Mattskiss99

2008-10-30T04:08:00.000-07:00

This is it my favorite bead of the moment. I really struggled with the big "Do I keep this one for me or list it?" question, lol! but I always get over them anyway~ Another one will come along and I will love it just as much :) So if this bead strikes your fancy you should know I just listed it in my Etsy store this morning.

2008-10-28T04:20:00.000-07:00

Marcy tagged me!!! http://www.studiomarcy.blogspot.com/ So I will try and play along :)

Here are the rules:
1. Link on your blog to my blog that tagged you.
2. Give your 7 factoids.
3. Tag 7 other blogs by leaving a comment on their blog letting them know they were tagged and list them (and their links) in your own blog.
•••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••
1. I love to be outside in the fresh air.
2. I had my first job for 21 years!!!

3. My house is for sale! wanna buy it? :)

4. I love color and I am easily distracted by all the possibilities when I pick up my glass... focus

5.Batik and woodcarving are two things I have also done and love almost as much as lampworking

6. I have four big dogs, two cats and a bunny where do I sign up to get that sucker tattoo?

7. When I was a child I collected rocks, shells and beach glass, my daughter does the same thing now

I didn't tag anyone else!!! Have a free day on me :) Marcy beat me to 'em lol~ Seriously I went looking but most everyone has already been tagged so you are all granted a reprieve from me!

No homework today~

2008-10-22T17:53:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd show some of my old favorites!

Keeping up and staying motivated in the cold weather is always tough for me! But this weekend it is supposed to be sunny so maybe I won't quite freeze my arse off out in the studio and I will get a lot of beads made :) Definitely time to drag out the woolies though lol~ The added benefit is that they are fire resistant so I'll be a little more flameproof if well you know... that just isn't going to happen. I refuse to go up in flames and that is all there is to that!! :)

2008-10-17T03:55:00.000-07:00

Yes I do love my glass especially when combined with the magic of silver foil~ I revisited an old favorite here with the copper green set above. It is accented with silvered river rock stringer. and I just had to show off that last bead again. I may keep that one for myself *snicker* something I rarely do. They usually go up on my Etsy site no matter how much I love them, but that one really has my attention for now...
Things are pretty quiet on the home front right now and that is good. Sam and I have been busy with school and trying to stay caught up with everything. This weekend we are going to carve pumpkins with her cousin Jaxson. I am more excited than she is though lol I think she just wants roasted seeds!!
Enjoy your Day~

2008-10-13T06:02:00.000-07:00

Whew ... I do actually have some new beads to show again :) I know it has been a while. I have been dealing with some personal things and didn't even have my torch set up for a time, along with starting a new job. That was huge change for me as I was at my previous job for over 21 years!!! The house remains unsold and who knows where that will go in our current economy yuck! Back to the beads :) I managed to get my hands on some more of that fabulous silver glass I love so much and a few odd lots that are out of production. So exciting for me and you if you love organic effects and gorgeous subtle colors in your glass. Here they are~

2008-08-18T05:57:00.000-07:00

Whew its been a long time since I've had anything to say :) We have been doing prep work on the house and dealing with some personal issues so I've been very focused and quiet. The house is ready and well we finally got it listed!!! YAY!! http://www.johnlscott.com/propertydetail.aspx?GroupID=72202519&ListingID=32275499&Sort=1 Hopefully it will sell quickly and Matt and I can both get on with our lives. I will tell you that it is wonderful and frightening to finally be taking a step forward.
I will be attending the Frantz Bash this saturday and will try and take some great pix to share with everyone!!

2008-05-17T06:18:00.000-07:00

Things are moving much more slowly than I expected. I thought we would have the house ready to sell by now :) Between working and taking care of the regular stuff there just isn't enough time and energy to go around. Patience ... I miss my glass :(

2008-01-28T19:50:00.002-08:00

Alive and well!!! I have been sooo busy. Matt and I have decided to sell the house and move.We have so many things to go through and pack that it has overwhelmed both of us. I am still making beads just not as often. It is hard to find the time and energy right now. There is so much involved in staging a home. Ugh!!! I did list some orphans and will probably have more in the days to come. Keep an eye out!

2008-01-28T19:50:00.001-08:00

Maxi pads
Actual letter to Maxi-Pad Proctor & Gamble - This is priceless!
Dear Mr.Thatcher,
I have been a loyal user of your Always maxi pads for over 20 years and I appreciate many of their features. Why, without the LeakGuard Core(tm) or Dri-Weave(tm) absorbency, I'd probably never go horseback riding or salsa dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear of running up and down the beach in tight, white shorts. But my favorite feature has to be your revolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smart enough to realize how crucial it is that maxi pads be aerodynamic. I can't tell you how safe and secure I feel each month knowing there's a little F-16 in my pants. Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr. Thatcher? Ever suffered from "the curse"? I'm guessing you haven't. Well, my "time of the month" is starting right now. As I type, I can already feel hormonal forces violently surging through my body. Just a few minutes from now, my body will adjust and I'll be transformed into what my husband likes to call "an inbred hillbilly with knife skills." Isn't the human body amazing? As Brand Manager in the Feminine-hygiene Division, you've no doubt seen quite a bit of research on what exactly happens during your customers' monthly visits from "Aunt Flo". Therefore, you must know about the bloating, puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our intense mood swings, crying jags, and out-of-control behavior. You surely realize it's a tough time for most women. In fact, only last week, my friend Jennifer fought the violent urge to shove her boyfriend's testicles into a George Foreman Grill just because he told her he thought Grey's Anatomy was written by drunken chimps. Crazy! The point is, sir, you of all people must realize that America is just crawling with homicidal maniacs in Capri pants... which brings me to the reason for my letter. Last month, while in the throes of cramping so painful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, I opened an Always maxi-pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing, were these words: "Have a Happy Period" Are you kidding me? Did anything mentioned above sound the least bit pleasurable? Well, did it, James? FYI, there will never be anything "happy" about a day in which you have to jack yourself up on Motrin and Kahlua and lock yourself in your house just so you don't march down to the local Walgreen's armed with a hunting rifle and a sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory. For the love of God, pull your head out,man! If you just have to slap a moronic message on a maxi pad, wouldn't it make more sense to say something that's actually pertinent, like "Put Down the Hammer" or "Vehicular Manslaughter Is Wrong", or are you just picking on us?

Thanks for the laugh mom!!!!

2008-01-28T19:50:00.000-08:00

I am still here. I haven't made beads in a while though. I have been having some health problems of the female sort oh lucky me~ And other junk blah blah blah. I will be going in for a minor surgery on the 6th of February and hopefully things will right themselves soon after that and I will be my perky self again :)

Hugs!

Kris

2008-01-03T21:15:00.000-08:00

Partially hollow transparent. I have some incompatible Lauscha the finest clear in glassland and I can't use it with anything because they all crack!!!

2007-12-27T07:59:00.000-08:00

This Christmas season I participated in my first ever online "Secret Santa" game. I was assigned someone that had given no extra information. So I turned into "Stalker Santa" and looked her up online. I googled her name and came up with an interview she had given and finally some extra information so I could make something just for her. So I designed a bead to match her love for Stephen Kings' Dark Tower series and I also sent along some really incredible catnip for her two cats, Roland and Cuthbert, named after two of the characters in the books.

About that catnip... It was sitting in a sealed container, in a bag on top of the television, about 5' off of the floor. Our cat walked into the room an started sniffing the air. She then proceeded to jump up onto the narrow ledge beside the television and climbed up next to the bag with the yummy smell.

I put her back on the floor and gave her a little pinch from her own container :)

Happy Holidays!

2007-12-17T11:19:00.000-08:00

In our neighborhood Santa comes to visit with a fire truck. The first year we lived here we came home to the fire truck and a bunch of guys all scattered up and down the side walk. My heart fell as I tried to figure out who was on fire. Of course there wasn't a fire just Santa :)
When Sparky naps he means it. I took about three pictures of him like this before the red light from my camera got to be too much. he snorted and moved to another spot. I felt sooo guilty~
Claude just opened his eyes and gave me a tired dog look lol... poor baby.
Gloria (glo is what we call her around here :) she is a french kiss snatcher pro. Bend down to tie a shoe and you better watch out because she'll give you a fast and sloppy kiss right on the lips.
I couldn't get a picture of Reba. She is camera shy and vacuum shy and stranger shy and just because you have been five hundred times doesn't mean you know her shy!! lol... seriously Sometimes I wonder what happened to her before we got her. She was just a puppy and we have only shown her love and kindness. She fears things and I have no explanation I am just glad she is in our house and not a less understanding and loving one. She is my "other girl" :)
Speaking of girls we have an unwelcome visit from the flu and my real girl is sick and sleeping on the couch. Poor sweetie, she is such a trooper. I hope she feels better in the morning. She hates missing school.

2007-12-14T07:48:00.000-08:00

Big olive shaped hollows~ It has been sooo cold everywhere lately. Matt set up the heater in my shop last week so I can at least keep my buns warm while I work :) I have one more custom order to finish up this week and then I can relax a bit and just be creative for a couple of weeks.
I purchased the cutest snowpeople here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8435259 Glasscat is a fellow member of the EGA and I can vouch for her well made adorable and quickly shipped items. I just hope the recipient loves them as much as I do!!
Ready for Christmas? Matt and I are going to finish up this weekend I think (hope)
I seriously can't stand the mall and the crowds umm... ever not just at Christmas time.
i am an early up get in get out kind of shopper~
Have a Great Day!!!

