Lisa Niven Kelly

DIY Project! Make Your Design Stamp Holder for $3!!!

2011-12-07T15:52:00.000-08:00

Pulled this one over from my other blog at Beaducation.com. Who doesn't love a good DIY project :)

Last week we received this inquiry on Facebook from our pal Keona. Great question Keona!

Unfortunatly, no, we don't have a holder for some of those larger design stamps....but that question got my creative juices flowing. I too hate the fact that all my beloved design stamps get to stand tall and proud in a holder, while the larger stamps have to lay on their side like they are napping.

I love a challenge! The first thing that came to mind was floral foam. I headed on down to JoAnn Fabrics (just a hop and skip from our office) and bought a block. It worked great, but it was messy. The foam kinda flakes off all over the place. I formulated a new plan, tested it out and LOOK AT THIS, a custom Design Stamp holder that cost me $3 to make!

Here is how you can make one too! Head on down to the craft store and dollar store for a block of styrofoam or floral foam and a baking tin or some sort of box (some dollar stores might have both).

Use a knife to cut the foam to fit nice and snug into your container. Place a stamp (image side down) at desired location in the foam and hammer them down (use a soft head hammer like a Plastic Mallet) until 1/3rd of the stamp has sunk into the foam. Repeat for all the stamps. Perhaps leave some space for future stamps.

I know what you are thinking..."Hey wait a second, what is that writing on the side?". Well, since the container I chose was metal, I couldn't resist stamping on it (yes, I stamped it before putting in the foam). Again, bring on the challenge! I had to build a strong stamping surface in the container so I busted out my Sandbag, Bench Block and any available piece of wood that would fill the left over space. I didn't get regular and strong resistance so the stamping came out uneven (depth-wise) and it was a bit awkward, but it worked! I used the Wackadoodle Uppercase and Lowercase.

Other ideas...

Cover the foam in fabric and cut a hole for each stamp.
Paint the foam.
Use decorative scrapbook paper to cover your foam.
Use a beautiful Kleenex box as your box and just cut the top off.
Use one of the many DVD boxes in paper or even bamboo from The Container Store.
Use a soap tray and cut your foam to fit.
Make your own wooden box with plywood.

We love a challenge, and we love to save money. More DIY projects soon :)
And remember, Facebook is a great place to ask a question. We promise you will get a quick and thorough reply :)

Sweet Savings over at Beaducation.com

2011-11-27T22:58:00.000-08:00

Beaducation.com is having a Cyber Monday SALE! We chose our most popular category... Sterling Silver Blanks. Great time to stock up on some of those fun shapes that you have been wanting to try! Sale is supposed to start at midnight, but Paul and I are pooped and we want to go to bed! There is a bit of manual work to be done to post a sale. We just finished...happy shopping...nighty night!

This sale is good on in-stock products only. Sorry, no rain checks.

Last day of STAMP SALE at Beaducation.com

2011-08-05T17:54:00.000-07:00

C'mon now, a sale like this doesn't happen very often. This is a great time to stock up on those stamps you have been wanting so badly :)

25% off ALL Letter Stamp Sets - yep, all!

~ ~ ~

25% Design Stamps - 219 designs on sale!

Our newest batch is not on sale.

Beaducation's New Digs...continued!

2011-07-31T08:48:00.000-07:00

Hey all! Earlier this week I wrote a post over on Beaducation's blog with lots of before and after pix of our new office. Hop on over and check it out :)

Campin' and Stampin'

2011-06-21T02:36:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, we made our annual journey to the Strawberry Music Festival. Camp was great, music was fabulous, the weather....not so much (it snowed on us a bit!).

When the sun popped out, out came the tools and I stamped about 50 pendants for the folks in our camp. I have discovered my new all time favorite place to stamp....ON A STUMP!

My goodness, I have never had such a successful stamping session. The resistance from ol' mother nature was perfect. No wobbly table, no bounce back, just a strong stable foundation from deep in the earth. It also helped that I was using a high quality Beaducation stamps set :)

Team Beaducation! PLAY BALL!

2011-05-15T12:34:00.000-07:00

Beaducation is the proud sponsor of the Blue Stars... Redwood City Girls Softball League!

Tough!

NEW DIGS!!!

2011-04-18T23:46:00.000-07:00

We've made the big move! Beaducation has a new home. We have moved from 2000 square feet to 5700 square feet. Room to spread out. More room for creativity and product. We even have a dance floor. Well, it's a large open space affectionately referred to as "the dance floor". The kitchen is huge, the creative space is huge, the shipping/warehouse has tripled in size. We have 6 private offices, 3 custom built "cubes", 5 bathrooms and a secluded, quite shootio (shooting + studio = shootio).

On friday we unpacked the last of the mountains of green "green" bins that we rented (need moving boxes? ZippGo is amazing!). Late friday we put together the "creative room". Today I finished building our cubicle walls...more on that once I get the pix off my camera. And also today I taught my daughters how to use a power drill and they put together their desks for my office (only stripped 2 screws). My new office is super big! I can fit a desk for each of them (complete with 2 bottles of glue, 2 sets of pens, 2 sets of pencils, 2 scissors, 2 things of tape, 2 sets of pliers, 2 mix packs of wire....can you tell we have been having a bit of a sharing issue in my house lately). I even have room for a couch, work table AND I have my own bathroom....my own bathroom!!!

I will be posting a big "before and after" blog soon. This building has made an amazing transformation. All the Beaducators are super excited about our new home.

But for now....here are 2 "before" pictures. Notice the nasty lighting, the lack of floor and the horrible light grey with dark grey trim paint job. All that is gone now! More soon......

2011-02-19T20:33:00.000-08:00

It's out...it's on the newsstands...the latest issue of Wirework Magazine! This special issue is produced by Kalmbach, the publishers of Bead&Button Magazine and Art Jewelry Magazine.

Check it out, and let me know if you try my project....it's a dooozy!

This issue has a lot of really cool wirework projects. The editor did a great job of finding creative, fresh and inspiring projects.

- 20+ ALL-NEW necklace, bracelet, ring, and earring projects
- Projects for beginner to intermediate skill levels
- Step-by-step photos and instructions tested by the editors
- Reference information including wire types, gauge, shape, and hardness
- A wire lovers guide to wireworking tools
- Techniques such as wrapping, coiling, twisting, chainmaking, hammering,
- And much more!

ENGRAVE IT

2011-02-07T23:34:00.000-08:00

I am having so much fun with our new Engraving tool over at beaducation.com. I am engraving everything in sight....jewelry, tools, my desk, my fingernails (accident and then on purpose), my metal water bottle, and oh so much more.

I didn't do that cute ass owl, Danelle did!

Bead&Button Show class registration is now OPEN!

2011-01-16T09:40:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again....time to get out your calendar and pick your classes for the Bead&Button Show. I will be teaching 5 classes at the show and then will be hanging out at our booth (booth #s TBD)
Registration opened a few days ago, so hop on in there. Those popular classes tend to fill up fast!

distracted...

2010-11-27T10:24:00.000-08:00

I have work to do...I have design stamps to design...I have Sterling to scavenge for, so I can add weight to my load to be refined...I have new product to add to the cart...BUT
I am distracted by things on the damn interwebs! Shocker. Here is what is stealing my head...

OIL CLOTH...I can't help it, I just love the stuff
OUR ONGOING DESIRE TO LEARN TO WELD UP SOME LAWN ART, Paul and I...big, we want to go big!
VINTAGE EYE GLASSES...I mean, c'mon
COLOR BRAVERY...well done!
NEW CLASSES IN METAL!!!

oh and the usual.

Sale at Beaducation...

2010-11-09T18:46:00.000-08:00

I just turned on the Sterling Blanks sale over at Beaducation.com. I am working late, tunes are cranked and although the sale won't be officially announced until tomorrow, I have turned it on tonight! Jump on over there and stock up! 20% off of Sterling Blanks (in stock items only, no rain checks). Please remember that Thursday is a national holiday so USPS is closed. Shipping times may take a bit longer than usual.

