A Poll for my clients and customers!

I'd like to direct your attention to the new poll at the right-hand side of this page....I'm in the process of making some changes to how I sell my work, and I'd like some input on the preferred method for my customers.

I currently have an Etsy shop (but it's currently empty). I'm thinking about opening a dedicated shop that you can get to from this page, but I want to know how you would prefer to buy. Keep in mind that with Etsy and other online 'malls' or shopping venues, you have to create an account for yourself in order to shop and buy. This isn't a big deal for most people, but it may not be the simplest thing if you don't do a lot of online buying, or if you'd prefer to not have accounts all over the web.

Just make your vote in the poll and comment on this entry if you have other things to say about the subject. Christmas is coming, along with Halloween, and I want to make sure you can shop easily and conveniently with me!

Thanks!

Been awhile....again...

Ok, so here I am again. Sorry for the interruption!

I've got some new work to show off, so here goes....first up, a custom order for a parent of a child at one of the girls' private schools here. Twenty-five daisy beads.


The client also ordered another twenty-five of the same beads, so I have to get those done this week.

I also did a custom order for the director of a local preschool, who wanted beads to incorporate into appreciation gifts for her teachers. Those turned out like this:




I'm doing the Market at St. Stephen's Church this year. It's on Grove Ave, across from St. Catherine's School, if you're local to Richmond. Come and see me!

Behind the scenes

Scenes from a glassworker's workbench....

It's been a long time!

I have been completely overtaken by my life these past few months. BUT! Now I am ready to get back on track. I should be posting more here in the days to come, and I'm even cooking up a challenge for myself to jump-start my spring season. More details to come!

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

Hi everyone! I wish I could send each and every person who supported me and my art this year a big, juicy, glorious Christmas card, but the task would be insurmountable! So instead, I made a holiday card as my banner for this blog. It features my favorite set of beads, the Mod Baby set that was inspired by my son's pacifier.

I sincerely hope that everyone has a fantastic holiday season. I hope that it is full of all the good things in your life, and none of the bad things. I hope you are surrounded by friends and family (if you want to be!), and I hope that you enjoy each cookie, and bite of turkey (or ham or lasagna, or whatever you eat for Christmas!), and savor the piney smell of the tree and the glow of the lights.

Me? I hope it snows like crazy! I'm in Richmond, so it probably won't, but I can still hope for it. We're getting our tree tomorrow evening, and we'll be celebrating this Saturday -- a little early, but it's our 'family Christmas' and my kids will get to celebrate with their grandparents. My dad lives in Florida, so it's not often that we get to 'do' Christmas with him. I'm so looking forward to it all. This is my week to bake and make sure we have all the food for Saturday, so I'll be busy with that. Not much torch time in there, but that's okay. There's plenty of decorating and baking and wrapping and even a little bit of shopping left to do, so I am happy.

I love Christmas!

Talk to you all soon!

A month!?

Whew, it's been more than a month since I posted to this blog. I know all of you are waiting with baited breath to see/ hear about the latest fun from me (haHA!), so I won't keep you waiting much longer. I did make some changes to the blog layout and design, though, so it's not like I haven't been here. :)

Let's see....my muse took off until the week before Thanksgiving, so getting ready for my show at ArtWorks gallery the day after T-day was a bit of a rush job. However, I did regain my creative mojo in time to develop these designs:


That's the 'Bar Bangle', a design made with silver and colored copper wire. And also beads, duh! Next up is this:

'Orbit' earrings. I'm a sucker for blue (and red!) glass, as you can probably tell. I do use other colors, though....like in this pendant, for example:

Tiger Stripes pendant, strung on a steel cable neckwire.

They're going up on Etsy today, so if you are interested, grab 'em! As always, if you are in Richmond, VA, let me know and you can avoid paying shipping and I will meet you in town somewhere to give you your goodies!

It's going to be cold today, so let's all pray for snow....especially you, Jen, out in Minnesota, where I am sure you already have snow. We'd like some, too, so share, ok? ;)

I don't have any more shows on the agenda, so there will be plenty of time to make beads and jewelry. My goals for the winter include getting on the Etsy shop and listing more items. I'm applying for at least one show this spring that I know of so far, so once my schedule gets firmed up, I'll let you guys know.

Thanks for all your support in 2008, and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone in 2009!

Rain in the forecast

The weather forecast around here is calling for cold and steady rain Saturday morning. I will not be at the South of the James market on Saturday October 26. I am also not at market day on Saturday November 1.

My next market day will be Saturday, November 8th, in time for Christmas shopping to start! Look for Christmas goodies....snowmen and snowwomen pendants and earrings, Christmas trees, mittens, and all kinds of winter and holiday items!

I am working on a line of other beaded products, like napkin rings and wine bottle stoppers, so hopefully I will have some of those, too, on the 8th.

As always, let me know if there is anything you would like before my next market day. I am taking limited custom orders before Christmas. My Etsy shop should be updated by the end of the weekend, too!