then you will be among the first to know that I have opened up registration for the following classes at The Mandrel...

Dustin Tabor on September 13 & 14

Larry Scott on October 25 & 26

Kim Fields in November (need to double check my dates)

and two 2-day sessions with Michael Barley in December;               Session 1 on Friday December 5 & Saturday December 6 and  session 2 on Sunday December 7 & Monday December 8

While it was never my intention to "pimp" The Mandrel on my Prima Donna Beads website, I can see that I have quite a few people reading my little blog, so I thought I would give any bead makers who are reading it a little advanced notice before I send out my newsletter.  :)  Cheers everybody!

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I had a wonderful time!  Thanks so much to all the wonderful people who bought my beads and to all of those who gave me such high praise.  As an artist I always wonder if my beads are good enough, what if no body likes them, are they priced too high, not high enough, are they too big, not colorful enough, etc., etc.  So to have people tell me that I do wonderful work and that my prices are fair or even that I'm not charging enough is a great thing.  I truly appreciate the feedback.  Thank you :)

I really hope that Bead Expo will return to Phoenix because I would go back again, my hubby and I had a great time.

Next stop is Oakland at the ISGB's "The Gathering".  I will have a table at their Bead Bazaar.  It's located at the Convention Center West in the Oakland Marriott on August 9.  I know it's open to the public, I'll post more as the date gets closer.

The following week-end I'll be at the Pasadena Bead and Design show held at the Pasadena Hilton held August 14-17.  Then a long break from shows till January where I'm planning on going back to Pasadena then we're off to Hawaii in March!  Whoo Hoo... I'm exhibiting at a show sponsored by the Soft Flex people.  Very exciting!

I'm exhausted, we just arrived home about half an hour ago.  I'm going to sleep most of the day away tomorrow I'm sure. 

Cheers everybody!

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Yesterday's show didn't go so well for me.  So that means there are more for Bead Expo Phoenix.  Yay!  I'm definately happy for the fact that I won't have to rush out to studio to make more beads.  But I will go  in and make some leisurely sets, colorful ones too!  :) 

But first I need to pack my suitcase for the show, this is my first time flying to do a show, so I hope I don't overload my bags... I've seen those poor guys in the airport unloading the bags to redistribute the weight... I don't want to be one of them... and I need to do it before the hubby comes home, or he'll be standing over my shoulder to make sure I "do it right".  Cheers everyone, see you in Phoenix!

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...but who's counting?  I'm not in a panic.  I'm not worried about traveling out of state to do a bead show in a convention center.  I'm not worried that I won't have enough inventory or that I'll have too much inventory... Yeesh!  Wish me luck people.  I'm off to the torch :)

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A call today set my brain cells into a whirl.  I'm not used to receiving calls about bead making in general.  Today I received a call from a woman who wanted to know how easy it is to learn to make beads... I've never been asked that before and was thrown off by the question.  I don't think there is any way to say "on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being very easy and 10 being very hard..." 

For me, it was relatively easy, but I had no idea what bead making was... I had never heard of it, never realized that some of the beads I was seeing at the local bead show were hand made, created with fire and glass by "someone".   In other words, I had no expectations of making something magnificent like Andrea Guarino, Kim Neely, Heather Trimlett or some other master bead maker. 

When I signed up for my first class it was on a whim, it didn't even occur to me to go and look it up in books or on the internet before I took the class.  I'm glad for that too, I went in with a clean slate and no clue.  I know that this is no help at all to someone who wants to know how "easy" it is to learn.... how "easy" was it for you to learn to ride a bike, or drive a car with stick shift?  We all know that practice is the key to learning these things and the same applies to glass bead making.  Keep an open mind and remember to practice, practice, practice.

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Jennifer Geldard was here this past week-end and Monday & Tuesday... I was graced with her extending her visit through Wednesday, thanks to Delta Airlines.  So, I got my very own "in person" tutorial on making glass branches for an owl totem I accidentally made.  If you ever get a chance to take a class with Miss Jenny, please do yourself a favor and do it.  I promise you won't regret it.

