TanyaMcGuire

Challenge Piece

2012-01-25T14:33:00.000-08:00

This is another challenge piece from our week of beads that I still have not finished using. I guess I really made a lot of beads that week.
This piece is another Alice's Garden piece called Ten Feet Tall.
This piece is part of a series I am working on if you want to look back at a couple of the other pieces you can look here and here.

Another feather

2012-01-24T19:20:00.000-08:00

I have really been having fun making feathers. So after making some smaller ones the other day I decided to make a nice big focal bead.
This one is almost three inches long.
The fog this morning made the trees so pretty. It was a good thing that I only had to open the door for a minute though because it is cold as heck out there.

What a difference two weeks makes. Take a look at what it did look like earlier this month.

Kathi's Necklace

2012-01-23T15:42:00.000-08:00

Kathi Tiede made this necklace with one of my poppy buttons for a friend of hers that really likes poppies. The neck cord is a purchased cord she tells me, the rest is bead embroidered. Isn't it fun and different.

Enameling.

2012-01-22T17:25:00.001-08:00

Since I have been playing with the enamel on metal I decided to get out and play with my enamel on glass. I have not made any of these beads in a while so I had fun playing with the colors. I think a few of these are going to be made into one of these.............
............row counter bracelets. They are for knitting and work like an abacus where you move one little bead for each row and then move a big bead for the 10th row.
Here's more of what it looks like when it is on your arm.

The last few days...........

2012-01-18T15:12:00.001-08:00

..............I have been playing with enamel again. I am beginning to like what I am getting and while they are fussy to make I can see lots of things made with them. So I..............
........................took one of the new leaves hubby has been making for me. (see I had to enamel one of these too.)............
............and one of the beads, and made this little necklace. I of course had to put in a little lampwork. I kind of like how it turned out.

On another note Noreen Pope gets to choose a feather bead from the last post because she was the first one to say feathers. I am sure glad you all saw feathers like I did.

What do you think...............

2012-01-16T18:11:00.000-08:00

...............these are? And yes I know they are beads. :-) I am trying for a specific look and if I have it you will know what they are.

The first person to leave a comment here telling me what they are will get to choose one for themselves. Make sure I know how to reach you so I can get your address.

A couple months..........

2012-01-09T15:11:00.000-08:00

............ago I was playing with some beads like these. I haven't decided for sure what they look like but I keep coming back to "The Cat in the Hat". They also kind of look like little layer cakes. Any way I was making some more last week and all of a sudden I knew they needed to go into one of these wrap bracelets.
So last night I finally got out all the supplies and made this one up. I really love the way they kind of look spiky but still have that wild "Cat in the Hat" feel. I really want to make a black and white one now.
Pardon the really pale and fat arm, but I had to show you what it looks like on.

On another note it is January 9th and this is our back yard. In all the years we have lived here never has it looked like this, this time of the year. Tomorrow it is supposed to be 57 degrees out and snow. Not sure how that is supposed to happen but that is what they are telling us.

January's Buttons

2012-01-07T15:54:00.000-08:00

I finally finished my January buttons. The challenge was to make one bead embroidered button per month, I had such a hard time with my first one I decided I had better make a second one to see if I was just not able to grasp the whole thing. The one on the left is the first one and the right is my second.
Since Jodie showed the back of her button I had to show you mine. It seems great minds think alike. I was talking to her the other day when I was having such a bad time with the process and told her I did not like the looks of the back and was thinking about turning it into a pin. LOL she had already done that with hers.
This being the first one I had discussed with Jodie ahead of time and thought doing it on the form would be the best. That is the way she does it. Well let me tell you I was so not happy with how that worked. It took all day and I had mangled the end of my finger totally up.
The second button I did off the form and did remember to wrap my finger in a band aid. It only took a couple of hours and it went on the form just fine, which was my original concern. I did not break three needles like I did doing the other one either. I think I will get faster as I learn and the second one was fun to do. My eyes however say don't choose transparent iridized beads again I am about blind tonight.

Do make sure to check out Jodie's January buttons.

Yesterday..............

2012-01-04T13:20:00.000-08:00

..................I worked my fingers to the bone. Well maybe not all the way to the bone, but as you can see by this picture I poked a zillion holes in the end of this one. I was working on my bead embroidered button and to say it didn't go well is an understatement. It took all day and while I am very pleased with it it wasn't all that much fun. I asked Jodie why I had this idea in the first place and she of course told me I wanted to expand myself. (Personally I think eating cheesecake would have been a better expansion.) In the midst of the work I decided I did not like the metal back of the button and that it would really not sit well as a button so have decided I want to make it into a pin. Well that means I have to have a pin back to finish it and unless I can find one someplace in my stash I will probably have to wait until next month to finish. Not a good thing.

Happy New Year!!!