All Online Video Classes 20% off at beaduation.com

2010-10-14T16:20:00.000-07:00

Remember, they never expire, so now is a good time to STOCK UP :)
And with the sale, we have launched a new class with ME, Continuum Earrings!

Sale expires Oct 21st

Yay cover piece!

2010-10-06T18:16:00.000-07:00

Hey check it out. My piece made the front cover of the new Wirework magazine by Kalmbach Publishing.

That looks purty!

Todd Reed show starts today at De Novo in Palo Alto

2010-09-11T15:41:00.000-07:00

If ya live in the San Francisco Bay Area and you have a sec to pop over to Palo Alto, consider stopping by my favorite jewelry store De Nova. This is my go-to place when I need to be around overwhelming beauty. One of my favorite artists is Todd Reed. His show starts today at De Nova. In fact, he will be there today.

I have one of his rings (10 year anniversary, woo) and I absolutely treasure it. I love the look of raw uncut diamonds. There is a great article in the recent issue of Jewelry Artist about raw diamonds, featuring a few pieces of Todd's work.

Whether or not you are able to make it to his show (I am going next week), it's worth a loop around his website. Amazing!

Seedbead 911...hello old friend!

2010-08-28T17:44:00.000-07:00

I've been called in for some seedbead repair work. Looks like the wine bottle that I covered in seedbeads for my dad, FIFTEEN years ago, has some age spots.

This bottle was a gift to my father for his 55th birthday. He turned 70 this year. It took me about 30 hours to make it. I covered the whole bottle using single needle right angle weave stitch, yellow size B Nymo thread and light green transparent size 11 seedbeads (oh and yellow ones at the top). I picked the beads and thread color to match the color of the wine in the bottle and the color of the glass.

It is a joy to be fondling and working with this old friend. This project has a comfy spot in my heart. I have done maybe 3 or 4 projects like this....ones that have taken a nice big chunk of time. This particular one is my favorite, especially since it is so loved and sits on my dad's desk. I remember loving working on this bottle. It was very zen. There wasn't much to distract the mind, it was more engineering than design. No crazy thread path or color variation, just the same bead and the same stitch for hours. It was a bit of a challenge though, to decrease the stitch to fit the beadwork snug on the bottle.

Fifteen years later, I still have the beads and I still have the thread. Time to stitch this bad boy back up :)

Incoming ...must get my hands in shape!

2010-08-08T16:32:00.000-07:00

I am so excited, Lindstrom has come up with a new plier series. I got to play with the Flat Nose a bit at the Bead&Button Show and they were really really nice. I just got confirmation that a full set are headed my way so I can test and review the line before they go into full production.

I plan on bending every wire I can get my hands on. I am doing my hand exercises...stretchin', finger squats, hip hop cardio finger dance and hand jumping jacks. I have almost perfected my hand balance handstand like this guy.

10!!! Really!?

2010-08-04T12:48:00.000-07:00

Today is my Izzy's 10th birthday...ten? Did I say 10? Can that be right? How can I have a child who is old enough to beg for a cel phone for her birthday (boy, she is gonna be disappointed!). Yep, I just did the math, she was born in 2000, she is ten...wow!

This was then.....

...and this is now!

On days like today, I kinda long for that big, chunky, cloth diaper butt baby! Ok, maybe not the diaper part.

So loving this....

2010-07-08T20:04:00.000-07:00

This is very super cool...well done!
Tons of inspiration at sticks and bricks

Giveaways at Beaducation.com...woo!

2010-07-08T13:38:00.000-07:00

We are celebrating the official release of my book and we are givin' away all kinds of stuff.

Well, you have missed the giveaway on the Beaducation blog and you missed the one on Facebook, but if you are a Twitter follower, there is still time!!! The Twitter giveaway goes until 3:00...ya gotta be a follower of Beaducation to send us a message which will enter you into the drawing for a book, and again I say, woo!.

In just 1.5 hours, 100 people entered the Facebook giveaway!

THANKS!!!

Palleting

2010-07-03T17:50:00.000-07:00

Playing with the pallet creator on Colourlovers.com. Let's see what this photo gives me...

*click photo to view larger*

Now that is some good PR!

2010-07-03T17:22:00.000-07:00

I received this in the mail last month, from Anthropologie. It's a coupon for 15% off during my birthday month and it's a necklace with 2 beads that make up a birthday cake candle. C'mon, is that just the cutest damn thing??!!!

Lopsided watermelons ???

2010-07-01T13:20:00.000-07:00

Dear Mother Nature,

You are a persnickety lil' lady and I fricken' love you!

Love,

Lisa

In case you missed it in the June 2 issue of the San Jose Mercury, there is a logical reason for this year's lopsided watermelons.

Watermelon plants have both male and female flowers. The pollen on the male flowers has to be carried to the female flowers by bees. It is a heavy pollen and so big bumble bees or several smaller honey bees are needed to do the job. In cold or rainy weather, of which we have had lots this spring, bees don’t fly or do so irregularly. As a result, the watermelons are not properly pollinated and the resulting fruit grows in an irregular or lopsided fashion. With warm weather, the bees will be working full-time and our later season watermelons will not be lopsided.

**7/8/10 update...I bought a watermelon yesterday and it was indeed lopsided, and tasty!

and speaking of color

2010-06-24T09:50:00.000-07:00

Here is one of my favorite color inspiration sites...
http://www.colourlovers.com/

Colorful poetry

2010-06-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

My 9 year old, Izzy, loves to write poetry. I am a fan!

What is Green?

Green in like sneaky Leprechauns at the end of the rainbow gathering Gold.
Green is what summer and spring wear on the tips of their heads.
Green has spread across the world giving each person joy and happiness.
Soft notes on the piano represent green.
Emerald gives out many glittering green sparkles from the sunlight.
Green is born in almost every direction you look.
Green is the color of spring.
Jade is a beautiful emissary of green.
But to conclude it, green is a graceful, elegant color.

Izzy Kelly 3/2010

"I call the top bunk!"

2010-06-18T16:34:00.000-07:00

'cause really...there aren't many things in life that are better than the top bunk

Well except maybe sleeping bags in a tent...

preppin'

2010-05-12T23:26:00.000-07:00

Up to my nostrils in Bead&Button prep!!!
ahhhhhh. so much to do.

Preorder my book at Beaducation.com

2010-04-22T21:06:00.000-07:00

Hey all, we are now taking preorders for my book on my site beaducation.com. The price includes shipping (we are just charging a few bucks). Click here to check it out. The first 200 copies ordered through our site will be signed by me (which is a bit dorky and exciting at the same time!).

Saturday testing

2010-04-17T13:16:00.000-07:00

It's Saturday ....and super sunny and nice out....do you know where your kids are? Yeah, mine are with a babysitter because my husband and I are at work. No complaints though, I have a goal and I am crankin' on it. Over at Beaducation.com we are launching a new site, and we are sooooo excited about it. Not only will the site have a nice fancy face lift, it will now feature product videos. We are filming these videos every week so our library will constantly be growing.

Don't bother clicking that play button, it's just a screen shot. But hopefully you can view the actual video soon....like very very soon :)

So here I sit, no distractions (except the Arctic Monkey....loud!). I am testing, inserting alt images, linking product videos, testing classes, editing pictures, shooting pictures and drinking Green Tea. I am focused! I hope my kids are enjoying this sunny day.

IT'S HERE....MY BOOK IS HERE~!

2010-04-15T22:26:00.000-07:00

woooohooo. Yesterday I got my advanced real, like super real, copy of my book. It looks so good! If feels so good! It SMELLS soooooo good! This is the first time I have seen the DVD and it too looks soooo good! We had a viewing last night at my mom's house....movie night. I forced the whole family to watch my DVD and they were actually quite into it. My kids learned a lot and now they think I am a famous movie star...hummm.

