Fresh Glass 11/28 | Last Day of Sale

 Please excuse the icky pic today... we've got five days of rain coming in and the lighting is just craptacular without our California sunshine!  It feels so good to be producing again... even if it's just color and size tests!  I adore the little bent bead (stuck on a mandrel for the purposes of this pic). I was kinda surprised at the color reactions in that one. And the long skinny purple... the glass in the middle of that bead is notoriously green for me.  But it reacted with the purple and turned PINK! Fun stuff for sure! 

 I am deliriously happy today over Dancing with the Stars. Our family friend Tony Dovolani finally got a mirrored ball trophy! I screamed so much last night, that a cuppa hot tea and the gentle flames of the torch seem like a perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon.

And today is the last day of the last ever Thanksgiving Sale!  Ends tonight at 11:59pm PST

Regular deals:

• 15% off anything in my Etsy store coupon code THANKS15
• 20% beads and jewelry on HollysFolly coupon code THANKS20
• 25% off rubber stamps including anything on our vast sale page. Enter News25 in comments. Deduction taken after checkout!

FAN ONLY DEALS:

• 25% off anything in my Etsy coupon code FAN25 for Holly's Folly Fans
• 30% off beads and jewelry on HollysFolly code FAN30 for Holly's Folly Fans
• 35% off rubber stamps including anything on our vast sale page for Sweet Stampen Fans. Enter Fan35 in comments. Deduction taken after checkout!

Fan status will be verified!

Just a Story

I'm blessed to have a few very dear friends and my best friend lives around the corner. She is often the first to see my beads.... the good ones and the ones that I think are disasters.

Yesterday, as we were running errands, I showed her my latest rejects from the kiln. I was most upset because I got a big order and I need to do remakes of a large focal.  (NOT the one of a kind focal in the photo that has nothing to do with this post!) Because I'm so unhappy with the beads...I'm NOT going to show you those!

Because I've been so busy in the stamp shop, the daily specials on the Fan Page are "Oldies but Goodies!" Sunny is 10% off today for fans only!

In my effort to make a bead from another glasser's tutorial and change it up to be my own, I was leaving out some crucial steps!

My friend sat in her car analyzing my latest failures:

"This one could pass for the old design...hmmmm.. so could this one. But THIS one... I should KEEP!"

And now you know why I love her!

Fun for Fans

July was a REALLY prolific month for me artistically. I made a TON of beads! And... I posted them to my fan page first... where, they often sold! So... I created a new policy to benefit the fans! Buy any item on my fan page within 24 hours (or before I get it up on the glass bead site) and save 10%! How cool is that?

Just convo me on the fan page and save!

Now, on to the pretties. I fell in love with an old favorite glass that changes color depending on the light. This set is called Moody Melon (shown in fluorescent, natural and incandescent light) :

I played around with more Bent Bead styles... this one is Galene. She's my fave!

I made a few more Glass Pacis... this one sold to a member of my bestie's family and lives in Hungary now! (remakes available).

I made a striking but simple bead. I love LOVE stuff like this! Two colors just reacted! This was to be a color test for a Memorial Bead. I knew right away it would not work for the intended project but it was so pretty, I annealed it!

I made a few keys... The vessel is here... still need to list the other one.

And a made a stunning focal that sold to a friend from high school. I had to make her matching earrings...just 'cause! I'm so happy with the finished piece:

And that was just the tip of the iceberg! If you haven't visited my glass bead shop in a while... there's TONS of goodies! And be warned... my fan page finally hit 250... the number of fans I walked away from because of SEO... so there's a fan only sale coming. It will be generous and last minute!

Hope your July was prolific!

Better with Time

Years ago, I set out to make a focal using my favorite transparent purple and silver plum... one the only reactive colors on the market way back then! (That should tell you how old this set is!) I made a rather abstract focal and some spacer beads; I cleaned them and wrapped them and somewhere between my work station and photo table, decided I didn't like them!

