Are you entering?

I am!  The ISGB Convergence II competition that is.  Here is the scoop, straight from ISGB:

THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF GLASS BEADMAKERS ANNOUNCES

CONVERGENCE II: ADORNING THE PAST, PRESENT, AND PRETEND
JEWELRY DESIGN WITH ART GLASS BEADS INSPIRED BY PERSONAS OF FACT AND FICTION
The International Society of Glass Beadmakers invites you to participate in our 2010 exhibition!

Due to the incredible response we received for our 2009 project, Convergence, andwith the depth of work that was submitted, we have decided to revisit the concept for a second year with a few updates.

Convergence II is a juried show that will feature functional, wearable jewelry showcasing the use of handmade glass beads designed for an imaginary or historic figure (i.e., What jewelry might Amelia Earhart have worn – a compass necklace or a pendant of a bird in flight? What type of cufflinks would the Phantom of the Opera wear? If Madeleine Albright was speaking to the General Assembly of the United Nations, what brooch would she wear? What considerations would you make when designing a necklace for Marie Antoinette- would you make a heavily fortified choker? Would you make an Art Nouveau style hair comb for Rapunzel?) The possibilities and interpretations are endless and the stories of inspiration, we think, will be amazing to share!

Here is your chance, either as a solo artist or with a partner or partners of your choice, to participate in this one-of-a-kind exhibition. Jewelry can include, but is not limited to, components such as seed beads, fine metal, PMC, fibers, etc. We encourage you to use multiple mediums for your work. The main focus of the piece, of course, must be the glass bead(s).

Our mission is to once again showcase how handmade glass beads are incorporated into exhibition-quality jewelry, to develop a purchase-on-demand ISGB catalog of the exhibition pieces, and to publish selected jewelry with tutorials in various glass-related publications. We will also produce and make available a wonderful art card of the exhibition!

The exhibition will open in Rochester, NY at the 18th Annual Gathering. From there, Convergence II will travel to several different locations over the next twelve (12) months. In June 2011, Convergence II will be on display at the Bead&Button Show in Milwaukee and it will close in Ohio in July 2011.
My piece is done, Chris wrote the story, and now all I have to do is submit it.  When will you see it?  Well, the submission deadline is Feb 24, so I plan to post it on that day exactly.  Until then you will just have to wait. :)

January 20, 2010  Tags: , , ,   Posted in: bead show  No Comments

How to clean poop off your laptop.

Hime the wonder dog.

Not what you thought you would be seeing as a post title, was it?  Well in addition to being a mud eating dog, Hime loves loves loves to sit on my lap.  And usually I don’t mind.  About every couple of days I let her up for a snuggle.  Occasionally she surprises me while I’m working and jumps up without being invited.  The last time she did that, I had my laptop in my lap.

When I opened my laptop the next day, I discovered poop in my laptop between the keyboard and the screen!  Hime had shoved her little poopy butt against my laptop to wipe it off.  She has yet to figure out that she can wipe off those annoying pooplets by rubbing her tushie in the grass.

So back to the post title.  The best way to get poopies off your laptop is to let them dry there, and then scrape them off with a damp paper towel.  Cleaning them off when the poopies are wet just leads to smeared poop.  Using too wet a paper towel will also make them smear.

So check that doggie tushie, and remember, damp paper towel not wet.

January 19, 2010  Tags: , , ,   Posted in: bulldog  No Comments

Finally finished!

Sylvie's Dolly

Covering up boo-boos

I finally finished the dolly I started in Sylvie’s class.  I made her into a decoration instead of a bracelet.  The sleeve’s are different from the ones we learned to do in class too.

I did have a few problems with the neck, mostly because I didn’t measure how far around it was first.  So the neck didn’t fit in the dress.  Which meant I had to add around the neck, which gave her a really lumpy neck.  So I covered it all up with bead loops, and now you can’t tell at all!

I also had to redo the arms because I didn’t measure right for the hands.  Starting to see a theme here? :)   I think next time I will measure better.

Overall, she turned out really cute.  However I am not a cutesy person, so I think I’ll be making some skull beads to try the beading techniques with next time.

January 18, 2010  Tags: , , ,   Posted in: bead  3 Comments

I wonder…

Hair!!!

I used to have very short straight hair.  Then I started growing it out for locks of love, which is a great group that makes wigs out of regular people hair for kids going through chemo, or having other issues that deprive them of hair.

Locks of Love Mission Statement:

Our mission is to return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children. The children receive hair prostheses free of charge or on a sliding scale, based on financial need.

Permed hair is ok for Locks of Love, even dyed hair.  Just not bleached hair, since that weakens the hair so much they can’t make a good wig from it.  They even take gray hair!

Over Christmas I got a Hair Bear perm.  I wonder how many people will recognize me at the conference today?

January 14, 2010  Tags:   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Rise, my army!

LOLcats strikes again!

This was just too funny.  I wish I could say I was responsible for it, but it was on LOLcats.  Today I am on my way to a math conference in San Fransisco.  It sounds really cool, but I fly in late Wednesday, talk on Thursday, and fly out on Friday.  No time for sight seeing. :(

January 13, 2010  Tags: ,   Posted in: Uncategorized  One Comment

Where Dozer goes, Hime follows.

Nap time

More nap time.

January 12, 2010  Tags: , ,   Posted in: bulldog  3 Comments

Sylvie’s Class

Sylvie's Head over Heals bracelet

Yes, Sylvie has class.  She also teaches classes.  I took one of her classes over New Year, and we learned to make a cute little ring and a bracelet.  Sylvie is a great teacher, and you can see more of her work at her web site. The ring was super cute… i.e. not me.  So I gave it to my friend Heidi, since she is super cute. :)   The bracelet you see here is one of Sylvie’s, and mine is so not like it.  I’m not quite done with it yet, but as soon as I get it done I will post a picture.

January 11, 2010  Tags: , , , ,   Posted in: Indie Spotlight, jewelry  2 Comments

Giveaway from one of my fave designers!

Sand Fibers Giveaway!

Carol Dean Sharpe makes some great woven seed bead bracelets and patterns that are fun and easy to follow.  And now she is having a $100 giveaway at her blog.  I hope I win!

You can see more of her work on Etsy, and keep up with her latest work at Facebook.  One of my favorite pieces is her Hugs and Kisses pattern.

Hugs and Kisses

January 10, 2010  Tags: , , ,   Posted in: etsy  No Comments

Hair!

Over Christmas break I got a perm.  It is all fluffy like a dandelion.  I keep telling people I have “Hair Bear” hair, but I’m finding out most people don’t remember the Hair Bear Bunch.  So just as a little reminder, here they are!

January 9, 2010  Tags: ,   Posted in: Uncategorized  2 Comments

Murrini Listings

Spring Flower Murrini Mix

Spring Flower Murrini Mix

I am going hog wild adding murrini to my Artfire shop.  Chris has taken lovely pictures, and I’ll be adding more through the rest of the week.  If you want some special murrini and you don’t see it, just give me a holler!  And for a limited time (i.e. until I run out) I will be sending a free pair of fuzzy winter socks with each order!

November 28, 2009  Tags: ,   Posted in: artfire, glass  3 Comments