Woodstock

Hope you are all enjoying a long holiday weekend! I wanted to share some images we took this weekend when we went to the inaugural concert at the new Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. It is a state of the art outdoor amphitheater built on the site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival. The New York Philharmonic was sounding fantastic and the fireworks after the show were spectacular! If you would like more info go to

We're not flooded - thankfully!

I'm sure you've seen the images of the flooding in Philadelphia and I just wanted to let you all know that so far we're ok. Thankfully, we're up on a ridge and not near the Delaware or Schuylkill rivers. Manayunk, where we were for the art & craft show last weekend, is flooded and hopefully we won't be getting more rain in the future.

Wet Weekend

We spent the weekend getting rained on at the Manayunk Art and Craft Festival. We had fun, but could have done without all the rain! Two of my new PA friends were also selling and didn't have a waterproof tent - ugh!. Kathy and Annette, I hope you've dried out!!

I'm now turning my attention to making beads for the ISGB Gathering, which will take me to Kansas City, MO in July.

This weekend we're going to head up to NY to see Aaron's parents and to go to a performance at the new Woodstock performance arts center. I'll be sure to take the camera!

Progress!!

I'm so excited! Yesterday we had the electrician and driveway guru out to dig up our drive in order to lay a new electrical conduit between the house and the garage. This was the first step to having power in my studio! You'll see the trench, patch, and new electrical panel. It was quite a sight.

New Postcard

I wanted to share an image with you that I'm using for my 2006 postcards. My brother took the photo for me (shphotography.com) and I can't wait to get the cards next week. I'm sending 400 to the International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB) so they can be included in their postcard collection, which is a fundraiser for the organization.

Great time had by all!

I had a safe trip back to Ohio this weekend for the show. The weather was wonderful, even a bit chilly! I was able to stay with a couple of good friends, which of course meant I stayed up too late, but we just had so much to talk about! I took a couple of quick shots of the show and my booth.



While I was gone Aaron put primer on the studio walls!! So we're close to being able to paint and the electrician is planning on coming Thursday so I just might be able to move into the studio by July 1 after all!

I'll keep taking pictures so I can show you the before and after images!

Headed back to Ohio!

Howdy Everyone,

Again, I find myself apologizing for not writing in a very long time. I have a really good excuse, but you'll have to come see me at the Chagrin Falls Show this weekend in Ohio to find out what it is. If you can't make the show you can email me and I'll tell you, I'm just not ready to tell the world yet:).

If you need directions or times of the show just go to my "shows" link from the main page of my web site.

I'll give you a more detailed update after the show!

Back up on eBay!

Well, it took four people to get me back up selling on eBay. Here is an image of my husband (Aaron) working at the computer and my brother (Steven) taking pictures of my beads!! Steven is a professional photographer who came down from NYC with his girlfriend to visit last weekend. It was a huge effort to find all our photography equipment, set up a new area to shoot beads, and update all our eBay information. Hopefully, we'll be able to do this much quicker from now on!

International Flameworking Conference

Here is a group photo of a bunch of beadmakers with Paul Stankard



I gave a presentation on the Past, Present and Future of Glass Beadmaking in the United States




Nancy Tobey gave an amazing demonstration


Here is a close up of the bead


Wheaton Village had a booth


Here I am with my jewelry for sale by Wheaton Village

Yes! I'll be back to sell in Cleveland

Hi Everyone,

I found out this week that I have been accepted into the Chagrin Falls show this year, which will be June 10th and 11th. This will be the ONLY show I'll be doing back in Cleveland. I have also been accepted to several PA shows and will be venturing to NJ and DE for bead shows too. We'll get the website updated soon. Aaron's been really busy with his new job.

no eBay, but picutres!

We were not able to get items up on eBay this week. Aaron's parents came to visit and we had a fun time going to the Philadelphia Flower Show.

As promised here are some images of the move!


First the movers arrived


Jas waited
And Gypsy hid



The three of us left the next day. We were excited at first.


