Happy Wedensday!

Hello!!! Glad you stopped by (I’m feeling very polite today! LOL!). Thanks for the comments about the jewelry retreat. More info will be provided as I figure it all out. I think it would be a ton of fun, and great for the inspiration. So I’m sure you’ll all hear more soon!! I can tell you it won’t be in September or October. I’m kind of hoping for August. Just because I want to do it this year, not next!!! And there are some pretty cool vacation houses out there that could give us the executive lifestyle (I’m thinking hot tub! LOL) and a weekend of fabulous new friends. More on all that later!

I was supposed to take some pictures of the pieces I finished yesterday, but I totally forgot.  (sorry Trish!) But they weren’t overly exciting, a couple of bangle bracelets with resin leaves (I do have pics of the leaves somewhere – but BAD pics! LOL). And a moonstone ring which you guys have already seen, I just had to size it. Sorry!! Anyway, when I was at the gallery, I took stock of what I have there, plus the LONG list of stuff they’ve sold for me. So I guess I better get off my butt and get some new work done for them. Plus I’m trying to get out the last of the applications for the bead show. I’m really pokey lately – not good!!! Bad me!! So I’m resolving to quit being so darn slow at getting stuff done. Need to get cracking on a bunch of stuff – one of the hazards of being self employed! It’s WAY too easy to get sucked into just doing nothing instead of doing the work that is piling up. Sigh!! So, I better close this off and get cracking!! Have a fantastic day, I hope to be back with pics of stuff (real stuff! LOL) soon!! Cheers!

I need your help!!

I want to organize a jewelry making retreat. Yes, a retreat. A weekend of jewlery making F-U-N for all levels of experience. So here’s what I need from you guys – I need suggestions for places where we could hold something like this. A place where we can stay (I’m thinking vacation home, scout camp, lodge, whatever!), somewhere fairly close to Vancouver (for airlines, etc). And not someplace where we would have to mortgage our first born children (so if it is very posh and fancy, not gonna work!). I would really appreciate any suggestions! Have you gone somewhere for a conference? Been somewhere on holidays you think might work? Do you have or know someone who has a big house that wouldn’t mind lots of company for a weekend? I’m open to any and all suggestions!! You can post a comment here, or email me directly (fvbeadshow@gmail.com is the best one – they have a great spam blocker! LOL). I will definitely will be posting more about this soon. Can you imagine? An entire weekend to play, learn and share!! Oh yeah baby!! I’m looking forward to hearing from everyone!

Time flies!!

I can’t believe it’s May already! Where has this year gone? At least I seem to be having fun, that’s a good thing, right? I’m not very chatty lately – so much to say, just don’t think anyone wants to hear it! LOL! I do have to say though that I am absolutely THRILLED with the service I received at Capilano Rock & Gem in North Vancouver. I’m totally impressed!! I bought a new disk cutter as my old one had one badly damaged punch (the biggest one of course)! So my dear sweet friend Pat bought the old set from me knowing the biggest one was kaput, and I bought a brand new set. OMG It’s so pretty! LOL Here’s a pic of one (not mine, I grabbed the image online somewhere)

There are several different disk cutters on the market, but this is the only one that will cut cleanly, without damaging textured metal. Yes, it’s expensive, $178 CDN though it is $124US at Otto Frei, but worth every single penny. Well it is if you need to make circles anyway! I love my disk cutter! But sadly, I don’t think I will let students use it. It’s just too expensive to replace (sorry guys, please don’t take it personally!). Maybe one day I’ll have enough $$ set aside to buy a set just for student use. We shall see!!

Anyway, hope you all have a fantastic weekend ahead – we’re going to head to the river for some rocks for our new aquarium (a giant 4 ft long behemoth that holds 65 gallons of water!). We’re going to take the dogs with us and make it a nice little outing. Hope it doesn’t rain! I better get cracking here, the weekend will never get here if I don’t get some custom work finished before hand! Have a great day! Cheers!