Whats going on?

Bank holiday weekend. Lots of free time to spend creating and making. I don't think so.
I am very lucky, and I am off to the Bead and Button show in Milwaukee. I seem to have spent the whole weekend getting everything ready. Not just clothes, shoes and other essentials, but all the tools as well. And I have been doing endless loads of laundry. Where did it all come from?
So I'm sorry to disappoint, with these tales of mine, which are not so beady at the moment. I must find the time to make some beads for a project I have to do over at the show, then I'm ready. I think. I'll have to go and check my lists again. I have lots of bits of paper with lists on them, that way I can pretend I'm organised.

Anyway, off to see what I have may have forgotten to pack. Again! (Anally retentive. Moi?)

Thats where they got to!

Just thought I'd share this info with you. My husband has been raiding my findings box for crimp beads, and is using my tigertail beading wire. He has recently developed a deeper interest in fishing, and is making his own traces. He uses this to attach the fishing lures (bait) to the fishing line. I better watch out, it might be my dichroic beads next!

Getting the best deal

Getting the best deal on foreign currency meant that I took a trip to Queensway last night.
I was amazed to see Bayswater station only 50 metres away down the road.
What a multicultural area it is. So many different types of food places to eat in, and an oriental supermarket. Of course I had to go in to have a nose around, and in the spirit of being adventurous, I have come home with some palm seeds in syrup. I'll let you know about those at a later date, when I actually taste them.

On the beadmaking front, things have been a little slow the last couple of days. I did use my shards on a couple of different coloured bases, and so far the transparent dark aqua blue, and the transparent pink are the favourites. I will try to take some pics. Promise.

Lazy hazy afternoon and glass blowing

I spent a lovely afternoon with my friend and her two week old baby yesterday afternoon. I had lots of cuddle time, I had forgotten how nice it is when they are that small, and sleep contentedly in your arms.

After that I got carried away blowing glass shards. I now have a small tin full of reactive glass shards, and I can't wait to see how they turn out on different colour bases. Watch this space, I might even take some pictures, although I mustn't forget how technically challenged I can be!

A bit of a shock

I got tickets for Carmen at the O2, and we headed off on Saturday evening for some culture. The performance was in English so was an added bonus. The use of the stage (which was huge) and the sets, were very effective. At the end of the performance there were hundreds on the stage. The last few scenes were magical, there were flame dancers, fire eaters, stilt walkers and gymnasts. My eyes were flitting around trying to take it all in. The only part of the evening I did not enjoy was the ascent and descent to my seat. As we walked up the tunnel towards the seting area I got a bit of a shock. We were up in the top level, and for someone with a touch of vertigo, it felt as if I was tilting forward, about to fall down to the floor way below. Once I was in my seat I stayed glued in it, and did not move. By the end of the performance I think my knees had locked into place.

We rushed out, with the other 15,000 people in the audience, and struggled to the tube. We managed to get into the first one, and got home before midnight. Wonderful!

Technically challenged

Decided to list some items in my etsy shop. It has taken me one hour to put one item in! Guess I'm just technically challenged.

This one is a focal bead called Springtime blossom.

There's not a lot there at the moment, but if you feel like it, go and have a look at glassygear.etsy.com

Well, I have finally taken the plunge and started a blog, which was inspired by my participation at the Beads Day at Broadfield Glass Museum (www.glassmuseum.org.uk). The museum is filled with some fabulous inspiring glass pieces, both functional and decorative, with information about the history of glass as well.

I had my own hand made lampwork beads for sale, along with Pauline Holt (www.jazzylily.com) and Lorna Prime (www.pixiewillowdesigns,com). I think our styles complimented each other perfectly, covering a broad spectrum of styles. Each of us also gave two demonstrations during the day. This was the first time I have demonstrated lampworking in front of people, and my hands were shaking so much that I wasn't sure I could actually make a bead. I took a big breath and went into teaching mode, and tried to keep talking about what I was doing. I hope it was what people wanted?

For my first demonstration I made a latticino cane and a simple murrini, which I then included in the bead. For the second, I showed how to blow a shard. I also pulled some silver stringer, and used both to decorate a bead in which I had included some dichroic glass, and frit. I thought I might have overloaded the bead with too many elements, but it turned out to be really pretty. Unfortunately, thermal shock broke it later, but I managed to retrieve the two biggest pieces, and plan to turn them into little cabochons later.

And I must say a big thank you to my DH who got up at the crack of dawn, helped keep an eye on the stall, gave out information about my work very knowledgeably, and who drove me there and back, so I could rest as I had got myself wound up tight before the big day.

It was a lovely setting, and in spite of my nerves, I had a great day too.