What you've missed and a tragedy

Hello friends!

It seems like I am behind again with everything that has been happening. I had so many things I wanted to share with you like what awesome artists work I saw at the Brookside Art show and the cool stuff at Bead Blast, the new awesome stuff I made for mom for her b-day, the awesome new clay pendants I received, and then the sad news like losing another friend this year....

So bear with me here while I attempt to fill you in with what's gone on while still keeping your attention to the end of the post.  So I will try to post more pics and explain less, I think that should help....

BROOKSIDE ART SHOW...

Here were my favorite vendors at the show: Susan Speck- she had AMAZING whimsical pottery that looked like it came out of a woodland/wonderland tea party! So awesome!

Melissa Finelli- she had really amazing metal smithed pieces and had them all out to try on. I was really impressed by this part because her pieces were several hundred dollars and generally when you approach these booths everything is  behind glass. It was really awesome to pick up things and put them on :)

Pat Bolgar- her pieces were SO amazing! Her polymer looked more like "fine" clay pieces and she also used pmc. I loved her awesome "etched" looking pody pieces.

CHoffnagle- This girl was not only super sweet and darling, but her pieces were awesome! Metal smithed and clean with color on the inside. I asked if it was enamel. She said "No, it was laminate" it was her special technique :D Pretty sweet, I was impressed :D I did want to ask more details to appreciate the technique, but just stayed satisfied with the answer and admired her work.

MOM'S BIRTHDAY....

 

Here is Mom, myself and my sister Nina. Yep, we look related, right? lol. I swear I was milk man's child. ;) Na, not really. I totally look like my dad, but anywho.... 

We went to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch with mom. Nina and I split a Kobe beef burger, sweet potato fries with garlic aoli, and Adam's peanut butter cheesecake! YUM!!

 

These were the chocolates I HAD to buy. Surprised?! lol. They were not only bright and beautiful, but very tasty as well!

 

This is what the spoiled mother received for her birthday gift.  The very FIRST accented headpins I have made. A coffee bean, a paddle with a heart, and a paddle with a coffee bean.

 

Here's a detail shot of the headpins. Don't worry, I'll make more and offer up some in the shop. :D

This is a detail shot showing the coffee bean dots on the beads :D I really love the idea and they turned out SO freakin' awesome! I'll make more of these coming up too, so stay tuned.

 

Here was a pair of earrings I made with the new styled beads. I had thought about saving these beads to offer them up in the shop, but my muses thought they should be earrings. I need to get these listed, so if you are interested they are $55 and I can list them for you now incase you can't wait for the listing when I have more stuff to offer...

RE-LISTED WITH A FEW ALTERATIONS....

Ok so with moving and all I couldn't find the brown I originally used for the coffee color inside the cup so the coffee is a bit more red brown than the pic, and the headpins are made on 22ga instead of 24. I didn't have time to order thinner wire before I leave on Friday(tell you about that later...)

BEADS AS SEEN IN BEADWORK STRINGING SPRING 2011 DESIGNS BY LORELEI EURTO.

 

Earthy Blend Spacers

 

Morning Cup

Spotty Droplets

BEAD BLAST SHOW BOOTY....

 

Here's what I got. Not much, but I mostly went to visit. The batiked ribbon, bottle cap lentil, and tart flower were from one of my VERY FAVORITE shops, Glass Garden Beads, lime and aqua silk from Riverstone Bead Company, metal cut peace sign heart, Bokamo designs, and glittery plyers from a local bead shop, I forget their name at the moment :(

 

These are really kick ass! I loved the sun. I guess this cap is a local brewery in Minnesota :D The owner of the shop, Kathy creates these bottle caps, the metal cut out flowers, and the tumbled glass bottle pieces. She is so stinkin' talented!

 

The tart flowers were different colors on both sides.

 

Ok, so I didn't get these at the show, but Yvonne of My ELEMENTS just got these AMAZING new color rubber o's and I just had to share. :D

NEW CLAY PENDANTS I RECEIVED....

 

OMG... That is all I can say! These clay pendants were like receiving gold coins AND I even got a piece of fresh baked banana bread! These gorgeous pendants were created by the amazingly talented, Cindy Buehler . Here is her Etsy shop, which she is thinking about closing, so tell her NO!! ;) She is doing more shows and thought she might close up the shop.

I couldn't receive all of these amazing pendants and not make something for Cindy, so I told her I would make her a mixed-media somethin' somethin' :D I was also thinking about giving away one on my blog as soon as I get all this other stuff ironed out.

THE PASSING OF ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL PERSON....

 

This is my friend "Big Mike", Michael Clark. He was killed by a drunk driver May 5th at around 2am. He was doing some late night computer gaming with a friend and decided to go out to grab a cheeseburger. He was hit by a 21 year old drunk/on drugs driver going 90.

Here is a link to the news so you can see his car and hear the story. Mike was 24. This was a totally tragic incident. Mike was one of the most amazing people I have had the pleasure to meet. I will miss his loud heart felt laugh and his gigantic big bear hugs that were followed by a few wiggles from side to side before being released. He was always there for me when I needed him and I will always be grateful that I out paths crossed on our walk in life. 

Please, Please, PLEASE, DO NOT EVER let your friends drive drunk :( 

Much love to you all, 

Genea