recent commissions

poinsettias

lightbox and headbands

new beads and napkin rings

Below are some images of a commision I completed recently. I made a set of 8 napkin rings using dark silver lined orange size 11 seed beads, size 9 seed beads, cryastal beads, and 30 gauge copper wire. The rings can be shaped to fit around a variety of napkin sizes or even used around votives, candlesticks, or stemware,

flowers for amie

shows and shows

So, last week I participated in the Ryan High craft show. It was well run and since they have been doing it for 24 years I think they've worked out most of the kinks. There was a pretty good amount of foot traffic through the building which was hosting over 100 vendors.

Doing ths show so soon after the Etsy Denton Barn Sale really gave me an opportunity to try out some new display ideas. You can see some of those changes in the picture.

I would like to thank Leslie Kregel of Cimarrona designs who helped to work out some thoughts I had been having and for offering me new ideas to try. Please check out some of her work which is made from reclaimed wool http://www.cimarrona.etsy.com/ . She makes beautiful hats from wool sweaters that she felts and lines with fleece. Some of her designs have hand stitched flowers on them, ears, or are cut so that you can wear a baseball cap under them.



I also did a show today for Guyer HIgh School and although there wasn't so many folks out there, I had a good time anyway. They had a car show happening at the same time and it was neat to walk aeound with Ian and look at all of the old mustangs and corvettes and gto's etc...

I must say though that three weeks in a row in a lot for me. I should definitely stick to my belief about only doing shows every other week. There are still one or more opportunities for me here to put in before the end of hte year but I'm not so sure I want to.

Honestly, I'm missing Athens right now. I'm missing the excitement I felt last year when I knew I headed out tot he RXRAD holiday show and the Indie Craftstravaganza, and the Flicker holiday market. Those were venues in which I had a great time, sold and traded a lot of stuff and got the chance to be with other artisans and crafters. While the Etsy Denton barn sale was like that, Denton seems to have a lot of craft shows with a fair amount of merchandise and not necessarily hand made items. Maybe I need to help get that going here.

Anyway, that's it for now. Until next week. New pictures coming of finished commisions.

Cooling down

Well, it's beginning to cool down here in northern Texas and that, along with the passing of Halloween seems to signal the official beginning of the holiday shopping season. Tuth be told, I'm no uber-capitalist, but I LOVE a good craft show as much as anyone. Well, actually since I'm being truthful, probably more. I simply enjoy walking through aisles of vendors showcasing their crafts, giving demonstrations, offering free samples. It is inspiring to me as a crafter to see what others are doing especially when they are excited about it.

Last weekend I participated in the first Etsy Denton Barn sale. Thanks to the Christener's for the use of their wonderful barn and land. The event was a great success. I think there were about 20 local Etsy artists in attendance, some musicians from UNT who entertained us and some High Schoolers who volunteered their time to paint kids' faces. We had a great turnout and I think all of us who were there had a great time. I sure know that Ian and I had a lovely day.

I had planned to take a week or so off before my next show, but those of you who know me know how caught up in the excitement of the show I can get. So, I was asked numerous times if I would be at the Ryan High School Show and I had to keep answering no. I just wasn't able to let that go and as of Wednesday I will now be participating in the Ryan High School Show which is coming up, tomorrow.

So, If you are looking for a craft show to spend some time and money at, come on out tomorrow and check it out. Since I haven't done this show before I really don't know what to expect but everything I keep hearing leads me to believe that it is a really good one.

Also, I have just been having a good time coming up with new designs and sculptural pieces, I;ve really been digging creating headbands with all different sorts of flowers and beads and I have been busily adding in more seasonal pieces like poinsettias and red/gold/green/silver items. My last little thing for today is to introduce you to my newest team member. Please say hello to Valerie, my assistant. Take a moment and familiarize yourself with her becasue I am betting that she will become a recognizable face here on this page. She's just great. She is very helpful, never complains and will pretty much just do whatever I need her to without too much sweet talking. And, my favorite thing about her is that she will let me put her hair into any style that I want. I just can't beat that.

Have a great weekend, come see me at Ryan High, check back for info about future events and projects.

Harvest

Well, it's Friday again. The weeks since I've gotten here have really flown by now and I am starting to feel like an actual resident. Well, almost. I have definitely gotten into a groove and have wasted no time in trying to get involved in the happenings of the craft community as well as the wider community.

Tomorrow I will be set up at the 7th Annual Denton Harvest Festival. It looks to be a fun-filled joyous event with live music all day long, lots of activities to keep us all entertained if the music doesn't work, and there is bound to be just an all around good time for all.

I've been busy lately, here are some pics.

cream white petals headband with vintage rhinestone

colored leaves

layered flowers

assembled parts for new rings

Happy Harvest ya'll.


ps: if you want to learn more about the event check out the facebook page below
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=148724811830259&index=1

thinking of color

I move through color everyday, from the earliest light shining on the deep violet morning glories to the luminous smile beaming down in the night sky, my world is vibrant, color touches deep.

October Denton Community Market

A Head for Flowers

So over the past month I have been gearing up for the coming holiday season. Of course in so many places, folks are ready to begin their gift shopping and what better places to find somethign special than at various craft markets and shows form now until December. In the interest of being prepared for the shows I am planning on attending, I have been trying to diversify my line.

I've been working on new flower designs to grace lead safe metal headbands that can be used to help create a wonderful hairdo for whatever occasion you want. They can be paired up with a wedding, homecoming, pageant dress to be used as an elegant highlight or used with a messy bun and a pair of jeans for just a little sparkle on any given day.

I have plans to continue to work on my headband series. Hopefully I will have fun with this new line and come up with beautiful and fun new flower designs as well as different combinations of colors and styles of beads to mix it up. In this way I will always be expanding my knowledge of French beaded flowers, perfecting the techniques I have been using for the past 10 years and working on learning new ones that I can add in.

Denton Community Market

In an attempt to meet others and immerse myslef in the local community, last weekend I had a space at the Denton Community Market. This market is held the second Saturday of the month in conjunction with the farmer's market. I brought Ian along and we had a great day. One of his new friends came out and played for a while, I met new folks who graciously invited me to be part of various activities and I even passed out some info about my beadwork.

Look for me to there again next month, Ocotber, as that will be the last market of 2010 not including a Community market fundraiser to be held some time in November. Loved it!!!

pumpkin patch

I'm feeling a hint of fall in the air and dreaming of pumpkins bright and bold, round and oval, fat and thin and even of jack-o-lanterns with a sly candle lit grin!

Bajorek-Waugh wedding

So, those of you following my progress for this wedding might be wondering what happened. Well, the bouquet was made without a hitch, all the hair pieces were great and the mom's loved their corsages. Here are some pics.

Each of these flowers is mounted on a seperate hairpin.

we even tucked in a little blue flower for the "something blue"

Michael's mom Anna loved her dogwood corsage.

I had the pleasure of pinning the boutineer on myself and I think it came out great.

Syl, had her pink lilies and they really matched her outfit.

Here's a closeup of the bouquet made with tiger lilies, dogwoods and asters.

Sara wore a little apricot colored flower in her hair. It was mounted on a bobby pin.

I chose to wear a headband that had a dogwood bloom mounted on it.

Here's one of the flower girls sporting another flowered headband.