a good time, I'd like to have another weekend like that!

Having a bead fairy (Marie) again is really really helping things get done in the studio. I've got my big "to-do" list going for Bead and Button and I'm going to work my way through it in the next two months. I'm excited to have a head start... beginning early getting these things in order. It will make the first week of June a LOT less stressful!

ok... got to run and be mom. Kids are home!

tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - nope. Lunch with Marcy

music - nope. Great conversation!

Sylviebeads Spring Dreams Retreat

It's time to talk about the retreat!!!!

I'm not ready to register people, but I'm ready to talk about it for a couple of days. I'm going to be teaching a 2 1/2 day workshop in Elijay, GA (same site as the FATABULOUS New Years retreat, The Scrapbook Lodge... we LOVED this place! It's the larger of the 2 cabins shown on the site)

May 14-16, 2010.

The project? The Halo Neckpiece.

It is a GORGEOUS head-turning necklace. Whenever I wear this piece, I get comments. The FUN thing about this project is that it is 2 necklaces in one. One is the piece as shown above, with an angel centerpiece.

The other option is the embellished "rope" (I call it a halo) underneath. I wear it this way ALL the time.

When I tell people how easy it is to make, they never believe me. It's true though! This will be a class where you can actually FINISH THE PROJECT!!!! This project converted my sister who spent the first 3 days of Bead and Button telling people "I am NOT a beader" to a real-live beader. (although she is a totally spoiled beader, having a sister who has a veritable bead STORE in her basement!)

Back to the retreat...I do have to say, that some of the spots in the class were spoken for by the New Years girls, before they even knew what the project was. At the time, I thought I would have a BRAND NEW project to teach, but that was unrealistic. Having new Head Over Heels every 3 months, along with a totally new ring project is about all I can handle right now. SO, since some of them thought they would be taking an alternate class, I'm not sure how many will still want to sign up. Once I know how many spaces remain, I will have the official announcement along with a link to the registration page.

We had SUCH a great time over New Years. I know we'll have just as much fun this time (only a day shorter).

ok... that's it for today!

Hope you all had a wonderful Wednesday!!!

tiny blah blah blah...

No coffee or music today. Chicken soup and quiet (until my kids got home! lol)

Sunshine Tuesday!!

I almost wrote MONDAY, but realized quickly that I skipped a day of blogging. I apologize to anyone who was on pins and needles waiting to hear from me (as if!!)

BUT while I was gone, I got an award!!!!!!

Holly, of Holly's Folly gave me a Sunshine Award!

I think it's because I'm always complaining about the weather this winter, wishing it was sunny! (actually it was very nice of her and she said sweet things about me on her blog. Go check it out! She's a glass beadmaker AND designs rubber stamps that can be used in cookie decorating! How cool is that??!!)

Here are the details about this award... (and if you are one of the winners of the award, here's the scoop)

Here are the rules, so please pass this award along….
The rules for accepting the Sunshine Award are:
- Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
- Pass the award onto 12 bloggers.
- Link the nominees within your post.
- Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
- Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

As a result of receiving this award, I'm supposed to award it to 12 more people. OH NO! 12??!!!

I don't even read 12 blogs!!!!! But I will do my best to give you links to the blogs I DO read. They are a variety of things... most of them not bead oriented.

1. Dooalot - My friend from college, Laura has a wonderful blog about her life. Sometimes it's memories, sometimes day-to-day, sometimes it's her Couch to 5K stories. She's a great writer and always makes me smile (which I thought appropriate for the whole sunshine thing)

2. Reganleigh - An aspiring author, who is also a friend of mine. You never know what you're going to find in reading her blog. Sometimes it's writer-oriented... sometimes it's music....sometimes it's just fun. BUT on the site there is a trailer (like a movie trailer) for her first novel. She is in the final editing process then looking for a publisher. I've read the book and it is FANTASTIC. Once you see the trailer you'll want to read it. So, even though I would never think of Regan as "sunny" (she'd hate that), I'm giving her an award anyways!!!

3. McIntyre's Move West - Jillian's HILARIOUS blog about her life. She tells the funniest stories about things that happen in her every day life. My favorites are about the elderly woman Audrey who lives in the apartments where Jillian works/lives. Go read this blog! You will LAUGH till you cry at some of the stories!

4. For the Love of Beads - I'm not sure I know anyone MORE Sunny than Mallory. Her sweet spirit is SO evident in her blog. She's so generous with praise for others and you can just tell how much she loves lampworking. That kind of enthusiasm is contagious. When I need a lift and a reminder of how fun it is to make beads... I visit this blog.

5. Studio Marcy - One of my very best bead buds. I might venture to say a BBFF (beady BFF). I love our visits together and her work always makes me smile. Her BLOG is great for inspiration though. She always finds something new and interesting to share with people!

Ok... for now, I'm just going to have to go with 5. I'll try to come up with some others as the week progresses. After all, the instructions didn't say I had to have all 15 at once!!!!

Other studio news will have to wait till tomorrow! I'm late!!!!!!

tiny blah blah blah

coffee - not yet, but sooooo need some!

music - not yet, but sooooooo need some to get my rear-in-gear!

FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you hear me woo-hoo-ing all the way to where you live?? It's Friday and it's GORGEOUS in Atlanta! I neeeeeeded some great spring-like weather!

Not that I saw a lot of it so far today. I spent the majority of the work day in the studio making beads. I've got a kiln full of tiny little faces ready to go into You Are My Sunshine kits. I'm hoping to have those up and ready on the website by month end. HOPEFULLY!!! They will for-sure be at Bead and Button this year as the NEW PROJECT possibly along with another project, depending how thing progress this month. I'm not crossing my fingers at this point though. If it happens great. If it doesn't happen... that's ok because I got ONE new project done!

I just have a lot lot lot on my plate at one time and I'm having to try to find a way to balance everything. Not easy.

This weekend is NOT a work weekend though. It requires a tiny bit of balancing, but it's going to be a great weekend full of friends (and relatives that are friends).

Hope you have a wonderful weekend and that you have the great sunshine that we have here!!!

tiny blah blah blah...

coffee - definitely! It was a Cinnamon Dolce Latte day for sure! I had my weekly rendez-vous with this sweet older man who always shares a table with me on Fridays as I sit in the comfy chair and read/work on my bible study. We both always seem to be there at the same time on Fridays, so we've become reading buddies since he's there doing the same thing. I have no idea what his name is. We don't talk (although I did ask him what book he was reading this morning) other than to say "is this seat taken?" I just think it's nice to have the continuity of seeing the same people every Friday.

music - the soundtrack for studio work today was a combination of my Long Mellow List and conversation with Marie, the Studio-Fairy. She was there keeping me in line today!