Schedule:
July 30: New beads today! So far I have some new Large Sprees and Chunky Rounds up.
Check them out here:
Jenny
July 23: Looks like my email wasn't working most of the day Thursday so if you sent me something and don't hear back from me today I probably didn't receive it! Please try again - I think things are working again (at least at the moment...). Sorry for the trouble!
July 8: Back at it today - check the links in yesterday's post for new painted charms and etched charms. I've added over 50 new items the last couple of days!:
Jenny
July 7 - Hello everyone! Been a few weeks - my apologies! It's been crazy here in Tucson trying to find a home to purchase. We found the 'perfect' one but after what we thought was a done deal Fannie Mae backed out due to a lien on the property that they couldn't get cleaned up. Talk about ups and downs! So we are back to square one. I am so incredibly thankful to my sister and her husband for letting us stay at their place - we wouldn't be able to do it without their help and support!
Some good news is that I did manage to get my torch set up on their patio but I only get a couple of hours at a time out there. Surprisingly it isn't the heat that bothers me - it is the wind! Even the slightest bit of breeze makes me chase the flame all over the place and isn't very helpful when I'm working on a detailed bead (much less when the flame blows over onto my hand - ouch!) But at least I'm able to play a little! So I do have some new beads this week as well as some painted charms and a few resin pieces too. Maybe by tomorrow? I have to clean up the website first... Keep checking, I promise new goodies soon!
Jenny
June 17 - all done! Almost 40 new beads! Click on the links below...
June 17: Wow - what a roller coaster ride it has been with trying to sell our house in Oregon! We thought it was all done but apparently not so much :( We are working with what we believe to be a very corrupt agent on the buyers side and it hasn't been a fun ride. Anyways, the new date for closing is June 30th. And the only reason I'm sharing this is because not closing has delayed our trying to buy a home on this end and therefore I'm still not able to torch! Aaacckkkk.... I need to create, it is making me crazy, lol. But I do have one last batch of beads (maybe 2) that I have saved and stashed away for you guys. Today will be a few Large Sprees, Boro Big Hole Beads, Squares and Triangles, Focals and some Boro Bar shapes. So let me get to it - Large Sprees up first!
That's it for the week - thanks for stopping by!
Jenny
June 3: New beads up today! I started with some Large Sprees:
Next up is a fun chunky round shape in a size that works great as a focal. I used some of the handmade murrini that I have been hoarding from some of my fellow glass artists. Check them out here:
Jenny
May 27: Wow - I feel like I am finally home! What an incredible feeling! We made the trek from Eugene to Tucson in 3 days - took it a little bit leisurely so we wouldn't be too frazzled. Arrived on Saturday, unloaded into 2 storage lockers and my sister's carport on Sunday. When did we acquire so much stuff? Geez, I've really got to work on that. We are staying with my sister, beginning the house search, trying to acclimate to the heat (and loving it!). My torch isn't set up yet but hopefully soon.
A couple of things:
I will have new beads up in the next couple of days- ones that I made and tucked away - I'll send out an email when they are up and ready.
Also, if you are a fan of PMC or Art Clay, a beginner (like me - total novice) or experienced, you should really check out Kate McKinnon's book:
Sculptural Metal Clay Jewelry. Kate was kind enough to let me drop by her home here in Tucson to pick up my copy and wow - what a fabulous book! I can't wait to get set back up to try some of the techniques. The thing I really like is that she doesn't just say do this or do that, she really takes the time to explain why - a huge plus in my mind. Learning the "whys" helps things stick for me. And it was great to meet her too!
That's it for now!
Jenny
May 17: The best laid plans..... heavy sigh.
