If you just stopped by here because of the That’s Clever show on HGTV thank you and welcome! Amazingly, I have still not seen that episode, even though it was filmed in 2006. :-/ Maybe TiVo got it for me. I am currently away from my torch, but plan to have more beads up at the end of August. Thank you for your patience.
As I mentioned in my last update, I had a little time to torch this weekend, and it was fun. These beads are for a couple custom orders, but if there are any ‘left over’ I will list them here or on Etsy. I also plan to hit the torch again this weekend.
Meow, Bark, Meow
Breakfast Beads
Breakfast Beads - alternate view of coffee cup
Fried Egg Earrings - with dark 'farm fresh' yolks
Finally some guilt-free time to torch. It was Mother’s Day yesterday, and the whole family said we/I could do whatever I wanted. We had lots of fun and surprises. A two-hour midday break = peeps mowing the lawn while I torched. The beads are still in the kiln, but I should have photos up in a day or two. Mostly breakfast goodies – coffee beads, eggs, bacon, and a coffee mug, plus a couple cats and a dog face!
In other news, I learned how to knit at the end of February, thanks to this video on YouTube:
I LOVE knitting. What I really love… is the portability. Making glass beads requires a lot of prep time and a lot of post-beadmaking time (cleaning beads, etc.) and of course, can only be done in my studio – torch, flame, ventilation, and all of that. Knitting, OTOH, fits easily in my bag, and I knit in the car (as a passenger!), while waiting for kids, relaxing with the family, little ‘knitting breaks’ here and there, etc. etc. I still love glass beadmaking of course, but am enjoying “keeping busy” when life permits — with knitting. All of those yarns, the colors, etc. = very addicting!
Here are a few projects to date. I plan to explore glass buttons or other ways to accessorize knitted projects with handmade glass beads.
My Cat Greta on her Cat Mat
The Cat Mat, modeled by Greta.
The Cat Mat
Checkerboard hat and self-striping yarn
Crazy dog sweater for my Greyhound, Argos
Learn more: Argos and my foster Greyhound, Hammer (who found a wonderful forever home!)
I also discovered Ravelry, thanks to a local friend who I ran into at the yarn store. She said the site is “like Facebook for knitters” and WOW! was she ever right. Although I have to say it is waaaaay better than Facebook, programming-wise. I even showed my dh how slick the site is as far as all of the things it “does” to connect people, yarns, patterns, forums, and groups. Very cool. If you are on Ravelry, you can find me here.
After a lifetime of looking, found not one, but three Japanese glass floats! Heaven. 
Glass floats and bottle from Japan
Glass floats found on the beach!
Believe it or not, I am still making beads. LOL I have been wholesaling to a local shop, and it has been working out great. Unfortunately, my Etsy store has been fairly neglected. But… if you are in need of beads, always feel free to email me – I have several already made and do torch when I have time.
I have been doing a lot of blogging in various places on veterinary topics. I am also getting ready to go to the BlogPaws conference in April. I just now posted a big update on what’s up over at AboutVetMed.com. Lots of irons in fires. Exciting!
Here is a photo of the most recent bead batch.
Just listed!
Click to go to Etsy!
And a quick reminder… the Hounds For Haiti bead auctions end tomorrow morning between 8 and 9 am PST!
Yesterday I wrote about Hounds For Haiti, a collective effort by pet lovers to help victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Today the first wave of auctions are up, including the four beads I have donated to the cause. All of the contributors have donated 100% of the proceeds to the Red Cross through eBay’s Mission Fish charity program. Free shipping (provided by each contributor) too!
eBay ID: HoundsForHaiti – all items
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Argos the Greyhound
The holidays flew by and 2010 is off to a fast start. Let’s see… here’s what’s new since the last update.
We adopted Argos, a wonderful rescue Greyhound in December. He is fitting in beautifully with our other pets and human family, and we are in love with him.
I was inspired by my Twitter friends, local shelter open house events and the global Home for the Holidays campaign. I interviewed Hilary Swank, the spokeswoman for this year’s adoption campaign last week, and almost 1.4 million animals were adopted! Yay!
Beads. I am still making them, but unfortunately, not having any time to list them in my neglected Etsy store. I am making lots of dog bones for a local shop, though and that has been going well. I have lots of beads on the workbench (oye the workbench! I must get organized…), so please feel free to contact me with questions or requests. I may have the bead you are looking for.
I will be having beads available this week though! It is part of a collaborative effort by my pal DrV on Twitter. I wrote about the Hounds For Haiti efforts and upcoming eBay auctions here.
eBay ID: Hounds For Haiti – All items
Updated/additional auction info
See the full Hounds for Haiti photo album!
These beads will be on eBay later this week - 100% of the proceeds to Red Cross/Haiti efforts.
Now I can wear my beach finds!
 Sand Dollar & "batik" bead |
 Swirly Bird Rooster Bead |
