OK, not really but it sure sounded clever.

I am getting back into the swing of working after 5 days in Independence, LA with my friends, Deanna and Greg Chase (and their dog Disney). A couple of those days were travel so we’ll skip over that part. The rest of total relaxation. I left the laptop at home, never checked email or voicemail, and only occasionally checked online forums.

(Aren’t these beads pretty? You’ll have to keep reading for the scoop on them)

Deanna and I had a mini-university with jewelry and beadmaking on the agenda. I taught her how to make treasure bracelets (while reminding her that I was self-taught so she couldn’t hold me responsible). I’m not sure I converted her to the time-intensive bracelets, but she did a great job on her first one! Her blog recounts some of our starts and stops on its progression. I worked on finishing one for an exchange and starting another. As soon as I finish them I have some interesting ideas percolating with some interesting beads that Deanna made for me while I was there.

Here’s the bracelet Deanna put together. Isn’t it great? Told her she was a natural. Greg was a little concerned that we actually spent 7 or 8 hours working on them over the course of 2 days. But it gave him time to heap attenion on my little dog, Nash, who made the trip to LA with me (somewhat less expensive to travel than to board him!).

We had some amazing sushi and I now feel comfortable enough to head to a sushi restaurant myself and be able to order something delicious. (thanks to the Chases and my friend Misha)

Still wondering about the beads? I made them! With a great deal of help from Deanna and a tecnnique shared by another beady friend, Shawn. I have wrist problems and my last lampwork lesson (also from Deanna) was 14 months ago at Bead Camp. Using wrist supports clearly had a huge impact on my ability to shape beads. So we opted this lesson for more “organic” shapes. Greg pointed out that “organic” in glass usually refers to colors; however, I thought I was quite within bounds to call my wonky, less than perfectly shaped beads “organic.” As in  rock-shaped! The glass was a gorgeous teal/aqua shade and I rolled them in silver foil, (I mistakenly said “silver leaf”…what do I know?) then drizzled clear glass over and burned off the rest of the silver. That’s the short story anyway. Shawn taught Deanna that technique and Deanna taught me.

By my 4th and 5th bead, I was “getting” it again; though I don’t think any of my favorite beadmakers have to worry about me supplying myself with beads anytime soon. I enjoyed my lesson and it reminds me of how impressed I am with this medium and the artists who create in it. My talented bead friends were quick with praise for my efforts and I appreciate them looking beyond the quirks in them.

I’ve got plans for a bracelet with these beads…I’ll post the result when I’m finished. Suffice it to say,  you’ll never see it listed for sale!

Did you miss me? I’m back from 3 1/2 days of R&R north of New Orleans in Independence, LA at my friends, Deanna and Greg Chase.

I think it’s time for an Ornament Thursday teaser. Come back Thursday, July 31st and see the full project plus links to the other OT gang’s creative efforts.

My teaser for July’s “Red Hot” theme:

Not anymore…what a hassle (and I’ve not even left for my trip yet!)

My daughter was flying her first “alone” flight to visit grandparents in Colorado Springs today. “Alone” as in not an “unaccompanied minor” where you pay for the privilege of making sure she arrives in the right  hands at the other end. But 15 is the cutoff so she was going on her own today. It’s a direct, barely 90 minute flight…how hard can that be? Apparently very hard!!! We arrive at least 90 minutes early (as directed) and get checked in. I am allowed to go down to the gate with her (THANK GOODNESS AS IT TURNS OUT!).

We get through security with no problems and then go in search of bandaids for the blisters from the brand new shoes that I didn’t realize she hadn’t worn yet in the 3 weeks she’s had them. Apply said bandaid and immediately rub them off while walking to the gate, buy more $2 bandaids and try again. See flipflops in the news shop and abandon bandaids in favor of $13 flipflops that look much like $3 Old Navy flipflops…but whatever. She can walk without help again.

We now notice that the 8:45 departure says 9:20 and think “hmmm”. Make a couple of calls to CSprings to inform the grandparents. An announcement indicates that “a crew member” is coming in on another flight and is delayed so we wait. At 8:45 an announcement tells us the plane with the crew member is in visual sight and boarding of the Colorado flight will begin soon. 9:10 boarding begins because the crew member’s plane has landed…at 9:30 everyone is on the plane, doors are closed and so I head home to finish up a list of things before my flight tomorrow.

Fast forward to 10am. I’m home (we live about 12 minutes from the airport when the traffic is moving)…phone rings and it is my daughter….still waiting on the “crew member” who, as we all have figured out, is the pilot. More calls made to update all involved and to rant to my husband as this is his airline of choice. At 10:30 I call my daughter’s cell and she says the story is now that the pilot didn’t realize he had another flight and had proceeded to leave the airport…he was on his way back so they could take off…(they should have been landing in Colorado in another 8 minutes!!!!).

The plane appears to be airborne with an arrival time in about 20 minutes. So much for an easy maiden voyage for my daughter!

Oh and I got charged an extra $4 for parking because of the flight delay! The silver lining is that she was not flying as an UAM…I would have had to stay there til the plane was actually airborne!

If you’ve followed my blog for any period of time, you know I make jewelry primarily with handmade glass lampwork beads. I like to think I’m a connoisseur of sorts also, with a collection of very special beads that are my personal stash.

I’ve also got a small, but growing collection of marbles that I LOVE! Some really special florals from Eugene Rain that I’ll showcase in another blog down the road. For today, I want to point you toward the creations of Greg and Deanna Chase, glassy friends of mine who make their home in Independence, LA (where I’m headed next Thursday for a few days of R&R!).

Deanna makes beads (except when she makes marbles)…

This is a stunning floral marble with sparkling dichroic glass swirled inside…Like her floral beads, but no hole!

Look for a new feature next month, where I feature some of the beadmakers who create the beads in my Joolz! For now, enjoy the other art created by Deanna and Greg.

 …and Greg makes marbles (except when he makes beads)!

I love Greg’s floral marbles: they feature some amazing murrine* that he creates himself. But he has several series that appeal to a variety of tastes in round glass objects with no hole.

*From Wikipedia: “Murrine are small cross cut sections of glass, often featuring a pattern or design, used in the creation of a larger glass work. They are formed by bundling and fusing colored glass rods together, then pulling the hot glass to a very small diameter. These canes of glass are then cut into wafers, each piece bearing the original pattern in miniature; a technique that dates back thousands of years.”

You can read all about their journey HERE but be sure to read all the way to the end to find a great offer on Greg and Deanna’s marbles from their Etsy store.

This one is from Greg’s “New Orleans” series, inspired by their new location.

Be sure to look at all the marbles in their store…you’ll be amazed at the details in these inch and a half or so wonders!

Oh, and don’t forget to “heart” them in Etsy!