Then we just wanted to relax.


Finally we arrived and Gypsy hid in the bathroom.

We had to sleep on the blow up bed until our stuff arrived.


This is what I've been dealing with ever since!

Progress!

Things are coming together! We now have our phone, internet, washer, dryer and fridge hooked up and running! I've been doing laundry non-stop! I'm also hoping to get some beads up on eBay by Sunday March 12th.

I was able to attend an open torch session this past weekend and met some wonderful beadmakers! Thanks to Christel, Emily, Louise, and Carrie for welcoming me and making me laugh more than I have laughed in a long time:). The following day I went to the Jersey Fire Devils meeting and they were awesome too! I'm feeling better about being in the new area already:).

Argh!

Well, I have the entire studio set up and ready to go and wouldn't you know that I can't find where I packed the mandrels!!! ARGH!! How frustrating. I've been trying to wade through boxes to find them and I finally just gave up for the day. I'll hope to find them tomorrow.

On a brighter note the sun has been out every day here in Philly! I knew it was cloudy in Cleveland, but I didn't know how much I missed the sun!! I have been going out every day in the chilly temps to go for a jog because it is so nice to feel the sun on my face!!

I also found the local glass bead club. They are called the New Jersey Fire Devils...he he I'm sure I'll fit right in:).

We're Alive!!

We survived the move!! The movers arrived to pack last Wednesday and they loaded it all on Thursday and took off. Once I finished cleaning the house I took off for PA with the kitties on Friday. I wasn't sure how we would all survive 7 hours in the car, but we made it! At one point, both kitties were in my lap...I have some great pictures I will share with you as soon as I can. Aaron and I spent the weekend exploring the area and doing all the really fun stuff like opening bank accounts and buying appliances...ugh!

Our stuff was delivered yesterday and of course I unpacked my studio stuff first:). I am going to have a temporary studio in the basement until we can fix up the area above the garage. I'm hoping to finish setting it up so I can make some beads tonight!

We don't have phone or internet service yet so it's going to be a little while still before we can start selling on line again. Right now I am able to use the library computer for 60 minutes every day. That goes by very quickly!

More soon!

Making a Paperweight

Here are some images of me making a paperweight. They are from the class I took with Paul Stankard at the Corning Glass Studio.

This first image is of me picking up the design using a metal cuff with holes in the bottom to let the air out.


The second image is what the top half of the paperweight looks like when it comes out of the cuff.



Next I take a big gather of clear glass and add it for the bottom half of the paper weight. The design I picked up is now sandwiched in between the clear glass.


Next you shape the paperweight.



The finished product (just before I knock it off the glass punty and put it in the kiln)! Along with classmates Ed and Justin.

Moving Forward

Well things are moving forward in all directions! We are set to close on the house I showed you below this Friday the 17th. Aaron is on his way though the blizzard to Philly so he can start work tomorrow. I'm getting our house in Cleveland ready to be put on the market. I am also going to be working the Buyers Market of American Craft (BMAC) show this week, which happens to be in Philly!

BMAC is a wholesale show that offers artists a venue to establish relationships with buyers from all over the country. I have never been to it before, but have heard that it is a fantastic show. I'm not selling my work, but there in my capacity as the VP of Education for the International Society of Glass Beadmakers who organizes the booth.

Future Studio??

Hi Everyone,

So sorry for my silence. We've had so much going on and I have much to tell you! I'm going to post an image of the house we are negotiating for in Philadelphia. It's actually in a town called Abington. It has 3 Bedrooms and 1.5 Baths with a detached 2 car garage. There is a room above the garage that I am planning on turning into my new studio! We'll have to put some work into it (new roof, electrical, heat, paint, and floor) but, I think it will be wonderful to get out of the basement!!

Back from house hunting

Happy New Year everyone!

We made it back home after spending Christmas with Aaron's family and then a few days looking for homes in Philadelphia. We're starting to get over the sticker shock. We are going to have to spend a lot more for less house in Philly.