2007-12-09T15:15:00.000-08:00

A couple more of our spoon bracelets. This one is stamped "eternally yours" inside. I am sure that is the name of the pattern~ How romantic is that?And of course I saved the best for last but that is only my opinion. I will always have a "thing" for seaweed sparkle glass and its tiny bits of inner sparkle~ and the spoons on this one ahh... :)
Things only my camera can see!!! phhh See the bits of hemp fuzz on this bead? I have great vision and didn't notice them with my eyes until after I had taken the picture and loaded it for resizing etc...
The bead is lovely and I am really pleased with how it turned out. The other five pictures I took of it have no fuzz in them :)
Snow, no snow, then some more snow. We went for a walk this morning because it was snowing. I dropped everything, had my girl bundle up quickly and we walked in the falling snow. I try to make the most out of it because you never know how long it will last here. Usually it melts off fairly quickly in a day or two at most. I am not a fan of driving in it and usually just won't period. This morning I drove to the Post Office in a rush and left a package that has to be in the mail in the morning and that was it. Now looking out at the solid colored clouds I wonder if we will have more tonight. It sure looks like it. Another walk is in the making I think :)

2007-12-04T20:14:00.000-08:00

New spoon bracelets are in stock now. I have been busy adding them to my shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=51507 Tangerine~
Lilac and Teal~
Silver veined organic~Probably my fave :) Next to the green one I'll show later, oh and the one at the top!
I love these and should make myself a whole wardrobe of them :) they are one of the most comfortable and unobtrusive pieces of jewelry I have ever had the pleasure to wear.
More to see in the coming days!

2007-12-03T08:29:00.000-08:00

More greyhounds~ I am working on adding these to Etsy so everyone can get their Christmas shopping done in a timely manner :)
The colors really pop in this glass when it is sculpted in the flame.

and I really love the green one! How come I am not out in the shop yet this morning? Wind and rain with potential power outtages. I don't want a kiln full of beads if the power goes out. So I am waiting a bit today before I go out and get started. I guess I can get caught up with the laundry while I am waiting. phhh... Where is the laundry fairy when I need one?

Have a great day and stay warm and dry wherever you are!

2007-12-02T11:27:00.000-08:00

"Warning Battery Exhausted" Flashed up on the screen right before I was finished taking photos this morning. I have a lot to do and my battery is pretty exhausted lately as well. The weather has been blech!!! I still haven't asked Matt to set the heater up in my studio again so I have to bundle up when it is cold brrr... I went to see the Doc on Wednsday and she is testing my thyroid etc... because well my body and mind (eek!) have been doing some odd things for about the last six months and it was time for a check-up anyway. I am exhausted a lot of the time among other things and it sucks because I am usually busy with something or other...

Off to get motivated~ hmmm Coffee is my friend :)

2007-11-30T20:03:00.000-08:00

I had an item mis-listed. In other words I sold it at a show and somehow managed to reactivate it in my shop without having it in my hand!!! I am sooo much more detail oriented than that. Of course I didn't discover my mistake until someone purchased it. I was completely mortified and offered to make her a similar one. She said it didn't have to be the same color as the orignal so I asked her preference and made some beads for her to choose from in the colors she listed. The beads on this leather bracelet are the ones she liked. My favorites out of the bunch~ I am happy to have had the opportunity to create a custom bracelet for her. I hope she loves it!
The snow threats have started already. We were supposed to get some last wednsday night but nada. The local weather service is talking about two consecutive storms headed are way. A cold snow that won't last long followed by wind and temps in the 50's.
Oh Mom I bet you wish you were in Arizona now :)

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2007-11-28T08:04:00.001-08:00

111507 042
Originally uploaded by mattskiss99

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!
Getting to spend Thanksgiving with my mom and stepdad Milo was a rare treat, they are usually already in the warmer climes by this time of year. Milo is fighting a winning battle with prostate cancer. Due to his extended medical treatment they are still in the area for Thanksgiving and mom's Birthday! Although they are both anxious to be "outta here" and headed for Sunny Arizona and their cozy little spot. I am glad they are in the Pacific Northwest with us a bit longer this year :) so Happy Birthday Mom! You guys look lovely together~
Kris

2007-11-26T15:45:00.000-08:00

Here it is~ The hollow puffy Lentil I was talking (gushing:) about last week Another View~
The sunrise was cold and beautiful this morning
I forgot about how hard those hollow beads are to clean!!!! Long ago I read about using a waterpick to clean out the last of the bead release but I never had to resort to that until now lol... Luckily I have one and I have to say it worked like a tiny bead pressure washer! Dreamy~
The sunrise was a bonus. The whole sky was lit up like a coral flame. I drank a couple of cups of coffee to get myself good and warm for the torch time I needed to put in today. It gets sooo cold in my studio in the winter sometimes. We haven't set the heater up yet this winter so I bundle up and take something hot to drink with me.
Well now it is time to get busy and get some Turkey soup on.
Warm and full of veggies yum :)

2007-11-19T19:38:00.000-08:00

I have something in my kiln that I can't wait to see!!! It is a largish round hollow that I flattened a bit. It looks like a puffy lentil. I have wanted to make a bead like this for some time. In fact it was the inspiration for the hollow cubes I made a while back. I adore the way the light shines through them. Trying to keep the corners square and crisp was another thing entirely. Molten glass behaves much like slow moving water. It wants to be round and will continually try to become round until it cools enough to stay in the shape you like.

I will post pictures soon~

2007-11-16T06:21:00.000-08:00

Oysters on the half shell? Not what I intended but a nice effect just the same.
Glass reacts to glass because of the different chemical properties of each color (I hope I am saying that right) Different things happen between different glasses. That is probably the thing that keeps me interested the most. I can try to duplicate an effect but it usually doesn't happen the same way.
Then there are glasses that are reactive all by themselves like Terra, R-108, Z-99 and a host of others.
Then to really spice things up you can also add metal leaf and foils in copper, silver, gold and palladium oh and wire too~ Burn them off in the flame or not :)

2007-11-15T08:28:00.000-08:00

A little Terranova show and tell!
Some Silver Plum in all its wonder!
A little more Terranova. I really enjoy the subtle hues in this glass. Greens and purpley burgundies into gorgeous blues mmm nice...
Monday night I was surprised by my old friend migraine. I was busy doing some work on the computer and I realized part of the screen was missing. I was seeing "the hole" Part of my vision just fills in with a blank for lack of a better description. I used to have migraines often in my mid-twenties and I could always tell one was coming on for sure by running and looking at myself in a mirror. Part of my face would be gone from my field of vision. The next thing to come would be "lights" out of the corner of my eye, kind of like looking at a lightbulb and then away. From there it just gets more fun, numbness in various body parts and sometimes words don't make any sense. I usually just shut up and lie down.
So Monday night I squinted one eye printed what I needed and went to bed at about 6:00 pm. I dozed and awakened feeling better at about 8:45 pm I was surprised that I felt better so I got up had a light snack and then it started again!!! First the hole then the lights. Never have I had two in a row like that I still feel a little out of it and It is Thursday two days later.
I have things to do I don't have time for migraine prison right now dammit!!!

2007-11-08T20:25:00.000-08:00

Have you checked out our Holiday Gift guide yet? Lis our fearless leader, neverending source of ideas, wonder girl came up with this. It is a lovely collection of easy (uncrowded) holiday shopping if you ask me :) Don't hesitate everything is handmade high quality artisan glass!

2007-11-07T19:20:00.000-08:00

I'd much rather have a stack of beads than a stack of pancakes :) This shape has been my favorite lately and I have seriously drifted away from my usual petite bead sets. I have become a focal makin' fool. I used to test combos on small round beads but lately these have become my "test beads" The shape is superslim and they feel so cool in my hands. Like a worrystone, they are soothing and beautiful to look at too.

2007-11-06T20:01:00.000-08:00

She's a doll isn't she?
Matt and sam and I took Alena down to his grandparents for the annual apple harvest. They pick all of the apples at the end of the season just shake them out of the trees,
pick them up from the ground and box them up. Then they took them around to the front where the cider press is located.
Grandpa seemed to be having a great time :) He was probably just happy to get the apples picked so the bear quits coming around at night! Yes they have had a bear prowling for apples in the last few weeks so it's a good thing they made them into cider.
Matt and Dave are getting the cider press ready to rock and roll~
Miss Alena having a bit of quality time with her great grandma.
Does making cider and spending the day with beloved family members count as a day off? Well for me it does all I really did was wander around with a baby on my hip and a camera in my free hand. I don't know how I ever got anything done while my babies were little!!! I stand amazed that some of the people I know can accomplish so much with children underfoot :) I know I got things done when the kids were little. I guess I have forgotten how lol...

