A Little a Time Away

Hello friends!

Well this certainly isn't my normal blog setting. It's midnight and I am writing to you from the comfort of my bed. I lay here and wonder why I don't write to you from here more often! I guess I feel like my blogs have to have lots of photos and links of things to interest you. Maybe I don't and maybe  you just  enjoy reading about my life? I dunno. Anyway, I have been away taking a break after the show. I have been taking time to rest and reflect on things. Regroup and come up with new ideas.

I recently had the pleasure of attending Dancefestopia, a 2 day rave/music festival on the Kansas City river front (September 12-13th).I really enjoyed listening to the music at such a beautiful outdoor setting. I am so glad I got to go. A special thank you to everyone that made it possible! I really needed to relax and enjoy this event.

I have also been spending some time just visiting with friends and enjoying the fading of summer into fall. I am loving the cooler temperatures and the start of watching the leaves changing colors. Fall is my very favorite season! I love:hoodies, warm socks, chai tea, crisp air, leaves crunching under your feet, knitting, and snuggling under warm blankets :)

I also love fall colors; rich browns, metallics, and silvered ivory. I finally got back to creating beads the other day after a month long break. I'm so glad that I have been making beads for so long that even after taking a long break I can sit down at the torch and just create like I have only missed one day at the torch. I think it took me about a good 3 solid years of making beads consecutively to finally be able to do that. Working in glass for over 11 years, making beads has become such a normal function it's just like breathing :)

I'm really excited and happy with my newest work and can't wait to share it with you soon! I will also have some more news about some new happenings for Genea Beads. It won't be anything too crazy, but just more little tweaks on the business to help it to grow and run smoothly :)

I suppose I should start gearing down for the night, but glad I got to write to him from the most comfortable place in my house ;)

Good night and sweetest dreams to you!

Xo Genea

Life After Bead Fest

Hello friends!

Wow what a crazy ride it's been. I can't believe Bead Fest Philly was just under 2 weeks ago! So let's catch you all up on my last couple of weeks.

A view outside of my car window on the trip to PA. This photo doesn't do it justice at all. The clouds looked like feathery wings outstretched. It was really magnificent!

One of the signs by the show. Lol, we couldn't resist taking a photo. 

Here is a shot of our booth. Ricky and I got in and set up in 2 hours. That was record timing from last year where it took us 4.5 hours to set up! Guess we are getting good at this huh?!

Staci and I shared a booth again this year. Here you can see Barbara Bechtel holding down the fort.

A pic of Staci and me at our booths.

We also shared our power house corner with Starry Road Studio and Wooly Wire Etc. It's so much fun to share a space with these awesome women. I wish I had clicked some more photos of their booth's, but I dropped my phone face down 2 days before the show :( You will have to hunt them down on facebook to view their photos when they get their albums posted ;)

I made myself a quick necklace with one of my "Eye See You For All That You Are And Will Become" focals. Nothing like making yourself a piece of jewelry at the show cause you didn't have time beforehand ;)

Here is a better photo I took out in the sun yesterday ;)

I just LOVE this necklace!

Our Courtyard party on Saturday night was rained out, but that didn't keep our bunch of wild gals from partying inside!

I had an awesome class with my students! I clicked some quick photos with Ricky's phone.

Our mother and daughter team that came to class together wearing their finished jewelry :)

Ellen didn't have pierced ears so she purchased some clip earring backs at the show that matched perfectly! 

Our two classmates that met at the class and became great friends. I love how beads bring us all together :) Didn't their pieces turn out awesome?!

Here are a few photos of my students work from class.

I love how everyone's piece is so unique.

While we were at the show, Don, Karen's husband gave her a special birthday present he comissioned me to make for her. May I present, "Gypsy Magic". Holy wow, huh?! It took me about 3 days to design this necklace since I really wanted to bring all of the design elements together.  I am so pleased with the finished piece!

Here is all of my loot from the show :D

From left to right: Hands of the Hills, Maku Studio, Diane Hawkey,  A clay piece created by Staci's son Aiden,Thea Elements, Linda Landig, Kristen Stevens,  Starry Road Studio, S L Artisan Accents, Green Girl Studios, Humble Beads.

Wooly Wire from Wooly Wire Etc.

More Wooly Wire :D

Ceramic eye house from Diane Hawkey.

Polymer clay beads by Second Surf and eye charms from Cynthia's sweet daughter :)

I wanted to wear some of my pieces right away so I put them on chain and sari silk. Awesome, huh?!

The not so fun part of the tail end of show time, the creative mess. This is my upstairs studio. I am STILL getting things organized and back into their places.

In the meantime after show also means SUPER MASSIVE SHOP UPDATES! All of these beauties are in my Etsy shop. It was just easier and faster to update there first. Some of them are in my .com shop as well. I will get everything moved over shortly.

I also marked some beads and jewelry on sale. I will be creating new jewelry designs soon. I can't wait to get back to designing as well as making. 

See you soon!

xo Genea