Here is the link again if you want to preorder it, OR even better, we will have copies to sell when it's out in early July, so is you are cool with waiting, you can get a signed copy from beaducation.com (soon).

wooohooo!

Inspiration

2010-03-03T16:14:00.000-08:00

Last weekend my husband and I took our kids to see Cirque du Soleil's Ovo in San Jose. I have seen about 7 different Cirque du Soleil shows and this is one makes the top 2 in my book (with "O" of course).

The most inspiring part of this show was seeing it with my kids. Next time you go to a show like this, take a minute (or 2 hours like I did) and turn your attention to a child's face. Most likely, that face will reflect wonder, joy, confusion and pure amazement....and that just might inspire you more than the show itself.

If you watch the below video....stick it out. The last act is the bestest!

Ok, this is just odd

2010-03-01T18:46:00.000-08:00

At first, I thought this was maybe the most jacked up thing I have ever seen. But then it dawned on me, this might actually keep me focused...hummm, block out the world, get my work done (on the computer of course) and stay warm at the same time. But how do you breathe? I have a bit of claustrophobia...yeah, this might not be the answer. And c'mon...really?

Dream Job

2010-02-18T11:02:00.000-08:00

Ok, well really, I have my dream job, but if I ever had to get a new job and I could have my dream job, it would be this dude's job...Chief Photographer for Public Relations at Disneyland Resort. I wanna cruise around Disneyland in the wee hours of the morning taking photos!

Spring is springing!

2010-02-15T18:19:00.000-08:00

Spring is itchin' to bust out BIG in my backyard!

Stamped Metal Jewelry; Creative Techniques & Designs for Making Custom Jewelry

2010-02-12T16:45:00.000-08:00

It's done....YAH! I spent the last year or so working on a book about stamping on metal and other metal techniques that work well with stamping to create jewelry. I am super excited! It's done and available in the Interweave Store for preorder.

Here is the blurb they wrote about the book :)

Metal stamping is one of the hottest trends in metal jewelry. Using purchased metal stamps and sterling silver blanks, you can personalize your metal jewelry designs with words, textures, and creative designs. Lisa Niven Kelly, creator of the online Beaducation workshops and website, specializes in the technique and has been teaching stamping for more than six years to enthusiastic students. Although stamping is a simple technique, the right tools and skills will help you create professional and exciting results.

Stamped Metal Jewelry teaches multiple metal stamping and texturing techniques, and the projects incorporate wirework and metalsmithing to create fabulous necklaces, beads, charms, bracelets, cuffs, and earrings. The book opens with an extensive section on stamping, wirework, and metalsmithing tools and techniques. With these skills, you can begin the inspiring jewelry designs with confidence. Nineteen projects cover a variety of techniques and designs such as creating charms, incorporating stamped links into beaded projects, making stamped links from flat wire and wire-wrapping them together, stamping on blanks and layering them, riveting, texturing metal, oxidizing, and more. In addition to Lisa's projects, the book features contributions by nationally known guest artists Tracy Stanley, Kriss Silva, Lisa Claxton, Kate Richbourg, Janice Berkebile, and Connie Fox.

Victorian Scroll Bracelet

2010-02-04T17:26:00.000-08:00

Tada! Here is my final piece for Hooked On Wire. I loveth it!

Hooked On Wire piece, some progress...

2010-01-30T18:16:00.000-08:00

I am in Tucson right now. The Beaducation booth is being set up, and I have been given the day off to finish my Hooked On Wire project. We have rented a gorgeous house here and it has provided me with a beautiful, warm and quite place to create.

I am not done yet, but I think I have a final plan and am on my way.

This is a whole lot of symetry goin' on here...it's kinda freaking me out. Oh well, balance right?

In my head...

2010-01-30T12:33:00.001-08:00

If you could take a look in my brain right now (which I don't really recommend), here is what you would see.

With a little bit of this...

It's an odd mix, but in this creative space, it's workin' for me.

Coming to Tucson?

2010-01-28T16:34:00.001-08:00

Are ya headed out to Tucson to stock up on beads, tools, gems and all kinds of other stuff that you NEEEEEEED. If so, come visit the Beaducation booth and say HI!

We will be at the To Bead True Blue show at the The Doubletree Reid Park, from Jan 31st through Feb 8th. Technically the last 3 days of the show is called The Tucson Bead Show, but it is the same location and we will be at the same space....booths G174 and G175.

We are all packed up and headed out....hope to see you there!!!

oh.....my....goodness.....I am blushing!

2010-01-28T15:56:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, I got an email from the editor of Bead&Button magazine letting me know that I have been voted in as one of the Top Ten Teachers in the United States (jewelry making teachers that is). I kinda stared at this email for a bit thinking "huh? really? WOW!". Apparently they looked at evaluations from Bead&Button Shows, and took numerous polls online and were given rave reviews of over 229 teachers. They quickly narrowed it down to the top 10. They wrote a wonderful article about us 10 teachers and that article comes out in the next Bead&Button magazine. We have been sworn to secrecy until now :)

To be honest, I am totally in shock! I mean, I love teaching and I am confident that I do a good job (you crazies keep coming back for more!!!) but to be put in a group with these other ladies has me blushing beyond belief. THANK YOU!!!

I would like to give a special shout out and big ol' THANK YOU to Cynthia Rutledge who is OF COURSE on this list. She has been my mentor since I was a teenager (ok, I was 22 when I met her). Cynthia and I worked at the Shepherdess together (we had more fun than anyone should have on the clock). Her bead career took off from there as seedbeads captured her and engulfed her brain. When I was learning beadwork and wirework, I watched her teaching career grow as she successfully and continually inspired students to create masterpieces. And I would think to myself "wow, how does she do it? All these shows and all this teaching? Man, I wanna be like her when I grow up". Cynthia helped me a ton when I first started teaching. She was generous with her knowledge and incredibly encouraging. Her designs and teaching etiquette are exceptional. So the most exciting thing about this super awesome and flattering Top Ten thing, for me, is being on this list with her.

um, yummmm

2010-01-23T20:59:00.000-08:00

Peppermint Stick ice cream with hot fudge....

'nuff said!

tiny little coils

2010-01-12T21:37:00.000-08:00

I need to come up with my 2010 Hooked On Wire project. It was due to the lovely Susan, well, like last month. I have finally come up with an idea. My hope is to crank out a pendant similar to the classic French wrought iron work I am so darn fond of. I have this book (pictured left) , and I am thinking that maybe if I sleep with it under my pillow it will inspire me beyond conscious recognition.

I have spoken about my love for ironwork about 2 years ago in this blog post. It is very typical of me to obsesses on something, dive head first into it, loose sleep over it and then put it aside. So here I am 2 years later, reworking and re-getting excited about this work. But this time I plan to cover the scrolls in little tiny 26 gauge coils. Part of the draw to this class will be to learn to coil long lengths of tiny wire onto another tiny wire (no, not with your hands...forget that, we will be using a drill, and no we won't be coiling onto a hard mandrel, we will be coiling onto a 3 foot piece of 22 or 20 gauge Sterling Wire...yes, with the drill) and also learning how to shape that coil without distorting it.

So that is my plan. I am only writing it here in hopes that it will help in executing said plan. I gots the plan in my head...now let's see if I can get it into wire...stay tuned!

Bead&Button Show class registration NO OPEN!!!

2010-01-12T19:56:00.000-08:00

Registration opened this morning for the classes and workshops at the 2010 Bead&Button Show. I can not say enough about this show. There are loads of classes and loads of vendors and loads of crazy ass bead energy! It's good times!