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2007-11-01T20:11:00.001-07:00

103007 038
Originally uploaded by mattskiss99

Something sweet and tranquil to look at until I have more time for a real post~

2007-10-28T17:02:00.000-07:00

Amazing... simply amazing the tricks I was shown today~ Finally there is hope for my pictures of red things...
just a ray of hope...
I still have to figure out how to implement some of the wonder picture tricks I learned today. I am so on it!! Marlo was a great teacher and my classmates were a lot of fun as well. I am still in disbelief that I actually went so far out of my "safe bubble" lol. I live in suburbia and it is comfortable for me. I would be most at ease with directions that end in "turn left at the really big stump" Of course the directions would have to first come with a great reason for me to go there in the first place. So driving all by my shy self into the middle of a majorly huge city like Seattle lol... I want great pictures what can I say? I got lost after I got into Seattle but I realized it fairly quickly and didn't waste much time calling for help. Marlo, my fabulous teacher got me there in one piece and after class I followed another southbound student to I-5.
All in all it was a terrific day and I hope I can do my teacher justice :)

2007-10-25T06:45:00.000-07:00

Taking a good picture of items you are selling online is soooo important. I still don't quite have it down. Even though I love trying :) Sometimes my backgrounds turn colors other than what they are. A lovely shade of yellow ivory is my least favorite~ blech... So this Sunday I am taking a class in Seattle and hopefully it will make all the difference in the world. I am excited to be included as the class size is very small. I can't wait to see what I can learn!
On making wine stoppers I wish I was more prolific but they take a lot out of me when I make them. After I complete one my left hand will sometimes shake like I have the tremors!!! Not good for making the small detailed beads that I prefer. I have decided that I need to get an armrest of some sort so that I have good support while I am waving that big blob of glass in the flame.
And then there is always the desire for more glass. I have discovered glass that I had previously ignored because I didn't want to have yet another type of glass *rolls eyes* Well it turns out that I really love this glass a LOT. It isn't listed on my suppliers website... I hope they still have some. I am going to have a busy weekend I can tell :)

2007-10-22T16:08:00.000-07:00

I promised myself I wouldn't watch because I don't want to cry today. Somehow I find myself in spite of myself watching Oprah with her terminal guests today and among them is Kris Carr http://www.crazysexycancer.com/
What an incredible outlook she has.
Wow we could all learn a lot from her.
I was having such a crappy day and it looks so much better now.

2007-10-21T10:41:00.000-07:00

Well I told you I would come back and let you know what happened with the storm. My son now has a rather large hole in his roof and is in the process of moving to a different apartment. Part of a tree snapped off and dropped through his roof right over the babies room!!! Thankfully none of them were home when it happened so nobody was injured. He is lucky to have so many family members close by to help him move. Matt went over and helped on saturday and T.J.' s dad is helping them finish up today. What surprises me about the whole thing is there is a gaping hole in the roof, the rain has been pouring in and the apartment owner/manager hasn't even tarped the hole???!!!
The temperature really dropped after the winds moved through and we had thunder and lightning friday night. Cold temps and thunder always seem wrong to me. Anyway I have a lot of things to get caught up on so this is just a quick update so you guys know we didn't blow off the edge of the earth :)

2007-10-18T08:06:00.000-07:00

Catching up... Does that ever really happen? I have a lot to do on my days "off" this week. Bottlestoppers and beads. A windstorm is coming in from the Pacific even as I type this. I am hoping the power stays on!!! Wish me luck with that the trees are still heavy with unfallen leaves~ I will let you all know what happens:)
Have a great day!

2007-10-14T08:31:00.000-07:00

A view of the gloriously warm Atlantic ocean from our condo. Sue and I were raised around the Pacific Ocean which is icy cold in comparison. The first time I dipped my toes into the Atlantic I couldn't believe how warm it was. Look what I found in the parking garage! At first I thought it was dead but then the little guy moved and boy did I jump back hehehe... :)
A sea of Silk Road Collars! http://www.silkroadcollars.com/ I was over at The Sand Palace shoved back in a room in dark corner under the stairs!!! Needless to say the set up came down Saturday afternoon instead of Sunday morning. Greyhounds "cockroach" when they are relaxed. This girl does it on command to get her pretty pink tummy rubbed :)
Ahh home at last~ The sunrise from my first morning back was absolutely stunning!! I am glad I am an early riser and I was up to see it. Even where we live, surrounded by other homes, early morning is an amazing peaceful time. I love to go outside and take a few deep breaths of the crisp cool morning air. Yay Home!!!!

2007-10-12T07:48:00.000-07:00

You would think going to Dewey would be a little vacation-like. It is but it is also very exhausting and I usually take about a week or so just readjusting to the time difference. I am a fairly quiet introverted kinda gal and Dewey just wipes me out!!! This year the heat and humidity were crazy but oh so nice compared to the wild nor 'easter we had last year. I will have some pix and stories for you all later this week when I start to feel human and get a little caught up at work. Bleh :P sometimes it almost isn't worth the vacation with all the trying to get caught up when I get back :)

2007-09-28T07:59:00.000-07:00

Here we go again!!! Off to Dewey Beach to play with the Greyhounds~ The standing Greyhound is my newly designed image~
Of course One of them is my favorite :)
A sampling of some of the dichroic Greyhound beads I have made for Dewey. Sue has been turning them into beautiful wearable items. Creating the dichro images is something I really enjoy. This year I created a standing greyhound. Creating an image involves first drawing the picture. Then it is scanned into my computer and e-mailed to my wonderful dichro guy. He then does whatever it is he does (magic?) that puts the image onto glass so I can melt it onto my beads. Each piece is meticulously and carefully formed to the bead it is on. I have to be very attentive during this process or I end up with a distorted image.
*** Greyhounds Reach the Beach 2007 is the event Sue and I will be attending **
It is our 10th year at this event !!
Sue creates beautiful collars for greyhounds as Silk Road Collars http://www.silkroadcollars.com/
** Stop by and say hello:) We will be located at:
The Sand Palace, Room 108
1710 HWY One, Dewey Beach DE 19771
Sand Palace Hours - Friday through Sunday
Friday - 9am to 4pm
Saturday - 8am to 4pm
Sunday - 8am to 12pm
Also The Best Western Gold Leaf
1400 Hwy 1 Dewey Beach DE 19971
Best Western Hours - Wednsday through Sunday
Wednsday 10am to 5pm
Thursday 10am to 6pm
Friday 8am to 7pm
Saturday 8am to 7pm
Sunday 9am to 4pm
See you There!!!

2007-09-21T06:56:00.000-07:00

A flame pendant~ These are kind of fun to make but I don't make them very often though :) Custom beads for one of my best customers~
Some more custom beads for a friend :)
Earrings to match a pendant that Sue and I made~
And now for my next trick! I will continue to be super busy as we leave for Delaware (Yay Dewey!) at the end of the month. My new dichroic images came this week so now I need to get busy and melt them onto some beads and stoppers. I'll show you if I have any free time.
Free time? What is that... lol

2007-09-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

A few beads in a pile for lack of a picture of my big goofy Lab/Dane cross!! Right now he is playing scaredy dog~ all 90 pounds of him!! He is rumbling deep and low in his throat of course that culminates in a piercing girly bark that is quite shrill. He has developed a fear of the string trimmer. Yes the Weedeater!!! We are inside and the crew is out doing the lawn like they do every week. Claude has never been hurt by the trimmer or even outside while they are using it so I don't understand why he has developed this fear and the urgent need to "tell" me about it. Ah well maybe the thing is making some noise only he can hear? Maybe he thinks he hears a hive of bees coming, who knows? I love him anyway silly dog~
I was working away at glass this morning and actually almost finished with my pre-lunch goal when I realized my propane was running low. Aack!!! I have a lot to make now is not a good time to run out!!! But it is also a good excuse to get caught up on a few other things I have been putting off. So back to that I go :)

2007-09-08T09:14:00.000-07:00

Great minds really do think alike! I was inspired by another ega member in a discussion. She was talking about using laminated cards for her pendants. So Sue and I got busy, she printed these out for me I punched tiny holes in them and strung our pendants on with hemp twine. Then while I was visiting flickr looking at pictures and preparing to post some of my own I came across another ega member who had done almost the exact same thing as me!!! She even used hemp like I did. Worried that she would think I had copied her I sent her an e-mail and we had ourselves a little chuckle over it. Really gives you food for thought on the whole issue of copying :)
Then there are these!!! I have been thinking about making some lampwork headpins for about month now. Thanks again to one of my wonderful etsy customers for the inspiration~

I just made a few to start and Sue and I used them all up on the pendants :)
Peacock inspired~
Vetrofond odd lot Lime Sweet! What a great color~
And I've saved my favorite for last :) It is difficult for me not to show my love for beads. If I love how something I made has turned out I will tell you. This is not a lack of humility on my part it is just my passion for glass coming through. I get very excited if something turns out fabulous. You will hear me say "Oh thats my favorite" a lot and it is never a lie. I love most all of them. I surely love some more than others. Yeah I am a glass freak. So? :)

School started last week so I will hopefully have more time to devote to making and listing!!
Kris

2007-09-05T08:49:00.000-07:00

We arrived and the weather was stunning!! So is the beach and then there is that man :) More beauty to the North...
And the morning sun coming up over the hills seen from our room Saturday morning...
All set up and ready to go!!!!
Amazing number of etsy artists! What a talented group :)
Matt and I had a wonderful time in Lincoln City. The people were very welcoming and friendly.
The show went very well and the rain showers they predicted for Saturday... Never made it to the beach!!! We had beautiful sunny weather with just the slightest breeze.
River managed to organize one of the best shows I have ever been too and I can't wait to do it again :)

2007-08-29T22:27:00.000-07:00

A new love for making focals has been awakened! Don't know if I can stop so I hope you like them as much as I do :) Some close ups of my most favorite ones...
mmm...
ahhh...
Just in case you are wondering and in a panic because you noticed most of the items in my etsy shop have vanished! I thought I would let you all know I have taken all of the jewelry items out of the etsy shop for a few days. They are way overdue for some fresh air so I am taking them to Lincoln City where they will have a day in the sun and feel the cool kiss of the ocean breeze...
Some of them will find new homes and never return...
The rest will be back later next week~
Seeya!