Not only were the relegated to the bead bowl, they were placed in a bowl that kept getting shoved from one area to another and I literally forgot about them. Last week, I found them and took them out. I like the silver plum so much but those old negative feeling lingered....until my bestie popped by for a cup of joe. She picked them up and declared them so cool!

And so, I sort kinda like them now... Does this happen to anyone else???

Hope you have a wonderful 4th of July!!!

Fire Divas Jewelry Challenge

OMG! I'm on such a beady high!!!  Three of the entries in the Fire Divas latest jewelry challenge feature my beads.  We've had many challenges where I had no beads used in the gorgeous entries. But, I've always donated prizes! What better way to get my beads "out there" than get them into the hands of award winning designers? Seems like Marketing 101 to me! Well it paid off this time in spades.

I'm even more thrills that the three beads...look nothing alike! My loyal fans know that I struggle with the fact that I don't have a "schtick" - a look - a thing... something that sums up my work in a sound bite. She makes cute little sets, primary colors, silvered ivory rounds...whatever. I can't seem to settle down and work on any one thing. But I do love focals and that's what all three designers used.

My fellow Divas Lori Bergmann of Ashlyn Design and Janel Dudley of Janel Dudley Beads also have some wonderful beads in the competition! And Janel is also represented in one of my focals... I use HER eye bead tutorial and her millefiori in the eye bead!

Voting: Please vote once on the right side of the Fire Divas blog. Voting poll will be up for one week. Winners will be announced shortly after the polls are closed on the Fire Divas Glass Bead Blog.

Our first entry is a beautiful necklace featuring a bead by Ashlyn Design and some stunning wire work:

Entry #1

Designer Info: Scott Bjorge. Gallery 
Designer's Description: As we enter the heart of winter it is nice to think of our beautiful Spring gardens to escape the cold and snow. This lovely focal bead by Ashlyn Design inspires that feeling with it's blend of an array of lovely colors. Designed with a sterling silver 's' hook accented with two more beads from Ashlyn Design brought around to the front to become part of the design.

Our second entry is also an "eye catching" necklace featuring an eye bead by Holly's Folly and natural and metallic beads.

Entry #2

Designer Info: Michelle Plumb Gallery Contact: maplumb1 {at} wowway (dot) com
Designer's Description: Eye of Horus necklace, with focal by Holly Dare of Holly’s Folly and eye murrini from Janel Dudley Beads. I’m fascinated by ancient Egyptian history, so this bead called me immediately. The necklace was made with Holly’s Eye of Horus focal, graduated lapis lazuli rondelles, turquoise rounds and gold-plated rounds. Fit for a Pharaoh!

Entry #3 is rich with silver and glass baubles from Janel Dudley Beads

Entry #3

Designer Info: Mary Elam / Stella's Blossoms
Designer's Description:  Boro Blues is inspired by the beautiful blue fire within each of these lovely beads by Janel Dudley. The brilliant shades of blue and aqua truly radiate goodness from within. Each Boro bead is accented with Bali Sterling silver beadcaps. I've included my favorite Bail sterling silver focal bead in a unique oval shape to compliment the design. Swarovski crystals add extra sparkle. A thai silver toggle closure is included.

Our fourth entry is a double spiral of Swarovski crystals with a hollow heart by Holly's Folly. 

Entry #4

Designer Info: Gretchen Coats Etsy Blog  Gallery
Designer's Description:  This 24" necklace is made up of close to 600 3mm swarovski crystals in a double spiral. The Focal bead is made by Holly of Holly's Folly Glass, and the crystals and seed beads match the blue and pink of the focal bead perfectly! Heart is actually hollow, and upon closer inspection you can see 

the smaller beads run through the center of it!

Our fifth and final entry mixes pearls, crystals, pressed glass and seed beads with a floral focal from Holly's Folly .