We're also struggling with whether to live in Philadelphia or in the Suburbs. There is an attraction to living in the bustling city, but it also more difficult! We'll be heading back in about 10 days to look some more (after we start getting our house ready to sell!).

I looked into a studio space to rent instead of keeping my studio in the house and that remains a possibility. It just adds more overhead so I would have to sell more beads!!

OK, we're off to pack:)

Philadelphia here we come!

Over the past several weeks Aaron and I have been traveling the country for interviews and have finally accepted a position in Fort Washington, PA. I interviewed for three faculty positions and received two job offers (in SC, and CA). But, the job Aaron interviewed for was really the best option for us and since we've lived in that area before, I'm confident I'll be able to find a position. So, over the next couple of months we'll be packing and moving! I'll have to pack up my studio, but hope to have it up and running as soon as possible (the studio is the first thing I unpack of course:).

We'll miss all of our friends in Ohio, but hope that we will meet many new ones in PA.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

I'm not ignoring you!!

Hi everyone,

I am sorry that I haven't posted more lately. Lots of things have been going on (all good), but nothing is finalized so I can't quite tell you the specifics. I'll just say that 2006 will bring a move for us out of Ohio. We're excited and overwhelmed at the same time!

We'll be traveling to visit family over the Holidays and looking for houses. I promise I'll post more details as soon as we know!

Happy Holidays!!

Welcome HGTV viewers and Happy Birthday!

Hi Everyone,

The segment on my work aired again on the HGTV show Crafters Coast to Coast and it also happens to be my birthday today! What a nice birthday present. There are lots of exciting things going on in our lives, but I haven't had a chance to update you. I hope to do that after this weekend, which will also be the last show of the year for me! It's in Cleveland at the I-X center I hope you'll come by to say hi!

Katy

Welcome HGTV viewers and Happy Birthday!

Hi Everyone,

The segment on my work aired again on the HGTV show Crafters Coast to Coast and it also happens to be my birthday today! What a nice birthday present. There are lots of exciting things going on in our lives, but I haven't had a chance to update you. I hope to do that after this weekend, which will also be the last show of the year for me! It's in Cleveland at the I-X center I hope you'll come by to say hi!

Katy

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had a great Turkey day! We were a little overloaded trying to get out of town before the holiday and I just didn't have a chance to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving.

We headed to IN to visit my grandmother, parents, and sisters. Grammie fell on Monday and bonked her head really hard. She was still pretty shaky when we arrived on Tuesday evening. We ended up having a nice visit, although it was bittersweet because my grandparents would have celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary this Thanksgiving. We had a toast in Grampie's memory.

On a lighter note, I have a show next weekend! I'll be heading to Youngstown, OH on Dec. 2-4 for a holiday show at the Butler Museum of Art. I hope those of you that live nearby can stop by and say hello!

OK, I'll have to write about the mouse poop cookies tomorrow:)

It's a mystery

I just received the letter that my ornament was not selected to be hung on the Governor's tree. That's two years in a row I've been rejected. It sure does sting a little. Oh well, what else can I do but keep plugging along???

12 pound turkey

So we received a flyer from the local chocolate factory and they are selling a 12 pound solid milk chocolate turkey for a mere $75.00!! HOLY COW! Now that's the kind of turkey I want to serve on Thanksgiving!!

SOFA pictures

I took some pictures using my camera phone while I was at the SOFA show in Chicago. The art work was amazing! The Corning Museum of Glass had their traveling hot glass shop set up and I was able to watch people blow glass too! Here are a few of the delights.

Back from Indiana

I forgot to give you warning that I was going to be heading to Indiana last week to see my Grandmother. I made it back home last night. Grammie is doing remarkably well. Her health has stabilized for now and while she would rather be in her own home, she has been making the best of her life in the nursing home.

Her roommate is very nice and they keep each other on their toes. I baked them some cookies and took some chocolate covered pretzels from Malleys (a famous Cleveland chocolate company). Grammie and I would take off for a few hours in the afternoon and either go back to her home or out to visit my mom. Grammie was just happy to 'be away from that place'.