2007-08-27T09:11:00.000-07:00

Going to Lincoln City with me ~ Lovely shades of a rainforest safari~ Pretty topaz lovelies~ A custom request that wasn't exactly what the customer had in mind :)
Custom orders~ I love them as long as I get to have a bit of creative leeway~ Like color options! Choose more than one and it becomes an inspirational experience for me :)
Be specific! If you are after a certain look say so! It is okay, my goal is to make something you will love. Of course if I love them as well it will be easier for me, but I think I love most all of them~ lol...
I have been doing some custom requests lately and the reality is sometimes they work out and sometimes they don't. It is difficult translating a vision from an e-mail, even with pictures. I am learning to ask more questions and really get the specifics nailed down. But still I will make more than one bead set or pendant or whatever if I need to and it is allright, because like I said I happen to love them all and extra inventory is always great for me.
Have no fear! It is certainly okay to ask and never a bother for me.
Now seriously I must get down to the business of show preparation. Lincoln City is looming and I am starting to have a touch of anxiety! I may need to back off the coffee this week so I can stay calm and not get too excited. I'll burn myself out before Friday if my mind keeps racing like this hehehe... I am really looking forward to it. Matt and I will get a mini vacation and meet up with a bunch of other people from Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/index.php
It is going to be a fun time!

2007-08-25T08:22:00.000-07:00

I have been working with turquoise this week trying to duplicate a reaction from another set of beads I made~ Here I paired it with elektra in an effort to get the creamy colors of ivory without the black reaction line~ I reduced to bring out the copper reds and then encased them in clear and shaped them into pillow beads.
Oh and here we are in my dungeon oh I mean studio :) Yes it is messy right now bleh... I usually keep it nice and tidy and never have this much glass out at once.
When I went to Frantz I bought glass that is to long to fit into the storage space. I am cutting it in half with the torch and putting them away as I have time and room. Who would ever think there isn't enough room? hehehe... :P
Time to kick it up a notch!!! I have two shows to prepare for, one is this coming weekend!!! I will be in Lincoln City in front of the Cultural center with a bunch of other people from Etsy! I am really excited to do this show and I hope all goes well~ Pray for great weather and small winds. Oh and of course that the event is hugely successful for everyone involved!!
More later~
Kris

2007-08-21T08:43:00.000-07:00

What a gorgeous red! I was so excited to see this one when i pulled it from the kiln :) Metallic bronze! I cannot do this justice with a camera. Imagine my surprise and elation when my new muddy green glass turned into this fabulous color! I may never leave the studio again.
The last two inches of the Frosty Blue I won at Frantz last year. I have found a replacement made by CIM glass so I suppose it was okay to finish it off at last...
Ahh Silver Cinnamon~ With a name like that how could anyone resist? It sounds warm and rich and the color that I got out of it certainly follows that line of thinking. Yum!!!
A big handful of my Sunday Focal making craziness :)

What is a focal? Does size matter? I think it is a matter of perspective a 5' 3" woman would want a smaller focal than say a 6'2" man. In reality I believe a focal is any bead with enough "presence" to be used alone. A focal doesn't have to be huge it just has to be more.

I spent all of last Sunday (The day I usually take off :) making Focal beads. It was liberating and I had a blast. I usually make small beads in sets. Making a bunch of focals was new and I experimented A LOT :) I love the results, some of them a bit too much and they will be hard to part with I can tell, darn it... I am so infatuated with some of the colors I purchased at Frantz I have gone beyond being a glass nerd and entered the realm of glass freak. Yep full blown glass addiction. My daughter would probably ask for an intervention if she knew what that meant :)

Off to melt something...

my precious...

;)

2007-08-12T09:13:00.000-07:00

And so it starts :) We arrived fairly early the bulk of the crowd seemed to arrive from 11:00 am on. Jed and Julie from Double Helix Glass http://www.doublehelixglassworks.com/ were doing a lot of business with the spectacular glass they create. I was so excited to find they were sharing sample rods of their new glass "Psyche" can't wait to play with that!!
Oh what a mess we all made at the weigh it and mark it table!
The coveted Vetrofond odd lots!! I cannot believe I even got a clear shot of this area as it was packed with people most of the time we were there.
Outside looking in, thats the crowd I am talking about :)

We had a fantastic time at the Bash. I met some new people and learned some fabulous new techniques I can't wait to try. The weather was amazingly perfect, not too hot, just nice and sunny. I got to hang out with my family and some wonderful friends Teresa and Gary and their son Alan. They came over from Spokane just for this event~ I almost wish it was a two day event one just doesn't seem like enough :)

2007-08-10T11:55:00.000-07:00

Here are the rest~ Of course I just love this navy color! And Some more of this combo my new "old" favorite!
I don't have time to say much today as I am busy with my daughter and niece! My but they do keep me busy. You'd think they would keep each other busy right? huh! lol~ Ah well I am sure they will be too busy for me in time.
Seeya after Frantz!!!!
Except for you Amanda I will see YOU there :)

2007-08-09T14:42:00.000-07:00

Beads, its always beads isn't it? These deserved a new picture at the very least. The first pix I took of them were just not right~ This sweet beauty~ hmm do I keep it? Sometimes the camera will pick up detail the naked eye doesn't. That being said most always they are prettier in real life. The dark color here is navy, dark enough to be almost black. I was going for black and the rod I used was extremely dark in color and one of my lightbulbs burned out... well your getting the picture now :) So the experimentals got some friends in this "new" color I accidently mixed. I was surprised when I went out yesterday morning and held the rod up next to the remaining lightbulb to look through it. It isn't even blue~ it is all about layers :)
Green has always had a special place in my heart! More to come in this mix for sure!
Then there are these little delights! They are big-holed ~ 3/16 and layered with silver foil that I decided not to burn off completely. Ahh serious Bliss!
How did my outdoor event for work go? I met "The Crime Dog" Other than that is was a very quiet evening. We had dark threatening rain clouds and some drizzle. Even free food didn't lure the people out. One of the managers, Marlene really made my day! I was scheduled to do the event alone and she put forth an extra effort and came along, good thing, I never would have gotten the canopy up by myself. A Big Thank YOU Marlene!!

So my vacation week is flying by way faster than it should. It is now Thursday and I have two days left. One of which will be spent here : http://www.frantznewsletter.com/August_Bash_07.htm
The other one will be spent preparing to go. I have a list to make ya know?!!!

2007-08-07T13:41:00.000-07:00

Bright and Bold~ That is a change for me, of course I love them both even thought they really aren't "my style" I had a fairly productive morning today and I can't wait to see what comes from the kiln later :) I experimented a little and if the results are fabulous I will make my little experimentals some brothers and sisters so they will be sets.
Weather here is cloudy and cool and I am a little concerned as I have an outdoor event for work this evening. I volunteered to represent my employer at our local National Night Out event.
I hope it goes well~

2007-08-02T08:54:00.000-07:00

Men who love babies and the women who love them. Matt is such a terrific Grandpa. He has more maternal instinct in his little finger than a lot of women I know (self included) Truly he is a gem with the wee ones! Alena came to play last weekend and we had sooo much fun having her over. She is very easy going and reminds me a lot of her dad when he was a baby~
I had a lot of custom requests this week so that is what I have been focusing on. Also I am preparing for a show in Lincoln City Oregon on September 1st. So let the preparation hustle begin :) I will keep you all updated on my progress and I will post a link with more info about the location and time of the show. Just in case anyone wants to drop by and say "Hi"
Gotta run again!
Kris

2007-07-25T16:55:00.000-07:00

Vetrofond River Rock~ I still haven't decided what to do with this one :) Lemon Ice and Terra
Some more of these~ unetched and shiny :)
Whooeeey has it ever been sticky steamy and muggy here lately. Blech! We usually manage to avoid that in the Pacific Northwest. If it rains a little it normally just cools things down and gives us all a chance to freshen up a bit. Not last weekend, in fact Matt and I actually went to see two movies over the weekend just to get out of the hot muggy. We never do that :) I think we probably average a movie every six months or so. We watched Harry Potter and it was allright. We also watched Transformers and that was some seriously action packed and riveting entertainment. I wasn't really very excited to see it and went mostly for Matt. I am so glad I did it was really a great show :) The mugginess is gone now and it is warm and sunny again at least until this weekend when they have promised us some more rain. I have a few custom orders this week and I am anxious to get started. Rainy and cool weather will be perfect for flameworking~

2007-07-20T20:56:00.000-07:00

I made some silvered stringer this week. This is done by heating the tip of a glass rod and then rolling it onto some fine silver foil. The glass rod, wrapped in foil that has been burnished on, is then heated in the torch flame some more until the silver "burns off" The heating continues until the end of the rod kind of balls up. Then it is removed from the flame, cooled for a second or two before you grab the tip and give it a gentle downward tug, creating a thin silvered stringer. I made mine with the Vetrofond odd lot River Rock. Here I applied it to Copper Green and superheated each bead so the silver would really work some magic. Then I gave them the briefest bath in etching cream and they feel just like cool silk... Bliss~

2007-07-16T07:13:00.000-07:00

Hey Graphic Artists Type folks who love glass~ This is a contest just for you!!!!

Etsy Glass Artists Business Card Contest Sponsored by the Etsy Glass Artists Street Team The Etsy Glass Artists (EGA) Street Team is sponsoring a business card design contest. The contest, details for which are online at http://contest.etsyglass.com, invites participants to design the official business card for the Team. The grand prize winner will receive artisan glass items valued at $350. Two runners up will each receive a $10 gift certificate to use in any EGA member Etsy shop. Individuals wishing to enter the contest should create a unique business card design that effectively promotes glasswork on Etsy and conveys the mission of EGA. Submissions will be accepted through the website beginning July 5 and must be received by August 15, 2007. Winners will be announced in late August 2007. Etsy Glass Artists is an Etsy.com Street Team comprised of glass fusers, glass blowers, lampworkers and stained glass artisans dedicated to fostering an appreciation for the handmade glass arts. Etsy.com is an online marketplace for buying and selling all things handmade. Complete contest rules and technical specifications can be found at the contest website, http://contest.etsyglass.com.