2012-01-01T19:46:00.001-08:00

Well I hope that you are all having a wonderful day. I have still not finished our last challenge and here it is January and I am starting a new one. I want to learn to do more bead embroidery and one way is to plan a small project for every month of the year. The plan is to make one embroidered button each month. Jodie is going to do this one too so it should be fun.
And these are some of my new two part cone flowers. This set is headed to Etsy in just a few minutes.

Oh how I love..........

2011-12-30T21:02:00.000-08:00

..................computers. NOT. I have spent most of the day fighting with a new piece of software that my hubby downloaded last night. It ate my email and several other things for dinner, and this morning had my brain for a snack. After about 6 hours I finally got a tech support number which was not easy to find and the tech support person took another 2 hours to fix the problem. All's well that ends well I guess as it is all back to working for the moment. With that problem fixed I started on another. My Web Site. I have been avoiding it forever because the soft ware used to build it is no longer supported and because my dear son did all the work the first time. I have gotten it a little ways this evening so you can hop over there and check it out if you would like. Just click on the pretty purple words.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!!

2011-12-23T08:49:00.000-08:00

I am sure I will be very busy the next few days and there will not be a lot of new posts here on the blog. I just wanted everyone to know I hope they have a warm and happy holiday. We will get to see our son and that makes me very happy as I miss him terribly. These beads are more beads I need to turn into jewelry for our challenge. Can you tell I am way far from done.

Busy

2011-12-21T04:43:00.000-08:00

That's how I feel right now, very busy. I got in a little torch time on Monday and was playing with enamels again. Yesterday I was grocery shopping and baking for Christmas with my son. I did send some of the goodies to the neighbor. I am hoping to get in some more time today and I am still working on the second big necklace. Busy, busy.

Pendants

2011-12-19T19:22:00.000-08:00

These pendants really do not meet the challenge pieces that our week of making beads was supposed to go for but the other day after laying out the beads for the next big necklace and making earrings.................
............I started playing with the left over beads. (Yes I think I made way too many for my two neck pieces I had planed.) These pendants just started popping out and I was having so much fun.............
.........I just couldn't stop. I think the biggest reason was that after working so long on the one piece I just had all these ideas. I will tell you though that after wire wrapping all those tiny beads my hands were tired.

Driving home.

2011-12-17T15:54:00.000-08:00

We went to Aberdeen today to go to Betty's Loft. A great yarn shop that is unfortunately closing. While driving home I was playing with the camera in my phone.
All of these pictures were taken while driving down the highway. The camera was set for some special effects and I am so wishing that my actual camera had this feature.
I just love the colors and really there was very little light. Within the next 5 minutes it was totally dark out.

Earrings...................

2011-12-16T18:02:00.000-08:00

...............were needed to go with the big necklace. I did kind of get carried away though.
My plan when I started the bead making part of the challenge was to make sort of a series of jewelry that while the pieces were not the same they had the same theme. The big necklace from yesterday is actually only one of three that I have planned.
So I do need more than one pair of earrings that have the same theme.
I do however think these tiny ones are what I would put with the necklace. The necklace is such a statement piece that too much of an earring isn't really needed. If you need any at all.

It has been a long week................

2011-12-15T18:22:00.000-08:00

............but it is finished. For all to see............Alice's Garden - Down the Rabbit Hole.
I am loving the new stacked cone flowers and have plans for another piece using more of these.
I am afraid that I am not doing all that well at making up all the beads from last weeks challenge. I have about 10 more pieces I want to work on for this weeks challenge so I am guessing it will be January before I get finished. But that's OK I will have lots of new pieces to show you at the spring shows.
I think this piece came out a lot like a sculpture too.

The first piece............

2011-12-12T16:35:00.001-08:00

...............of the jewelry challenge is done. I am loving how much this looks like a piece of sculpture, but it really is a bracelet.
Now on to the next piece.

A little bit of this and that.

2011-12-11T13:49:00.000-08:00

I finished up the booties that my cousin wanted for her grand baby. She had to go to the store for the yarn and then send it to me. They are headed off to her the first of the week.
And here are some parts and pieces that I started for the jewelry challenge this week. I had to get started a little early since I am so slow at seed bead work. I hope to have at least one piece ready to show you tomorrow.

Beads

2011-12-10T14:28:00.000-08:00

I think I finally have enough Alice's Garden beads for next weeks jewelry making challenge. I wanted one big wow necklace and I think I may have gone overboard. There are probably enough beads for a couple of big pieces, with some earrings and things to go with them.
I also etched some beads from the last challenge yesterday. Just a few that called out to me to have that soft matte look and feel. I just love the long one on the left.

I also etched some rings that I have been making and sitting back to be etched. I have some jewelry ideas for some of them, that kind of spin off from some of the pieces I did last year. We start our next challenge on Monday. We are going to be making jewelry out of all the beads we made this last week. I may just have to start tomorrow though because I can hardly wait to start on some of my ideas.

