Tonight is New Years Eve. 

I feel like the end of the year will pass me by if I close my eyes.  This whole year has gone by so quickly.  So much so, that to me, it's as if I just experienced two Christmas seasons within two weeks of itself.  While some say time flies when you're having fun, it hasn't been all fun this year.  It has been a year full of joy, sadness, fun, repetition, change, excitement, and worry.  I've been reflecting the last couple days.  Running thru the year, remembering everything that I experienced.  I hope that by continuing to do this, the year will seem a little longer than it feels right now.

As for 2013, who knows what it holds.  I hope something good.  I hope something awesome.  The potential is there.  I'm going to try like crazy to do something with it.

I think I will have to break out my sketchbook and think about the projects and plans for the coming year.

Fall

Fall.  Its hard for me to believe its almost November.  It feels like summer was just a blink ago.  The leaves have almost all fallen off my tree.  There are just a few flowers left holding on in my garden.  My marigolds seem to be thriving in the colder weather.  There are a couple moss roses in my front yard hanging on for their life.  With the cold weather, snow is sure to follow.  Colder weather makes me worry.  My neighborhood has many feral/stray cats.  I've been trying to keep them from multiplying.  A few years ago, I had the help of some local TNR folks to catch about 5 adults and 5 kittens.  These days one of the adults is still around.  There are a few new faces, adults and kittens.  This past spring, one of the new adult tabbys had 3 kittens. My sweetheart and I have been working on gaining their trust to someday be able to catch them and get them TNRed too.  Just in the last weeks we did accomplish that goal, and released them back to the yard.  Three less females able to have babies.  It makes me feel better knowing that they can't explode the population, but I'm sad at the same time.  These kittens are very sweet, and could easily transition to being house cats.  Unfortunately, we can't bring them in, or we would in a heartbeat.  So, the last couple days have been hard.  The temps are dropping and they seem to be okay, but it makes me sad that they are out there.  Ive built them a feral shelter, and I give them food and water.  So I try to make their life a little easier, but it still bums me out.

Three Backyard Princesses

On a lighter note, I did my first big show!  Preparing for it was exhausting!  But, I had a blast :) 

Batty Bats in progress

Glow Ghosties glowing

I'm considering doing the spring show in the coming march with a whole new line of charms.  But if that is going to happen, I had better get busy.  With the holidays approaching, I'm looking into doing a couple local craft shows.  Besides that, I'm also trying to figure out my xmas gift list. Once again, I've waited until late in the game to get moving on projects.  But, I don't feel the same pressure this year.  So that's good :)

Halloween is in a couple days, and then so is El Dia de los Muertos.  :)  I hope to make a couple new sugar skulls for the shop.  Until then, here is a couple shots of the pumpkins we've carved this years so far.

First set of pumpkins

Second set of pumpkins

We have four more to carve :)  I love Halloween!

Selling some manga and comics

Ive been cleaning thru some things and I have decided to sell some of my manga and comic books.  I've either read them and didn't finish the series or just no longer want to hold on to them for some reason or another.  Mainly, I've gotten my use from them and I want to offer someone else the chance to get some use of them now.

Money I collect from these is going to go to awesome use of my first real big bead show I am planning on doing in October! I am so excited!!

So here are a few titles I have for you so far:

Tramps like us Vol 1 - 3  $15

Loveless 1 and 2  $10

Tsubasa 1 and 2  $10

Pretear 1 and 2  $10

Excel Saga 1  $5

.Hack  1 and 3  $10

These are all in excellent condition.  I can provide you with photos if you like.  I am a nonsmoker so no worries there.  I do have pets, so be warned if you have allergies.

I'll list more as I find things keep and eye here for updates or my blog.
Paypal for payments & free shipping
Message me if you're interested!  :D
bluedesertrose1 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Paintings

Some new paintings from a little collaborative show I did with a bunch of talented artists.  These were my entries.  Now available in my shop - Blue Desert Rose.

