Off for a few days

We are leaving today for Minnesota for a little family vacation.  We are going to Minneapolis to visit Justin's brother and little girl, visit Mall of America, a water park and a few other things.  I will admit I am a little nervous how this will all go as we have never taken a vacation will all 4 kids and hope we can all sleep well.  I am one who likes my routine and schedule, so I will have to work hard to relax and go with the flow.  Have a great weekend and "see" you next week!

 

Necklace

Here is a new necklace I made.  It is with fine silver wire that I fused together, some of m boro beads, various gemstones and some seed beads.  I love the way it turned out (and I love to wear it!)

Flower

I got a few new tools and video on how to make these flowers.  At first I thought I couldn't do it, but if I keep practicing I think I might get the hang of it.  This is the first one I made out of boro.  I kept questioning the durability of it and was pressing on it and it BROKE.  One of the petals broke off.  I was so sad as I worked about an hour on this thing.  I am sure it would of held up fine, I was applying way to much pressure.  

New Special

From today till Sunday (6.18-6.22) spend $40 or more and get a FREE bent bead.  Use coupon code bentbead and make sure to add the bead of your choice to the cart.

A few new sets I will be adding to my website later.  

Floods

Thanks to those of you who have emailed asking if I am doing ok with the floods.  I am fortunate that I am clear from the waters, but feel terrible for everyone who is affected.  I live about 30 miles from Iowa City, where it is terrible.  Here are a few pictures.  The first & second pictures are of the Coralville strip, which is where so many business's are located.  Some probably not being able to reopen.  The last one is of the Iowa City baseball fields. The rivers are excepted to crest today I think, so it will be worse.  If you want to read more about it go to www.kcrg.com  It is absolutely amazing and unbelievable.

New Stuff

Here are a few fun new sets.  Let me know what you think...  I will be adding a bunch of new bent beads soon.  Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Father's Day.

This week I have been searching for some new inspiration.  New ways to make beads and new color combos.  I ordered a couple new tools, along with some new frits, so I hope next week to have some different items.  I do have a few new sets today.  The first 2 are new for me.  I made them not perfectly round, which was harder then I thought.  I think they turned out super neat.

I set of crystals on a base of black with pink dichroic glass.

Made on a base of a rust color, with colorful raku flowers.
An awesome new focal.

I got all the new sets listed on my website that I was referring to (see post below)  Go to my website to check them out.  I made some new sets yesterday that I am anxious to get listed, so check back.

New Stuff

I picked up some new dichroic glass at the B&B show and made some focals with it.  Will add these to the website soon.

I will also be adding some new sets like the one below.  I had some sets like this on my old website and have had a few people email asking if I would be making some more sets like this.  I have about 5 sets to add.

Happy Birthday to ???????

Guess who's birthday it is today????

So much smoke from 31 candles!!!!  
A little bit about my weekend.  Had a nice drive to Wisconsin to shop at the Bead & Button show.  The time I had to shop, which was about 5 hours, went way too fast.  I did get some great goodies though.  I picked up some glass, beading wire, a couple kits using wirelace, czech beads, stones, brass chain, seed beads and some silver.

As for the Iowa City Arts Festival, well the weather just didn't cooperate.  Saturday went fine, although very hot and muggy, up in the 9o's.  It started to get windy, which is the worst because things started blowing over, crashing to the cement floor and breaking.  The guy in charge of the festival told us to start shutting down about 4:30 because of the wind (was suppose to be over at 6:00)  We packed up most of our stuff and closed up the tent.  Sunday morning it was really windy again and raining.  Justin drove up to Iowa City and everyone was tearing down their tents, so we did as well.  Very disappointing to do all this work, then just have the show for a few hours.  I felt even more bad for the folks who drove from Nebraska and Missouri.  

Hope to get in the bead making groove again soon and post some new beads.  

Off for the weekend

It's so hard to believe that another year is over.  Here are a couple pictures of Jayla and Amerah.  The 1st one is the 1st day of school in August and the 2nd one is the last day of school.

It's been fun having them all at home, seeing them play and relate to each other.

I am off the blog until next week.  Tomorrow I am going to Wisconsin to the Bead and Button show to do a little shopping.  Then on Saturday and Sunday is my show in Iowa City.  If you are in the area, stop by.  Till next week...

3 new sets

A few new crystal sets (so sorry the fly is not included)  I had no idea that even happened, it was so quick.  The first set is made with a base of ivory, silver foil and goldstone.  The second set with a veiled gaffer glass, and the third set with a base of a beautiful green and aqua/waterful color.

Last day of School

I am off to a picnic at the girls school for their last day today.  Wanted to show you a couple necklaces I made over the weekend.  They are made with various beads and one of my capped metal beads.

Thanks to all who have commented about my post below.  I appreciate your time and feedback.  We will just continue to pray about it and see where the Lord leads us. 

Have a great Monday!