2011-12-09T14:19:00.001-08:00

Wow I can now post to the blog with a text message

Waiting.

2011-12-09T14:06:00.000-08:00

That is what this scarf is doing waiting. I finished knitting it and it is waiting for next week and it's fabulous scarf dangle to get made. The second day of challenge beads were a lot like the first. I made more in the different colors so I have enough beads to make up some really cool pieces. Can not wait to start making the jewelry.

First beads from............

2011-12-08T16:00:00.000-08:00

..............the new challenge. I told you the other day that my first day of making beads just for me to make jewelry with was kind of hard. My mind seemed to be all over the place. These are the beads I made that day. I seemed to bounce from one color and shape to another.
I did make some little cones that you can see in front of this picture. Cones are not really a new shape, lots of people make them I am sure, but I had in my mind to stack them to make another element in my Alice's Garden pieces.

Last one.

2011-12-07T14:24:00.001-08:00

One last bead from the last challenge. I for some reason really like this one and may have to turn it into a piece of jewelry when we go on to the week of no new beads just new jewelry challenge.

This weeks challenge of making beads for new jewelry was not going well yesterday but I think is better today. This morning I sort of managed to visualize some of the jewelry I have wanted to make it just all of a sudden kind of gelled in my mind. The problem I have now is having enough time this week to make all the beads I am going to need.

A few more beads............

2011-12-06T15:47:00.000-08:00

...........from the last challenge. It is a good thing I had them to take pictures of because honestly the new challenge is not going so well for me. I spent the entire day in the studio and I am not really sure I made what I want. I mean they are good beads but we are supposed to be making wow pieces of jewelry and I am not really sure that is what is in the kiln. I usually work the other way around make beads and when some come out I am in love with I make jewelry from them. Today I was trying to make beads to fit into jewelry ideas and I am not so sure it is working.

I did want to give you an estimate of the number of beads from the last challenge. I have at least 60 huge lentils,17 long beads and of course there are other beads I just did not count. That is a lot of beads without getting out a single new rod of glass. I did however.............

.............make one truly ugly bead. Rather than throw it away I thought I should show you just how ugly it is.

Our first challenge is over but.............

2011-12-05T19:57:00.000-08:00

...................I didn't really finish. I managed to use up one whale of a lot of glass making all those huge beads. If you look here you will see what it looked like before we started and I have to tell you I really did not take picture of it all. As you can see by the mostly empty tray I pretty much used up one kind of glass. I did not even get started on the second kind of glass though so I guess I will have to go back to this challenge later on.

Today we started a new challenge of making beads to use in some great new jewelry pieces. I had to spend my day running errands though so I will have to start tomorrow.

Not such a good day.

2011-12-04T14:50:00.000-08:00

Not much got done. I was working away and poof no more gas. It pays to have an extra tank but you have to have it full to be able to use it and since we were really hoping to get moved I was holding off filling it up. Some of these poppies are headed for Etsy here in just a little while.

More big beads...........

2011-12-03T12:50:00.000-08:00

but at least these are a little different. I was having fun with the Genie Bottle shaped beads. I will tell you one thing big beads use up a lot of glass faster than small beads but man has this challenge been a lot of work. I have been at the torch much longer days than usual.

Attention problems.

2011-12-02T14:31:00.000-08:00

I must have had enough with the lentils because I could not concentrate on one shape. I made a few little beads to try to get going again and then a few big lentils. I did however...........
.............start making some big long beads these are 2 inches or longer. I used to make these long beads all the time but for some reason have not done many in quite a while.

More huge lentils.

2011-12-01T14:38:00.000-08:00

Including my favorite so far the red and yellow and orange one on the right. Of course I like them all but that one is my favorite.

I thought you might.............

2011-11-30T14:24:00.000-08:00

............need a break from all the lentils. I have been playing with some more enamel. I still have not exactly found a way to make it mine but I am working on it. More lentils tomorrow.

I might be...........

2011-11-29T15:24:00.000-08:00

............addicted. I am having lots and lots of fun though. I am just loving the mixing of all this glass. It has been a while since I was just playing with color and design. I have however not come close to using up all of the piles of glass. I have not touched a new rod in a week though.

After...............

2011-11-28T04:49:00.000-08:00

two full days of making very large beads my table looks worse than when I started but the rest of the studio has a couple fewer piles.

Day two.

2011-11-26T15:32:00.000-08:00

Well here is day two of the challenge to use up all those rods. I have to admit I have really been having lots of fun with this. I did not realize not allowing myself to get out new rods would make me think through the colors that were already on my table.
I worked almost seven hours this day I was really on a role.

No new rods of...........

2011-11-25T18:06:00.000-08:00

.......................glass were used in the making of these beads. That is the challenge, to use all the short rods and already used rods that are cluttering up the studio. I decided to start out making my favorite shape. This lentil is huge but I love the shape. I wear a bead shaped like this all the time and it just lays so nice. It also shows off lots of fun colors of glass and designs.
This is the first days work. I did not realize that I had that many pieces of pink and purple out and laying around.