One of my classes has already sold out. I would love to see ya at the show. Click here to view my classes :)

Bad blogger! & end of the year update :)

2009-12-09T09:48:00.001-08:00

So, I have decided that I am just not a good blogger! And those of you who pop in to check my blog probably agree. Perhaps I put a bit too much pressure on myself. I want to share what's going on with me.....the "me" that is an artist. I hope to share stories of inspiration and creativity o' plenty, but the "me" that is a business owner is so damn busy that the "me" that is an artist is sitting on the back burner toasting her bunz.

Most of you check in to see how my business and kids are growing....well, let's start there. My business, beaducation.com, is, well how shall we put this, simply put, it's amazing! We have grown immensely. The last few months have sure taught us some lessons. Our sales and customer outreach is bigger than we thought and are trying our darnest to keep up :) My staff here, is top notch. I have the most talented and dedicated team, and I am soooooo grateful!

As for my kids, don't get me started. Oh my god, they are so great and fun and sweet and kind! Between the 2 of them, 3 teeth have been lost in the last month. Izzy is 9 now and Lucy will be 7 on the 21st of this month (my Solstice baby....bringing the light) We went to the doc yesterday and my poor Izzy, she is so tall. I love it (I was super tall at her age too) but she HATES it. She is off the charts tall, not like a little over the 90th percentile off the charts, like way off the charts. I am sure it will come in handy somehow (volleyball? bullying boys?). Anyhow, there is a slight update for ya :)

As far as "me" the artist, I got a lot to tackle in the next few weeks. I will be submitting 2 chapters for a wirework book Denise Peck is writing, proofing the final layout of my book (yeah!), reorganizing my office (I will post a before and after) and then it's time to start crankin' out some jewelry. I need to come up with 2 new classes....one for Hooked On Wire 2010 and one for a Wirework Retreat I will be teaching at in Laguna, CA in Oct (more info to follow....this is gonna be a BLAST!). Oh and tomorrow is Beaducation's end of the year party....oh yeah, I will post photos of that fer sure. We have all worked very hard, it's time to blow it out, the Champagne is chilled, the limo is booked!!!

So, it's time to get my bunz off the burner, clean this office, light a few candles (I always work with a candle lit....mmmmmm) and let the creativity flow......wish me luck :)

Facebook anyone?

2009-10-18T19:42:00.000-07:00

Did you know that Beaducation has a Facebook page? We post info about products, upcoming events, sales and most importantly, what we have for lunch. We also occasionally post discounts for only our Facebook fans.
Come join us :)

Hooked On Wire 2009

2009-09-08T17:49:00.000-07:00

I just returned from teaching at the Hooked On Wire Retreat. What a blast! The students were great, the projects were great, the hotel was great....pretty great time! I will be taking pictures this week of my demo samples. But for now, here is one.

One of the perks of this retreat is all the project are brand new. So as instructors, we have to come up with a new project and then teach it to 30-48 people without having ever taught it.....hummmm, sometimes that doesn't go so well. But this weekend, it went great. As I demo'ed I came up with more and more ideas. The room was buzzing with creativity.

I wil be teaching the bracelet at Bead Fest Santa Fe at the end of March, and as a 7 hour workshop at the Bead&Button Show in the beginning of June. I will also be teaching this pendant (this exact pendant in this picture) at the Bead&Button Show as a 3 hour class.

Thanks to all the lovely ladies (and lovely David!) who came to the retreat this year. I hope you had as much fun as I did :)

Felt like sooooo long ago?

2009-08-09T17:28:00.000-07:00

There are chapters in my life where the years just kinda come and go. Yeah, there is always good news and bad news and kids growing and changing and such but all in all, pretty smooth sailing. Well today I realized that it has been exactly one year since my first Thyroid surgery and it has me reflecting on the passing of this year. This has not been an easy year. Was it really just a year ago? Feels like longer. I am not writing here to blab about the details but more to explore this whole thing called time.

How often do you recall an event in the past and say "man, that seems like ages ago" or "seems like just yesterday"? So here's my question; if there are positive or negative feelings associated with an event, do those feelings define the perceived passage of time? My first surgery, and all the hell that came with it, seems like waaaaay longer than a year ago. My wedding feels like "just yesterday" but maybe that is because it was a blast and I wish I was still there. I certainly don't feel like I can possibly have a 6.5 and 9 year old. Seems like their births and toddler hoods truly were just yesterday. Watching my step dad take his last breath seems like forever ago, yet it was just in March. Maybe the bad and yucky things feel like forever ago, and the positive things feel more recent.

Hummm, not sure if I am coming up with a proper theory here. I will sit on it.

This is the kinda stuff that keeps me up at night pondering. I tend to get hung up on the stuff that has no explanation, go figure!

Bowling

2009-08-09T13:39:00.001-07:00

I love bowling!
My kids love it too!
Good fun for the whole damn fam!

New art....i'm a big girl now

2009-08-09T12:47:00.000-07:00

We recently bought a new painting. It is the most expensive piece of art I have ever bought and well, that kinda makes me feel like a grown up.

My daughter Izzy attends an art class on Saturdays to learn to paint oil on canvas. This piece was painted by her amazing art teacher, Bernard Beneito. He is this wonderful gentleman from France who is highly influenced by various cultures, Blues Music and New Orleans. This painting depicts the beloved Marianne, a national emblem of France, relaxing over Paris. This is one of Bernards very favorite pieces and I am quite proud to have it on my wall.

Izzy is on her 12th painting. Bernard has been trying to push her to paint people. He knows she is ready but she has been reluctant. He finally got through to her a few weeks ago and she is 3 weeks into this painting. Here she is working on her 2nd layer. I am gonna need a bigger house soon with more wall space!

Viva la Mexico

2009-07-26T21:54:00.000-07:00

This shot is from a recent trip to Mexico. The pose, the colors, the sassy suit....I love it!

I can feel it....it's gonna explode....

2009-07-23T23:41:00.000-07:00

Do you ever get that feeling that if you don't sit in your studio and make some jewelry (or create whatever it is that floats your boat) you are going to explode? I have that feeling right now....I have been so inspired lately and it's gotta squirgle (a Lucy word) it's way on out soon. When I am done writing this book (by the end of next week) I have a serious hot date with my studio. I need a nice chunk of alone time with a mess o' wire and some pliers.

What's with this recent surge of inspiration? Is it the simple things in life, or is it the big "in your face" stuff? Is it the weather, is it the Renegade Craft fair I went to last weekend, is it Izzy's messy hair, is it Paul's guitar, is it the music in the park, is it my new shoes, is it the smile on my moms face, is it my bike rides, is it the plethora of apricots in my yard or the nearly ripe tomatoes? Perhaps it's a pinch of each, combined and stirred together. Is it from a general feeling, or an exposure to beauty and color.....can ya pin it down? Can ya put a finger on what lights that fire? I hope not, because if you can clearly define it, you will try too hard to chase it or artificially recreate it. I am happy to have it pop in when it wants, when it finds a clear and appropriate passage. And when it is absent I will wait, and be, and observe. Will it wait for me?

It sure would be nice, though, if inspiration would strike when you aren't completely busy with something else....I know, I know, don't push it, be still. In fact, I will stop questioning it and just be grateful ;)

oh so sad....

2009-06-25T22:37:00.000-07:00

'tis with an ungloved hand that I wipe a tear for Michael and Farrah. Anyone who knows me, knows that 2 of my favorite things ever are Michael Jackson and Charlie's Angels. I will have to listen to my Thriller vinyl while sifting through my Charlies Angels trading cards, which are kept in my Charlie's Angels lunch box.
What a loss!

Father's Day Picnic at the New Guinea Sculpture Garden on Stanford Campus

2009-06-21T18:49:00.000-07:00

We picnicked (that sounds so civilized) at the super cool New Guinea Sculpture garden today. It is such a beautiful and magical little nook of Stanford University campus. There are a lot of little spots like this on campus. Learn more about this permanent sculpture garden here.