So, this weekend I'm off to the SOFA (Sculptural Objects and Functional Art) show in Chicago. I'm helping out at the ISGB (International Society of Glass Beadmakers) resource table during the show and also going to see one of my college roommates! It should be fun (although, I would rather stay home:)).

2005 Ornament

I've created and submitted a new ornament for the Treasures for the Tree Project (TFTP). The purpose of the TFTP is to showcase the works of current Ohio artists and craftspeople by decorating the Governor's Residence official holiday tree. Fifty ornaments are selected (10 per region of the state). My ornaments were selected four years in a row and then last year my snowman ornament was not selected (bummer). Below is the new ornament titled 'Mistletoe' and has over 30 beads wire wrapped onto a metal chain.

Creating a Bra from Scratch....

One of the gallery owners I have worked with in Cleveland sent out a call for entries last month. She asked that artists decorate bras with things like puffy paint, watercolors, or fabric and bring them into her gallery. She would put them on display and auction them off to raise money for breast cancer research. I thought this was a wonderful idea! She had some bras that she was giving to artists the bigger the better he he :).

Below you will see three images of the bra I created.

I wanted to construct a bra out of metal and beads and found a variety of types of copper to use in forming the structure. Using copper tubing and mesh I formed the metal around a female form and literally stitched the mesh, using copper wire, around the tubing in some instances. Because I couldn't bend the copper tubing into a tight spiral to form the bra cups, I switched to glass beads strung on copper wire, which brought the piece together in the end. I didn't start out thinking I would create a bra from scratch, but pieces of it just evolved and using my own bras as patterns helped!

The gallery owner loved the bra! She is going to let me know how the auction goes and hopes that I win the 'viewers choice' award!

Mouse in the House!

The other night I was making beads and kept thinking one of the cats was walking down around my feet, which was odd because they just typically leave me alone. When I would pause and look down I wouldn't see anything so I thought I was just losing my mind. THEN, I saw the little critter! It stopped and stared at me and then ran by. It was a very cute tiny mouse. One would think with two cats in the house we wouldn't have any mice.

So, I brought Gypsy (AKA BK for Bunny Killer) down to the basement with me and shut the door so she couldn't leave hoping that she could rid my studio of the rodent. She climbed up to the top of the steps and cried until I let her out. I couldn't even believe it!

I guess I'll have to go find a live trap so I can catch the little bugger and stick it outside (just so it can find it's way in again according to my husband:).

I'm not ignoring you!

Sorry for the long delay in posting. I've been working on some brand new beads for a few juried shows that are coming up in 2006. One is a traveling show and the two others are publications. All of the deadlines are Oct. 1st so I've had to ignore some things, like this blog, in order to get those applications out. I'll post some images soon.

I'm going to be selling beads only at the upcoming Intergalactic Bead Show in Cleveland (Oct. 1 & 2nd at the Berea Co. Fairgrounds 10-5pm both days). Hope you'll come by and say hello. I don't have another show until December.

I am planning on going to see Grammie in October for a little bit. She has been living in an nursing home for several weeks now and has been getting stronger, but still dealing with lots of complications. We just can't seem to get ahead of the game. It's really frustrating for all of us.

My Brother's Photography

My brother just finished putting up a web site and I thought you might like to see some of his work. Steve has been a professional photographer in NYC since 1980 (with a few years spent living in Amsterdam). Follow this link
www.shphotography.com

Consider Donating to CERF

Like all of you we have been horrified by the devastation in the South. I would like to raise some awareness of a charity that is dedicated to helping artists called the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF). You can go to http://www.craftemergency.org/ for more information.

When a dear artist friend of my passed away in 2004 I asked that people make donations in her memory to CERF and knew it was what she would have wanted.

Won't you join me in donating to CERF to help the artists in the area??

Thank you!

Beginner Classes Scheduled!!