2007-07-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

Love these!!!

I have been playing with copper foil and some of the new colors and this is my favorite set by far this week!

Post and run~

Seeya!!!

2007-07-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Matt and I drove out to Frantz Art Glass. My dad gave me gift certificate for my birthday and what better way to spend it than on the vetrofond odd lot glass in the picture below. Yum!!! In descending order they are Bananna Cream, Lemon Ice, Orange Sherbet, River Rock and an assortment of Poppy. I can't wait to melt some! I also picked up some of the ASK colors because they looked so pretty lying in their boxes~
Then there are the staples Coral, Dark Ivory, Sky Blue, Periwinkle and a few others not seen here~
What a glorious way to spend a beautiful day~ It took us a little over three hours including my shopping, I am sooo indecisive :) Matt is so very patient, while I perused the glass he was dropping other goodies in my basket, a new tool that was on my list (How did he know? I didn't tell him I wanted it) a license plate frame that says "Plays with Fire" and a couple of other things. It was fun, especially when we got home and I sorted the glass into my bins~ Can't wait for next week when I have torch time.
Have a great Day!
Kris

2007-07-01T17:19:00.000-07:00

Then we went berry picking and saw lots of beautiful wildflowers
The treasure at last!!!
Oh yeah :)
Don't you wish you were here?
Washed and added to vanilla ice cream. Not quite enough for a pie. Everyone was pretty tired from all of the hiking so we picked just enough for ice cream.
Hope you are all having a relaxing Sunday afternoon too~

2007-07-01T17:11:00.000-07:00

Pretty pink wildflowers Got Moss?
The ridge through the trees
You just never know what you will find on the forest floor :)
Another shot of the ridge

We had a great hike, it was pretty exhausting in the best way. Oh but wait... there is a bit more I need to add :)

2007-07-01T16:58:00.000-07:00

Chelsea and I took the kids for a hike this morning. Tall trees! The weather was amazing and perfect but it did get a bit warm before we finished
taking our long walk through the beautiful forest.I just love to be out in the woods. It always smells so sweet and piney~
Everything is so green and beautiful right now~
And TALL!!!
Remnants of our winter windstorm. This giant was ripped straight from the ground and tossed in between some other trees, it is wedged about eight feet up in between the trees. There was plenty of visible damage in the forest but nothing else as dramatic as this!

2007-06-29T18:14:00.000-07:00

Briar Rose~ I left these a little "rough around the edges" because the rose that inspired them has a wild abandon beauty to it, hmm... Keep them or list them on Etsy? A day with evil divitrifying purple, avacado and copper green who could resist that?
Obviously not me :)

Edp forces some colors to concentrate into a thin center line when they are applied together. I am not sure what the science is behind this, I just know that I really enjoy the results.

I don't have much to say tonight as I am working a different schedule at my job this week and I am pooped!!! I can't wait to get to my glass this week let me tell you :)

2007-06-28T20:31:00.000-07:00

Tools for poking and shaping, straightening and tucking. These are a few of my favorite things.Mashers and squashers~ Shaping by hand with the gentle curve of the squeeze tool is one of the best secrets I keep~ The graphite shaper in the lower right is well used too :)
"All the better to see you with my dear"
Pretty purple didymium glasses filter out the bright orange soda flare that occurs when soft glass is melting in the torch. They protect my eyesight and make it easier to see what I am doing in the flame.

Those are the tools I have on my bench every time I torch. They are my "indispensibles" I have others I use and like but not as much as the ones I have shown you here~

2007-06-22T08:37:00.000-07:00

my piano man

Yummy seafood dinner in Jimis' tiny kitchen

Happy Fathers Day Dad!
My Brother in Law and my Silly Niece~
And Dianne!

Fathers day was great! We got together at my Brothers house in Seattle and made lots of yummy seafood and a delicious salad. Everyone had a wonderful time and I got plenty of pix!

2007-06-21T20:35:00.000-07:00

Yummy yummy colors~ lately I've been wanting to make more big hole beads :)
Terra and dark Ivory what a great combo this turned out to be ~very rustic Some more squeezies! I just love these pretty, pretty, pretty, SMASH! oh yeah :)
More of the big holes

I know you are all dying to see the second installment in "The Mysteries of Glass" series. No worries, I've taken some more pix and will be telling you about some of my favorite tools next~

Just thought I'd throw out a quick little post with some of this weeks beads to tide you all over.

2007-06-11T19:07:00.001-07:00

Stainless steel mandrels or rods in sizes ranging from 1/16th to 7/16ths. This is how they look after I strip the beads off of them. A little bit of leftover bead release here and there, but basically ready for another go round :) Bead release works as a "separator" so that the molten glass does not permanently adhere to the rod as the bead is formed. It should have the consistency of a thick milkshake. Some release can be flame dried and others dry overnight. The type I prefer can be flame dried although I usually let it dry overnight as it seems to be more stable.
After the mandrels are dipped in the bead release I keep them in a mug one of my friends from school made. The mug is filled with sand and I just poke the mandrels in. I also have a couple of soup cans and some drilled stands Matt made for me just for drying mandrels. So I usually have plenty ready to go at any given time :) Dipping mandrels is one of my least favorite things to do.
Ahhh at last some real color. I am easily distracted by all the color. Many many times I have gone out to my studio with ideas I have written down only to be distracted and inspired to go in another direction. Today for example I had a list of Morretti combos I wanted to work from. I went out and promptly cleared the Morretti from the bench. Yep cleared the Morretti from the bench~ out came reichenbach and some compatible friends. I spent my glass time experimenting and playing and I had a blast. I hope everything looks great in the morning. You just can't really tell until everything has cooled off.
So when my thumbnail caught on fire today I was a little surprised. I have a tendancy to use the glass down to the very end and that means I get my fingers really close to the flame. Still the little burst of flame at the end of my thumb was surprising as I also keep my nails fairly short. I was so grateful that I always have a cup of cold water nearby for cooling my tools off so the glass doesn't stick to them. My hand flew into the glass, a little "psst" noise and the drama was over. That little jolt of adreneline was great for creativity lol :)

2007-06-10T07:17:00.000-07:00

Ready for a little fun in the sun? Sweet chocolate and turquoise :) yummmeeee~
A cool Forest Green Cube

Well I turned 41 last weekend and I am still alive and kickin'~ TJ and Kendra brought Aleena for a dip in the pool. Is she just the cutest in her hat and bikini or what? We had a wonderful day, Matts' Grandma and Uncle Dave came up from Little Rock (Wa) Mom and Milo came out and Chelsea brought Jaxson over to play with Sammy. Matts' sister Jill even made a surprise appearance. It was great to see everyone. The weather was fabulous, we are back to grey and rainy now though with a thunderstorm here and there just to keep you on your toes :)

My dad sent me a gift certificate for Frantz Art Glass and I can't wait to go and use it!! Boy talk about the "Perfect" gift hehehe... Now I just need to take some time for myself from my crazy schedule so I can use it.

Maybe next week...

Kris

2007-06-03T07:55:00.000-07:00

The Warm spice beads are back! A wonderful soft pinky coral medley, probably one of my all-time favorite beadsets. I re-listed them yesterday so if you missed them the first time around here is your second chance. Go get 'em!!

Its my Birthday :) I am spending a nice morning with my hubby. Then we are off to the store to get some goodies as we have a few family members coming over later for an impromptu get together.

The giant Larva beetle thingy is GONE!!! shudder... Matt got rid of it yesterday and I am so glad, it was kind of gross to see it laying in the bottom of the jar waiting to hatch bleh... No guesses on what it was.

2007-06-01T08:28:00.000-07:00

Beauty and the beast~ The picture at the top is a HUGE pupa or cocoon Matt found while we were working in the yard last week ewwww it is about the size of my pinkie. It will probably hatch into a gigantic man-eating beetle. Bleh.... Of course the beauty is in the beads. I am very happy with the richness of the colors in the bottom set. I learned a new trick with my photo editing program too. I am always happy to find good tips!! Well I am outta here and off to work. Have a fabulous day!

2007-05-24T08:45:00.000-07:00

May is an out of control busy month for me! We have two major sales at work in May, then there are the birthdays. Matt, his grandmother and my sister all have birthdays in May. So all the getting together to celebrate eats up some time. Time not wasted because my family is so precious to me. I get a little behind with all of you though :) I did manage to get another custom order done this week and some squeeze bead minis that I am absolutely smitten with~ I know I am a total glass nerd/freak I freely and happily admit that. One more cup of coffee and a few more words... Had to grab something for breakfast too. I think I have had a bit too much coffee this morning, half a pot!!! Yikes! just sipping and working lol~

Hope your Day is Glorious!