A few things I love about living in Redwood City

2009-06-18T21:55:00.000-07:00

The weather. After all, Redwood City is "climate best by government test", just ask us.
The fact that a 10 minute drive will take you to amazing hiking trails.
The fact that a 40 minute drive will take you to a camp site that makes you feel like you are in Tahoe.
A 3.5 hour drive will take you to Tahoe.
A 12 minute drive will take you to Anthropology.
A 6 minute bike ride will take you to Whole Foods.
A 7 minute walk will take you Peets Coffee.
A 30 minute drive North or South will take you to an International Airport to take you anywhere.
San Francisco is oh so close which means easy train or bart access to The Fillmore, China Town, North Beach and the Ball Park.
Today on my way to my chiropractors office in Portola Valley, I had to stop to let 2 deer and 4 baby deer get out of the street.
There were way more Obama signs than McCain signs....well at least in Redwood City.
I can walk my kids to school.
Soon my kids can walk themselves to school....hallelujah!
You get to say things like "I live in The Wood".
My mom lives 2 towns south.
The trees are big....and old.
and the weather, again.

Working on my book....really, I am working not fooling around, really.

2009-06-13T16:04:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's Saturday and I am at my office working on my book (ok, and fooling around). A nice chunk of the book is due next week and I am making good progress. The day started out great as I rode my new bike to work. It took me 12 minutes to ride here....not bad. I have driven this route 4 times a day for the last 2 years but on a bike you see all new things. What a great ride. And a big thank you to the fairly middle aged, bearded hippie gentleman who gave me a whistle, big thumbs up and a "nice bike" this morning. Who needs coffee when you can start your day with that :)

Now I continue on. The live Bonoroo webcast is playing in the background...Gov't Mule. Super good! Warren Haynes rocks. I don't know how that brotha can tour with 3 bands at once (Allman Brothers, The Dead and Gov't Mule) .... impressive.

Barf Bag Designs

2009-06-10T17:13:00.000-07:00

There was a time where I thought I should change my business name to "Barf Bag Designs" (sexy huh?). See, for a while, the only time I came up with new designs was when flying in an airplane. Up in the clouds, there are no computers (well mine is usually in the overhead), no phones, no TVs and often times I am alone. All you can do is listen to music and look out the window (window, not aisle please). I find it to be the most relaxing and inspirational spot to ponder. So as I ponder, I need something to write on....oh look, it's a barf bag. At some point, I started using barf bags as my canvas of choice. They are perfect. I have been designing on barf bags for about 8 years. On a recent trip, my mom saw me doodling on a barf bag and she offered me a piece of paper. I declined.

Earlier today, I was searching for something and came across some barf bags with sketches all over them. There is some good things on there!

Bead and Button 2009...over and done

2009-06-07T21:32:00.000-07:00

We just completed the Bead and Button Show. Holy moly we had fun! Our triple booth was slam packed with tools, kits, wire, donuts and customers!
This year (pretty much from May 31st 2008-May 31st 2009) was tough and basically horrible (only personally, business has been great!). Not only did I have my "little" health issue, but I lost my step dad and a week or so before I left to the B&B Show, one of my closest friends (who is the husband of my best friend) died from a 3 year battle with Lung Cancer (40 years old, never smoked). So I have been a bit down lately and the show could not have come at a better time. Thanks to all my good pals who brought me back to life this week. What a blast! I will post pictures soon.

April?

2009-05-13T15:58:00.001-07:00

What happened to the month of April.....has anyone seen my month of April because it seems to have passed completely with out me noticing or acknowledging it!!!!
April....where are you?????

Bead Dreams 2009

2009-05-13T15:52:00.000-07:00

Well, I was recently inspired to do a competition pieces. This rarely happens, mainly because I don't have time to work on a big piece and often because I am not inspired. But this piece came to me and it resulted in my project for Hooked On Wire, and a piece for the Bead Dreams competition at the 2009 Bead&Button Show. I was accepted so it will be on display at the show if you want to check it out. Hope ya like it :)

The end of a journey.....

2009-03-26T10:49:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, I have cut my teaching schedule way back this year so I could spend as much time as possible with my Step Father who was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer last May. Last night he passed away with 5 of us kids, his wife and his mother in law holding each other and holding him. We were there for 4 days with him as his body slowed down. Being there and watching him take his last breaths was the hardest and most powerful thing I have ever been a part of. He was my step father for 29 years. He raised me, guided me, loved me unconditionally, coached my first volleyball team, bought me my first (of many) pandas and loved my daughters as if they were the most valuable things on this planet.

We will miss him so much. Now we pick up the pieces, support my mom and live life to the fullest as he would want us to (oh and eat a lot of chocolate because according to him, life is chocolate).

Deep breath, life goes on, live it well......

Hummingbird Girl

2009-02-25T18:39:00.000-08:00

I am hiding in my moms house right now because I just took the test dose of Radioactive Iodine and need to be away from people (especially small blonde girls with blue eyes) for the afternoon and evening. After I took the pill, I got in my car to drive home and as I turned on the radio the very first words that came out were the Police singing "don't stand, don't stand so, don't stand so close to me". I laughed until I almost cried. Yep, don't stand close to me!

My friend Mary, who is one of the funniest people I know, wrote to me this afternoon and here is what she said

"I think the fact that you're "RADIOACTIVE" is WAY cool. You're like a superhero--radioactive then bitten by hummingbird or something--to become HummingbirdGirl! You can have a cute little superhero outfit--with tights and wings and a big HG on the chest of your leotard. (Make sure your outfit includes some glitter, too). Children beaten up by bullies will cry, "Save me, Hummingbird Girl!!" And you will swoop down and flutter violently. Store clerks will yell for you and you'll fly in the face of robbers, confusing them with your rapid wings and making them drop their booty of cash and condoms. And, like Superman, you have a weakness. You are strong and brave--but must avoid clean glass windows and doors, for fear that you may hurl yourself into them unknowingly. "

Drip drop.....

2009-02-15T15:51:00.001-08:00

It is rainin' but good up here! That is a good thing because boy do we need some water. And our lovely grapes down in San Luis Obispo need some H2O! I remember one drought-ey year my dad gave us all raisins for Christmas because our crop wasn't' so good. So we have been doing a rain dance and now it is comin' down :)

My office is buzzin' with preparations for Bead Fest Sante Fe and the Bead&Button Show. I am a total last minute person so we are all pretending that the Bead&Button Show is in April this year (which it isn't but don't tell me that!). The class registration for B&B is opened....it's not too late to squeeze in a few classes. I know things are tight this year, but this show is a blast. Well all the shows are a blast. If you can sneak out to a bead show, you won't regret it.

I am feeling really good these days. We found out that I am anemic (joy) and the addition of Iron to my many daily pills, has made a HUGE difference....woohoo. In a week I will get my Radioactive Iodine treatment. As my doctor says, surgery is the cure/treatement for Thyroid Cancer but this Iodine treatment is just a little extra "kick it while it's down". Thyroid cells are very unique in that they live off of iodine. So I have been on a low iodine diet (no dairy, nothing from the sea, no resturauts, no store bought bread, no fun!) to starve my body of iodine. Then in a week, I will take a pill of radioactive iodine. All the remaining Thyroid cells in my body will be like "oh, Iodine, gimme gimme!" and they will suck it up and get zapped....pretty cool huh? But I can't be around any people for 3 days, because I will be totally radioactive. Yikes, if it will harm them, imagine what it is going to do to me, swimming around in my body. I will power through and this will give me 3 quite days (hauled up in one of my mom's extra bedrooms) to finally get cranking on my book.

Yes I AM WRITING A BOOK...woohoo. It will be published by Interweave and is about Making Stamped Metal jewelry. The book will cover stamping, sawing, riveting, dapping and more. It's gonna be a good one.....

Happy rainy day to you.....

Next batch of Lower Case Letter Stamps

2008-12-24T14:52:00.000-08:00

Greetings all,

Well, it looks like we won't be getting another batch of stamps for a week or so, and we are closed until Jan 5. Hopefully we will get some stamps in before them and I will be able to post them on the 5th....stay tuned.