I've been working on finding a location to teach a beginner beadmaking class and have finally found one!! We have set dates for three classes this fall and I'm really excited! My glass blowing friend, Sue Berry, is arranging for me to use her Superior Street Studio space in Cleveland (corner of Superior & 36th St).

Each class is a one day class that will run from 9:30-5pm. I'll provide all the equipment and supplies for a fee of $125.00. Please bring a sack lunch. The dates are listed below and we'll also get them up on the Learn section of the website. You can register and pay for the class through me. We need at least 4 students to have the class and we can have a maximum of eight students. Please contact me for more information!

Dates Scheduled:
Saturday September 10th
Saturday October 15th
Saturday November 5th

Hot Rods

I enjoyed hosting the Hot Rods meeting yesterday, even though we had torrential down pours at first. We had to hide out in our garage (no, our living room isn't that big). Aaron grilled burgers & dogs in the rain. Everything was yummy. Aaron and Doug also cut down a dead tree we had...boy that was something to watch!

We're also dog sitting for some friends of ours. Cookie is really sweet, but she has been using our floor as a toilet even though we take her for walks outside constantly!! Our cats are NOT happy with the new house guest. They will be very glad to see her go home tonight.

I just returned from Toledo where I picked up a used indoor booth display from an artist who has stopped doing shows. It's really nice and I'm looking forward to trying it out in December for the By-Hand show. It's funny that the display material for a show takes up more room than my actual inventory!!

Back from Philly!

I'm back from yet another trip. This time it was to Philadelphia, our old home! Here is a picture taken of me by the Liberty Bell (it was only about 105 degrees when I was there). I ate as much mango water ice as I could!! I love that stuff!



I was attending the American Sociological Association annual scientific conference. I was also talking with some potential employers about faculty positions. That always raises my anxiety level!

I'm hosting the Hot Rods monthly meeting on Saturday so I have to clean and do some grocery shopping. My article is out in the Sept/Oct Step By Step Beads magazine too, you'll have to check it out! I submitted images of how I make the alien bead.

ahh sleep!

Well, I think I've finally recovered from all the recent traveling just in time to hit the road again Friday for Philadelphia! I'm attending the American Sociological Association Meetings and will be interviewing for faculty positions that would begin next August.

Did you know we lived in Philly in 1996?? It was a lot of fun and quite stressful at the same time. I'm looking forward to going back for a few days.

Grammie is still in the hospital and is having trouble with her hemoglobin levels. When I talked to her the other day on the phone she said 'They're trying to kill me!" (they meaning the hospital staff). She's just tired of all the different procedures and each one leaves her progressively weaker.

My brother's 45th birthday is next week so I'm trying to find a cool present for him. Let me know if you have any suggestions!

Thanks Lakewood!

We enjoyed ourselves during the Lakewood show yesterday! Even though the wind struck again and knocked over one of the pedestals and took out all the spinner mugs. The beads were fine, but all the ceramic mugs were broken to bits. It made the loudest noise! ugh. That is one of the down sides to doing shows.

Then we met our friends Doug & Aline for dinner and had a great time!

I'll try to post some pictures of the pieces I had accepted into the Kentucky Museum of Art & Craft this week!

Katy

Whew!

I'm so relieved that it has finally cooled off a bit here in Cleveland just in time for my show in Lakewood tomorrow! I was starting to get worried that I would lose my trusty help (Aaron) if too many of the shows were in 100 degree heat!

Please come by and say hello! I'm off to make some aliens (I sold out during the Gathering bead show!!).

Pictures!

As promised here are some pictures of Lucio Bubacco creating a goblet with a sculpture as the stem. First he created the devil then attached the base and top goblet. He took a short break and came back and added the small angel. It was like watching a one person symphony!

Odds and ends

No pictures yet, I was so tired last night that I just fell asleep on the couch! I promise to get some up tonight. All I was able to take care of yesterday was paperwork..ugh. I paid the KY sales tax I owed, took care of mailing out eBay items (huge line at the post office). I'm starting to search the faculty positions that are coming out this month that will start Aug. 2006. It looks like there are a lot of nice opportunities!