Happy Holiday

2011-11-24T20:02:00.000-08:00

we have been doing chores around here the freezer has been defrosted and my slippers are done we will see if i make this pattern again or find something different have a wonderful holiday

What I have done............

2011-11-23T05:15:00.000-08:00

...........with Kate McKinnon's kit. A few months ago I ordered Kate's new kit and this is what came. All those lovely lovely beads were accompanied by that really fun bug. I am not the fastest seed beader but I have been playing and making the triangles in different patterns.
I actually have some ideas on how I am going to use these and they are frankly addicting cause I want to make more. They do take me a really long time though most of a day at least.

These Kate had been wearing as rings and they are really fun on your fingers the 6 pointed one fits my thumb and the little one in the back fits my Pandora bracelet. I so want to make more of those.

I did start on the studio clean up, use up short rods challenge but the beads are in the kiln and not cleaned yet so hopefully I will show you those tomorrow. I really had fun making things with colors that I don't use a lot. Any way you will get to see soon.

A Challenge

2011-11-20T19:06:00.000-08:00

My friend Jodie and I have been talking about challenges and we have come up with a couple. Jodie asked the other day if I was going to take the challenge of using no new rods of glass until our torch tables were cleaned off. I did not have the heart to tell her that my torch table looked like this. But...............
............that was because it was so bad I just moved the pile to places around the studio like this pile and jar in one place. And .....................
.........this tray of one kind of glass. And..................
...............this tray of another type of glass. And ..........................

................yet another pile. I am sure there are more piles of mess in that room but my camera battery was getting low taking all the pictures. Jodie has posted pictures of the beads she has made just with short rods the last couple of days on her blog so you should go check them out. Starting tomorrow I am going to begin working on the mess of short rods I have made and see where it leads me. I will be posting pictures as I get them done so check back. I am sure to really meet the challenge will take me longer than it does Jodie she is just much less messy than I am even of her torch table looked worse to start.

New beads.

2011-11-19T13:41:00.000-08:00

A customer asked me if I could make some beads inspired by Dale Chihuly shapes and this is what I came up with. She is pleased and I just love the new shapes and have been thinking about the jewelry designs I could see happening with them. But then the other day...........
......these came out of the kiln. They are pods and spikes and tendrils for the Alice's Garden series that I started almost a year ago and have not really worked on for almost that long. I am really excited about it again and can so see lots of pieces of new jewelry coming out of them.

Something different............

2011-11-03T09:28:00.000-07:00

..........for me any way. I have been working on something for a customer. She wanted a very organic stacked kind of spike and I have been playing with making them for her and thinking how much I like them and how I can kind of see them in some jewelry. I will defiantly be making more and trying them out. But in making these I.........................
.............started making these little stacks. And while I have made stacked dots before I don't think I have ever left them kind of flattened out. I really like these and already have a project in mind but have to go back to the torch and make some more. I also like.............

...........how they kind of snug in together and might have to have some to work into something where they lay like this.

2011-10-26T11:09:00.000-07:00

Aren't these earrings pretty. They were made by a customer of mine and are in her shop Inspired Theory on Etsy. It's funny Sue got these from me several years ago at a show I did in North Dakota and she just recently found me again on Etsy. The wonderful power of the Internet.

Newest scarf dangle.............

2011-10-20T14:46:00.000-07:00

............is almost done. Since I was lucky enough to sell the last one right off my neck last weekend I had to make a new one for this weekends show. I of course had no luck finding a ready made scarf and had to knit one. The knitting is all done but the fringe has yet to be added. And you wondered why I didn't show you the ends of the scarf. We are off in the morning to Minneapolis or Hopkins to be exact to the Twin Cities Bead Bazaar. Come visit us if you can.

Scarf Dangle

2011-10-13T15:57:00.000-07:00

This is my new scarf dangle. I had a terrible time getting a decent picture the wind was blowing and things kept moving. Any way you will just have to come see it this weekend in Lincoln at the bead show. The show is being held at the Guesthouse Inn on Cornhusker this year. Come for a visit.

Flower Bowl

2011-10-12T14:53:00.000-07:00

This bowl of flowers is headed to Lincoln for the bead show this weekend. I think it looks like a flower all by it's self. It also took a long time to fill it up. I did not realize how deep the little sections were.

2011-10-08T16:09:00.000-07:00

My friend Jodie is doing a fundraiser for the A.S.P.C.A. She is selling these great paw print beads. Check it out on her blog.

Tiny Frogs

2011-10-07T13:58:00.000-07:00

Tiny frogs where the game of the day a couple of days ago. I have not made these little froggy faces in a long time and I had fun with all their expressions the other day. I so want to make some frog prince earrings but this pair is destined for Etsy this afternoon.
I also tried my hand at a tiny Peace Dove and I think they will make cute earrings too.