Entry #5

Designer Info: Helen Aresik / Helen's Atelje
Designer's Description:  Romance in pink. This design is based and inspired on the beautiful and wonderful, handmade lampwork bead made by Holly's Folly. When I look at the Focal bead I think of a beautiful garden with pink flowers. I’ve chosen beads and other findings to match the pink and green tones in the focal bead. I made some beaded beads myself with pink beads with a green bead inside, inspired of the deep green color inside the focal bead. I also used chain and findings in sterling silver, some swarovski crystals, freshwater pearls and other glass beads and leaves. The necklace is 80 cm long excl. the pendant, which is 10,5 cm. The focal bead is almost 4 cm long. The bracelet is 21 cm long and the earrings are 3 cm long without the earhook.

Still Time to Heart Someone...

I've mentioned before how much I admire Janel Dudley of Janel Dudley Beads. She's the first Fire Diva I met in person. She manages the most popular axillary page of the Divas blog. She just posted a beautiful reminder that there's still time for for a little xoxoxo shopping for that big red heart day! Ladies, send your fellas shopping!

Sail Boat Pendant

I didn't run away and hide...I got a JOB! OK - more like gig. I'm working on my first t.v. production in ages. It's been creative and fun and... exhausting. I've gotten to work with several people from my Carol Duvall days, including my Exec. Producer and Director and a few other peeps I haven't seen in ages!

I did have one productive torch session and the beads are still on the kitchen counter... waiting for a bath and a scrub. But I REALLY like them....

I thought I would share a pendant from my recent sale. One of my customer's bought the bead and had me turn it into a pendant. I really like the way it turned out.

When I make a pendant, I always try to think about how it hangs. Notice the top loop is made to run perpendicular to the neck, so the bead sits straight. The bottom loop runs parallel to the neck so you can see the dangles. I like my wraps tight so the bead doesn't spin (on beads like this). But that is a valid design feature on certain round beads. I also like the crystals on the top and bottom to continue the color of the bead as the eye moves up or down.  I used Champagne on the bottom and Indian Sapphire on top.

What do you look for in a pendant that you like to wear???

5th Annual Women of Glass

I made a goal a few years back that I wanted to have something in the Women of Glass Issue of The Flow Magazine. I finally got my nerve up and submitted something... three of my best beads and a "oh whatever." They picked the "oh whatever" bead!!!!!!!! Whooo Hoooo! (Is this just one more case in point that I can NOT / should NOT judge my own work????

The Women in Glass Issue is on Sale HERE

Anyway, this was the big beady news I promised! But wait! It gets even bigger. You guys know I'm a co-Admin for the Fire Divas, a bead collective of other artisans who work together to promote one another. I'm thrilled to say that FIVE other Divas are in the issue too! Whoooo Hooo! There's nothing like sharing a little glory with friends! You'll have to check out the magazine to see what was featured... but let's take a little tour through some of these terrifically talented artist shops!

I share the same page with my good friend and fellow Diva Janel Dudley of Janel Dudley Beads. She makes the most amazing eye beads and lovely high silver focals:

Changing Seasons Tree by JanelDudleyBeads

Laurie Ament / Glassbead has a couple of beads featured. I adore Laurie's brilliant and bold color mixes. She's quite talented at sculpture too!

Heart Bead by GlassBead

The always amazing Judith Billig of IcarusBeads is also featured. She's another master of those sparkling high silver glasses that leave me cawing like a crow! Check out these sparkling beauties:

Aztec Gaia by IcarusBeads

In real life, Judith is friends with Lori Bergmann.  Just as I'm excited to share a page with Janel, Judith and Lori are page-mates! Lori's company is AshlynDesign. Lori is one of those "utility beadmakers" She does a little of everything and she does it all well!

Pink Leopard Set by AshlynDesign

And we can't forget one of our newer Divas, Kathleen Young of Ugly Duckling Beads. Nothing ugly here! No, this "ugly duckling" has already morphed into a swan! She makes lovely flowers and fabulous little faces!! 

Southern Comfort Focal by UglyDucklingBeads

Please do check out my fellow Divas shops and if you love to drool over glass, get a copy of that magazine!!

Think Pink

I've always openly admitted to NOT being able to think ahead. It's just now crossing my mind that "maybe I should make some Christmas beads!" Too little, too late, girly!