Grammie had emergency surgery yesterday to remove a blood clot in her leg. We were told she had 'extensive' clotting. She had a good night in the critical care unit but we were all pretty nervous.

OK, more updates to come....

I'm Back!!

Hi Everyone! It's SO nice to be back home! I had a wonderful time taking the class with Lucio Bubacco and hope to post some pictures later today. I also attended the Gathering in Louisville (beadmaking conference) and sold a bunch of beads, and then promptly turned around and bought more glass and tools:).

I'm now working on getting ready for the Lakewood show coming up THIS Saturday, Aug. 6th. Let's just hope it's not another 99 degree day!!

More soon!

Hitting the Road Yet Again

Hello everyone! I wanted to let you all know that I'm leaving town tomorrow for the class with Lucio and then for board meetings and conference of the International Society of Glass Beadmakers. I'll be back Aug. 1st and in the mean time Aaron will try to hold down the fort and ship out orders.

Grammie is holding her own, after the cancer scare last week (turns out it wasn't cancer) she is doing well in PT & OT and is going to try to go home next Wednesday with 24 hour care.

The next show is Lakewood on Sat. Aug 6th! Let's just hope it isn't 99 degrees out! I'll try to post while I'm gone and give you updates!

Thank You Willougby!

Well, I spent last week in Indiana with my grandmother who had to have a couple of procedures on her kidney performed. We were all pretty scared. She had a blockage in the tube that runs from her kidney to her bladder and almost went into renal failure if it weren't for some quick thinking on the part of my mom. Anyway, after a pretty emotionally draining week I high tailed it back to Cleveland for the Willoughby ArtsFest yesterday and was so pleasantly surprised! The weather was horrible, really hot and humid and then thunder and lightening in the afternoon. Despite the weather many repeat customers came by to say hi and I met several new ones! Thank all of you who supported me by buying my work!! It was a really nice end to a stressful week.

More to come soon I promise!

I'm taking a class!

I'm very excited because I will be taking a class with Lucio Bubacco in two weeks! I found out that there was a cancellation this past week and quickly grabbed the spot. Lucio is a well known Italian glass artist and you can see some of his work at www.luciobubacco.com. One of my dreams is to travel to Italy and go to the island of Murano, but for now a little piece of Murano will be in Indiana!

I have replenished almost all of my inventory just in time for the Willoughby show next Saturday. I'm hoping it won't be as hot as the previous shows have been. Aaron has been working on putting new items up on the web site too. We went to see the Fantastic 4 last night, it was fun. If you don't go with any expectations you'll probably enjoy it:).

Happy 4th of July!

The weather has been wonderful for this long weekend! We had a few friends over Saturday night for a little celebration. Yesterday we went to see Star Wars and yes, it was far better than the previous two. I think today we'll try to see War of the Worlds. I realized I hadn't seen a movie since the Fall of 2004. Eek! The dissertation really took over! So we're trying to make up for it now I guess:)

I've also been making a lot of beads and pocket vases to get ready for the Willoughby show that is July 16th.

Many of you have asked about Grammie and I haven't posted much about her because I am so sad about the fact that she is in a nursing home now. She was hospitalized about a week ago and the doctors were arguing about whether or not she had congestive heart failure. In the meantime, she had fluid on her lungs so they were dehydrating her in attempts of getting the fluid removed...ugh. I could go on and on but, essentially, she was transferred to a nursing home last week and I'm not optimistic that she'll recover enough to go back home.

Well, I don't want to leave you all on that sad note so on a lighter note I think we'll be using up the sparklers we bought last year at the karate and fireworks store in Erie, PA off of I-90. If you've never stopped there (on your way to NY) you really must. It's a hoot! We go for the entertainment value and leave with 50$ worth of fireworks...he he.

Have a great 4th everyone!