Cabs

2011-10-06T09:18:00.001-07:00

I have been wanting for a while to try to make some beads with flat backs that you could use like a cabochon. I have many good friends that do bead embroidery and I just love the look of it. I have never tried to bead around a cab so...................
...........yesterday armed with a box of Good and Plenty's I set to work on this one. I really did like it and it was much faster than I had thought it would be. My friend Jodie says one leads to another and she is probably right I might be hooked.

The Art in the Bag Auction.....

2011-10-04T13:21:00.000-07:00

............is coming up very soon and while these three bags have been almost done for months I had to get around and do the finishing touched so I could send them off yesterday. Would not have wanted them to miss getting sold at the auction.
The Market bags squish down into these tiny bundles so that you can store them easily in your car and actually have them when you need them. If you want to know more about Art in the Bag just click and it will send you to their web page.

The hard part is yet to be done.......

2011-09-29T14:09:00.000-07:00

...........on this new project. The knitting was simple compared to sewing up the seams and making this little guys face. So as you can see I have not done that yet. This is a new project for the next year that I came home from the fiber show with. It will be a bear when I am finished for the Mother Bear Project. If you click on Mother Bear you can read all about the project and see some of these bears finished up and with the children they have been sent too.

Pinkberry poppies.

2011-09-28T16:03:00.001-07:00

Pinkberry Poppies headed for Etsy in just a few minutes. I have been busy listing poppies on Etsy as well as spacers and have just been neglecting the blog. Sorry. My friend Jodie said I just had to change it no matter what :-) and so here are a new color of poppy for you to see. It is a yummy pink purple color with baby pink centers. Oh and I guess I should tell you that I have been busy but not making anything fun. I have been cleaning the house which had gotten into a terrible state this summer with all the traveling we had been doing. I just really had to find the kitchen table and for me that takes lots and lots of time because I had made a very large pile. :-)

Customer request.

2011-09-08T13:50:00.000-07:00

A customer at the Stitches show asked for this set of beads to be made into a necklace and earrings. I really like how they came out and it sits just at the base of the neck. Very pretty if I do say so myself.
We are leaving in the morning to go to Sioux Falls, SD for the Sidewalk Arts Festival. If you are in the area come out and visit us the show is downtown near the Pavilion.

Cowl

2011-08-31T14:18:00.000-07:00

Last week on the road to Stitches in Chicago I finished up this cowl to show off one of my buttons. It did not want to play nice on a neck bust but two ladies asked for the pattern which I just kind of made up as I went along.

Oh my gosh!

2011-08-23T04:29:00.000-07:00

My beads were used in the most stunning necklace. You just have to go to Beautifully Broken Me and see it. There are two stunning photos.

Crocheted Bracelet Kit

2011-08-19T07:01:00.000-07:00

The crocheted bracelet kit is almost done and just in time to go to Stitches next week. I just have to package all the parts and pieces this morning in a nice cute package and its done. It is really hard to take pictures of each different color combination because I do try to make them all different. But............
...........here is a picture of some of the pink ones.

Enamel...

2011-08-14T10:47:00.001-07:00

.................is FUN! I had to take a break last weekend to play with something kind of new. Enameling on metal and man was it fun. I have all kinds of ideas running through my head of things to make and I did make a huge pile of enamel headpins which I have made before just not in a very large quantity.
I had to show you a blow up of my two favorite pieces they are the ones kind of in the center the turquoise and lime circle and the red and yellow circle with the center holes. I am already planning a piece of jewelry with the red and yellow piece and of course it will have one of my beads in it too. Hubby had to help me make a component piece yesterday.

Well I had better get back to work we leave for Schaumburg, Il. for the Stitches show in 10 days and there is a lot I want to get done before hand.

Giant Lentils........

2011-08-11T11:46:00.000-07:00

...........have been coming out of the kiln just a few a day. These are just a few of them. I have been having lots of fun thinking up focal ideas and I so can see some of the jewelry I might make with these should I decide to keep them.

My new project.

2011-07-29T07:13:00.001-07:00

While we were at the Folk and Fiber Fair in Chicago last month I finally found the thread to do my vest. I had been looking for several months and could not find anything I thought was suitable. This is a hand dyed pearl cotton and Jeff picked the color. I in no way would have picked the red and purple I really thought he would go for the earth tones they had or at least the turquoise and purple. Which I am kind of sorry I did not get at least some of. He said he really liked this the best though and that my closet had too much turquoise. I just hope I can pull off this color when I get it done.
I don't think that the pictures really show the color well and frankly as I work it up it has way more orange in it than I would like. If you would like to see what this is going to be the pattern is here on the Red Heart site.

We are headed out for Spirit Lake, Iowa in just a couple of hours to do a show at the fairgrounds so if you are in the area or even if you have to drive a ways come out and see us. It is inside so should be cooler than it is outside this weekend.

