Finally Cut

A new look:
Well It finally happened.. I cut my hair and donate it to Locks of Love... Erkki and I went on a Disney Cruise during spring break and I just couldn't imagine trying to wash my hair in a tiny ship shower.. as it turned out the Disney ship had pretty spacious showers. We had alot of fun and it was picture perfect weather, and since Liisa just cut my braid off I sat in the beauty shop chair on the ship and got it all trimmed up even.. It is now a little below my shoulders ready to grow again.

Erkki:
See Erkki in the new Marlins commercial. If any of you watch baseball... check out the Marlins games and see Erkki in one of their commercials. He is the "kid who was at a game with his dad... not having fun at first and then talking and having fun"
I had to break down and buy cable so we could watch it ourselves...Humm... got a hair cut and subscribed to cable...all in one month..

Dogs:
Linkin had a sore neck last Saturday, and was supposed to be on "crate rest". We were babysitting Liisa's dog, Sunny, and they all started running around,, Lilly nipped at Linkin.. So back we went to the emergency room for Linkin to get his 6th set of stitches/staples.. He loves the Holidays..Christmas Day, Easter, and late nights...and the emergency room loves us..I think I need to learn how to use that staple gun...

Crystal Creations:
We are getting lots of new classes ready for the summer.. this is the time to start thinking about your holiday gifts. Make jewelry, key chains, eye glass holders, bracelets, rings, beaded ornaments etc...You can make something for everyone on your list. How about taking some classes with your work friends!

If you love lampwork beads we are getting some new shipments in from Nancy Toby. The new metal findings, and chains that just arrived are really cool in Antique Brass, bronze, copper and black metal.. FUN!

Well I Hope everyone has a great weekend.. We have a guest teacher Shelly Nybakke
I am really looking forward to some beading fun! Take care

New Year New Year!

Hope everyone had a happy holiday season. I was going to go to Chicago but it was too cold and snowy... so instead we spent the time just doing things around town and inventory. The computer system was supposed to make it easier.. I am not convinced of that yet. I believe in one of my last blogs I said my whole life was beads.. well I have since discovered that I am really a taxi driver in disguise. I drive my son to Guys and Dolls rehersal 3x's a week... It's really 2 guys and all the rest dolls.. Erkki is Sky Masterson. The performance is at the JCC on Feb. 5th, 6th, and 8th...they really need to spread the word so lets get some peoplefor the audience. I also recently spend the day at the South Florida fair with Erkki and his 2 friends who created the band NAFF.. and they won (tied) First place at the "battle of the bands" Pretty interesting since he just started playing the drums about 4 months ago.. The performance was great and there is a video of it on his facebook page. He has an interniship with the Palm Beach Opera, so we go there sometimes 2-3 times a week. And he was doing 3 performances for the district thespian competition. One "Dirt" was a large group musical that he was in and directed, it won a superior, and then he was in a pantomine and a small group musical, the pantomine won critics Choice (the best) so they will perform it at the State Competition. So we had rehersals for that a couple times a week.. Then we squeezed in voice lessons, dance lessons, and acting lessons, oh and a gala at the Maltz theater in Jupiter. I really have to say that we had a couple of very hairy weeks. During this time though I was able to get my new class "Golden Nepal" up and running.. and Liisa, my daughter came up with some very atsounding new classes and samples.. The latest "Broque Movement" is really beautiful. I am looking forward to a very fun and creative year and hope you are also. take care, glenda

The Holiday Season is upon us!

I have so many great new things to tell you! We have started a new area on the front page of the website for Quotes and Artist of the Week, where we can show off some of our students GREAT work! So if you have been in a class and would love to show off what you've done be sure to bring it in. It doesn't have to be what you made in the class, it can be any of the work you have been inspired to do. We have started our yearly "Count Down to the New Year Sale". Everyone looks forward to this Sale year after year. this is the time as we get ready for inventory we move out all the old to make room for next years new. Everyday we find and put new items on sale!
*** Be super sure that you check the sale table every time you come in.

Liisa and I collaborated on a new kit called with 3 pairs of "Snowflake Earrings" and it is on sale for a limited time...They are really very festive and make great gifts.

We have had so many new people coming in asking about what are the most important classes for them to take to get a grip on beading and we have always suggested, Basic, Tropical (for making drops and dangles, earrings etc) and pearl knotting. So we have made a special starter pack for new beaders. Sign up for the Basic and Tropical and get the Pearl Knotting Class FREE. With those three classes you really will be all set to go.

Some exciting news is that Liisa and I have been accepted to teach at the Bead and Button show in Milwaukee next June. I am very excited about that. It has been something I have wanted to do for quite some time and we finally took the time to enter some designs. Be on the look out too for some of our new work to be featured in the "Step by Step Wire" magazine and "Bead Style" magazine.

Erkki was just in a staged reading at the Jupiter Maltz Theater. It was for the emerging artist series. I was really impressed with his singing. I never really heard him sing on stage before.. I just always heard the "in the car singing". More and more I see him developing his passion. In December he will be in a performance with the Doo Wop group. I believe it is a night of Doo Wop Holiday Music.

So we have been busy with lots of new ideas, new kits, new classes, rehearsals, and school work. Seems like Linkin and Lilly are the only ones who get to lounge around all day. So remember to bring in your work for us to see so we can get you in the gallery and make it a great week. Remember to go out and VOTE! Glenda