Bloggers Need Vacations Too!

Well, this is more a Staycation, but I have some stuff I need to focus on until next Monday.  Then I'll be back with more glass and maybe even a new look.  We'll see.  So watch for me in less than a week and I'll see you then!

Auction Completed and Now On To Spring!

I saw this awesome flower arrangement on Crate and Barrel's website and fell in love.  I hope you can see it okay, if not, here is the link.  I love green and purple together in nature and the pop of pink just makes the entire piece shine.  I think I will be picking my hydrangeas a bit early this year, instead of letting them dry like I usually do.  And my pink roses might need to be a substitute.... now if I can just remember.

All 50 Completed!

I did it!  All 50 auction "lots" for our Tophatter Spring Auction tomorrow are uploaded.  What a lot of work, but I know it will be fun to try.  I bet you can pick out which ones are my beads and which ones are Jenelle & Dan's.

This is just a sample of what will be available tomorrow.  Sat. 1-3 Eastern Time. It's done in real time. Over 100 offerings. The auctions go quickly and there is online chat for asking questions or saying hi to your friends.  Find us here: http://tophatter.com/auctions/15406  (and you can find my other work at http://www.StudioMarcy.etsy.com.

Madly Listing

Thank goodness I'm not a boat with that blog title!  Actually, I'm working on my 50 listings for this Saturday's Tophatter live auction.  I am experimenting with this, so please come join me and the fun.  1pm EST on Saturday, Feb. 23rd.  This Saturday!

This is how it works.  I am partnering with Jenelle Aubade and her beads which are lovely sets, pairs and very jewelry design oriented. I'm bringing my sculptural pieces so they all complement each other.  The buyers join Tophatter and each piece is offered, one at a time and you bid in real time.  I am there to answer any questions.  And we each have our own little avatar person.  So sometimes you get great deals and sometimes the bidding goes high.  It looks like fun.

Here is the link:  http://tophatter.com/auctions/15406

Please come to see us!

Join Me- Great Bead Sale on Tophatter

This mermaid bead is one of the big variety of beads that I will be auctioning the Saturday, 2/23 at 1pm Eastern Time.  You can see some of the beads on our auction pinterest board here.  I will be adding more tonight and tomorrow.  I will have 50 live auctions and the hosts and really nice people, Jen and her husband will have 50 too.  They are in real time and loads of fun with chat, so you can ask any questions at the time too.  Here is the link... http://tophatter.com/auctions/15406 .  I will have mostly sculptural beads- shells, mermaids, bunnies, eggs, flowers, animals, pets and all kinds of fun glass lampwork beads.  Jen and her husband have a lot of bead sets, pairs and really pretty colors and decorations.  You'll like them.  Most of the auctions have a small minimum which is clearly stated along with a photo, shipping and other pertinent info.  Come see us.  Saturday at 1pm Eastern Time.

Mark Your Calendar

I will be the featured guest artist on a Tophatter Auction this Saturday at 3 ET. Tomorrow I will tell you a bit more! See you then.

Packaging the 'Stache

I love this packaging for the two paintbrush pack that Simon Laliberte created for Poilu.  What a wonderful sense of whimsy, coupled with filling a need.

Both the wider brush and the smaller brush for details are well displayed, have support and certainly catch my eye.  I wish more manufacturers would be this creative.

Love Is In The Air

Yeah, that's right.  Some bunny loves you.  Happy Valentine's Day.

Periwinkles Are Popping

Although the weather can't totally decide what season to be in, I am thrilled to see little periwinkle flowers popping up. It is a sure sign we are headed in the right direction.

Divergent Styles of Jewelry

I had these two photos in my jewelry file and noticed how different they are.  Like opposite ends of the spectrum.

I think I like the simpler style.  ;)

See you tomorrow with photos of some of the glass work that I've been doing recently.  

Four Legged Hipsters

Scotland is doing a tourism promotion "Year of Natural Scotland" with Shetland Ponies wearing hand knitted cardigans by local, Doreen Brown.

I've always wanted to go there, but now, even more.  I wish they'd outfit all their horses in handknit sweaters.  Perhaps there are other animals that could use some sweaters, leg warmers or a cute vest.  Yep, I really want to go!

Great Messages Are Everywhere

I'm in class again today.  Going to work on listening to these wise words!  See you soon with some results from my class.

Beads of Courage Honor

I am delighted to share with you that I am one of 30 lampworkers chosen to be in the inaugural year of the Beads of Courage Bead Artists Hall of Fame.

If you are in Tucson, Beads of Courage is having an event on February 9th.  I'm not at the show, so I will be home wishing I was there to enjoy the honor.

You know, sharing my time and abilities with this wonderful program is so fulfilling.  We see that it means a lot to the families and the kids.  How can anyone not love helping?

ps  These little space guys were some of the Space Shuttle riding bead replicas that I made for Beads of Courage to sell on the website.

More Classes I'm Taking

Today I'm in an enamel class with the wonderful Ricky Frank. I love his cloisonne work.  This is a sample and here is a link to his website. You may have seen him at an ACC show, or in other high level craft shows.

It's a small class of 4 for three days.  Needless to say, it's just the basics and we won't be making anything as wonderful as Ricky's work here.  But I am hoping to take away some new skills and hope there is something that will transfer to my other art.

I will post when I have something new to show.  It might be a few days, while I am busy learning, but see you soon!

Limited Editions...What Do YOU Think?

I was looking at Crate & Barrel's Limited Edition Tea Pots in my email this morning and contemplating their marketing strategy.

We all know that some folks collect them.  And using logic, collectors tend to prefer unique.  So by limiting the number, and making the decoration more "modern" or current, I am wondering how this sells for them.  And whether they are starting a younger generation of collectors of tea pots?

This one is by Yellena James and I like it.  I just don't have room for anything that I don't need right now. I'm at the stage where I need to reduce my collections instead of increase them. (unless we're talking about art supplies and equipment or fun tools)

But it made me think about our Glass Bead business and other art/craft industries.  Many of us do the equivalent of "limited editions".  Would it make any difference if we market them that way?  Food for thought.