Arcing

Breaking Through

Flow

A Distant Memory

Make Good Art - An Important Reminder

Watch this.  Then watch it again.  <3

Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This

Sitting here trying to write an amusing readable blog is a pain.  Writing it wondering... does anyone really read this?  I really don't know.  I spend all this time trying to sound interesting and clever.  Writing well is hard.  I'm not a writer.  Shocker.

This week was hectic.  My big news?  I started a new job and so did my Sweetheart.  :)  A friend called me a couple weeks ago and told me about it for my Sweetheart knowing that times have been hard looking for jobs.  Well, the whole idea blew my mind so I threw my name in too, and within a few days we were hired and given a start date.  This past week has been a whirlwind.  I was so amped to start my new job, and it seemed like it would be a breeze.  It is too for the most part, but getting used to a new job is always hard for me at first.  I'm sure once a little time has passed the routine will flow just like the streams do.  :)

We went from 70s and 80s back in March, which was ridiculous, back to more normal spring temperatures,  40s, 50s, 60s.  The trees are all blossoming and budding.  My flowers are starting to pop up.  I've noticed that the local lilacs are blooming earlier this year.  I love spring.  It feels so crisp, and fresh.  Plus with all the little flowers, I've been out with my camera shooting some macro.  I've managed to get a few shots I'm pretty happy with.  :)

Johnny Jump Up

A Mini Updatey Type Post

Kinda fell off the map for a couple months there.  I had full intentions of blogging every week and talking about my awesome glass bead making adventures.  My last "class" was today.  Well, the actual last class was last week.  Today entailed picking up my last batch of beads, chatting with classmates, and making functioning jewelry from our beads.  It was nice to see everyone one last time.  Another session might be offered coming up in a month.  I'd LOVE to take it.  It will all depend on how the money is flowing.  Its not completely ruled out yet in my opinion.  :)

Work pretty much dominated my last few months.  Which is fine because there are bills to be paid.  Though its been so tight and tough even with all the extra time.  Just when you think you're stuck in a tight spot, the universe throws you a rope.  I was prepared to sit it out and wait in that hole.  Still, I'm thrilled to be able to climb out.
I was least expecting a big change like this.  I was hoping for a minor one.  I don't know what I did for the universe to look down on me and smile, but I'm feeling pretty lucky.  More about all this later as it develops.

Spring is here and we have been working in the yard trying to make a little haven in our corner of the world.  The big hedges in the yard have perked back up to life, some of our flowers from last year have started popping up, and so have the sweet lily of the valley.  My sweetheart has been working hard re-digging the trench the planter bricks sit in.  During the week we "planted" a ton of seeds.  I cant wait to see what starts to grow.  I just hope this last past frosty night is the last frosty night we have for a while.  Ive been shooting some of the little flowers that have been blooming around me with my macro lens.  Some have turned out and some haven't.  I suppose I should use my tripod.  Apparently my hand is not as steady as I thought.  :p

Other than that I've just been chugging along.  I think I'll leave it at this for tonight.  :)

Leap Year Giveaway!

I've been at home from work today sick.  Even though I have been resting most of the day, I figured it wouldn't take too much energy to post my giveaway! :)

So as I promised on my facebook fanpage, here it is!

I am giving away a pair of my little skulls!

Two little white skulls.  You get the choice of winning them as the charms themselves or as a pair of sterling silver plated fish hook earrings.

To enter check out my fanpage here!

Giveaway ends Friday March 2nd at 10am EST
Random winner will be drawn & announced Saturday 3rd or Sunday 4th!
Good luck!