I am exhausted but I have wonderful ideas whirling through my brain.  New beads soon, as soon as I clear the fog in my head.  Lack of sleep is not conducive to bead making. 

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Yes, I think I can do once a week.  A daily blog is just too much, don't you think?  So, I will make the commitment to add new beads and do a weekly blog post.  I think I can do that...

New sets added Mariana, Keely, Cara, Crista, Jordan, Martine, Hana & Fae.  They're in the Gallery-Sets.

Wondering where I get my bead names from?  A baby name website, or if I hear something on the t.v.   For example: Paula, Simone, and Randi... Are you an American Idol fan?  I can't help myself :)  Got an unusual name?  I'm always adding to my list.

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Okay, so it's been about a week since I've posted anything new.  I have good intentions, really!  I have some new sets put together, they need pricing and photographs. 

On Sunday I made something I was very excited about.  Will post more about that later.  I hope you like it... them?  :)

 

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~Update to this mornings post~ I made beads...  I have a kiln full, yay!  I just got on a good roll and completely forgot about the picture taking. 

I will make beads... I have an idea, so let's see if it works out.  3 beads in this past week is all I've done.  Don't tell the hubby... only 8 weeks left till Phoenix Bead Expo.  I really need to get to work.  I'm not going to panic... yet.

I will put together some bead sets from the beads I have made in the last couple of weeks...

I will price and photograph those bead sets...

I will post those photos on the website...

 

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Skipped a day... nothing to say.  ::Sigh::

Trying to get back on track.  I have just 9 weeks until Bead Expo Phoenix... the count down begins.  I don't have much of a bead inventory... I know I need to buckle down and get motivated.  I need inspiration. 

Listed a few more focals. 

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...Clear the images from your flash drive so you can take more than two photos before the camera give you a CF Error code.

...Distractions in the studio are bad... I got almost nothing done today.

...Life is good.  I sold my first set of beads from this website last night.  Thank you :)

 

 

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I think of all the beads I make, these are my favorite. I actually plan to make these when I make them. Not something I generally do... plan, that is :) I use my favorite color glass as the base, my favorite frit color on top of that and any opaque purple that happens to be close by. I have to have the perfect size stringer... too thin and it just goes willy nilly all over the place, and too thick and it's just too gloppy. I like the way the purple stringer seperates and creates a lighter outline around the darker center... doesn't seem to matter which purple I use, they all seem to do it.
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Heh heh... according to my stats I had 31 visits to my one blog post since I wrote it yesterday.  Okay, that's cool :)  That's about 31 more visits than I expected.  Thanks!

It has been suggested that I use this blog as a way to describe my process when I create.  I've never really thought about the process... I usually dive right in.  If you've taken a look at my beads, you'll see that I'm really into organic, earthy color.  I don't go for the bright and whimsical, no matter how hard my hubby tries to get me to do it. 

I'll pay more attention the next time I go play at the torch and try to explain the process later.  In the mean time, here's my work space:

I use an Aim kiln with a digital controller.  In the back you can see I use tanked oxy.  The torch is Carlisle Mini CC.  I hate to wear the groovy didymiums so I have a table mounted dydimium sheild.

Another view of my torch area... this is pretty clean since I had to clean up for the Kate Fowle class we had here a couple weeks ago.  In the background you can see my flat lap... I used to have to unpack it and re-pack it every time I wanted to use it.  I just set it up on a rolly cart thing, so now I can use it whenever I feel like it, without it being a hassle.

And this is where I do my silversmithing.  I wish I had more space but I'm glad I have even this little area to work in.

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Well, I guess it's not actually new... but I have a new host.  I am so excited about how easy it has been to work on this.  I hope you like what you see.  I'm going to be very diligent about adding new items every day, so please check back often. 

I'm not much into the blogging thing.  Tried it a couple of times, it just seems so strange to write what is essentially a diary on-line and to post it all out there for everyone to see... forever!  I just wonder if people whom I've never met before are really interested in "a day in the life of Donna Conklin"?  Maybe not, it's pretty boring really :)

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