Labradoite and Moss Glass Beads

Another Custom Set

Vanilla Creme Sighs

 
Its been a while, but I am back and hoping to get more postings up and running. I actually have been inspired by my brother Greg's blog, Red Mesa Cafe and hope if you get a chance you will check it out as well. I am still working on my jewelry and headed in lots of new directions, all of which excite and inspire. Along with my fused glass pieces, I am still wire wrapping, but have taken on beadwork and chain maille as well. Its always the creative mind at work or should I say, creative mind at play. I have also started to sell some of my over stock on Etsy and you can find some of those goodies at http://Glasscreekstudio.etsy.com, so be sure to stop by there on your cyber travels. The last year has been a real transition for me and along with my artwork, I have found the need to start working again. I have a wonderful boss who has also become a close friend and I spend most of my days in a faux tropical setting where I am experimenting with new ideas for jewelry related to sea life and underwater animals. Who would of thought! And I haven't given up my other passion of vintage clothing, jewelry and accessories. My Etsy shop (http://Glasscreestudio.etsy.com) has a wide selection of my collection and I am always on the hunt for more treasures to add to it. As far as my artwork goes, I still feel the joy of creating and there is nothing better than seeing the smiles on my customer's faces when they find that special piece. I am doing a lot more custom work and am lucky to have some dedicated clients who keep me on my toes month after month. To all of them, I am eternally grateful and count my blessings every day.
These days are constantly full of constant challenges and I look forward to a year full of positive changes, new friends, new adventures and lots more jewelry making!

Will this be the last Snow of the Season

I have just finished reading my brother Greg's blog from his Red Mesa Cafe site and am so mindful of the pictures and adventures he holds in his mind. He is planning what sounds like a trip to warmer places and sites unseen. There is excitment in his written word. I sit here looking out my window at a sea of white. Snow has fallen once again and I am hoping it is the last snow of the season. Its a beautiful blanket that gently covers the harshness of late winter and dusts the branches of trees and fences. It won't stay long. The sun is already trying to break through the clouds and there is hope of a brighter day. I am looking around my home of 25 years and thinking of my next move. Like so many other Americans, we have put our house on the market and are hoping for some relief from the slow death of a sagging economy that has taken so much from us. The walls are almost empty and as posessions disappear, that warmth of a cozy place we call home fades into a subtle sadness. The wild horses were grazing along the road yesterday and with them was the newest edition to the group. Spring is close as the herd multiplies. I have never looked forward more to an early spring. I continue to work on my jewelry, but not with such urgency as before and the joy of working with my glass and wire has paled some while I go through a transition in my life. So many doors, so many decisions and the sun is breaking through the clouds as I write this blog.

The Snow is Falling Sideways

Happy New Year! I am sitting at my dining room window watching the snow falling sideways and trying to keep warm as winter really settles in. Its been some time since I blogged, but I thought this would be a good time to update my status and reflect on the past year. As usual, it was another hectic season and I kept busy making lots of jewelry for a show almost every weekend in 2009. With this down economy, there hasn't been much opportunity to come up for air, so I remained home most of the time, working on stock as John traveled the backroads, setting up the shows and selling my wares. California, Oregon, Montana and back to Nevada, one weekend after another. So many familiar faces and friendly greetings and I truley am blessed to have so much support in such tough times. The dark cape of night has now covered the horizon and all I can see now is blackness and again my thoughts are how quickly Christmas came and went. We set up our usual glass kiosk on the local mall and for several weeks brisk business kept our hopes up for a good season. And again, so many return customers and familiar faces. We were pleased. And then there was New Years, 2009 behind us and only desperate hopes for the economy to strengthen and for people to go back to work. John has gone to Arizona, following the road of sunshine and warmth south. I am home, holding down the homestead along with Gracie and the snowfall. I'll be working on stock and looking for new avenues for income. In my 59th year I am hoping for the best.............for everyone.

Back on Track

After being away for so long, I am finally signing in to update everyone. It's fall of 2009 and its been a very busy spring and summer with shows just about every weekend. I have been lucky enough to have had a lot of repeat business on my fused glass and wire art jewelry and I want to thank all of my wonderful customers who have kept me going. I'd like to see more action on my website, but it is still a work in progress and I have been adding new items all summer long. I updated my site on Etsy this past summer and am now selling all vintage items which fuels my other passion. You can find me as a seller under Glasscreekstudio or go to http://Glasscreekstudio.etsy.com if you love vintage like I do. This time of year I always get a yearning for my old costume shop and all the fall activities that lead up to it here in Carson City, Nevada, especially the Ghost Walk in the old historic district. I love the allure of the old haunted houses and stories of ghosts from the past and I especially miss the feeling of fall and the look that the downtown takes on when the leaves start to leave the trees and fall finally settles in for its short visit before winter arrives. I love this time of year when everything takes on a sharper image and the clouds stand stark against a crisp blue sky.
I continue to work at my craft and have started working with semi precious stones and adding beaded necklaces to my line. I have combined some of the fused pieces to these stone necklaces and have added some of these to my website under "Necklaces". I am working on new lines and expanding and fine tuning them with the idea of wholesaling next spring so I can start to slowly phase out as many shows as I have been doing. It would give me a chance to put more creativity into my work.
All in all, I am just taking one day at a time and hoping that the economy comes back soon so all of us can breath a little easier.

A Mellow Monday Afternoon

Its Monday, Oct. 27th and we are still in Queen Valley, Arizona where gentle breezes and clear skies make for a very quiet and mellow afternoon in such a peaceful place.
We had a show in Suprise this past weekend which is a suburb of Phoenix. Saturday and Sunday were warm but pleasant and the small crowds of people that did attend this event put on by the West Art Museum, were friendly and responsive. In this struggling economy, I felt lucky to have been able to sell my handcrafted products to such receptive folk. Many were considering gifts for the upcoming Christmas season and some expressed concern for the artisans that make their living week to week doing festivals and art events such as this one. I laugh at the idea that politicians can try make a point about someone like "Joe the plumber" as a struggling American in a small business and not even consider the hundreds of artists, musicians, performing artists and micro business people like ourselves who depend on the American buying public to support our work and our way of life. Week after week I watch fellow artists and crafters show up at weekend events, take hours to set up their mini shops in parks, parking lots and other various locations, arrive early each morning to open and do business, stay late to pack up and then do it all again the next day. And this is only after they have worked at their respective art all week long to get ready for the weekend vigil that may or may not be a success. Considering what a "Joe the plummer" makes on an hourly rate, todays artisans have a real upward battle just to make a decent wage for their labors and forget health care and retirement plans.
As for the weekend and the lovely patrons that appreciated my work enough to purchase, I thank each and every one of them. They are the ones that make it all worth while and keep the wind in our sails.