I'm sorry I have been a bit absent. I had such great plans to be torching these last 10 days or so but I just really didn't realize how much more work I needed to get done on the house, packing, etc to get ready to head to Arizona. It's hard when you are by yourself (wah wah - just a little whine on my part - lol). Or as my husband would say "hey, who called the waaaambulance...ha ha". I love my husband. When I did have some time to torch I was too pooped to be creative! Gotta' love it. The thing is, I do have a couple of bags of beads - the few that I got made in the last couple of weeks and a bunch that I had made for the trunk shows. So at some point I will send out an email blast (are you on my email list? if not, sign up now!) that says, Hey, remember me? I've got new beads! I hope you won't automatically delete my email!
As far as the move goes, I will be in Tucson by the end of the week. The house was supposed to close on the 20th but hmmm... what was it I said at the beginning of this update... something about the best laid plans? Hopefully the buyers will get financed and we will happily carry on with escrow. Right? Here's hoping...
So that is it for now. It is making me crazy not being able to create. I'm taking lots of notes and drawing pictures of ideas that pass through my scrambled brain. So I hope you will hang in there with me!
Lots of love,
Jenny
P.S. I am still processing orders so please don't hesitate to place one if you see something you like!
May 4/5 - I have a nice selection of beads made for my two trunk shows to add - first up are some birds:
Jenny
May 1: The site is updated with all the outs! I am off to purchase a new window that needs to be installed next week and to pack a few more boxes...
April 30 - later in the day - everything is updated except for the etched copper section - I just ran out of steam... I'll have that done in the morning with new beads to come in the next couple of days! And I am thrilled to report that that Len made it to Tucson safe and sound! What a trooper!
April 30: I'm back from my shows and made it through round one of packing up - Len is on is way with the first load in the biggest UHaul truck they make! I am exhausted but nothing like he must be feeling after nearly 17 hours on the road. He still has 10 more today.... I love my husband.
I am working on getting the website updated - I am almost thru the Boro section. I will finish that today and start on the Soft Glass this afternoon. Thanks for you patience!
Jenny
April 20: IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ!
Hi everyone! I am headed for California for my two shows! Since I take all of my stock with me if you place an order before I return I cannot guarantee that the item(s) will be available. If I see an order come in and I still have the particular bead I will be happy to grab it and set it aside for you. Any orders I receive will ship when I return. I will be home on Tuesday (27th) but we will be packing up the UHaul Tuesday and Wednesday so my husband can take the first load down to Tucson. I don't expect to be able to get the website updated until the end of the week. Just so you know!
I will try and check email while I am gone through the computer at Beads N' Stitch so be patient if it takes a couple of days to get back to you. I'll do the best I can!
I hope to see some of you this weekend!
Thanks so much,
Jenny
April 16: I was able to add a few beads last night!
Have a great weekend!
April 15: WE'RE MOVING! :)
My apologies for my absence - it's been a little crazy with all sorts of changes happening in my world! Len has been transferred to Tucson, Arizona so we are headed that way!! It's been something we've been working toward for a while, Eugene hasn't been the best fit for us, so it is really exciting to have it finally happening. We put our house up for sale last Friday and had two offers on Monday - unheard of these days so I think the universe is finally kicking the doors open for us. Of course nothing is done until it is done, we have to get through the inspection and the appraisal - still saying our prayers for all of that. But I really do believe we are on our way to warmer climates, not to mention that we both have family there - it's all good!
So please forgive my lack of updates - it's been so hectic getting the house ready, packing, and trying to get ready for my show in California next week... I just haven't been able to get it all done and have beads listed here and on Etsy too. But Len has to be in Tucson first to start his job so I will be here by myself for a couple of weeks and I'm hoping to get some torching done with an update or two then. Not that I won't have a million things to do but that is my plan and I am sticking to it! So don't give up on me, I promise there will be more beads...
Lots of love,
Jenny
P.S. In some other great news my chickens will be in one of my favorite bead magazines - Bead Unique - in their Gallery section of the Summer issue - how fun is that! Here is a picture of the cover:
Check it out - it's a great magazine that always has fun projects!
March 30: New beads today!! Yeah! All Boro, starting with the Focal section:
Okay, everything is up for this week!