New colors............

2011-07-24T07:53:00.000-07:00

...........of flowers are being listed on Etsy. Nice bright summery ones. Just click on Etsy to find them.

Thimbles

2011-07-15T13:44:00.000-07:00

Thimbles are popping up on my counter these days. Since I only have one mandrel I can only make one a day so it takes all week to get this many but they are fun to make and try to find something different each time.

Customer request.

2011-07-07T14:49:00.000-07:00

I had a customer request a necklace and bracelet at my show in Aberdeen after seeing the earrings pictured here. The new coral color seems to be in a lot of clothing this summer and she was even wearing something this will be perfect with.
She was real excited when I sent her the pictures this morning and said I was done. I liked how they came out two the bracelet is two strands just to give it some body. Yet the necklace is simple to show off the flower beads.

Amy's earrings.

2011-07-05T20:10:00.000-07:00

Amy from greenbead on Etsy sent me this picture of earrings she had made with my itty bitty beads. She also sent me the link to her blog which is lots of fun it's called Copper Diem and she has some really fun ideas. Check it out.

We're backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk................

2011-06-28T20:07:00.000-07:00

..................from Chicago. And I am getting things back in order. I have been listing on Etsy all day and of course done a dozen other things, including mowing the lawn again. I swear that's all I have done all spring. Back to making new beads tomorrow but for now a few new flowers in Alpine Twilight so pretty and streaky. You can find these over at Etsy tonight.

Home and gone.................

2011-06-21T14:44:00.000-07:00

..................again. We got home from Aberdeen Sunday night so that we could get ready to leave tomorrow for Chicago. Really it is Libertyville Illinois. We are going for the Folk and Fiber Arts Festival at the fair grounds in Grayslake. I made some new buttons to take along. If you are into fiber and knitting and crocheting this is a fun show and besides if you came to check out the show you would get to see me.

We are headed out...............

2011-06-17T06:24:00.000-07:00

................again today. This time we are going to Aberdeen SD for Art in the Park. We will be there Saturday and Sunday in our usual spot if you have been there before and if not it is site #76 come and visit us.
I thought before I left I would show you some of the new jewelry that I have been working on. I had finished up a bracelet like this just before our Florida trip so while we were gone I worked on some of the crocheted base pieces and just had to get the finishing parts done when we got home.
This is a necklace that coordinates with the first bracelet and I really like how it turned out.

More....

2011-06-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

..................focal beads for you to look at. These are some new earth tone lentils. The really big lentils that I like so much.

I have been..............

2011-06-12T08:07:00.000-07:00

...........working on some long tube beads this week. I had a customer in Madison that really wanted to buy the bead I was wearing so I have been trying to make a few for her to choose from. Plus it has been loads of fun working with that much glass all at once again. Each of these beads is about 2 rods of glass so big long beads.

We were away............

2011-06-09T07:38:00.000-07:00

.............in very hot and sticky Florida. We were so lucky in that my son took off from work to go with us to see his grandparents for part of the time then flew back home to get back to trying to make a living. Poor kid lost a wheel off his truck on the expressway on Mother's Day and had to go home to buy a new truck because dropping onto the pavement at 70 miles an hour does things to brake drums I had never seen before.

He is sitting with my parents the day before he flew back home and I don't think any of them were really happy he had to go.

This is three generations of McGuire's. Brandon's hair looks as sparse as the other two. He has taken to buzzing it the same length as his beard. So different from a couple years ago when it was shoulder length and had to be straightened every morning.

We had lots of chores to do while we were there as well as seeing family and friends. One of them was to teach my mom how to use the computer. She has never ever used one before so simple things like double clicking was a new skill. Now she is sending email almost every day.

When we got home the yard all 2 acres of it was more than knee high and took most of last week to mow because it was so high the mower would not cut it I had to do lots of it three times or more and the piles of grass were even getting stuck in the poor blades.

Well I had best get busy if any beads are going to get made today.

New little beads..............

2011-05-28T09:19:00.001-07:00

.......to be listed on Etsy later today. We are on the road toward home and hopefully will make it to Omaha by tomorrow night. I have tons of stuff to do when we get there so thought I would do a drive by post from the road right now.

New Bracelet....

2011-05-09T19:49:00.000-07:00

.....was finished this afternoon.

New Necklaces

2011-05-05T15:35:00.000-07:00

I made these etched rings months ago and have been meaning to make something with them. Then the other day when I was thinking about beaded beads an idea finally gelled and here they are.

Something simple.

2011-05-03T19:47:00.000-07:00

A simple set of earrings and a pendant.

Another color........

2011-05-02T09:11:00.000-07:00

........of the explosions. I am really having fun with these. I think I have at least one more color to make and maybe 2.

