Hi, Terry!  

My friend, Terry (an outstanding chain maille artist) really surprised me when she said that she reads my blog--when I remember to post.  I'm not too good about updating here, but since you're reading, Terry, I'll try to do better.

I've been making pansies, using Bullseye glass even though the whole work bench is still covered with Effetre (for those of you who aren't into the specifics of glass work, these two types of glass are incompatible and anything made with both kinds will crack apart).  It's time to clean off the bench before I make a stupid mistake, but I'm just not done with Effetre beads yet--I'm still having fun with hearts and scroll beads.

It's awful cold where we are ... low of 7 today (or last night, however that works) with a high of 21.  Yeesh, not fit for man nor beast.  I'll be staying close to the torch to try to finish up beads for Darlene that I'll be delivering next week at the Toms River show.

I was successful at putting a few pansies and leaves on Etsy this week.  There's an etsy page link at the top of your screen (I hope).  This next week, some ancient beads (the ones that look like they've been dug up), and who knows what else?

Nathan's on board today to do some wire spirals for me at the jump ringer; I'm thinking of doing some stuff from the Totally Twisted book for the Cabin Fever Festival.  Using the coated wire will keep prices down and add a cheerful burst of color to my spring jewelry.

Take care until next time,

Nolly 

I have never liked football and have managed to avoid it for nearly 60 years.  I crept through the living room while my dad watched every stinking game played by any stinking team while I lived at home and married a man who shared my skeptiscism about a sport in which men had to wear pads and helmets in order not to kill each other--and still, sometimes they did.

 My children, fortunately, did not like sports either, though I did try an initial season in soccer for my son and both my kids took Tae Kwon Do, shortly.  They just liked other things ... like video games.

My grandson Nathan, however, likes all sports--anything with a ball.  I play basketball with him (I'm nearly as tall as the net, which really helps), and kicked the soccer ball with him until my knees screamed.  The nice man up the hill, unaware of my avoidance strategies, took his son and Nathan to the Ravens football camp, held here in Westminster every summer.

Nathan loves football.  He cajoles his mother out to play catch but I've been given a pass, because I can neither catch nor throw a football, though I've tried.

Last night, for the first time in my life, I sat and watched two whole quarters of a game, the Ravens v. the New York Jets--all for love.  Nathan was so excited to see some of the men he met on tv.  I told him the one thing I know:  "The team in possession of the ball gets 4 chances to make 10 yards."  The lovely, naive child said, "how did you learn so much about football?"  

We watched, Nathan turning on the soundtrack to Chipmunks, the Squeakquel during every lull in the action, so that he could entertain me with his dance moves, jumps and spins that would seem to propel him through the french doors every other second.   Have you heard the soundtrack to Squeakquel? Even commercials would be preferable, if it weren't for Nate's serious study of hip hop and his pride in his endeavors.

I made it for two quarters, then excused myself, saying that I didn't really like football.  Nathan was gracious.  I said, "I can tell you what I do like."  He raised a eyebrow. "I like you," I said.  His smile melted my heart, but still, I retreated to watch the end of Antiques Roadshow in peace and quiet.

... of spring!  It's going to be a great day ... not raining, certainly not snowing, the sun is actually shining, and the York show coming up this weekend.  It's always great to see my local friends, so please stop in to say hello. 

Next week I am going to Fire on the Mountain, a gathering of lampworkers from across the country in Asheville, NC.  I haven't been before so I'm not exactly sure what to expect, but three days hanging out with beadmakers is sure to be a lot of fun.  Brad Pearson is demo'ing, so maybe my dot beads will improve.  I love the intricate patterns that can be achieved with masked dots (using the base color of the bead to hide portions of underlying color).  I'm really looking forward to seeing the country as I drive south & west, hanging out with folks with a parallel passion, and seeing my good friend, Terry Hale.

ISGB's annual conference, The Gathering, is in Rochester NY this summer (July 28 - August 1).  It's a great opportunity for everyone living in the Mid-Atlantic to get to a Gathering--or at least to the Bead Bazaar, which is like Glass Bead Oz!

 I am offering a class in glass flowers on the Monday and Tuesday before the Gathering ... I'll be sharing everything I know about color mixing, sculptural manipulation of glass, heat control, and using flowers in jewelry.  If you want to check it out, see http://www.isgb.org/gathering and look for classes.

 Until next time ...

Nolly

I know I'm not much of a blogger--but that makes it easier to keep up, eh?

In the Mid-Atlantic, we're having the second significant snow in a week, so there's not much to do until the weather breaks and we can spend a day in the driveway.

I've just posted some new finished work in the Gallery; I made it for my spot at the ISGB booth at Buyers Market of American Craft in Philly this weekend, but since I didn't get to the post office yesterday and likely won't get there today either ... well, it should be there by Friday morning, if the Post Office still adheres to their famous motto.

In the meanwhile, I thought I'd put them up so that anyone interested can see my new work--and new beads.  I expect that I'll be offering the disk flowers from Clarksville (2/20 & 2/21) through the spring season.

If you look through the gallery items, you'll notice that I reference two of my finding sources in each listing:  My Elements by Yvonne and Kabela Designs.  The reason is that both these fantastic companies are owned by fellow artisans, hard-working and dedicated folks who provide the best in unique findings for jewelry craftsmen.   You can't go wrong adding elements from either of my friends into your designs.

The wind is blowing a little too hard to allow torchwork today (the ventilation system might be compromised), so it's time to tackle the taxes ... yuck!

I hope you have happy plans for this day away from the world.

All the best,

Nolly

I've been trying to switch gears between making beads and making objects for Maryland Wine Festival which has been taking place in Westminster for a long time ... this year I have a table in the craft section and I'm pretty psyched to see my first wine festival.

My niece, Carrie, is going to help me--she's young and strong, with the added essential benefit of being polite, funny, and able to write receipts that are intelligible as well as correctly calculated.  Thanks for joining the team, Carrie!

Another I've made is to hire Darlene Mansue, who sold so effectively for Marsha Neal Studios, to represent my work at all the Innovative Beads Expos that can't get to myself.  Darlene, doing business as D7 Studio,  is charming, helpful, skilled, and everything I could ask for in a show partner.  Although I'll miss seeing so many of my good beady friends at shows, I'll be in the studio producing more interesting work for your projects and collections.

 I had the opportunity to be at BeadFest in Philly a couple of weeks ago; it was so much fun to be in the aisles, shopping with everyone else and to take a riveting class with Susan Lenart Kazmer.  Look for some items that will work in your riveted projects in the coming months.  

Right now, my beadmaking is focused on beads that will work on bottle stoppers, utensils like canape sets and bottle openers, as well as some fun necklaces that I've been able to price in the $40-$60 range because I'm using my old hoard of semi-precious stones and Bali silver.  I got these items at great prices before silver went up, so I can pass the savings along to my customers who like one-of-a-kind jewelry. 

I'm also using beads from my "left-over" trays ... those few remnants that hang on after a series is mostly depleted.  Perfect beads, in similiar color groups, but not matching ... I can get in that symetrical groove, so it's been fun trying to make attractive pieces that are a little out of sync.

I'll get some pictures and post them soon ...

Thanks for reading,

Nolly

The doctor gave Barry very good news this morning:  the path labs are negative!  It's a day to be extra thankful, not only for this clean bill of health, but also for our excellent surgeon, Richard Macke at St. Joe's, the wonderful staff, and my dearest husband, who is putting up with the pain and inconveniences of recovery with a willing heart.

My daughter, Katie, always one to bring on Christmas at the earliest possible moment, had Bing Crosby & Frank Sinatra singing White Christmas this morning as she began to assemble the Christmas tree.  Nathan was happily cutting the strings which bound the branches over the summer, and tying up everything in sight, which is sort of a genetic pattern.  Maybe we're decended from sea-going men! 

We're all gathering at the hospital to spend time with Barry in shifts.  He'll be exhausted tomorrow, but he'll have plenty of support to walk him up and down the corridors.  His major task is to keep moving so that his stomach will wake up and start taking care of business.

It's a good day for the Gelsingers; hope yours is too!

Nolly

I don't know that anyone will considering my ramblings worth reading, but I'll write them and send them out into the virtual atmosphere and leave it up to karma.

Barry, my husband, had a surgical procedure called a "Whipple" last Thursday and is still in the hospital recovering.  That makes life kind of crazy, trying to make Barry as comfortable as possible and everything else on hold.