So I was pleased and amused when I realized I had inadvertently made a Valentine's set. Don't worry! I didn't do it intentionally! ;-) It was shear happenstance!

I was dying to try out the new frits my friend, Donna Conklin, made. And the Berry Liscious (I keep telling Donna, that should be Luscious!) made me so happy watching those pink colors just POP as they were blooming in the flame! I knew it would make a gorgeous heart glass bead set.

I also tried some of Donna's other colors including  Purple People Eater and Wisteria Lane. All gorgeous! Put 'em on your list for Santa!

A Small Favor or Two...

Yes, this is a rare Sunday post but... my sister is coming Wednesday and I intend to have some serious play time including... going to see Dancing with the Stars LIVE next week for my sister's birthday!!! It will be a night to remember!!! So... I may be a bit scarce while she's here. But I do have lots of beady news to share this week before she gets here... so please check in  to see some glass bead goodness!

But today, I have two favors to ask.

1) One of my hiking buddies has a picture entered in the Fury Tails contest. And since she's not a "famous" dog blogger and since I took the picture of her amazing heart shaped bottom, I would love it if you would vote for her. Ruby is #26.

2) If you haven't checked out the Fire Divas Jewelry Challenge... OH! Please do! The eye candy is amazing! I seriously love every entry!!! And if you could take a second to vote on the right side of their blog... that would be awesome!!!

Tiger Beads Are Finished!

Note: I started this blog two weeks ago but didn't really want to think about how many extra beads I made!

I FINALLY finished all the tiger beads I needed. A dear friend from my Carol Duvall days asked for them for a potential book project. Normally I would not have made SO many but I got a bit confused when I started... somehow, in my crazy brain 3/32 would a be a LARGER mandrel than a 3/16. And, well, it's not. So, the whole first batch with the smaller holes will be ending up on my glass beads website.

 Here is what all the fuss was about... the batch of 10 headed to my friend.

This was an especially  challenging project because tiger beads can have 4 - 5 layers of glass. Each layer has a certain thickness and yet, the project these were needed for required them to be smaller. I did all sorts of experiments - leaving off the first layer, casing with clear, thin clear, thinner clear - leaving the clear off all together trying to get the right look but keep keep them small and lighter in weight.

I thought it would be fun to do a rundown on all those tigers:

Number I made before I realized the hole was too small: 43 (Gulp!)

Number I made w/ the right size mandrel: 33

Number of tiger projects that distracted me: 10.

A tiger key,  purple tigers, eye of the tiger, big fat tigger, heart of the purple tiger ( purple photos later in the week), four tiger hearts (including one off mandrel!)  and one... that's just too crazy to share at this point...

Big Fat Tigger Glass Focal Bead

Bugging Janel - Finding Inspiration

Do you have a friend you are certain you drive them batty??? My glass bud Janel is like that for me... I'm always bugging her about something. She heads up the Fire Divas Marketing committee, is a very active member of that team AND she simply ROCKS the unusual, high-silver glasses that freak me out (cause they are so $pensive!).

Hardly a couple of days goes by before I have something else to ask her!

I recently got some of her AMAZING eye murrini (be sure to check out her FANTASTIC FREE eye tut)  and she sent ME a cute note. Here it is:

I immediately thought BEADS. But this is where this story goes awry...

Here is the set I made:

While it's cute, it's a long way from perfect. But as set are a challenge for me, this was a real learning experience. I finally see the use for a tile mold, because the repetition of size / scale would clearly be important. And the flat sides would make the stringer work neater.

But I learned I can take inspiration from something and actually make a set. And I'm most proud of that little dotted bead... That's been a difficult one for me.

So even though, I don't find this "sellable," I learned a lot... and giggled the whole time making them. And that's always a good thing!

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I finally got a ring kit up on my lampwork glass bead website... go check it out! More to come over the weekend... I swear!!! I will also have another eye bead over the weekend!

Have a wonderful weekend and I will see you Monday on the Bead blog.