Kris

2007-05-17T08:38:00.000-07:00

The beads shown above are a custom order I did this week. I was working for Christy and those are her new beads:) She is going to make some incredible bracelets with them and I cannot wait to see! She was truly a joy to work with and I will be doing some more for her this coming week~
I am such a busy busy girl~ Sorry its just a short note I will get all caught up soon with new pix of the patio too!
promises promises...
;)

2007-05-10T06:42:00.000-07:00

The new glass came and you haven't heard a peep from me since :) These are some of the beads I made from Terra last week. Terra is the latest thing from Double Helix Glass. It is handmade glass with a heavy silver content. It is the silver content that makes this such a wonderful glass to work with. A whole range of color from one stick of glass. Terra does require some patience, as do most of the silver glasses. It has to be heated and cooled repeatedly to get great results. If you know me, you know I am a bit short on patience. I can hardly stand to wait for anything. Terra is sooo worth the wait. It is magical to see the the colors appear as the bead cools.
The weather has been gorgeous this week, sunny and cool with a big blue sky overhead. Work has been busy, as it always is in May~ It is a struggle to do everything this time of year and a day off is such a relaxing treasure. This coming Sunday is Mothers Day and I am taking a day off. Matt and and Sam and I will go to his grandparents for his Grandmas birthday.
Enjoy your day!
Kris

2007-05-04T08:11:00.000-07:00

Work on the patio is coming along and the yard is starting to really look fabulous. It is almost finished. Matt has been working on it every spare moment that he has. I have been getting geared up at my day job for the big month of May. It is our busiest time and I try and get enough rest so I can keep up with the flood of spring customers. It sucks that I haven't had enough spare energy or time this week to produce any new and fabulous beads to share, Ah well there will be some next week I am sure, as I cannot be kept away from my glass for long lol... Happy Birthday Matt!!!!

2007-05-02T18:13:00.000-07:00

I am still here !! Just busy as sin trying to keep up with everything. I took last weekend off and went to Seattle with friends. We had an amazing time! Good food, lots of laughter and tons of walking. I couldn't live there though as I really love the country and fresh air. Not to mention there aren't as many sirens at night :) I ordered some Terra last week and it arrived on friday. I am so anxious to give it a bit of heat and see what happens! Terra is reactive glass made in small batches in the Pacific NW for those of you who don't know. I was lucky to get some on the first go round. They usually run out of the new glass pretty quickly.

2007-04-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

Hope the bead pix aren't a re-post :) I just want to give you all something to look at and I was down in the dumps last Monday so I wasn't productive at all~ I'll make up for it soon!

I found some missing comments this morning... They never made it to the e-mail notification stage for some reason. Ah well, now they are posted.

It is absolutely beautiful out this morning. A sunny spring day after months of grey and gloomy is so worth the wait. The sky is blue and Mt. Rainier is visible as well as the Cascade Range. I wish I could just sip my coffee and breathe in the fresh scent of morning for a bit. My Grandma Joyce used to take my sister and me to her cabin at White Pass. It was wonderful. We took walks every evening with flashlights and every morning when I would get up she would be out on the porch drinking a coffee. It is probably her love of coffee that rubbed off on me. She used to give me a bit with some cream and sugar mmm... And then there was the swimming pool. We used to beg to go swimming from the time we got up until we got to the pool. Sue and I were relentless about it. Before I learned to swim I would pull myself along the smooth concrete edge hand over hand until my fingers would just about bleed. I was pretty determined to move around in the water somehow. I can't remember the exact moment I started swimming it just happened. I am rambling a bit as usual, no focus or direction :)

Next weekend I am going to Seattle for a mini "Girl Vacation" with my best friend Chelsea and her other friend Tawnie from Spokane. I cannot wait! We are going to have so much fun, just hanging around in the Big City~

2007-04-19T09:12:00.000-07:00

A big set of the Mariposa beads. I am thinking about doing some in another color... My new Favorite Spoon Bracelet. Must be the bold look of the spoons on this one ;)
One more I will be adding these to the shop later~
All those plans I had for last Monday kinda went down the tubes with the VT shootings. How senseless and sad. Things like that always put me into a tailspin. I find I suddenly question the quality of the everything, the life I am living to the time I am spending with my family.
I have decided to live my life differently as a result. I went back and re-read this:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." The above speech by Nelson Mandela was orignally written by Marianne Williamson who is the author of other similar material."

Need I say More? :)

Hope I can live up~

2007-04-15T08:50:00.000-07:00

Sundays are for sleeping in. At least until 6:45 or so, breakfast with the family and the morning news with some excellent coffee and a splash of yummy cream. They are also for catching up on e-mails and looking around at all of the things you missed during the week. I have been so busy lately with Sam and spring break and all of the birthdays and Easter. I guess life does come at you fast :) I am hoping to get some serious quality bead time in on Monday. Mostly because I deserve it. This work is my play.

2007-04-12T20:36:00.000-07:00

Isn't she the cutest baby ever? Some prototype cabinet knobs
Mariposa~
How time slips away~ Random thoughts: I seem to be living under some tiny grey cloud lately no matter how well behaved I am minor things keep happening to mess it up :) Phhh...
I miss my Grandmother, Easter Sunday was the one year anniversary of her death. I wonder whatever happened to "grandmas mustache" She seemed to have one and now that I am nearing forty one I keep checking to see if I am getting one. Hers just seemed to vanish I don't really know what she did about it... Why do people drive like they do? What is really happening to the honey bees in North America? They are disappearing and not even a single tiny little carcass is left behind, just empty hives. Are they gathering up and flying away for freedom? Maybe it is alien abduction? 14 out of 20 pygmy hares released to repopulate the Columbia Basin were killed via predation. Wonder why the population was dwindling in the first place? If an item was shipped to a foreign country and refused will it get shipped back? I guess really I should have said random questions because they are mostly questions.
The Beads I made last week. They are already gone to a good home.

2007-04-05T10:29:00.000-07:00

My favorite set this week!
I love these too!
And this one!
Oh and these~
Last but not least more of these~
Okay I admit it I am just a bead ho :) I took the week off to spend spring break with my daughter and try and get some things done. I have not accomplished all that I thought I could, go figure lol...

Sam and I did get a lot of cleaning done yesterday Yay! The donation folks came and picked up some things this morning. I had planned to spend today in my studio making some more beads but I am kind of feeling under the weather what the heck?!!! Sam is going to her Grandmas house this afternoon for a trip to the beauty shop and the book store How fun for her :)

She loves to go to the book store or the library.

We are having family over for Easter Sunday and I am looking forward to it. Cooking a nice dinner and spending some time together is always fun.

I just hope I get out of this funk I am in before then ... shake it baby shake it :)

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Day~

2007-04-01T18:49:00.000-07:00

The muddy muddy backyard
It is coming along nicely :)
A Purple Rose~
The backyard is coming along in spite of all the wild spring weather we are getting. Warm and teasing one minute downpours and hail the next.
No more flaming knees :) Matt is kinda half laid up with the healing process. We have discovered some excellent bandages made especially for burns and they seem to work fairly well.
My friend Chelsea had a birthday bash last night and Matt brought up the fact that he had been on fire. Now we were sitting at the far end of the table and there were six men and two women at our end. Three of those six men had all been on fire!!!! ahem none of the women :) So does that mean that 50% of ALL men have been on fire? Fess up boys we've got your number now. One of them had been on fire more than once (he is a welder) I use a torch to melt glass and haven't caught myself on fire yet... Oh wait I have been on fire once. I used to smoke and I had surgery on on my wrist, it was in a sling. We were just leaving the hospital and I was "dyin' for a smoke" so I lit up and the burning end fell off into the sling and it burned in the strangest way, no flames just hot orange embers around the edges of a quickly growing hole. I remember looking down at it and thinking what the heck??? Then I realized I was on fire, it smelled horrible.
So I guess 50% of all women have been on fire too if we follow my rules :)
The purple rose is made from layered glass pulled into individual petals that are kept preheated to prevent thermal shock as they are applied in the flame. Each petal is meticulously hand-shaped as I add it to the core. I also used a hand-pulled cane to apply the green sepals at the base of the rose.

2007-03-29T19:36:00.000-07:00

The Narrows Bridges New and Old~

Happy Birthday Dad!!!
The Fireman~ :)

Sunday was my Dads' 64th birthday. We took the drive out and had some great family time. We got to spend time with family members we don't see very often. I also took some pictures of the Narrows Bridge as we passed over it. The new bridge is supposed to be ready in August sometime. Samantha has possibly inherited my fear of heights as she doesn't ever look forward to crossing over the Narrows when we go out there.

Well quite possibly you've heard the rumours? Matt caught himself on fire yesterday, yes you read that correctly. He has second degree burns on his knee but he is in a good humour as usual. Here's the scoop: He was out doing some landscaping (his business is landscape and irrigation) using a weedburner. (huge torch! big flame! burns weeds right up!!!) So he is pretty focused on what he is doing and doesn't realize he caught the loose fringe on his knee on fire until he feels some stinging on his knee. He had two layers of clothing on and didn't feel the heat. He looked down and had flames halfway up his right thigh by then. He immediately tried to pat the flames out with his bare hands, getting some of the inner layer flaming melting, unnatural, fabric (read polyester) stuck on them in the process so his hands were flaming too. He said three things went through his mind:

1. AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!

2. AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!

3. RUN!!!!

The hardest thing was not running. He threw himself into some wet grass and rolled around until the flames were out. Then he came home and convinced himself not to go into shock. He did not tell me any of this until I returned home from work. I probably would have come home and insisted on medical care or something... He went to work today as usual and I have ordered him a flame proof suit (just kidding :) I was hysterical with laughter when he mentioned he took off the flame bead I made for him. I told him he was lucky it didn't have a lightning bolt on it.