Happy Holidays to you all....wishing loads of joy, beads and warm fuzzies in 2009!
from all of us here at Beaducation!

...and a Happy New Year

2008-12-24T14:40:00.000-08:00

Humm, seems I only have time to write in this blog on Holidays. Today is Christmas Eve Day and I have hauled my kids to work for a few hours. They didn't want to come and now that we are here, they don't want to leave so I find myself with a little bit of time.

So here are a few things to report:

Workshops and classes are up for browsing at Bead&ButtonShow.com . Remember this is a very popular show and the classes fill up fast. Click here to see my classes :)
This past month we have launched a bunch of classes at Beaducation.com. Our new Director of Education, Kate Richbourg has been working overtime getting these classes shot and up for viewing. We are SO lucky to have her!

More and more I meet folks who celebrate different types of thing this time of year....so to all of you, no matter what you celebrate, I wish you a wonderful and cozy end to 2008 and a bright and shiny entrance into 2009.

Thankfulness

2008-11-27T09:37:00.000-08:00

Today is the day to give thanks, and dive head first into a food comma (in that order). I am thankful that it is 9:37 and I just woke up! I am thankful that my husband slept on the couch because he was snoring. I am thankful that when he left to go sleep on the couch, he carried Izzy to my bed to sleep with me, because he knows I love that (it was Izzy's turn, Lucy will come next time). I am thankful that my kids are old enough to get up early and make themselves something to eat and go watch TV for a bit while mommy and daddy sleep. I am thankful that I am OK with the fact that my kids are watching TV while I sleep. Now that I am up and eating breakfast, I am thankful for cornflakes.....I really love cornflakes.

As the day goes on, I will check in on my website and make sure everything is running smoothly. I am especially thankful that my business is doing so well in such a time of financial unrest.

Further on in the day we will go eat at my moms house and my thankfulness will turn to the really really really important things in life. I am thankful that I will be surrounded by all my siblings and their families. I am thankful that my step father will be feeling well enough to be sitting at the dinner table with us.

This morning, Izzy woke up and went to get her journal because she remembered it was Thanksgiving and she wanted to write down 10 things she was thankful for. All 10, actually it came out to 12, involved family, friends, playing the piano, and learning. As I listened to her with tears in my eyes, I felt an overwhelming sense of thanks.

Latest and hopefully last health report....

2008-10-27T11:19:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have been neglecting this blog. I have so much going on, but I will save most of that for future blogs :)

So here is the latest on my health. I finally, literally in the past few days, feel normal. Since my first surgery on August 7th I have been up and down and mostly down. I am not whining, just trying to make it clear how PSYCHED I am to feel normal again. Ya know, when you feel weird and jittery and anxious and panicky and spinny and nauseous and generally yucky for 3 months, you start to feel like this is your new normal. But as of this week, I truly feel better. I even went to a party and danced! I thought I would be in the corner popping my Ativan but I was up and celebrating my friend Dave's 40th birthday watching my husband rock out with his band. It felt SOOOOOO good!

I started feeling better the day after my 3rd Acupuncture appointment last week. I really feel that acupuncture works but I just don't like it. I wish I liked it, but I just don't.....I don't think I will be going back. Too bad too because I am all into holistic medicine and again, I feel like it is helping me (my Acupuncturist is a true healer!) but it just creeps me out. The occasional painful needle just ruins the whole thing for me and I am not afraid of a little pain (2 births with no drugs for goodness sakes). Oh well, maybe it is tied into my anxiety and I will try it again when I feel more at ease.

From my last doctors appointment, all my blood levels are up and good but my Parathyroids are still "asleep". I won't bore you with the details of what Parathyroids are....in short, they control your Calcium absorption and mine ain't working (hence the really scary trip to the ER with dangerously low Calcium). There is some question as to whether I still have Parathyroids??? They are tiny and can sometime accidentally come out during a Thyroidectomy. So, I continue to take 2.5 calcium horse pills 3 times a day with 2 vitamin D's twice a day. Here is the deal though.....life is good, I will gladly take a parcel of pills for the rest of my life. I had Cancer and now it is almost gone and if one of the side effects of that is poppin pills everyday, I am a-ok with that!!!!!!!!

Oooops, I just realized that no where in this blog have I mentioned that I had/have Cancer. Well that is why my good for nothin' Thyroid had to be removed (twice...one side each surgery). I had a 3 centimeter nodule on my Thyroid and 95% of the time they are nothin' but lucky me, I fell into the 5%. I haven't really written about that in this blog because I tend to not get too personal here but what the heck, now that I feel better I feel like spilling my guts :) I really don't like to mention that this Thyroid issue was/is Cancer because, of all the Cancers this is the one of the few that is completely curable. With surgery and one treatment with a radioactive iodine pill (which I will do next month) most folks are cured....when I say most, I mean like really most, like 99%. Personally, I think they should rename it. I mean if it is curable, can we call it something other than Cancer? That word is so scary and it freaks people out....with good reason.

So there ya go....I am feeling well, I hope you are too!!!! :)

New lowercase font....drum roll please

2008-10-05T15:46:00.000-07:00

Over at the shoppe at beaducation.com, we received the samples of the new lowercase letter stamps for making stamped jewelry and let me say, WOW WOW WOW. The whole office was jumping with excitement (nothing excites us more than new cool tools). They only sent me samples of a few letters but the quality and precision is amazing. The sets are in production and I have begged and pleaded to get them before mid November so you can all have time to make your holiday line of jewelry with them, or to put the sets on your wish list :)

We still don't have the final price but IT WILL BE LESS THAN $200...woohoo!

So I am finally willing to show you the font.....here it is. PLEASE post a comment to let me know what you think!
This font was hand drawn by me (Lisa, head mama here at Beaducation.com). I learned a lot about how to create a font. We named this font Kismet, because it was so meant to be.....it is so "me".

Each letter was very thought out and edited over and over again. Some letters had a lot more loopiness to them but it got to be a bit much so we turned it down a bit. I am very happy with and hope you are too!

Health update...back in bed

2008-09-24T20:29:00.000-07:00

Sorry to those of you who haven't heard back from me this last week. I was starting to feel a bit better from the surgery and then my calcium crashed. This crash was quite extreem and sent me to the ER twice this week.....argggg (and quite scary!). Now I am struggling with extreem woozy head, light headedness and fatigue. We think we have the calcium under control (blood tests everyday to make sure) but this woozy brain might be a mix of the low calcium crash, new thyroid medicine adjustment and weird onslaught of post surgical vertigo.

Because of all this, I had to find someone to teach my classes at Hooked On Wire. The Hooked On Wire Retreat is this weekend and the way things are looking, I will still be in bed. I can hardly walk across my house, how the heck can I teach. I am soooooo bummed. I look forward to this Retreat every year! But my students are in good hands. My business partner Susan of The Beading Frenzy has everything under control and the very talented Lisa Claxton will be teaching my classes.

I really hope this gets better soon. I have basically been in bed since August 7th.....ok, enough feeling sorry for myself....I will get better, just need patience!

Second surgery DONE....feelin' better!

2008-09-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

Well, I am back from my SECOND surgery. I had that one 2 weeks ago and am just now landing back on my feet and really getting back to work. Now my Thyroid has been totally removed and I am on Thyroid hormone replacement pills. I am still getting used to this new thing in my body....I'm a little light headed but that could also be from the surgery.....blah. I'll tell ya what though, I am GLAD to be out of bed!!!

We are launching a bunch of new classes over at beaducation.com. It is worth a peek if ya haven't checked us out lately :)

LNK

Crunch!