New Jewels

2011-04-27T10:10:00.000-07:00

The other day when making beads I had a thought about how the beads I was making would look really cool in a lampwork explosion like my friend Jodie has been making. She is going to be teaching this class in her studio the first weekend in May if you want to learn how to make one. She sort of took this off of Kate McKinnon's pearl explosion. The pendant is lots of fun has great movement and feel to it.
While playing around getting the first one though I decided to add a sort of drop with the explosion so it gives it just a little different twist. Then of course both necklaces needed.......
earrings. I think the whole series might just have to be made up in a couple more colors.

For my birthday...........

2011-04-23T11:51:00.000-07:00

over a month ago my friend Jodie sent me a fun box. It was full of yarn and patterns to go with the yarn. I had so much fun with these potholders I could not stop. I used up all but the littlest scraps of the cotton yarn making them and the scraps I turned into scrubby cloths for my swifter thing. I also finished up the slippers and made the dish scrubby out of the other yarn scraps. Just having too much fun and not getting much real work done.

I know...

2011-04-20T09:02:00.001-07:00

...........where have I been. Well honestly busy. After the four shows there were those funny things called taxes that I had put off until the last minute. I have been making beads the last few days but mostly spacers and such to catch up on Etsy. I did just crochet this fun scrubby this morning. It fits right in you hand and is made of Red Heart yarn so it should make a nice dish scrubby. I want to test it out before I make more so I guess I should go do the dishes.
I also wanted to show you some of the beads I collected for myself at the shows. I do have fun shopping just as much as anyone. :-)

On the way to Omaha

2011-04-07T15:37:00.000-07:00

We are headed out for Omaha NE in the morning. The bead show is at the Westside Community Center on 108th street on Saturday so come by and see us if you can.

I am really sorry that this blog has not been changed and pictures updated in so long I just do not seem to be able to keep up when I have 4 shows in 4 weeks. Should have thought that one through when I was scheduling things.

Off again tomorrow.

2011-03-31T13:40:00.000-07:00

I know this is kind of a boring post but honestly I have nothing to take pictures of really. We were in Wisconsin last weekend for the Art Glass and Bead show and I am headed out tomorrow to the first ever Grand Island Bead Bazaar. That is Grand Island, Nebraska and the show is Friday night and Saturday at Fonner Park. So if you are in the area come and visit and if not then maybe I will see you next weekend in Omaha. I hope to find some fun pictures when I get back next week so until then try not to be too bored. Happy Beading!

Minneapolis Bead Show was a blast

2011-03-21T20:12:00.000-07:00

I moved from my usual spot for the bead show this year because I was late getting in my paperwork. I love my new spot there is so much more room and I am going to stay right there in the future. We had lots of fun going to dinner both nights with friends and had some really good food at some little bar and grill that we had never been to before. I will tell you getting home was not so much fun. It is always a hard drive after working all day but last night we ran into flooding and had to go around a ways to keep going. I had some fun shopping and will try to get you a picture of the fun beads that I bought. Thanks to everyone who came out to see me and sorry I gave a few of you heart failure when you couldn't find me right off.

Earring Kit........................

2011-03-17T12:45:00.000-07:00

......is ready. At least a few of them are. These are the prototypes and I have kits ready for this weekend. Not a lot so if you are coming to the show in Hopkins, MN you will want to stop by my booth early Saturday. I also have the new pendant kit all ready to go.

The show is both Saturday and Sunday at the Hopkins community center. If you have been there to see me before I have moved and will be back by the stage with a full size booth not just a table. That means I get to have pretty much everything out on view.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Purple............

2011-03-12T09:26:00.000-08:00

...........flowers are the theme today. At my last show a customer asked if I could make a poppy necklace in purples. Well I have been working on the flowers and thought I would show them to you. They make spring seem a little bit closer in this frozen wasteland.

We did have a little bit of a thaw yesterday and the day before so the roads are at least clear of snow for the moment. They are however still wet from all the snow that was melting. Today it is back to around 20 degrees so no more melting until maybe next week.

Great Day!!!!

2011-03-02T06:41:00.000-08:00

Well yesterday was my birthday and it was really a normal day except we went out to dinner with friends who made it very special. Beth even brought me cupcakes with a candle. And no I am not telling you how old I am either.

Been busy.

2011-02-26T16:19:00.000-08:00

Well these have actually been done for a while but I have been so busy I could not seem to get a picture taken and get them in the packages to be mailed. I had so much fun making the tiny baby ones in sock yarn that..........
I just had to try making a pair in bigger yarn.

Before it was all done I ended up making 8 pair. They were fun and if I need to make any more I just might be able to make them in my sleep.

Leaving Town Again.

2011-02-17T18:29:00.000-08:00

And heading out for Des Moines, IA. I will be at the Living History Farms in Urbandale, on Saturday and Sunday. The Bead Fair will be both days and there will be lots of bead fun.

I thought I would give you a little hint of some of the flower beads and jewelry I will b bringing as this is a new piece I just finished up last week.

