Boutiques!

This is the year of boutiques!  I just finished my last show of 2011, but I am still working like crazy.  Somehow, I got myself signed up for 3 boutiques in December!  A local gallery decided to have a holiday boutique, so I thought why not and sent them my application!  Then another group in the Poconos that I belong to decided to set one up at an arts council gallery and  take only 15%.  Wonderful!  I could handle 2.  But then a friend decided to have one in her home.  She has talked about it for a long time, and decided to take the plunge this year.  So here I am, trying to supply 3 boutiques.  Maybe this will make up for my show that got snowed on!

Snowmen!

Tis the season!

October snow

What a weekend!  The Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen Holiday show was Oct 29-30 at Kutztown University.  The weather on Fri for setup was sunny and cool, but oh boy did that change.  My drive to the show on Sat morning was in the rain, but by 10am it was snowing, huge big fluffy flakes!  The forecast was for anywhere from 4" to 12".  The real problem was the heavy snow.  Leaves were still on the trees, and with the heavy snow, a lot of limbs couldn't hold the load.  Roads became blocked from downed limbs and wires.  Many people will be without power for many days.  I planned on taking photos, but by Sunday, most of the snow was gone. 
I was surprised by the number of loyal customers that came to the show in the snow!  Around 3, the power went out and closed the show.  Sunday was bright and sunny, but the damage was done.  Who would have believed that an October snowstorm could happen? 

Another colorful necklace

I finished another necklace, using my new color wheel to choose the color scheme.  The combination worked out great, but now I have another problem- the photography.  Once again, the deep red beads don't photograph correctly, and the other colors look different too.  I took both these photos exactly the same, one right after the other.  The only difference is the background, and you can see how differently the colors photographed.  I started with one of my blown boro beads and added stones beads in dark and light teal, and a pale transparent teal.  Then I punched it up with small, really dark red beads and seed beads in a shiny, lime green.  I love the necklace.  Now I need to work on getting it to photograph correctly!

New color combinations

After taking a color workshop a few weeks ago, I was anxious to put my new knowledge to work!  I picked out this big hollow bead of mine and went to work choosing from my piles and drawers of stone, glass and seed beads.  Choosing 2 colors is pretty easy for me, but adding a 3rd and/or 4th color can be a challenge!  This necklace has 4 colors- blue (light and dark), purple, red-purple and lime green.  I look for different shapes, sizes, and textures.  For some reason, this particular necklace took 8 attempts, but I am finally happy with it. 

Kiln!

Yesterday I drove a couple of hours to pick up a new kiln.  Well, new to me.  She said she had used it a few times, but it looks pristine.  I have another one exactly like this one.  It is over 12 years old and still works like a charm, but I worry about what to do when it stops.  They are no longer being made, and it is the best bead kiln I have ever used.  Now I have a plan!  Today I tested it- my excuse for making beads!

Baby quilt

I have 3 sisters, and we all like to sew and quilt (when we have the time!)  Years ago, when the first niece became pregnant, all of us worked together on a baby quilt as a gift, and we have continued that tradition for each new baby.  We decide on a pattern, one of us buys all the fabric and distributes it to the others.  Each of us makes blocks that are then mailed to one sister to join and finish. 

The technique for this quilt was a new one for me- pierced paper.  According to the directions, I cut out the paper pattern pieces and sewed them to the fabric.  All those pieces were joined, and after each block was finished, the paper was torn out.  It was not an easy process, and thank goodness one of my sisters came for the weekend to help me.  I can't say I liked it much.  A lot of fabric was wasted, which to me runs counter to quilting!  But the resulting quilt is beautiful!

Most craftsmen and artists have skills in so many different fields!