Protecting Your Business from Scams

Good day,

We browsed through your web page and we are interested in ordering some of your products,we are located in Norway,we will like to know if you have the items in stocks,so kindly get back to me with the right contact person email,phone # and confirmation of website so that we can place my order quickly, and i want to know if you have your own personal shipper or can the order be picked up at your store,please advise so that we can proceed by going ahead to place the order.

Regards

Purchasing Manager

James.

I get emails like this ALL the time. So does my bestie who runs an online custom golf club business.  We both laugh at these... and NEVER EVER respond! First of all, they have our emails, which means they have our dot coms. If James were really so interested, why not just type that dot com in and uh... shop a little?  Trust me if you choose a country I won't ship to ( and there are countries I will NOT), you will hear from me...right before I block your email!



Not only that, but the same dot coms have a contact email and phone number. And if James IS in fact in Norway, WHY would he want to know if he can pick up???

Anytime you get an email that defies logic... it's probably a scam.  Save yourself a headache and hit delete!

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I've been working so hard in the shop and I'm taking a few days to stoke my creativity and just catch up on things like tidying up the shop, making some beads that are just visions in my head and ... cleaning all the beads I made LAST time!

These are the ones waiting for the dremel: 

And these are still waiting to come off the mandrels!

If you have some time over the weekend, do check in on my glass beads website. I'm hoping to get some new goodies listed, including ring kits!  And don't forget to vote and get your chance to win a $50 Gift Certificate for FREE BEADS!
Have a wonderful weekend and do come visit me here on the Bead Blog  next week.

The Eyes Have It

A while back I post this photo with little explanation other than a comment about finding my mojo again:

 I wanted to tell the story behind this bead and a few others.

I've never been one to "get" murrini. I've played with a few pieces and go "ick" and usually toss the bead in the water. I've never figured out how to use murrini with what I do. And sometimes, that's so frustrating. My goodness! My friend Lauren is such a murrini lover, she dedicates her Monday blog posts to murrini! And her work is amazing.

And my friend Janel makes the most amazing eye murrini and turns them into the most stunning necklaces:

Then Janel decided to write an Eye Bead Tutorial and asked me to try it out her way. She sent me some of her stunning eye murrini and some glass rods and OH MY! I was in LOVE!

These were my first attempts at Janel style eye beads:

First of all, I learned more about casing and what I was doing wrong from Janel's tut and I learned about coaxing that murrina to do what you want it to do. It's a great tut!!

But I never want to make a bead just like someone else does so I started trying to think of how I could use Janel's techniques. I've always been fascinated with eye beads. If you  don't know the history or meaning behind them, you may find them creepy.

Eye beads are meant to offer protection. Think of the third eye in Indian culture. The eye bead for protection is also really popular in Greece, Armenia and in Egypt. I've always been fascinated with Egyptian eyes and looked at lots of Egyptian artwork to come up with the background colors for that bead above. I also researched Egyptian symbolism to figure out what to put on the back.

I found out that a squared off version of a swirl... an image prevalent in all human art since the caveman era ... stands for home. What a better thing to offer protection over than home!

I loved the bead but got so entranced in the process of making it, I forgot a few steps! I wanted a casing of clear over the eye to magnify Janel's stunning murrina. And... it just seemed to be lacking something!

In the end, I realized that sand was probably a more fitting background as the bright colors of Egyptian art may not appeal to most customers. And I wanted it bigger! I do love those big beads!

Here's the final version:

And the back:

I'm finally excited about murrini thanks to Janel!

P.S. Her tut should be ready really soon!!!!

I'd Like to Thank the Academy...

Wouldn't you know it? I had good reason to address those "tan lines" in my hair! My buddy won an award!!! I'm so so so proud of him!!

I was simply giddy all night last night! I ate my rubber chicken and met a LOT of really talented writers. It was so nice to see so many honored. Action on Film is one cool Film Festival!

Did Ya'll Notice???

Did anyone notice that I closed yesterday's Wednesday blog with my usual THURSDAY greeting??? I was one crazy Daisy yesterday. And NO, I did NOT get all those errands run. I ran out of time. So guess what I'm up to today in addition to baking like a mad woman???