Come say hi if you get there.

Fun Day!

2011-02-13T19:56:00.000-08:00

The trunk show was so much fun. I was busy most of the day and forgot entirely to take a few pictures until late in the day. Then I don' think I got the camera set just right but at least you can see the great store I had to set up in.
That is hubby over there on the left he sure is great for helping out and even greeting customers when I get busy he has gotten to know all about the making of beads so he can explain it to people for me.

Trunk Show

2011-02-11T20:02:00.000-08:00

These are some of the new colors of my retro 60's shaped flowers and they are all finished up just in time because I am doing a trunk show at
Gold N Gems in Aberdeen SD tomorrow. I will be there from 11-3 if you would like to come out and see the newest beads and jewelry. If you need more info you can call the store at 605-262-0952.

Spring Flowers

2011-02-10T18:45:00.000-08:00

Hi I decided to make the poppy flowers in a lighter more airy color combo for this spring. I haven't quite filled up the slot in my tray but I did just list a few on Etsy.

Poppies

2011-02-09T20:27:00.000-08:00

Another new necklace this time with the poppies I have been making for a while now. Something a little different.

Leaves

2011-02-07T18:55:00.000-08:00

I promised when I showed you all the new leaves I had an idea for jewelry with them. I made this necklace and loved it so much I had to make another one. They are so great and they jingle when they move.
Just a little difference in colors but I really like them both.

Big Bright Beads

2011-02-04T15:46:00.000-08:00

I am still working on filling up my trays and making beads for kits. The pendant kit needs a nice big bead and these are nice chunky size beads.
I really like the black and white on the nice bright colors.

Etched Rings

2011-02-03T14:10:00.000-08:00

Here are some more of the beads I etched the other day. I have been making rings in two sizes and etching them to look like sea glass. I think it just kind of makes them glow. I have a couple of jewelry ideas when ever I get time to make them up.

An Old Favorite

2011-01-30T19:30:00.000-08:00

Lots of beads strung up and ready to etch and this was after I had done several strands that I remembered to take a picture to show you.
And here is a pile of the finished beads. These are an old favorite of mine with twisted silvered ivory swirls on them.

Dragonfly

2011-01-29T20:17:00.000-08:00

A week or so ago when I was making leaves I decided to try out some wings for a dragonfly. He is cute but I really think he needs some work.

Julie's fun Rose Bracelet

2011-01-27T15:44:00.000-08:00

Julie Overbey once again is letting me use a picture of one of her latest creations. The little roses are my lumpy bumpy spacers I have been selling on Etsy. This is so full of spring and we so need that with all this snow. Way to go Julie.

If you would like to see more of these spacers in the pinks or other colors just click on the link to the right or right here on the word Etsy. I call them itty bitty lumpy bumpy's.

Spring Garden

2011-01-26T06:32:00.000-08:00

This is the new necklace I have been working on using the little trumpet flowers from the other day. I really like how it turned out and I so want to make another one kind of like this one but I am sure I will need to work on one with the other new flowers I have been working on this week. Looks like it is going to be a botanical kind of year.

Wow you can win these stamps.

2011-01-24T20:03:00.000-08:00

These are really cool metal stamps and they are going to be given away tomorrow. Click on the link and see how you can win them.
http://lorianderson.blogspot.com/2011/01/metal-stamp-giveaway.html

Lots of Trumpet flowers.

2011-01-24T14:45:00.000-08:00

Here is a nice big pile of the little trumpet flowers with a few big ones thrown in too.
And some earrings that I made up with them. I just love these little guys do not know why I did not think of making them small before.

Two little necklaces.

2011-01-22T19:31:00.000-08:00

These necklaces are or were an idea for another kit. It is one long strand that you wrap so you have a multi strand necklace or if you so choose wear it as one long strand. Kind of like a string of flapper pearls. I think it is kind of fun but don't know weather I should really make it into a kit.
Seems like most everyone could figure this one out on there own. Course I am always open to opinions.

Earrings

2011-01-21T13:56:00.000-08:00

When I went to my friend Jodie's blog the other day I said as I often do how we think alike. Different but alike. In a recent magazine there was a complicated seed bead necklace and the individual pieces stood out to me and I started making these little star or flower earrings. All the while Jodie must have been working on these adorable little flowers. I promise Jodie I did not mean to copy.

Alice in Wonderland

2011-01-20T18:54:00.000-08:00

That is what these new flowers make me think of. Alice's garden. They are basic cone or bell shaped flowers just kind of bright and odd shaped. I have all kinds of jewelry ideas running in my head using these so I guess I will be making a bunch more.

I also got a brand new camera and while I just love it I think there is going to be a bit of a learning curve before the pictures are the way I want them. Please bare with me.

It was a turquoise and........

2011-01-19T19:17:00.000-08:00

ivory day. Most of these are big focal beads for pendants but I will have to have a few more days to make some regular size and small ones.