2007-03-23T07:12:00.000-07:00

Turquoise and Chocolate~
Pink and Chocolate~

Toldja I was gonna play with the Green a bit :)
Pretty in Pink~
Simple Lines~

I did play with the green earlier this week. The resulting bead is at the top of the page. It is creamy green over dark transparent forest green. Yumm! Not being a big fan of "girly things" it is always a challenge for me to pick up the pink. But I did it anyway and some of the resulting beads are up above.
Matt has been working in the back yard extending our patio and putting up a small rock wall. He has also re-done our sprinkler system and put some fabulous wrought iron pieces along the fence. I can't wait to see the final results! I will post some pictures when it is finished.

We have a small yard and neighbors right over the fence on all sides. Not my idea of private :)

The trees we have planted help make it feel more secluded as they have grown fairly tall. Of course we have to also keep the dogs in mind as we plan. Less grass and more rock makes it easier for clean up.

Have a great day!

Kris

2007-03-18T08:44:00.000-07:00

Layered Greens~ Bullseye metallic green left un-reduced is creamy green I wonder what I can really do with this glass, might be time for some glass play :) More greens~
Magical Kronos
And some more Magic :)
It does not cease to amaze me that all of these creamy blue green beiges are from one rod of glass. Kronos is magical without a doubt.
My persimmon beads made the front page of etsy the other day and got over 700 hits!!! I just couldn't believe it. How fun! I sure appreciate all of the exposure that gave my shop :)
Why have I been so quiet lately? I am busy as heck thats why! Spring is coming and life just seems to rush forward this time of year. Sammy had a program at school last week, it was great. The third and fourth grades sang together. Matt has been working long hours so my time gets focused elsewhere :) I got to see our sweet grandbaby last week, she is growing so quickly!
Sunday morning and again I have so much to do today~ I will sip my coffee for a few more minutes before I jump up and continue on. It was 62 degrees here on Friday a record for us this time of year. It is wonderful to have weather like that it kind of reminds us all that winter won't last forever and spring is coming :) It is raining again today but we did see our first hummingbird this morning. Matt put the feeder out a couple of days ago because they usually start showing up about now.
Have a great day everyone~

2007-03-04T07:30:00.000-08:00

Teresa is in the center we were camping during the August 2006 Frantz Glass Bash Metallic~

Tangerine Dream~
Persimmon~ Have I told you lately how much I love melting glass? The color combinations are limitless and then you throw in a bit of silver or copper and it changes the result entirely.

Glass is surely "my thing" I have to thank Gary, Teresa and Matt.

Gary who mentioned it at work one day and Teresa for for hanging around at the glass places with me and coming to my house every Monday. I remember looking at the beads that Gary brought in to work so I could see. I can tell you now that I wasn't as impressed as I would be now. Just because I really didn't get it yet. Gary had told me about a video they had seen that I could get at the Library. I looked diligently once or twice... Glass really hadn't really caught my interest yet. I used to go to the Library on a fairly regular basis :) One day in late May seven years ago I saw the video lying on top of the return cart as I passed by, as if it was waiting for me. I picked it up and figured I'd have a look, what the heck why not? So I brought it home to watch. Matt and I watched it together. I made a birthday purchase for myself a few days later. I ordered a starter kit complete with a Hothead torch. I opened it and looked everything over when it arrived. I was so intimidated by the torch and the gas and again I sort of put everything aside. I got a phone call from Matt at work telling me I needed to pick up a canister of Mapp gas and bring it home. He had set up my glass and torch, everything was ready to go. I was afraid and if he hadn't given me that final big nudge I may not have gotten around to lighting my torch.

I don't remember exactly how many beads I made before my mind went up in flames with all the possibilities. I was sleepless and obsessed I considered getting "help" I had all these ideas. Then I found an online forum were people were talking about feeling the exact same way! I was so relieved~ I started writing and drawing my ideas out and now I sleep much better.

The whole point of my telling this story is just to thank the people that pushed and encouraged me along the way~ Gary, Teresa and most of all Matt who continues to encourage me.

2007-02-19T20:29:00.000-08:00

This one makes me smile~
My Ankgor Wat beauties :) they make me smile too
Yellow beads for moms set~ :)

Remember yesterday and how I was so excited about the beads I had made? Well here they are all freshly scrubbed~ and I listed them on etsy. I took 189 photos today!!! Thats a heckuva lot of editing ewww... Not my favorite pastime but I got it all done and will be adding listings to Etsy throughout the week and beyond I am sure. Back to work in the morning my weekend is over. Oh and don't laugh they were making veiled snow threats on the weather report tonight, guess the old farmers almanac is pretty accurate this year.

2007-02-18T14:07:00.000-08:00

This amazing photo was taken by an artist from etsy: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5169053 It was taken in Ankgor Wat Cambodia and is the inspirational part of the etsy glass artists February challenge. First of all I didn't intend to make any beads today. I changed my mind and was going to go out for an hour or so and make some spring/summer colored accent beads. Simple and quick. Apparently my glass muse had other plans for me :)
I had forgotten that I had left a copy of the picture out in the studio. I saw it lying there and Suddenly my mind was full of color and ideas. I started torching away and dancing with the music on the radio~ Creative and full of energy I used up all of the silver foil pieces I had pre-cut for another project. I wound hot molten glass onto mandrel after mandrel, layer upon layer rolled on some silver foil and burnished it in. Flamed the foil off and then reduced it back to a shine, added a dab of frit, heated the whole thing to molten again and shaped each one before popping them one by one into the kiln. Then I worked on those accent beads for a while :)
I cannot wait to open the kiln in the morning!

2007-02-15T07:27:00.000-08:00

Sue and I just finished this custom necklace for one of our customers on Etsy. It goes in the mail today~

I really love that the internet has allowed me to make friends and contacts all over the world~ It just amazes me that people can reach out and touch each other through the computer. I am especially enjoying flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/37376826@N00/ go take a peek~

2007-02-12T14:35:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it strikes me funny that when things s l o w down. People get frustrated~ self included. I just tried to go to the etsy site and it won't even load because it is bogged down with traffic that I guess they just aren't quite ready for :) Remember when we all first got the internet and AOL was the solitary server? I remember getting booted off because it was "too full" wow how quickly things have progressed. Now if we can't get right to where we're going online or otherwise (traffic its all about traffic) we lose patience. Hmmm... sometimes I wanna be slow again.

I couldn't get very motivated to do much with my glass today either :( I tried and managed to make a couple of experimental color combo beads and a lopsided cupboard knob. But nothing spectacular~ There is always next week though.

I did manage to get some pictures taken of the jewelry donations for the AHH raffle. I am still just a little blown away with the generosity of people. I sent the pictures over to Sue http://www.silkroadcollars.com/ she will be running the raffle.

2007-02-09T19:52:00.000-08:00

Its funny how some things pluck at the strings of our memories. I was driving this morning and saw a yellow celica on the freeway ahead of me. I immediately thought of a friend I haven't seen or heard from in a very long time. That led me off on a whole series of things that "pluck" Dragonflies, clear blue tropical seas, emblems of sunshine, the smell of fried chicken and clam chowder, the smell of Roses when the air is heavy with the moisture, The shortest day of the year, high clouds in the early morning, Studebakers, goldfinches and guinea hens, yes guinea hens. I could go on but I think you get the idea. These are things that bring someone, something or a moment in time instantly to mind, no matter how long it has been.

Today I listed a spoon bracelet in my etsy shop that I fully intended to keep for myself. I have tried to pick something out a couple of times but I find I want too many things and choosing just one is difficult. Don't get me wrong I have some things I cannot part with, they are mine alone :)

2007-02-08T06:38:00.000-08:00

The response to my request for help for Heather and the Greyhounds was excellent. I am so appreciative and thankful for all of the donations that everyone sent. Every little bit helps.

Things have been pretty calm here weatherwise in the Pacific Northwest unlike the eastern part of the country. Brrrr...I have a feeling winter isn't quite done with us yet either my fingers are crossed.

Matt and I had dinner with friends last Saturday. They served us the most amazing mexican meal, everything was delicious and it was followed by cheesecake with lemon topping. Oh my gosh! Matt is still raving about how wondeful everything was.

2007-02-05T07:58:00.000-08:00

during the fire
after the fire
Before the fire

I loaded the pictures out of order ~

Thank you to everyone who donated to http://almosthomeforhounds.org/ Heather is very appreciative. I am overwhelmed and happily surprised by your generosity. It is truly inspiring and wonderful to see people helping each other out. Thank You~

2007-02-01T20:25:00.000-08:00

http://almosthomeforhounds.org/
Many of you aren't aware that I am involved in greyhound rescue. If you click the link above you can see who is directly affected by my involvement. Heather has singlehandedly done more for the greyhound breed than any other human I know. She has a bottomless heart for giving to these dogs. Right now she is in desperate need of a little extra help. There was a fire on January 12th that burned the volunteer quarters to the ground.
Now heather typically has about 60 greyhounds on hand and she does most of the work by herself. Can you imagine feeding and turning out 60 dogs all by yourself? So volunteers and a place for them to stay is really a necessity. She is working with the insurance company but it doesn't sound like things are going very smoothly. So any added help would be greatly appreciated. At the bottom of the page that opens here: http://almosthomeforhounds.org/
there is a link to donate if you like. If you donate please put a note in the comment section that you read it in Kris' post so she can track it.
We could all use a little good karma right?
I will keep you all updated~

2007-01-28T08:20:00.000-08:00

Another beautiful forecast for the Pacific Northwest. I feel like we all deserve it after the craziness of Autumns end and Winters beginning. It is cold and frosty clear out right now but we are expecting low 50's by this afternoon. I will be out in the shop as soon as it warms up as I have big plans for my glass :)
Right now I will just enjoy my morning coffee. Matt is watching some old rerun with Arnold in it bleh... I'd like a little morning news but ah well I am entertained right here. Sammy just came down and she's going to be looking for some breakfast I'm sure.

