Getting Better all the time!

Well a little better anyways.. writing blogs I mean. So I have a really great tip for people who, like me, wash a dish at a time rather than putting them in the dishwasher. Not that I was "one" dish at a time.. but I use a dish, leave it out.. then when I need to use it again I have to wash it.. I used to squirt a bit of dish soap out and clean it, but it was bother me because all the soaps are "ultra" concentrated now and I am sure I am using too much. I got a sprayer bottle and made a dish soap mixture. Now when I use the dish... I spray the dish soap mixture on it and easy as pie... it is ready to brush a bit and rinse.. I love my little idea.
I feel like I have finally recovered from the Holiday rush, the big sale, and inventory etc... Now to get ready for Tucson. During January we were fortunate enough to have a couple of great bead teachers. Huib Petersen and Met Immon. I learned from met how to properly stretch your beading thread, and that fireline can be colored by using your inkjet color cartridge. We made some great little shoes, and a beautiful right angle we necklace. Met had us working on the Egyptian wave bracelet, and crystal triad. Very interesting. Not constructed at all the way I thought. We learned how many times each thread size passes thru different beads.
Cynthia Rutledge, Melanie Potter are coming up.. a couple of the classes are sold out already so if you are interested don't delay. Happy beading everyone.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone!... I have to say I think I am more excited about 2010 than I have been about any other year. Not that 2009 was bad. I actually had and accomplished alot of goals and had fun. I think it just got so crazy at the end of the year with sales, and my final pushes to clear out clutter, and then do inventory that I just feel tired and ready to put that behind and start anew. The end of year sale went great, thanks to all of you that attended. And a special thanks to those of you who showed up every day. I hope everyone had a great holiday time with friends and family. Liisa and Jaani come over for Christmas. We played on the Wii that I got myself for my birthday, and we ate little pizza's for lunch. Use some really healthy and hearty english muffins, made from sprouted grains. They tasted a little too healthy. For dinner we went all out with homemade potatoe soup. Simple. Well Liisa and Jaani might have had to stop and get pizza on the way home. It was a fun day till we started playing monoply on the wii. OMG it started dragging. Get money buy things, owe money and have to sell... Liisa, Jaani and I were all trying to escape but Erkki wouldn't let us go bankrupt so we made some crazy selling deals to get out of the game..It was funny. So now the new year starts... We have several new beading classes we are working on, and I am excited to have time to work on that.. Have a safe and happy year. Glenda

In the state Capital

Erkki and I came to visit FSU on this thanksgiving break. I am surprized at the different landscape. Tallahassee has lots of Hills, and lots of trees. I see why they call it the Other Florida.

Shocked

I am really shocked that it has been so long since I last wrote.. Somehow I feel like I write much more than I actually do... Guess it is just done in my mind.
Last time was after Bead and Button Show.. Just found out that we (Liisa and I ) have been choosen to teach 5 classes there for 2010. Pretty cool... Liisa and Jaani just got back from their vacation to Finland.. Happy to have them back. Linkin has been up to his usual tricks..trouble.. and I hear him running outside now.. Sounds like a herd of horses.. Erkki has been intent on fine tuning his acting, singing, and dancing. Taking lessons at the Craig Wich Studio in Jupiter. Working with a college coach and sunday will start a SAT coach. Plus he puts in 10 hours a week work.. I just saw that Tony Robbins is going to be in Chicago.. OH... my two favortie things outside of beading.. I would love to go.. but then I'd have to do a fire walk and I am afraid.. eating fire and breaking boards is enough for me. But I would really love to go there. I joined the Palm Beach Gardens Kiwanis Club. Very happy. It is a great group and there have been lots of opportunitys for community service. So stop in and see some of the new designs that Liisa and I have created.
Around the block, made of swarovski crystallized elements, and Caught in the net.
I made some really authenic looking christmas tree earrings... I always loved minatures. I am working now on another new design. Liisa's necklace was in the current Bead Style so check that out, and be on the look out for BEAD STAR Magazine.
On a sad note.. Sue will be going back up North so nex Wed the 21 during open bead daynight... from 2-8:00 feel free to stop in to say good bye. We will miss her.

Shannon Hill

I found out today that Shannon passed away on June 21, 2009. I saw this on his web site.

October 29, 1968-June 21, 2009

Shannon's great talent will live on in his beautiful glass work; his love of glass will live on in his students; his heart and soul will live on in his children, family, and friends. We are better for having had him in our lives. Until next time, Obiwan.

The Shannon Hill Project will be unveiled at the International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB) annual Gathering July 20-26, 2009, in Miami , Florida. The Project is a tribute, and a way for his friends and fellow glass artists to show their appreciation. The Project is a collaborative effort that combines Shannon ’s passion for glass with his love of the sea in the form of an aquarium filled with glass sculptures depicting various ocean creatures and sea life. Many glass artists have graciously agreed to participate in the Project.
go to www.needabead.com for more information.

I am very sad to hear of his passing. I will miss him.

Hello

Well reading some bits of news on the internet... trying to find out if things are getting better or worse.. Reports in both directions.. So I am going to say they are getting better.. Stock market had best three months since 2007. Well that's a good thing right?
Did you know that you can click on the title link to comment on any blogs? I'd like to hear from you, and to know if anyone is out there.. Hello...anyone there?

Spinach smoothies

I was surfing the net the other night and came across a raw food site. They showed a green drink smoothie. We tried it and it was very good, I changed it a bit, here is the recipe. 2 ripe bananas, 1 bag of spinach, a touch of agave nectar, ice and some udo's oil. It is very energizing and took away my coffee desire. A couple of years ago... I don't think I could have downed a green drink, but since we have been drinking our wheat grass 2x's a day.. it is growing on me. Oh I didn't tell you about the wheat grass. Well one of the tapes I was listening to said we really need to get more alkaline in our bodies and one of the best ways is green drinks. Wheat grass is pretty strong.. and usually done best when fresh. A little shot.. however the guy at whole foods told if you can't get it fresh then frozen is 2nd best, and freeze dried from wheat grass juice is 3rd best..
On the beading front.. today I mixed 12 hanks of 6/0 and 7/0 into a tub and then packed them in tubes.. only to later realize that I mixed the two sizes.. Urghh......Well the good news is I remembered that I had a pearl sorting cup that I bought in the beginning of my jewelry making career... And I found it right in the drawer in my bench where I had put it.. and it is working perfectly to help me sort the 2 sizes..!!! I love it when I can use something I have been saving for all these years.. The beads are fantastic... we got in 5/0, 6/0, 7/0, 2/0, fire polished picasso 3 cut seed beads.. Jaani will get them up on the web site soon.. they really are fun! Have a great weekend