2008-08-31T12:28:00.000-07:00

We came home from a friends house last night at 11:00PM to a Fire truck and a bunch of firemen in our front yard. After my heart skipped 3 dozen beats, we found out that a big huge branch from the tree across the street, had fallen. It was huge, and smashed my neighbors car (that used to be an Expedition). If we were not out at our friends house for dinner, my car would also have been scrunched as the branch hit my parking spot and landed just shy of our front lawn (10 feet from our house)....phew!

Let it be a reminder to us all that Mother Nature has her own timing but we should all try to keep up with her by trimming our trees and getting them inspected. I will be calling the city this week to take a look at a big ol' Magnolia tree hanging over my kids room that is looking like i'ts dying.

Whew, what a summer

2008-08-25T11:19:00.001-07:00

Wow, this summer has zoomed by. My husband took 2 months off (at my insistence) so he got to be the stay at home dad (I refer to him as my wife....he is a way better wife than me!) and I have been working overtime here at beaducation to pay the bills. And I have been able to pay the bills which feels damn good....woohoo for women owned businesses.

I had to take 2 weeks off last month because I had surgery (don't worry I am fine). Thank goodness my husband was off work to be my nurse as well! So if I have been slow at getting back to emails, I apologize! I am trying to play mad catch up....only to get behind again, because I need a second surgery on Sept 4th. Blah! Oh well, I will survive!

I hope you all had a wonderful summer, and I hope your kids are back in school (if ya got 'em). Mine go back next week!

:)
Lisa

...buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks!

2008-07-21T10:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we took the train to the San Francisco to go to a Giants game. It was so much fun. The weather was nice (just a wee bit chilly), the croud was great, the food was greasy (aka awesome!) and the park is beautiful. They built the Giants ball park 8 years ago. If you are ever in town, I highly recommend catching a game....and a hot dog of course.

I spent most of my time up at the big coke bottle slide. There are 4 slides in this big ol' super cool coke bottle and boy did my kids enjoy them. They even got me to go down a few times.

The only problem with watching a ball game (with kids) is for the first half of the game, there are a ton of vendors walking up and down the isles and my kids were freaking out wanting every single food item that they carried...."Mommy, I want peanuts! Mommy, I want cotton candy! Mommy, I want a chocolate malt! Mommy, I want beer!" (that was my husband chiming in). Uhhh, it got so old! They even tried the ol' "I am still hungry"...yet they had had a hot dog, snack bar, tons of peanuts and a soft pretzel the size of their head...."I ain't falling for that, let's go ride the slide again!"

Puzzles.... a lesson in patience and healing

2008-07-17T21:50:00.000-07:00

I spent a few hours at the Cancer Clinic at Stanford today while my Step Father received "the cyber knife" (crazy fascinating technology) radiation treatment. This treatment will hopefully zap that damn lil' piece of %$#@ tumor on his Pancreas. Keep your fingers cross. If nothing else, this one time treatment will buy us some time with him....we will take it!

At this clinic there is a room where patients wait to get their radiation treatment. We waited there while my step father got his. In the middle of the room is a table with a puzzle on it. When we walked in, there was one woman working on that puzzle. There she was in her hospital gown, her body showed all the signs of chemo and multiple radiation treatments. You could just tell that she ached from her skin down. I found myself drawn to her. She had this gorgeous and kind aura about her. She sat there patiently working on that puzzle with a very slight smile on her face. So I decided to join her. We sat, chatting lightly about nothing much but mostly we just sat in silence and worked on the puzzle. She said that particular puzzle had been finished a few weeks ago and they were starting over. I sat with her, to be near her but at first sight of this puzzle I thought "this looks so hard, it's futile, how will I ever find even a few pieces that go together". It was one of those puzzles with lots of muted color but the colors just blended together with no sharp and easy to define patterns. My new friend worked away and said "it's easy, you just need to be patient and keep trying". I did that. I was patient and kept trying, then one by one I built a row of 6 pieces. It felt like an amazing accomplishment....6 pieces wow! She said another patient who works on these puzzles with her, lets out a little squeak each time she successfully finds and connects a piece. So there we sat, in silence mostly, sprinkled with little squeaks (followed by a giggle of course) every now and then. I enjoyed sitting next to this squeaking lady, who smiled constantly, who took a grueling 2 hour train and bus ride to get to this place of medicine to receive this treatment. She was beautiful and she inspired me.

I'm still here....

2008-07-05T00:11:00.000-07:00

Wow, I have been slacking on this blog! Sorry about that! I have been so busy at Beaducation that I hardly have time to eat let alone blog (and exercising is OUT!). We have added a gabazillion new products...and more coming all the time!

I just wrote about our fabulous time at the Bead&Button Show on my beaducation blog. Check it out if you wish!

More soon...
Lisa

Back from Bead and Button

2008-06-16T16:51:00.000-07:00

We are back and are madly restocking all our goodies which came back from the show. But there ain't much....it was a very successful show! I will post details and pix very soon.
:)

Canceling Bead Fest

2008-06-16T16:46:00.000-07:00

It is with great great sorrow that I have to cancel my classes at Bead Fest Philadelphia. We just found out that my Step Father has inoperable Pancreatic Cancer and I fear our time with him is very limited. I have also withdrawn my applications to teach at Bead Expo Sante Fe in 2009. In the 16 years that I have been traveling and teaching, I have never needed to cancel classes, but this is important. I live 10 minutes from my mom and Step Dad and I need to remain by their side for a while.

I cherrish this man. He is absolutely one of the most incredible people I have ever met....amazing man, friend, husband, father, grandfather and Vet. He has one of the brightest spirits you will ever come across. Please send him some good thoughts!!!!

Rain ain't gonna stop us!

2008-05-26T22:46:00.001-07:00

Well, we are back from the Strawberry Music Festival. It rained pretty much the whole time. But thanks to an amazing community of friends and my engineer husband who had a big part in building the covered "lounge" area (with Doug and Will of course), we had a blast.

We were able to head to the main stage and see some great bands....yes, in the rain. Personally, I like dancing in the rain! Two of my favorites that got my cold buns dancin', were JJ Grey and Mofro and South Austin Jugg Band. I was back at camp putting the kids to bed and missed Emmylou Harris but she sounded great from where I was :)

We weren't able to play in the lake but it was beautiful to look at.
We pretty much sat around and did a whole lot of this (see below picture).....playing and listening to music, ok, and drinking home brew and fine wine. Oh and we did get in a bunch of walks between rain bursts. We camped with great musicians including the lovely Jill and her husband Steve of Orange Sherbet.

Just before we left, we were able to get a bite of the famous and traditional "Pamcakes" made by my buddy Pam (below)...she and I have been friends since we were 5!

Pam and her husband Will pretty much bind this community. They are our glue, the wind beneath our wings...all that good stuff. Despite the rain, my kids had a blast made some new "strawberry friends", and now we are home, dry, semi clean and looking forward to next year :)

Work hard play hard

2008-05-20T18:56:00.000-07:00

I wrote about this saying a while ago.....I can really relate to it. I mean here I am at work, I have been here since 8:30 AM and I will be here until 8:00 PM when I need to go relieve the babysitter (husband is at work too). Oh and it's my birthday. But that is ok, I am willing to work hard so that we can leave early Thursday morning to the Strawberry Music Festival and PLAY HARD!

This will be our 4th year in a row going to this festival. We camp with about 30 friends setting up a full community complete with a lounge and stocked kitchen. My kids love it. They get to spend the days playing in the lake and the nights snuggled up at the main stage either dancin' or sleepin' under the stars.....ahhh, i can't wait. I will post some pix when we get back.

Winerack

2008-05-08T14:17:00.000-07:00

I was given a most excellent present this weekend.
Click here to view it, it speaks for itself. WOW!
It indeed holds a whole bottle of wine, we tested it...hey, I don't get out much!
THANKS Dave!

busy busy

2008-05-06T19:55:00.001-07:00

Things around here are busy busy! We just finished shooting Felting classes with Gail Crosman Moore. It was sooooo much fun. Felting is so cool, wow there is a lot you can do with it. Gail was a blast, she is such a fun and cheerie gal, ya can't help but be happy when you are around her. We are lucky to have 3 classes with her...and one will be FREE, woo!