OK... How 'bout a Little Something Beady? 

I did get some new stuffs up on the glass beads website. I ADORE this new focal... it's soooo sparkly! You cannot believe how it catches the light!

The SALE is Ending....

The Christmas in July Sale is ending on 7/31. 10% off & FREE shipping Etsy / Artfire items. ON ETSY, you MUST convo me first! No convo, no discount!

And come Monday, I'll see you here on the bead blog!

Cookies and Film on the Brain

Much craziness today and nothing beady going on! I awoke in a panic at 4 a.m. - a complete girly panic. A dear friend of mine has a short screen play up for several awards at the Action on Film International Film Fest in Pasadena tonight.  And since he knew for some time that he has a family obligation that's way too fun to miss, he asked me to attend on his behalf. At the time I accepted, I thought it would be as simple as mingle, eat some rubber chicken and clap for the winners.

That is... until my friend emailed me last week with what he would like ME to say should he win. Still it didn't sink in. Last night, I looked up how many awards he was nominated for - four. Still it didn't sink in. Until four this morning. Suddenly, I had a "girl attack" - what would I wear?? And OMG! My hair is a mess!  I need to touch up my roots... OK... it's been so long it's more like 'tan lines!' OY.

To make matters worse, my cookie class this Saturday has grown by leaps and bounds... gotta love those late sign ups! Suddenly, I went from being well prepped on supplies to being out of everything!

So my day is  just crazy: hike, wash hair, dry hair, run to the shop,  mix cookie dough, pack orders, mix more dough (my mixer is humming as I type), keep drying hair.  Stash cookie dough in fridge, answer emails from clients and the college, order fondant, print check for fondant, dash home, dye hair, dash across the valley to pick up fondant, back to the silk flower /ribbon wholesaler for supplies, on to my ceramics vendor for vases, back to the shop to run all the vases through the dishwasher, home to find something to wear and off to the awards dinner. Oh. My. Shoot me now!

Don't forget.... there is another glass bead giveaway going on over at Creekhiker. 

I may be in a coma come Monday...otherwise, I'll see you here on the bead blog!

Recovering...

I feel like I'm waking up from a fog... I really AM. I had a world-wind weekend if ever there was such a thing! My good friend Becky Meverden and her hubby, a/k/a "The Rocketman" were both here for about 46 hours.

The weekend went so fast! They arrived around 11:30 on Friday and we dashed down the 405 for lunch at the Lazy Dog Cafe. (OMG! That grilled cheese is THE most AMAZING thing on the planet!) Back up the 110 and beyond to my little haven in the hills where my pupster saw "her boyfriend" (a/k/a "The Rocketman") for the first time in years. Mabel Lou dashed to HIS car door as we pulled in the driveway and barely left him alone for the entire time he was here! I'll post some pics of her declaring her submission to him on Creekhiker later in the week.

We all lazed around laughing at Mabel until I dashed to the creek for a quick hike and returned to pick Becky and RM up for dinner at my favorite old-fashioned Italian place, Casa Bianca. Becky & I shared the smooth-as-silk lasagna with garlic bread and a Caprese salad while RM tried something spicy. We were happy and tired campers.

Saturday was just as crazy. I cooked breakfast: bacon, pancakes, white cheddar with carmelized onion scrambled eggs. We all headed out for a hike where a regular Creekhiker reader and hiking buddy took one look at my companions and said, "You must be the Rocketman!" After Rocketman came to terms with sudden fame, we headed home to drop off the pupster and headed into Hollywood

We stopped at my favorite "witchy store" to pick up some Attars - pure flower essence which I wear as perfume... No allergic reactions, and the whole world doesn't smell your perfume stench when they travel in your wake! (Don't even get me started about women who put on perfume to get on a plane! OY!!!) We had a celebrity citing at Panpipes - Angelyne was in there. I snuck out and took a picture of her famous corvette with Becky's camera! LOL!