Adventures in Lampwork - Day 2

My second day in my flameworking class was great.  I had gone in early to take advantage of the lab time.  Looking back now, I got a little over excited and tried to plunge ahead of the class and attempted to make dots on beads before the lesson.  It was fun, but after the class had ended I can see why I should have waited for the instruction before.  It was still a learning experience.  :)  I should have practiced making my lifesaver shaped beads instead.  I did kind of do that, but then I put some wonky dots on them too.  :D
The lesson plan for the day was to learn how to make dots, and then put dots on dots.  As my teacher said "Dots nice".  ;)  The final ideal bead was to be an eye bead.  Eye beads are used for protection.  They ward off the evil eye, bad luck, and bring good fortune to the wearer.  By the end of class, I had a few eye beads, and a couple nice dot beads.  I also had a few less attractive beads, and some plain lifesaver beads too.  The other lesson I learned from that class, don't rush.  Don't rush thru making a bead just to make another one.  I have a couple beads I stuck in my vermiculite that were too hot and ended up getting damaged.  Some might think I should ditch these damaged beads, but I could never do that.  Its a journey, and I want to be able to see the distance I've come since the first class.

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day.  I am still having a sale in the shop thru the end of the holiday.  So if you see something you like, you can get 15% OFF with the coupon code LOVEYOU during checkout.  :)  Hope you all have a Happy Valentines Day!

My best eye bead with two plain little green beads.

Adventures in Lampwork - Day 1

Two weeks ago I started my lampwork course.  I am in love with it.  It has been so much fun, and I can hardly wait for the next lesson.  On Friday, the instructor taught how to make dots.  My beads are in the kiln waiting for me for the coming class.  My last two beads that day turned out really nice.  I hope they survived the kiln and I will be able to wear them.
This has really been an awesome journey so far.  I was worried that I might not enjoy it, or that I would completely suck at making glass beads.  I didn't think it would be a good idea to invest in anything until I knew where I stood with the medium.  Right now, things are looking promising.  If they continue in the same direction I could see myself trying to concoct a studio fit for lampworking.  :)

Speaking of new and exciting things, I have two other little updates to share. 
I have a sale running to show some love to all my customers in honor of Valentines Day.  :)  All you have to do to get 15% OFF in the shop is use this coupon code during check out:  LOVEYOU.  Because without my customers I am lost.  So Thank-you all of you for your continued support and business.  :)  Happy Valentines Day <3
My other little exciting update, which really might only be exciting to me, is that soon, I will be able to take credit as a form of payment at any of my shows to come!  :D  Isn't that awesome?!  I think so.  :)  In the past it was hard for a small business artist to get ahead, and had to limit accepted payments to cash or checks, and really these days, how many people pay in cash, and how many people carry their checkbooks?  We live in a digital age where plastic rules the land.  So if you are backed by Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express, I can finally welcome you to come and check out my booth with open arms.  :)  Heehee :D

More to come on shows and such later :)
For now, here's a picture of my beads from my first class!

Blue and black beads!

A Path Untravelled

There hasn't been much time to do anything for myself lately.  This weekend has been the first days off I've had since January 8th.  Its been a long month.  So its not surprising that I haven't been able to create anything new for my shop.
I had planned on making more heart pendants, and experimenting with some tiny bead embroidery projects. With the new year, I told myself that I would push myself harder than last.  Get more done, explore more creative paths.  So far, I've been lazy.  :P
So when I got an email a week ago for a 10 week flameworking course that I've been trying to get into for easily two years now, I couldn't let it pass by without trying to get in.  I immediately responded and with a change of luck, I got in.  I can't even tell you how thrilled I am to be in this class.  :D
The first class was on Friday last week.  I spent my time that day getting familiar with the torch and the beautiful way the glass would glow and melt.  The way it flowed over the mandrel folding into itself.  It was so completely awesome.

As the weeks pass and I continue on this new path, I hope that it leads to amazing new places.  I can't wait. :) 

New Hearts in the Shop

Just listed new heart pendants in the shop :)
Blue Desert Rose
Check them out!

Blue Heart!

Green & Gold Heart!

Green Heart!

Purple Heart!

Yellow & Orange Heart!

Something New

Happy New Year everyone! :)  Just thought I would pop in and share something new with everyone.  Here are some pendants I finished and have yet to list in the shop.  I'm debating on finishing them with a cord or ribbon or leaving them as pendants.

blues with wire wrapped top

greens and golds

purples

greens

orange and yellow

reds

Pretty excited to try some new things with this idea and see where it takes me.  Let me know what you think in the comments :)  They should be in the shop in the next few days.