Back in the Saddle or I’m making beads again

I’m slowly getting my stash listed on ArtFire and Etsy but I still have a lot but I decided it didn’t matter how many beads I have I still need to make more.

The blue and green one is from my stash and the Raku one is newer one.

 

Just a bunch of dots

 

Sorting, yes I said sorting

Well here we are past the middle of September and I still haven’t listed any new beads on  my Artfire shop   http://Sueze.artfire.com   or my Etsy shop.  http://www.Sueze.etsy.com/

I have been having too much fun playing with beads instead of making sets of beads to sell but I finally have some sets ready to list and still I am sorting.

A tray full of sort of sorted beads

There is always more than one way to combine beads, at least that’s my excuse for all this playing.

Today the torch is calling me but then so are the beads, computer,loom,dog, oh yea and the 101’s game on facebook.

Well maybe I will list something before I go back to the torch.

I made all of these??

Last week I decided I was going to get rid of some of my beads.  My first idea was to have a grab bag sale on my ArtFire shop so I ran it past my darling daughter who make lovely jewellery, well she didn’t think it was such a good idea as she would want to see what she was going to get.  I thought maybe just grab a handful and put it in a clear bag and take a picture of it but that didn’t fly with me I’m too monochromatic to be able to do that.  I finally settled on picking beads of similar colours and made some bags and then I had to make sets and this is what I’m left with I think I still have a ways to go.

The whole thing

What you want a closer look?

cookie tray of beads

Oh wait that’s not all.

cookie tin full of beads

And then there are these that I don’t know if I can part with.

sorting

Well that’s it and tomorrow I think I will sit at my torch and make some more

Good bye to my best 4 legged friend

One never truly appreciates something or someone until they are gone.

Four months ago our little Rudolf Vanentino aka Rudy/Rude Dude/The Rudester/RudyDudy  passed away, he was my best bud for 15 years and even now as I write this tears come to my eyes.

I am rather dashing

In case you can’t tell Rudy was a mini Dachshund and a very dashing fellow was he.  When he was 10 months old he gave his first bark- it was a very momentous occasion not only was it his first bark but he was also showing his great prowess as a guard dog for he warned us of a break-in that was happening in our home as we slept.  From that time on he let us know when someone was coming up the walk, knocking at the door and occasionally when the phone was ringing.  He was not a yappy dog by any means but no one could sneak into our house without us knowing about it.  He loved our grandsons to bits and when they moved away he missed them terribly.

He always covered himself up when he was sleeping either on the sofa or in him many beds (one in each room) so when sitting down you had to make sure that Rudy wasn’t under that blanket on the sofa.  At 6 months he taught himself how to sit up and beg (sitting up is something you should never teach a Dachie to do) but when they teach them selves what can you do but give in. I don’t believe I can’t find a picture of him sitting up.

What can I say even an old man can take a good picture

Even though he was getting old he was still a very reliable alarm clock, waking Fred up every morning at 6 am.  He was very good about time he would let us know it was 5 pm and time for supper and at 8:30 pm it was time for his evening bickie snack.  10:00 pm it was time for Fred and Rudy to go to bed and Rudy always let Fred know.

His tongue hung out the right side of his mouth because he had no teeth there but it just made him look cute in his old age.  His eyes were clouding over but he never lost his sight.  He loved when we would go camping and he especially loved when we went to visit the grandsons. Rudy grew up with Cornish Rex cats and when our last one passed on he really seemed to miss the interaction they had.  He never played fetch but he did have a favourite toy-a pound puppy- which his new brother ate

In 2006 we brought a new puppy home for Rudy his name is The Duke or Duker and he is a English Springer Spaniel. When we brought Duke home he was already bigger than Rudy’s 10 lbs but Rudy never let him forget who the boss was.

I'm the Duke!

I’m Rudy and I’m am the ALFA DOG!!

Are you sure this isn't my bed?

Size didn’t seem to matter much when they played Rudy always ended up with Duke pinned and Rudy proudly proclaiming the prize, well there was no prize but he was definitely the winner.  As Duke got a little older and a little taller the game changed from 4 on the floor to Duke lying down and Rudy jumping all over him with Duke encouraging him with nose bumps and a few bats with his paws.

What do you mean you don't want to play anymore?

Rudy is gone and our life will never be the same.  Good bye old Friend!

Beads for silent auction

I should have posted these pictures last week but just got bogged down with life so better late than never. 

The jewelry was made by Kat using my lampwork beads plus beads from her stash.  The pieces will be donated to the 

National Aboriginal Day Silent
Auction (towards the Aboriginal Law Student Scholarship Trust Fund) June 24 and 25.

I’ll let you know when Kat has her Etsy Shop up and running. 

If you want more info on the silent auction contact me for a contact number.

Skipping Stone Beads

I have had a few people ask me what a Skipping Stone Bead is so here I go……

 

Skipping stone beads are handmade lampwork beads that I make to resemble water smoothed stones for look and feel.   Each bead  has a unique tactile surface, as do stones on a beach, making them as delightful to hold as a touch stone. It all started with the bead that is in my banner, it reminded me of all the flat stones I used to find on the beach at our cabin at Queen’s Bay B.C.  We would spend hours hunting for them and skipping them across the water to see who could get the most skip out of a stone. 

They are fun to wear but the real pleasure I get is in holding it and running my fingers over the uneveness of the bead. Sometimes you will find one that is completely smoth but every once in a while you will find that skipping stone that has a story to tell in it’s shape and feel.  Every time I make a new one I let the glass tell me what shape it wants to be. 

I’ve also been asked “you don’t really throw those in the water do you?” well I haven’t yet but as soon as the weather warms up I am going to go down to one of the many beaches in our area and skip some Skipping Stone Beads.  I may or may not post where and when. 

Now lets see my newest ones.

Well that’s it for today.

I have new beads

I’ve been making lampwork beads for over 2 years now and I still get excited about them when they come out of the kiln. So now I’m going to show them off.

Monday again

Well here it is Monday again.  I can’t remember when I started disliking Monday but it is the worst day of my week so I thought I would try and start if off on a up side of down. 

I have a picture of a new necklace by my friend Sarah. Sarah and I have been collaborating on jewelry making for almost 3 months now.  I know I’ve said it before but I must say it again having Sarah designing the jewelry and me making beads works so well for me.  Sarah’s jewelry is young and fresh and today I feel old and worn out  Sarah isn’t limited to using only my beads but uses a wide variety of beads including wooden ones.  This piece includes a painted wooden pendant and one of my clear etched beads.  For more of her creations check out her Etsy site. http://lucksgirl.etsy.com

So that feels like a good way to start the week.

Mine, mine, all mine

I made this set of lampwork beads a while ago and still haven’t made anything with them. I had planed on making a necklace and earrings and I still think my earring idea is good but I need a new idea for the necklace.  So I’ve asked my friend Sarah what she would do but she is a little busy with family so I will have to just look at them for a while. I thought I’d post the pictures so you could see the before and after, when the after happens.

I’m thinking of using copper them but haven’t really decided yet.

More handmade lampwork beads by Sueze

Here are a few more sets of lampwork beads that I made the other day.

I have 2 other blue sets

This is another tiny set in pink but I used a opalino pink glass.

One last set in a pinky beige with a multi coloured frit. I used imitation mint green pearls to accent the beads.