2007-01-22T18:23:00.000-08:00

I think I have to make more of these^
It was a wonderful day! I had a productive day at the torch and got some housework done. It actually seemed warmish outside today that was such a relief from our cold temps.
I am delighted, my kiln is piled high with get me out of bed in the morning goodness~ I'll post some pix when they are all cleaned up later in the week.

2007-01-21T07:54:00.000-08:00

Ahh finally some normal winter weather~ It is cloudy and grey out with some blue sky showing through in patches. I am pretty sure the weather heads told me it is going to be in the 40's today and I am happy that is warm enough to brave my garage studio and cook up some beads. I have an order for custom work so I'll show ya later~
I am really excited Bullseye just added more colors to their glass rod line and I love them all. Three are rich earthy red browns, there is a fabulous golden green color and a shade of ivory and then cyan blue. I can hardly wait to get my hands on some of the stuff. I am color obsessed it's true :) Color inspires and motivates me.
I got my hands on a truly delish cup of coffee this morning it is perfectly strong and dark and the organic creamer I splashed into it just takes enough of the edge off~ Bliss

2007-01-16T06:13:00.000-08:00

It is still dark out and snowing like mad, again. I got up around 5:00 am this morning and looked out to see a skiff of snow and medium to tiny flakes coming down steadily. It is now a little after 6:00 am and the flakes have increased in size to those big clumpy fluffy ones we all loved to catch on our tongues as children. It is snowing like crazy now and accumulating quickly. The news crews are reporting Pierce County as the worst place to be driving this morning. We seem to have the most accidents :) compared to the rest .
I'll be back to say more later...
So now it is much later~ 11:30 and the snow turned to light freezing rain for a couple of hours but now I hear dripping melting noises outside~ Yay! Maybe tomorrow there will be school and we can all return to our normal daily routines here. If it gets warm enough maybe I can sneak out and melt some glass today. Matt got a heater for my studio but alas the breaker isn't big enough to run the heater and all my other "stuff" too. I will bundle up like I usually do :)

2007-01-15T16:16:00.000-08:00

The setting sun~

Making Snickerdoodles and Time in the afternoon sunshine. I spent a bit of special time with Samantha this afternoon making snickerdoodles, an old childhood favorite of mine. They just don't taste like I remember them.
Time ~fleeting, intangible yet dragging its timeles feet toward the end of time.
My Fathers older sister passed away over the weekend. She had been suffering from alzheimers and her family suffered right along with her. She was a very special woman capable of brightening a room with her presence alone. I will miss her, my Auntie Karen.
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Making snickerdoodles and Time ;)

2007-01-14T12:06:00.000-08:00

Migraines and January sunshine~ I had a migraine start this morning. I have to admit I have been having warning signs all week. Tuesday I had a hard time finding the right words, Wednsday and Thursday I was fine. I was even fine on Friday except in the night when I had a sudden pounding headache that was fleeting thankfully and then yesterday I noticed some things going on with my vision and I had numbness in my right hand. All signs I would have picked up on quickly in the past when I had migraines more often. Mine usually come from stress and hormone fluctuations (could it be the start of menopause?) and I have noticed bright January sunshine seems to also be a trigger for me. So first came the "missing spot" I look at things and can't quite see the whole thing. I used to run to the bathroom to see if part of my face was gone from the image in the mirror and that was how I could tell one was coming on. The next phase for me is the "element" I get the whole looked at a light bulb too long visual effect this is usually when I start to have some pain starting in my head as well as lose my ability to make much sense speaking :) Then for the grand finale' I may have numbness in my face, tongue or hands and or vomit. How fun :( I am always glad when they go away quickly I usually have to sleep them off and I think the worst one I had I slept for 14 hours solid, it was awful. I still have enough of a headache and brain fog to be useless and I hope I am making sense here forgive me if I have punctuation or spelling errors today hehehe...
I'll have more to say later maybe

2007-01-12T07:42:00.000-08:00

All puffed up trying to stay warm!!
Part of a huge flock of Geese going over the house yesterday.
The trees across the way

Its a chilly seventeen degrees this morning. The world outside is icy and cold. I may make an attempt to get to work today I haven't decided yet. Ugh I really hate this, the decision making part. I would be there in a heartbeat if the weather was different or if someone could tell me about the roads between here and there. I guess we'll see :)

2007-01-11T11:16:00.000-08:00

Slediquette~ Our morning started with some surprise snow. What we had yesterday actually had melted away and pretty much dried up. I was hopeful that I could return to work today. lol... Matt woke me up at some point in the night to tell me it was snowing again. I really couldn't believe it, as the weather heads said we would be done with snow by 8:00 pm last night. I really know better than to believe everything they say, really I do. So I hustled out to get some photos in my jammies big coat and boots ( a lovely sight for the neighbors I am sure :) Then we had a hearty breakfast. After that we all bundled up for a walk and some sledding. The sled hill is about a 70 degree rock strewn hill a block long. Steep and scary. I secretly think of it as Deathwish Hill. The bottom of the hill ends where the road cuts across it. We started our walk over and were joined by about 7-10 kids as we walked along. A man coming back with his two children met us on the way over. He said "Great sledding over there, nice paths, they fly right out in the road though, thats quite a crowd you got there." as he walked by. Thats a pretty big blurt for a stranger~ I'd say he had his morning coffee :) We continued over to the hill. There were about three different paths you could sled on so we sent Sammy up the one with the fewest kids. She came flying down. First words out of her mouth were "Daddy its your turn" Of course Matt (we had to pretty much drag him along) Didn't want a turn. What no turn? So she went a couple more times then I went couple times too. We headed back to the house with Matt pulling Sam in her sled.
We got home and Sammy and I had a little snowball fight then Matt wanted to get in on that so we all had a snowball fight she was helping him (no fair :) All in all it has been a nice morning for the three of us. I am glad we were able to make the best of the unexpected day off.

2007-01-10T07:25:00.000-08:00

The pond at the back of the community we live in gets kind of pretty with snow around it~
The real reason I wouldn't leave the house this morning :)
Taking a walk in the cold fresh air with Samantha was fun! We took lots of pictures.
~ Angels are everywhere~
Fickle weather~ The forecast is ever changing. The snow and cold arrived as predicted. thankfully with a lot less drama than I expected. Knocking on wood cause it ain't over yet :)
I base my decision to stay home or make the drive to work on a couple of things, one of them is if school is closed or not. I was really surprised that my daughters school district was closed today. They are normally 2 hrs late when everyone else is closed or they are last to report. There isn't a lot of snow this morning but it is supposed get very cold by this afternoon and the drive home could become treachorous. I woke up around 4:30 and looked outside and there wasn't any snow so back to my cozy bed. When I woke up again a little after 5:30 the windows looked brighter so I checked outside again and lo and behold everything was covered and it looked like a blizzard outside. I was a little surprised because it happened so quickly. So here we are tucked away in our home for a bit. Matt will brave it and go in to Tacoma to work today. Why don't I have him drop me off? I am terrified of driving and riding in the snow and ice. I had a really traumatic experience about 23 years ago. I was in a rollover accident and then run over later the same day~ Not so fun, then two weeks later ... yeah, so I try and try to get over it but the fear just roars back to life no matter what I tell it :) It is pretty frustrating for me.
I just talked to Matt he got to Tacoma allright and swears it is 65 and sunny there phhh... He is selling me a bridge later too ;)

2007-01-08T08:50:00.000-08:00

Have I mentioned that I don't want to play "Wind" anymore? The smaller storm that went through Friday night had sustained winds of 30 -45 mph with gusts up to 50ish. The rain was absolutely torrential. Now they are telling us to expect another storm Tuesday evening with strong winds again and then snow from about 5:00 pm on. It isn't very often the weather heads talk about snow with even a note of promise in their voices. Last night they sounded like "Its gonna snow and I mean it" Ugh... Let the preperations begin again. We haven't even been able to get the 6 volt batteries restocked at the store since the December storm ;)
Today I will sip my coffee and enjoy the quiet for a while, maybe catch up on my laundry and the other things I can before I go out and melt some glass. I have orders to fill!

2007-01-05T07:29:00.000-08:00

The New Year is off to a nice start. School is back in and we are slipping back into our regular routine here. The weather is still kind of wild though and we are expecting some cold winds again. Only 30mph this time, so not too bad I suppose when you take a look at the BLIZZARDS south of here. Amazing! I have friends living out in the middle of that, they are doing allright but it sure isn't easy for anybody. Preperation is really everything.
I am sipping some coffee and gearing up to go off to work. Sue and I finished up a custom spoon bracelet this week~ I absolutely love how it turned out!

2006-12-29T06:58:00.000-08:00

Thick silver foil combined with glass and frits makes the nicest organic effects. These are some of my pre-power outage beads. I haven't been to the torch for almost three weeks now and I am anxious to get out there. Matt brought me a new space heater for my studio for Christmas. I will be toasty warm out there :) We had a great Christmas with our extended family and we are looking forward to a nice quiet New Years Eve.
Lately this has felt a bit like "Kris's weather blog" So I may as well update you all while I am here. We've had snow twice in the last week ~not your regular south sound winter event. It has been very cold and icy the last two days. Yesterday my car door was frozen shut I couldn't get the lock to turn and when I finally did the door wouldn't open! But of course it finally did and off I went to my day job. I can hardly wait for spring to arrive.