I am crazy busy getting my boxes of kits, tools, wire, blanks and more tools packed up for the Bead and Button Show. It's all hands on deck here....we even have one of my employees coming in with her CUTE baby! He keeps us smiling.

Hopefully we will be launching 2 seedbead classes with Barb Switzer tomorrow...stay tuned.

Lucy came walking in yesterday with 2 of Barb's bracelets on her head, linked together worn as a halo. She looks like a little hippie angel, I love it!

Latest chain article for Step by Step Wire magazine

2008-04-18T17:20:00.000-07:00

For 2008, I am writing a chain article every issue for Step by Step Wire magazine. I have already done 2 issues and here is the picture for my latest chain. I am really excited about this one. It is (of course) inspired by my latest obsession with classic wrought ironwork. I love how the weaves and small connecting jump rings give the illusion of a solder/welded join.

Hope you like it :)

Flu yuck!

2008-04-07T19:16:00.001-07:00

I don't think I have ever gotten the flu before. But it hit me hard last Wednesday. I have been bed ridden since....ahhh! I rarely get sick and if I do, it is 24 hours and then done, no mas. Not this time!!!I have completely ignored my business and my children because I have been asleep for 20 out of the 24 hours of each of the past 4 days. I am now feeling a little better but I am so light headed I can hardly walk to the kitchen. I saw the doctor today and she said I was at the tail end of the flu. She told me to lay low at least one more day. She even offered me a note for work. That is pretty poignant. I do push myself pretty hard and if I need a note to give to myself from my doctor, well that is a sign to slow down...kinda poetic in a weird way.

Anyhow, I am on the mend. My mom has made me homemade chicken noodle soup and my husband is waiting on my hand and foot. I hope to be back to work in the next few days.

French Quarter Balcony Pictures

2008-03-17T13:37:00.000-07:00

I was telling my pal Barb Switzer about my love of wrought iron scroll work and she reminded me of the balconies in New Orleans. I have never been there but of course have seen amazing pictures. So I did a quick web search and look at this. These pictures put me in a daze...look at all that work. I love it!!! Thanks Barb!

Lucy's eye to eye

2008-03-16T17:18:00.000-07:00

My 5 year old, Lucy, got quite intrigued with the God's Eye weave I was doing with wire this afternoon. Previously this morning, she was a grump because she couldn't make a spiral as well as her big sister. So I got her weaving a God's Eye. She rocked at it, and we now have 4 of them hanging around the house.

Wirework...stealing my sleep!

2008-03-16T16:22:00.001-07:00

Ah, this happens about every 3 or 4 months. I get an idea and design in my head and I obsess! I have to stop everything, including sleeping, and work on that design until I get it right.

Here is my latest obsession. I have always been drawn to classic hand forged wrought ironwork pieces. When ever I go to San Francisco I spend the journey with my nose pressed up against the car window (when I am not driving), focusing on the railings, panels and doors adorned with crazy crazy scroll patterns. It just blows my mind. I have always wanted to sit with my wire and replicate them. There was an amazing gate in the movie "The Other Boylen Girl" that got this idea back in my head. I have wanted to replicate some of these classic patterns for about 10 years, but lack of time kept them from exiting my brain and taking shape on my pliers. Until yesterday.....and last night, and late last night, and early this morning, and after meeting Dallas Lovett (who was in town teaching) for lunch....yes, I didn't sleep much last night. I spent most of the night scrolling and binding and scrolling and binding. The few minutes I did sleep, I scrolled and bound in my dreams. I didn't have any Sterling wire at home so I used some of my kids craft wire. Humm, lovely blue, red and copper....yikes! It made for a dang ugly piece but the structure and design are there. Please ignore the red piece, I kinda lost it down there.

Today I ran to my studio before lunch and picked up some Sterling and continued with my obsession. It is going quite well and I think I have FINALLY figured out my project for Hooked On Wire. I will get a few pix up here soon....for now, below is a practice piece in Sterling.

The work desperately needs to be oxidized and cleaned up a bit (those ugly blunt ends on the inside of the spirals should be hammered and tapered before beginning the spiral). The final HOW piece will be bigger, more intricate and most likely a necklace. I am sure most will say "put some beads on there girl!", and I probably will, but I really like the simplicity of just wire.

Summer Camp

2008-03-12T22:05:00.000-07:00

I am up to my ears in summer camp plans. Last night I spent 2 hours with a spread sheet, 3 city parks and rec brochures and 6 webpages opened, trying to plan my kids summer. It is so hard to get the schedule just right. I have to work a full week so the dream summer of sitting by a pool or lake ain't gonna happen. We will squeeze that in, as much as possible but I need to keep my girls busy! They have the coolest camps these days; magic camp, lego camp, sewing/fashion camp (oh yeah we are all over that!) science camp where you grow crystals and my favorite, hip hop camp. Can't I go to some of those camps....why don't they have camps like this for mommys?
Anyhow, we will work it out. I am glad that summer can be a time of trying new things and meeting new friends for them :)...cause mama's gotta go to work and make some jewelry!

New class....I LOVE MAKING JEWELRY

2008-03-07T22:07:00.000-08:00

ok, the name of the class is not "I love making jewelry", I just felt like yelling that because I love this new piece so much. This is actually a bead I made TWO years ago. I am just now getting around to embracing it and transforming it into a teachable project. It is so fun and looks great just strung plain on a chain.
It is called "Coiled and Stitched Focal Bead".....whoa creative title huh? Coming up with class names is the worst! Sometimes I get creative, like ShaBangles, and sometime I just hit ya with a straight forward title, like this one. Anyhow, I will be adding this to my circuit of classes.....hope ya like it!!!!

Welcome to the new blog

2008-03-05T20:24:00.000-08:00

Hey all....we have re-done my site and decided to use a new blog program. We had to trash all the old posts from the last few years and start a new. That's ok, change is good :) I will be adding to this blog periodically. I will also be adding many posts to our other blog at beaducation.com.
Stay tuned....glad to have ya :)

What have I been doing lately?...trying to finalize my piece for the Hooked On Wire Retreat. Sometimes a new design comes easily, sometimes it is a bit more of an adventure. This one has taken me more time than usual. I have written about this design in a few posts at beaducation.com. I will be reworking my design, which I don't mind....I love the process.

Philadelphia....here we come!

2008-03-03T08:49:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to my classes. Hope to see ya there!They just posted the classes and info for Bead Fest Philadelphia. The show is August 21-24. This is a great show. If ya live back east, you should definitely consider coming.

Rising Metals Market

2008-02-29T13:05:00.000-08:00

Are you wondering why everyone is raising their metals prices??? I just tried my best to describe how the market works in a post over at my Beaducation.com blog.
Check it out if you wish...blog.beaducation.com...it ain't pretty!

Falling Slowly

2008-02-27T16:41:00.001-08:00

Ahhh, did you see the Oscars last Sunday night? I love movies but I am not a one of those “gotta see every movie” people. I wish I was, but I just don’t have the time! Anyhow, my absolute favorite Oscar moment(s) was the performance of the song “Falling Slowly” and the acceptance speeches by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. Oh the performance was so beautiful. And when they won best song, I stood up and yelled. They accepted the award with such grace, gratitude and pure honesty. I have showed that Oscar moment to my kids a few times. It is the perfect example of making your dreams come true. Of course my daughters have heard “dreams do come true” a gazillion times from me and from Cinderella, but here was a real live (not a cartoon and not their repetitive mother) example. I already knew the song but didn’t know it was from a movie. Glen Hansard sounds just like Cat Stevens (don’t get me started on how much I love the movie Harold and Maude!).

Here is a youtube video of them singing it outside, in Sundance, just the 2 of them, one instrument.

Yeh for them, now I need to go rent the movie.