Then it was off to lunch at (WARNING: This website has music! HATE THAT!) Aroma. Becky and I shared a Mediterranean plate and a Batta (sweet potato) salad. Afterwards, we decided to explore Koreatown on foot for a few hours.

We dashed back up to my place for showers, fed the pup and hit the road again to the Hollywood Hills for a party with some old friends. It was breathtaking up there in the mountains with fantastic views. Becky didn't believe me when I told her it would be cold... and even though I thought I was prepared... I was freezing too! We were home and getting into bed by midnight.

Up again at 7 for breakfast by the pool and off the airport. I spent the afternoon doing laundry, napping and little shopping with the BFF. But today, I'm FRIED! And... I have a huge wholesale order to prep for so I've got to run some errands and be in the shop all day! Darn, I need a nap!

Hope you have a wonderful Monday. I'm going to be smiling all day - thinking about my fun weekend!

Glassy Stuff - Here's L@@king at You!

O.K. I promised glassy goodness today and I'm here to deliver...just not my own! LOL!
Truth be told, between my elbow / fingers being numb and the time consuming new website project, I'm just not torching as much as I would like.

So let's look at some beads I like to look at...only these beauties are looking right back!

My fellow Fire Diva Janel is always working with high silver glasses and gets stunning results but her hand - pulled eyeball murrini's are a thing of wonder! I've seen them in person and WOW!


This beauty is up for grabs in her Etsy Shop:

This necklace is in a customer's private collection, but... I'm sure you could talk Janel into making another! Isn't it amazing???

And finally, Janel is giving one away over on her blog... tomorrow! Go! Check it out!!!

Southern California Marble Show

Any Marble makers out there? Marble lovers and collectors??? I'm sure!

An interesting turn of events in the glass world of So. Cal. Beloved boro teacher and marble maker, Mike Close has decided to work and live in Thailand for several years. What's to happen to the Marble show he ran???

Beloved soft glass marble maker, Rich Shelby has stepped up and taken over. And as of early December, almost all of the booths at the show were sold. With just a few spaces open, Rich says, "I'm not sure if I should be thrilled or frightened!"

I've known Rich for.... decades! I first met him at the INCREDIBLE rubber stamp shop his wife Laurie owned and Rich worked at when not at his day job. He's such a sweet and talented guy - Who wouldn't say that about one of Santa's twin "helpers" who poses for pics at Christmas fairs??? (That beard is REAL!)

Rich was also one of the rare male guests I got to produce on the Carol Duvall Show...Rich made a rubber stamped clock.

And then one day, I was at a glass meeting... and there was Rich. He makes beautiful marbles and is a kind and patient teacher.

And thanks to him, the marble show goes on! It will be held on March 20, 2010 in Fullerton at the Anaheim Park Hotel. For hotel reservations: 714-992-1700.

To see if there is a booth available, contact Rich: richshelby (at) ca.rr.com.

Gratitude

I'm grateful for a lot of things this holiday season....you can check out my Creekhiker blog for more on that...but this is about beads.

And when it comes to beads, I have to say I'm so thankful for my beady friends. The wonderful, supportive and kind people who help you work the kinks out or just lend a ear.

I'm blessed to have many beady friends and two groups of them in particular. The Southern California Flame Surfers are real life friends and a super talented group of artists! And then there are the Fire Divas, my online bead group that I hope to meet in person someday!

Last month, my heart bead came in 2nd in a Fire Diva Challenge and I won this gorgeous bookmark from Lauren of Maybeads. While I'm very fond of all the Divas, Lauren holds a special place in my heart. She's always helping out with something and she makes all of us laugh!
And she obviously understands my weakness for pink hippos! She also understands my weakness for a certain temperamental rottie / greyhound mix. Check out Lauren's version of Mabel Lou:

Be sure to check out Lauren's shop for great beads and the cool bookmarks (fabulous gifts!).
And I can't resist adding a photo of the real girl. My partner in crime, my sanity, my drama and my comedy.

Photo Copyright 2009 Isabelle Thompson

Hope you have a gratitude filled day. See you here on Monday.