"And the Award Goes To..."

Thanks to Brenda from Fallen Angel Designs for bestowing upon me this award

I really can't think of just 15 people to pass this onto, so I'm awarding it to everyone in my blogroll lists. I mean, y'all wouldn't be in those lists if I didn't think your blogs are lovely! If you want to pass it on to others, here are

THE RULES:

1. Accept the award.
2. Post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, along with his or her blog link.
3. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you have newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Be sure to visit Fallen Angel Designs to see her beautiful, romantic jewelry.

I'm Flying Through the Studio 'Cuz I Can't Find the Floor!

"Holy Overstuffed Workroom, Batman!" My studio, my haven of creativity, was the recipient of all the boxes full of show stuff and anything I didn't feel like putting away recently. Now the show is over and a glance through the studio door was enough to make me shudder.

I enlisted the help of some studio elves to unpacked the boxes, repack them with stuff to go up in the attic, and shovel out the mess.

It feels great to have it neat again. But now it's time for year-end inventory for taxes. NOOOOooo! I HATE doing inventory with a fiery passion... counting all those little beads and double checking my Excel spreadsheet. It brings back memories of my high school summer job at the Princeton U-Store's Music Department (back when they HAD a music department, that is). Every July, counting all those little 5 cent plastic guitar picks and individual sheets of music. Uhhhggg. But, that's the price you pay for being self-employed - I did it to myself.

So, I will suck it up, count the beads, and while they are out, I'll put them together into project packs. Maybe that'll give me a leg up on work for next year. Then, I'll join Pooch on the sofa for a much-deserved nap.

~

After I wrote this post, I found that Kathryn Antyr, at Collage Diva, had given me this charming award:

This award states that: "This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY- nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends, they are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these artists."

I'm going to take a few days to think on it before passing it on. Thanks, Kathryn!

Purple, Blue... Or Both?

Thankfully, Hanna seems to have fizzled out. We supposed to get some rain and wind, but nothing more. Now we just have to worry about hurricane Ike, which doesn't look like it will hit us head on. Poor Florida, they do get more than their fair share!

Thanks so much to Kelly, from Boxing Day, for the Brilliant Blog nomination! Now THAT'S the crowbar I needed to pry me out of the "poor me" mood I've been wallowing in. If you haven't seen her blog, it's very entertaining - she makes art for sale on Etsy using recycled materials.

My list of nominees:

A Fanciful Twist
Rochambeau
Collage Diva
Artsortments
Somepinkflowers
Tea and Honey Bread
A Whimsical Bohemian

The rules for the nominees:

1) Add the logo of the award to your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs!

~

On another note, I had quality studio time last night and made some bracelets. How is it possible, that after two years of jewelry making, I've neglected this huge corner of the market?!? In tough times when people don't want to spend for a necklace, I should have smaller ticket items like bracelets for them.

I started with some gorgeous lampworked glass beads, bought a few years ago on ebay (lovingly referred to as feebay around here). This was a set of three different groups of beads intended to be used together. When I bought them, I saw some black with purple and blue flowers, some purple with blue dots, and some were clear lavender.

After I made the bracelet, I stuck it in the light box to photograph it. I turned on the fluorescent spotlights, and...Holy Crap! Those clear lavender beads turned sky blue!! How freaky is that?

I checked with some glass workers on Etsy and found out there is a special Moretti alexandrite glass that will do this. But how is it possible that I had these weird and lovely beads for years and never saw this? I spent a half hour walking back and forth in the doorway from the den (which has incandescent lighting) to the kitchen (which has fluorescent), just to watch the color change back and forth. Simple pleasures, right?