Thanks for stopping by,
Jenny
March 24: My apologies for a bit of absence on my website. Been struggling somewhat with my creativity, trying to make beads for my upcoming shows (the deadlines are approaching at wicked speeds) and also trying to manage a "shift" in my creative journey. I'm trying to stay positive, hoping that wherever I end up you will still have some interest in my work. Glass will always be a part of me, so no worries there! But I find metal and paint and all sorts of other things calling out to me too. I always seem to wind my way back to glass though, trying to figure out a way to combine it with other mediums. And probably I am fighting it too much (the changes that is), I should just embrace it and move on through to the other side. I do hope that some of you will be there with me when I get there!
Meanwhile, I will still post new beads as much as I can - it is always hard right before a show trying to balance online inventory with providing new inventory for the shows. I will send out an email blast when something new goes up so add your name to the mailing list if you'd like to be kept up to date on new goodies!
And I thank you for hanging in there with me on my journey!
Blessings,
Jenny
And just for fun here are some painted charms I was working on before I left for Tucson:
Should I keep going with these? Let me know what you think!
Blessings to all,
Jenny
A birdfeeder....
A copper bird pendant combined with a glass wing and stamped with "believe". For me, it is mostly a matter of believing in myself!
Creatures from a tutorial from
Pipyr :
Hope you enjoy the eye candy!
and
I have also been working on some bird pendant ideas and this is my first one:
"Determination"
She is called Determination because I have been wanting to do this for so long and I finally just sat down and started! Sometimes starting is the hardest part. I was bound and determined to overcome my fear of riveting - I have been totally intimidated by the process and guess what... it isn't hard at all! Well duh Jenny. I cut out her shape from the copper sheet, added texture and stampings and riveted her wing on. Anyways, I have lots of ideas stirring in my head so we will see what comes of it. I just wanted to share her with you!
Also, I am very excited to share my good news - my Etched Copper Charms will be in the Fall issue of Step by Step Wire Jewelry!!! I am on page 52. I thought they did a great job with the picture and the write up as well. Here is a copy of the cover:
There are some great projects in this issue as well - check it out!
I wanted to share the ring I made from a tutorial by
Kerry Bogert (I love her work!) that was in the latest Step by Step Wire Jewelry. She uses her fun disk beads to whip up these quick and easy rings (easy enough that even I could do it!). Of course I didn't have the 16 gauge wire she recommends - mine was 14 gauge so it was a little harder to work with but still, I love it! But I love weird jewelry and I don't mind if it is big... I used one of my Jibber Jabbers:
Okay, now don't laugh - I'm not much of a wire worker and since the wire was thicker gauge I couldn't get it quite as tight in the wraps as I wanted but I think it is pretty good for a first try. I wore it all day yesterday and it was super comfy too. Anyways, people are always asking me how to use the Jibber Jabbers so check it out! And thank you Kerry for sharing!
The Garden Imps were inspired by a tutorial I purchased from Cynthia Tilker - thank you Cynthia! I tried to make them my own!
Here is my first Garden Imp - I think I will keep this one (just cuz it was my first - lol!):
This little guy is supposed to be peeking out of the garden adorned with a wreath of flowers above him. I have two others to share for sale - they are a bit more detailed as well. Each one takes nearly an hour to complete. I hope you like them!
Jenny
Also, a nice bit of news - I am in BEADS2009 put out by Beadwork Magazine. This is the issue that has editor's top 130+ picks and I'm in it - woohoo! I think I am in the Whimsical section but I won't know for sure until it hits the stands in April. I'm excited!
Dragon heads inspired by Loco's tutorial!
I was lucky enough to be in this issue!
A bracelet with some of my Big Hole Beads and Biagi charms.
Here are some picutures of some favorite beads:
A silly "Bird on a Key"!
Another Boro Key...
And an electroformed leaf inspired by the gal from Caliente Glass and her wonderful line of glass colors!
And finally a shot of my two sweeties Dex and Bear:
