G'evening, all,

Hoping your week went/is going well! Sounds like we, on the West Coast, are going to have some rain this weekend. We have been under water rationing around here, so this is a good thing. Except that, my sister, my niece and I have plans to go sell at the local Flea Market this weekend. This threat of rain may put a serious crimp in our plans... we shall see. The TV weather people have not been 'right on' (far from it) lately with their weather forecasts, so I hope they are wrong about this weekend's rain forecast. Our weekend plans will be fun if the showers decide to take a detour and go elsewhere. My sister and niece are awesome to hang out with... we have a lot of fun together... as do my brother and I... isn't family the greatest?! I am truly blessed in that department.

I am back in the bead biz, thanks to Mike (who built my kiln) for fixing my kiln... THANKS MIKE for fixing my 'coffee fried kiln', for all of your patience and for walking me through the re-programming process of the control thingie... I'd have been lost without your help!

And, by the way, for anyone who is looking for an awesome kiln, I very highly, highly recommend Michael Crowley's kilns... you can find him (and his kilns, of course) at http://www.theglasshive.com/ . I sure do LOVE my kiln!

It is sooooooooo nice to be back behind the torch, making beads again... I really missed making beads... I gotta be way more careful with that morning coffee though, that's for sure!

My latest bead collection is up on ebay (and has been since April 29th - just didn't get a chance to get in here to update my blog until now)... please, simply click on the bead collection's title (that follows) and be taken directly to its ebay auction...

LOVIN' THE REDWOODS::: Another collection of my favorite beads to make... a collection of my handmade artisan lampwork glass beads in my REDWOODS design, which I have named this time, LOVIN' THE REDWOODS... with their rich, brown 'redwood bark' colored designs on their earthy sage green background, these colors will work year round... and they truly are comforting colors to work with and to wear!

There are 15 beads in this collection... to start this collection is a 24mm x 25mm centerpiece/focal bead in a lentil shape... and... to go with this focal bead are 10 smaller lentil shaped beads that range in size from about 17½mm to 19½mm... also included are 2 matching pair of small round shaped beads that are both about 7½mm x 10mm... these smaller beads were created with matching earrings and/or 'danglies' at your clasp or throughout your creation in mind... all of these beads are decorated on both sides and have been gently etched to a satin matte finish... they have been temporarily strung on satin ribbon and this strand of beads measures approximately 9 inches long... the start of something wonderful... just add some of your favorite accent beads, perhaps, some Carnelian gemstone beads and your vivid imagination and creativity and you're set to go!

This is a 3 DAY auction.

LOVIN' THE REDWOODS ::: A collection of 15 handmade artisan lampwork glass beads...



LOVIN' THE REDWOODS ::: A view of the other side of these beads...



LOVIN' THE REDWOODS ::: A view of these beads in my hand to give you a visual reference to their size...




I have a couple more collections of beads that I will be adding to ebay tomorrow. Hoping that your upcoming weekend brings you some nice R&R and fun times.

Take good care and thanks so much for stopping by, Gracie :)

G'evening everyone,

Hoping all is well with y'all!

I wanted to update what's up in my little 'bead world'... the other day, I was getting my morning started. I had a cup of my morning coffee in my hand and placed it on top of my kiln (which was NOT turned on, of course) and was going to get settled in and turn ON the kiln and get my glass all chosen and get going for a productive day. Suddenly, I clumsily knocked over my coffee and, of course, it ran across the top of the kiln and down the side, right into the controls!... I heard a sizzling noise and found that so odd since the kiln was not on at the time. Hmm. YIKES!

Luckily, I was able to contact Michael Crowley, who built the kiln, and he explained to me what I had done (fried the 'controller' thingie inside the kiln), but not to worry because he could fix it! Thank goodness! Sooooooooooo, the kiln is in the mail on its way to Michael to be repaired and I will be out of the bead biz until it returns.

Just wanted to let you know why there isn't going to be any new beads for a little while... and to let you know that I hadn't fallen off the face of the earth again. Just waiting to have my kiln repaired so I can get back to work.

Life is so full of surprises, isn't it? Ya never know what's next. Sheesh, did I feel foolish after that 'coffee fried kiln controller' incident. NEVER will I put my coffee (or any other liquid for that matter) on top of my kiln again... and if you, too, are a lampworker, hope this never happens to you!

Bye for now and be well.

G'nite and take good, good care, Gracie

G'evening,

The other evening I added a new auction on ebay and haven't been in here to update yet... oops! To view this auction, please simply click on this bead collection's title (below) and be taken directly to its auction on ebay...

SILVERED KHAKI ::: A collection of my handmade artisan lampwork glass beads in my SILVERED KHAKI design... these beads are drenched in oodles of fine silver... these soothing colors will work year round... these beads were created with a bracelet and matching earrings in mind... or to use these 'danglies' (little round beads) at your clasp or elsewhere in your creation where you might wish to add an extra little something.

There are 11 beads in this collection... there are 7 lentil shaped beads that range in size from approximately 18mm to 19mm... also included are 2 matching pair of small round shaped beads that measure 7mm x 11mm and 6mm x 9mm... all of these beads are decorated on both sides and have been temporarily strung on satin ribbon... this strand of beads measures about 6 inches long and will make a lovely bracelet and matching earrings.

SILVERED KHAKI ::: A view of this bead collection...



SILVERED KHAKI ::: A view of these beads in my hand taken in direct sunlight...



Hope you have a lovely rest of the week and a great upcoming weekend!

G'nite and take good care, Gracie :)

Hello, hello,

Just a quickie note to let you know I have added a new auction on ebay tonight... please click on this bead collection's title (next line down) and be taken directly to its auction on ebay...

MOTHER NATURE ::: A collection of my handmade artisan lampwork glass beads in my MOTHER NATURE design... these colors of earthy golden honey, rich topaz and pale greens, remind me of nature and all that is good in this world... these beads were created with a bracelet and matching earrings and/or 'danglies', within your creation, in mind.

There are 7 beads in this collection... to start this collection, there is a lentil shaped focal/centerpiece bead that measures approximately 24mm x 25mm... and to go with it are 2 matching smaller sized lentil shaped beads that measure about 19mm and 2 pair of small round shaped beads (created for matching earrings and/or 'danglies' at your clasp or elsewhere here and there in your creation) that measure 8mm x 11mm & 7mm x 10mm... all of these beads are decorated on both sides and the two smaller rounds at both ends of this strand have been ever so gently etched to a satin matte finish... these beads have been temporarily strung on organza ribbon and this strand of beads measures about 3½ inches long... add some of your favorite accent beads, perhaps, some carnelian gemstone beads (definitely one of my favorites with this bead design) and a cool, unique clasp and you will have an awesome bracelet in the gorgeous colors of Mother Nature.

Mother Nature ::: Bead Collection



Mother Nature ::: A view of these beads in my hand to give you a visual reference to their size.

Take good care and hoping all is well with everyone!

Bye for now, Gracie