New Webisode's coming!

I think I can breathe a little sigh of relief. I was really looking forward to this day last week - getting these shows behind me without a glitch. You always want to put your best foot forward for the companies you are representing and Im real happy with the way the Web-i-sodes turned out. Im confident you'll enjoy the unique way these technique classes are presented in what we call "The Clay Cafe'". Im not exactly sure when they will go live, but I will be sure to let you know. Stay tuned for more pics and photo's from the show.

More Behind the Scenes from Beads Baubles and Jewels

Right now Im in the green room at the Studio, chillin out and waiting for Katie to finish her last 7 segments so I can tape my webisodes. I had thought I seen Katie earlier sneeking a blog post, so I just had to check hers out....sure enough...she posted... But not all the details I might add..... Im thinking she doesnt want her little secret out....
But Katie tapes her segments in her flip flops....no kidding....

for more funny stuff about the show - and maybe even a quirky little thing about me...visit Katies blog by visiting my favorite links.

BEADS BAUBLES AND JEWELS

It's back to Cleveland to tape another season of Beads Baubles and Jewels. Im just in the hotel room chillin out before the big taping day tomorrow. I have to say that I am very privledged to be able to hang out with some of the industries best designers!!! Katie Hacker is here taping for two days. She is just a wealth of information and creative inspiration. She is amazing on camera - so calm, cool and collected. She is here representing Beadalon. Today she taped 13 "Focus on Findings" segments - YOU GO GIRL!


I always look forward to meeting new people too and today was no exception. I met a very talented textile/jewelry artist name Crystal. You'll see her featured in Pure Allure segments during the 700 series. Don't miss her hand painted silk segment. I have to tell you that pillow ... mmm mmm mmm.....(drooling) is simply to die for.... Lots of inspiration for beads - and not just for jewelry.


Thought I'd give you a sneek peek into one of the projects that I'll be taping tomorrow. We've all seen the fashion trend of "Brown being the NEW black..." So I'll be featuring techniques on creating a faux wood necklace. It had kind of a organic...earthy feel to it. So easy and simple to create....so all you who've been "thinking" about creating something with clay....quit thinking...and get to creating. I'll make it so simple you wont be able to resist.

Im also excited to be able to host three segments of AMACO's new WEB-I-SODES entitled "Clay Cafe". These segments will be a little edgy - trendy...but most of all bubbly and fun. We'll feature current trends and techniques to give you that creative jump you need to get started. To kick off this new "on demand TV series" we're featuring Semi-precious stones. Learn how to mix clay into creating semi-precious stones in a fun - inviting and creative way. I dont think you'll have seen clay presented like this before...so you're going tune in....but just to help you get curious......here's a photo...

It's going to be a creative next few months. Next week Im off to Summer CHA in Chicago. Mariah is going with me for the first time. I think it will be a great learning experience for her. My England friends Gill and her husband John will be coming back with me from CHA to Missouri for a couple of days of "holiday". After that My hubby and I are off for a "holiday" of our own in San Francisco. By that time it will be August and I will continue working on my next book, due in September and scheduled for release in Summer 08.

After that, I'll take a deep breath and say once again - where did the summer go??? Though I can't complain, trip to St. Louis, a float trip down the buffalo River in Arkansas, Branson to see Allison Krauss, Cleveland, Chicago, San Francisco and then London....I'm havin fun.......It's been one of the best summers with the family in a long time.

THE CREATIVE JOURNEY.....FAUX DICHRO & POLYMER CLAY

This is one of those pieces that I made last week, Where it isnt quite finished....and I dont know that I will ever finish it. It's my take on the tutorial on Donna Kato's site about creating faux dichroic glass. I dont claim this to be as magnificent as her work...just that Im in the process of developing my own sense of style with this technique. Im taken with the ArtEmboss Pewter metal from AMACO and adding it to my pieces. The pewter is so "creamy" and easy to work with. I just want to add it to everything!! Just looking at this piece reminds me of the fun and relaxing time I had during this process.

As a reminder - there's only one space left for my class in Chicago on July 20. If you're in or near the Chicago area I can guarantee a fun creative time!

Also, check dont forget to take a peek at my website. The Home page is all new - with hopes of having a new site up in the next few weeks. Im looking at offering "craft on demand" downloads and writing a sequel to my book "Bead Techniques" - available as an E-book.

Today I am writing 5 tv segments - two for the upcoming Beads, Baubles and Jewels show on PBS and three segments for Amaco's new Web-TV. Stay tuned for the air dates!

CREATIVE MINDS ARE NEVER NEAT

Sometimes we just get on the road to creativity and the next thing we know....we wind up on a path we never knew existed. I thought I'd share my latest and greatest in creative spaces. (That's a joke..... really!!!) This is the "picasso" that came as a result of this weeks creative time where I had no real purpose, no real plan and no real project to create. Just explore...create....mess-up and discover!

Do you ever take the time to do just that? I rarely do. As a professional, sometimes I get locked into the mindset that everything I create has to be sellable...wonderful and an incredible masterpiece. In reality that's not always the case. Hours and hours can be spent on one design - tweeking and tweeking before the final piece is a winner. The sad thing is, to recreate the piece may take only mere minutes in comparison- once the tweeks have been worked thru. So what did I accomplish this week? Well, depends on who you ask. If you ask my husband, he would say "nothing! but a bunch of piddling". But if you ask me, I would tell you that I opened up a world of new creativity thanks to the inspiration of artists like Desiree of Desired Creations. I learned to solder brass to make bevels - something I always wanted to learn and to Donna Kato for her tutorial on her take of simulating dichroic glass pendants. While I didnt create a finished piece of jewelry....yet. I did get to explore, enrich and create. Who knows just what path that will lead me to..........





I'd love to hear your creative adventures. Oh...and by the way....my house...does not look like the studio. You can actually walk thru it!