Glass Bead Inspirations

Last weekend at the Berks Bead Bazaar, 7 of the bead makers from my new book had dinner Sat night after the show.  We had so much fun making beads for the book, and dinner was like a party!  We all signed each others books, and that turned into a giant hassle.  I told them that was an inkling of what it was like to keep everyone on point and on deadlines!

For the book, I sent each lampworker something to use as inspiration for a bead (photograph, word, painting, etc) and then documented the beads.  It is a good thing to look outside the bead world for inspiration!

Left to right, they are Katy Abbott, Christel Hoffmann, Tamara Melcher, me (Louise Mehaffey), Patti Cahill, Laura Schreiber, and Alice St Germain. 

Donations

Every year I donate to 3 shows and organizations, and to make it easier for me, I usually make the same piece for each donation.  This year it will be my amber eye pendant in a cone shape.  The color combination is one of my favorites, and I often shade the dots from light to dark.  The design is based on the historical eye bead- each dot represents an eye, which helps to protect the wearer.

The donations this year will go to the Earth Center for the Arts (Tyler Craft Center) for their auction on June 3,  BCTV Octoberfest for their televised fund raising auction on Oct 17-22, 2011, and the  Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen Holiday Show on Oct 29-30, 2011 at the Kutztown University Fieldhouse. 

March!

Signs of spring are happening!  We have had a lot of rain, not ice or snow!  I thought when Feb was over, I would be able to slow down a little, but that isn't happening.  I have to do all the things I put off!  Plus tax season is coming- not my favorite thing.  But with all this, I made myself a promise that I would get into my studio more.  My new beads were the ones that sold at the Berks Bead Bazaar, a sure sign I need to keep creating new beads. 

Berks Bead Bazaar 2011

The 10th annual Berks Bead Bazaar was last weekend and it was great seeing my beady friends.  My friend Joan Miller and I started this show mainly because there weren't any bead shows close to us 10 years ago.  Patti Cahill came with her bright, happy colors and new crocheted collars.   Leslie Pope of Twisted Sistah was there with her seed beads.  Laura Drosner Schreiber had her bright, almost retro lampworked glass beads.

Marti Brown had her tools, jewelry and beading supplies set up.



Jennifer McGinithen had her wonderful borosilicate beads there.  There were lots of great stone beads, pearls, silver, polymer clay, and any other kinds of beads you can think of!

And we couldn't have the show without the help of two friends, Charlene Keller and Judy Conard, who always help with the admission table.  They are both jewelers who love to buy supplies at the show. 

We forgot it was our 10th year, so maybe we will have a special something for our 11th year!

Busy Feb

I just realized I haven't written a blog this month!  It has been a very, very busy month, and I will be glad when it is over.  My new book was due this month (more on that later) and I have 2 shows.  The IBE Clarksville MD show was last weekend, and the Berks Bead Bazaar is coming up this weekend (http://www.berksbeadbazaar.com) so my friend Joan Miller and I have been working hard to get ready for that.  I am looking forward to seeing friends and some amazing beads!  There is always the usual stuff- bills, paperwork, cleaning (?), laundry...the stove needed repaired.  And on top of everything, there was snow, more snow, ice, sleet and freezing rain.  Some trees didn't handle the ice too well.  I need spring!