What a Beauty!

Thank you to Kerry Vine, one of my customers, who sent in this picture of a necklace she created using a focal bead I made. Isn't it lovely!! You can see more of Kerry's work at www.dvinedzines.com

Never a dull, or dry moment

Well, our latest adventure has to do with our house. We had a stain start to develop in the kitchen ceiling and so we called the plumber. He started by just replacing the seal on the upstairs toilet, but the stain kept growing. Since we couldn't tell where the leak was coming from, we now have a wonderful 2 foot by 6 foot hole in our kitchen ceiling and plaster dust everywhere!! The leak is coming from the drain pipe that is as old as the house (80+ years). Everytime we flush the upstairs toilet the person in the kitchen gets a shower....ick!! Aaron put up a make shift bucket to catch the water. I think we'll be eating out until this is fixed!!

NYC Trip

My parents came to visit on Sunday and so we ran up to NYC to see my brother. We had a great time at the Museum of Natural History. The exhibition about Darwin and evolution was really interesting!

We also had pizza and ice cream down by the Brooklyn bridge across from lower Manhattan. I loved this sign at the ice cream parlor!

Gathering Images

Howdy Everyone,

I'm back from the Gathering and I think a good time was had by all:). I had a miserable time getting home (United overbooked all the flights from DC to Philly so I ended up having to rent a car to drive home!).

Anyway, Here are some quick shots and I'll have more once I unpack all the goodies I traded and purchased.


Some of my friends from the board


My Table at the Bead Bazaar


The anniversary gift Aaron bought me (artist Milon Townsend)


The bead show at Aesthetica Gallery


The beads I had in the Gallery Show

This Week

I'm heading out for the Gathering tomorrow for the next week and so I won't be able to fill any orders or respond to emails until July 24th. I have the camera packed and will take lots of pictures! I'm going to be in board meetings for the first couple of days and the conference starts on Thursday evening. I have been working night and day to make beads for the bead bazaar and am hot and tired!!

Aaron said the shopping cart was back up and running for now. He's going to be purchasing a new system soon that is 'more reliable'. Hope you all have a great week!

shopping cart snafu

Thanks to those of you who alerted us to the fact that our shopping cart server was down. We've contacted the company and will try to figure out what is going on with them. Aaron had a few choice words to say about them and is ready to switch to a new host, but just doesn't have the time right now to do it. For now, if you would like to purchase something, just email me and we'll do it the old fashion way:)

katy@abbottglassdesigns.com

Thanks!

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