Burning The Candle At Both Ends

So I had quite the busy weekend. There was a little of everything lampworking, sewing, cooking and a some yard work for extra measure.

After a small meltdown at the torch on Friday I designed a new game plan. You see, I have Creative A.D.D. I have had it for years. I start a project get far enough to see how it is going to turn out and then move on.(I have a drawer of almost finished scrapbook pages to prove it.) One of the benefits of lampwork is that you get a finished product the next morning. The problem is that I never do the same bead twice. I am always trying something new which doesn't always produce the best bead. I know how to improve it for next time, but there is never a next time because I have moved on to a new design. So, after looking through old photos of my beads I decide to go back to some of those designs. I love my beach beads, they are the next best thing to the real beach. I cranked up my surfing playlist and revisited some old friends at the flame. They turned out so cute, if I do say so myself. So it will be beachy beads for awhile. Which is actually fitting since we are heading to Mexico soon.

Some of these scrapbook pages are from 2005.

This is a shell that was inspired by an ocean pendant I have.(Its hard to see in this photo, it looks much better in person.)

This one was also hard to photograph.

And because I just wouldn't feel right if I wasn't juggling more than one thing I decided to break out the sewing machine. I found this fabric several weeks ago and fell in love with it. I had no idea what I was going to do with it but I had to have it. The colors are so fun and how can I turn my back on fabric with pink feathers. So I pulled it out this weekend to make a patchwork purse. I have never done patchwork before but I thought I would give it a shot. I got the body of the purse done but after three different fabric stores I haven't found the right coordinating fabric for the top and straps yet. It's another project left in progress right now but I am definitely going to finish it. I have one more fabric store to try, and it won't take more than hour to complete once I have the fabric. Stay tuned for a fabulous handbag.

Now for the cooking. I have been eyeing this recipe in my Baking With Julia cookbook since I got it for Christmas. It's a Chocolate Truffle Tart that has a chocolate crust. Yummy. Like all of Julia's recipes it is quite time consuming. And for dinner Chicken and Dumplings from America's Test Kitchen Cookbook.
With the sun finally shinning we had a opportunity to do some much needed yard work. We added some new plants and some fresh bark to the front yard, and we moved the trampoline and pruned some of the fruit trees in the back. We have much more to do in both yards but it was a start. I'm so happy spring is almost here. I am now off to spend time with the family. They are watching GI Jane. YUCK!

Imperfect Preview

I have been working diligently at the torch to make sample beads using the new techniques I was taught. I didn't take my time to shape them or make them into finished beads, I was just trying to implement the techniques to prove I understand and can look back at them for ideas. So here they are lumpy, bumpy and slightly messy.

Okay, how do I get the background white on these photos????

Information Overload

I am still catching up from my vacation last week. Along with our trip to Big Sur I took a three day glass class at Graceful Custom Studios. It is my second class there and just as wonderful. I can't say enough about Grace and her husband Frank, they are the most gracious people. I don't think I will ever take a lampwork class anywhere but there. The class was taught by Corina Tettinger again, and it was wonderful. I learned so much new information and am so excited to try all the new techniques at home, which is one of the reasons why I am so busy. I am also organizing all of my notes on Microsoft. (15 pages right now.) I should have taken a picture of my bed at the hotel room. I had all of my little note papers scattered around my computer along with cords running from my iPhone and camera. (Just imagine if I would have taken school this seriously, I could have been a lawyer.) I am so excited with all of the new information Corina gave us, I cant wait to turn it into beads. I will post photos and more about the class when my head stops swimming.

More Big Sur

Here are a few of my artistic photos from Big Sur.

A Day At The Beach

Our first stop on our way to Big Sur was this beach outside of Carmel. I asked my husband to take a picture of us.

It all started okay.....

then without any warning..........

We were soaked!
(I actually really like this picture)

He said he never saw the wave coming, so he couldn't warn us. At first I didn't believe him, how can you be looking through a camera at the ocean and not see a wave coming in. Bless his heart, after seeing the pictures I do believe he didn't see it. He apparently wasn't looking through the camera when taking the pictures. (Did you see the horizon in the first two, I think we were sliding off the earth.) We changed clothes and laughed about it, and in the end he did get a cute picture of us walking in from the water. You did good Mr. S-L.

Big Sur In 10 Photos

Happy Valentine's Day

I am so spoiled. :)

I Love Productive Days

Lets see... photography, beads, dinner, school play, Jr High dance, and last minute cupcakes for a school friend. Yep with the help of all the family we got it all done. Yea!
So, I bought a book the other day on photography, and with the weathers help, I had a chance to do some of the exercises in it. I think it has already started helping me. Even after my photography class I am still having problems with all of the bells and whistles on a manual camera. I swear there is an obscure button pushed somewhere that is causing blurry photos. (There is NO WAY it could be me shaking) :) So here are a few of my practice photos. This weekend we are going camping at a beautiful location and I want to get some great shots this time.(Typically I take about 200 pictures just to weed out the half of them.)

Now, my beads. These are not really my style, but they are based on an artist that I love.http://www.sorsdahl.com/#ecwid:category=0&entryPage=Y&mode=category&offset=0&sort=normal Remember these are my very 1st attempt. I am not trying to make his paintings on beads, I just want the same feel as the paintings. I think they came out pretty good for my 1st try. I do have ideas to improve them next time, but I am happy with them.

I still need to figure out how to take pictures of them. Errr :{

My son's school has a Patriotic Play every year and I always love it. They do the same skits every year, but the thing I love is the songs they sing. The fact that a public school in California sings Lee Greenwood's God Bless The USA makes me smile. The other song they do I don't know the name of ,but they have a screen behind them that shows images of the United States and mixed in are photos military family members of the students and teachers. It is a very touching performance and I it reminds me how lucky we are.

Alright I have a ton of things to do to get ready for this camping trip. Be ready for tons of photos in my next post.