Spring Fever Design Challenge from BlueberriBeads!

I so love Blueberri's ceramic beads! They are so happy! Well, she and a couple friends are having a spring fever design challenge. There are several ways to  sign up for a chance to be included in this challenge. And yes, this is one of them. I saw the beads being offered and immediately wanted to partake! Look at her post here to see more.

http://blueberribeads.co.uk/archives/1836

Bead Soup Blog Hop is Coming Again

Sign ups are this weekend! I have been looking forward to this all year. The blog hops are only going to be once a year now but they are huge. Hundreds of people sign up for it and no one is turned down. There is only one reveal day and then we spend the next week or two hopping to see everyone's fabulous creations they have made from the bead soup that was sent to them in the mail .:o)

It is really fun and sometimes a challenge because you never know what you are going to get. Stay tuned for more info as it nears time!

Happy February!

Yes, I am thrilled! This has been a hard January for me.  I went back to work 2 weeks ago after  being off work for a back re-injury.  As soon as I got back to work the snow and ice came with freezing temperatures. I know everyone has had that! I drive for a living delivering mail for over 25 miles each day after sorting the mail and packages for 5 hours and then loading all the trays and parcels into my mail truck. Well, here in Tennessee we have winding curvy roads with steep hills - on both sides!  So it has a been a rough week and I am glad the snow is gone here. I love to see it but hate to drive in it. I look forward to a better February and an early spring (fingers crossed). And I can't wait to see things start peeking above ground in my garden! I hope you all have done well through this horrible cold and blizzardy weather.

I have been puttering with a few new things in my spare time which I have more of these days - well, no maybe less. I work more hours each day but only five days now instead of six! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!  You will not believe what a difference it makes to have two days off each week instead of one. Wow!

But I have been finishing up some ceramic pieces I have had in the works for a while. I have used oil colors and guilders paste and am waiting for them to dry so I can cold glaze them. I am excited about this process for coloring ceramics. And it can be used on any type of clay as long as you seal it with a permanent cold glaze. For polymer clay there are some colors and finishes you can put on before baking and they are permanent without glaze.

I am looking forward to making some new lampwork beads, too. I have been busy with custom orders. I try to make at least one new set of 6 beads each time I sit down to torch but do not always accomplish that. I do have some new beads that need photographing but I have to wait for sun.I also want to try my hand at some glass work on the ends of copper wire to use in jewelry designs. So much to try - so little time. Sigh.................

Here is a little preview of the ceramic pieces. I will get better pics later when they are finished.