tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8514235156435045962024-03-28T01:12:16.503-07:00Metal, Mud and SandJoan Miller and Kim Van Antwerp blog about the creative process
Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-26507729295269064702014-04-22T05:55:00.003-07:002014-04-22T08:11:48.934-07:00Its Been A WhileAs usual blogging takes a back seat to well just about everything else. So here's what's happening. The big push for the <a href="http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/">Bead & Button Show</a> is about to begin. I got my selected Bead Dreams piece in the mail yesterday(its due at Kalmback offices on Friday.) Its always a bit of a struggle to come up with a display. I fell back on base with twisted wire. I like the beads to be seen from all sides and not just set on the shelf. Twisted wire adds a little whimsy and I don't think it detracts from the beads too much.<br />
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So back to the big push. Officially it begins May 1 when I will devote every waking second to making as much inventory as I possibly can and ends at the last possible moment before the show. I can pack while the kiln is cooling, right? I ALWAYS have more on my list than I can possibly make. In addition to my show inventory, I have teamed up with <a href="http://www.kimvanantwerp.bigcartel.com/">Kim Van Antwerp</a> who has designed beaded kits to go with some of my beads. She is teaching the <a href="http://www.beadandbuttonshowstore.com/b141077.html">"Party On" Robot Pendant </a>class which was inspired by last year's Bead Dreams 1st place category winner <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=bead+dreams+2013+winners&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=h1xWU9vzKo3LsQTco4GAAQ&ved=0CEoQsAQ&biw=1360&bih=653#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=uEbR1f6o7kV4fM%253A%3BQNXpmDe1v8YgPM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fapi.ning.com%252Ffiles%252FAgRqXkIt-BKo3plJUjOVflx*tPPYde4tjpN6w-Rgxx5gd4LKgg8gTvMWuXLgqUjBb*miWjcE4qDoQGAHSmYjyUDG8YFuKs6M%252FDSCN6805_edited1.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fartisanwhimsy.com%252Fphoto%252Fdscn6805-edited-1%3B3632%3B2272">"Robot Party."</a> Kim also designed and adorable <a href="http://www.joanmiller.com/detail?item_id=37505&category_id=1865">ballerina kit</a> using my face bead and <a href="http://.//www.pennymichelle.com">Penny Michelle's</a> sterling silver parts. I love these little ballerinas. </div>
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I will be assisting Kim at the <a href="http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/en/Events/Events/2010/12/Meet%20Teachers%20Reception.aspx">Meet the Teachers</a> reception on June 4 the night before the Bead Marketplace opens. We will have robot and ballerina kits as well as whatever wonderful creations Kim brings. I am very excited to be working with such a wonderful artist and I hope this will be a long long collaboration. We live on different sides of the country so I will probably babble her ears off with ideas when I get to see her in person.........and don't forget to sign up for her Friday night Robot Class. Visit my<a href="https://www.facebook.com/JoanMillerPorcelain"> FB Page</a> for a special offer to early registrants. Its a good one, you'll want to check it out if you are going to B&B for classes. </div>
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So I won't see much of the Florida sunshine, except through my studio windows for the next month but that's OK. Big pushes like this usually lead to innovations on old ideas and some new ideas and that's where the fun is. Plus there is nothing like opening up a big kiln load of beads which inevitably looks like a little pile of beads because hey, they're beads; they're not big. I have already developed a small obsession with a new matte gunmetal finish that I used on my eye/keyhole bead. I did hearts and a smaller box version of the eye/keyhole but I am dying to do companion beads and strands in the finish that incorporate the screws and rivets from the robots. Actually I think robots in this finish may be in order. This is exactly how things spiral out of control for me. This is only ONE series of beads and I could spend the entire month on it. </div>
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So its off to the studio for me today. I am into it but not pushing hard this last part of April but just want to put together a little head start on May production that I hope will motivate me. I don't have any trouble WANTING to make beads but sometimes the physical aspect of sitting too long and using my hands too long takes its toll. My other pre-"May push" task is to get my work area clean and my slips ready to roll. Mixing ALL my colors and cleaning tip on slip bottles can be a two to three day chore so I tend to put it off as long as I can but work is so much sweeter when everything is newly prepped. </div>
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Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-9099828119560188352013-10-28T00:00:00.000-07:002013-10-28T04:47:54.473-07:00Hoppy Halloween! Halloween Art Bead Blog HopHalloween is almost here and I've joined forces with some very talented bead and jewelry designers to celebrate. There's enough eye candy for all so grab your little plastic pumpkin candy bucket and settle in. As a special treat ( no tricks) log on to my <a href="http://www.joanmiller.com/coupon">website</a> and enter coupon code 15BOO! for automatic 15% off Halloween jewelry.<br />
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A few of my Halloween goodies using my handmade porcelain beads.</div>
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For more Halloween fun please visit the following blogs</div>
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<a href="http://www.suburbangirlstudio.com/">Diana Ptaszynski</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.stacilouiseoriginals.com/">Staci Smith</a> </div>
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<a href="http://99bobotw.blogspot.com/">Kathleen Breeding</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com/">Sue Kennedy</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.artbydianne.blogspot.com/">Dianne Miller</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.lisaliddy.wordpress.com/">Lisa Liddy </a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com/">Toltec Jewels</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.lindasbeadblog.com/">Linda Landig</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.zoeowyn.blogspot.com/">Laura Medeiros </a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.veradesigns.blogspot.com/">Veralynne Malone </a> </div>
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<a href="http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk/">Lynn Jobber</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com/">Michelle McCarthy</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.starryroadstudio.blogspot.com/">Karen Totten</a> </div>
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<a href="https://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com/">Jayne Capps</a> </div>
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<a href="http://jdaviesreazor.com/blog">Jenny Davies-Reazor</a> </div>
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<a href="http://melissameman.blogspot.com/">Melissa Meman </a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.beadrecipes.wordpress.com/">Melissa Trudinger</a> </div>
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<a href="http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com/">Kari Asbury</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.ingetraud.wordpress.com/">Inge von Roos</a> </div>
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<a href="http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/">Andrea Glick</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.stringaholic.blogspot.com/">Stephanie LaRosa</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.beadlolabead.com/">Lola Surwillo</a> </div>
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<a href="http://glassaddictions.com/blog">Jennifer Cameron</a> </div>
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<a href="http://dianehawkey.blogspot.com/">Diane Hawkey </a> </div>
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<a href="http://kristibasket-itsanewday.blogspot.com/">Kristi Harrison</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Rimmer%20%20http://www.nvalentine.blogspot.com">Nicole Valentine</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.pixiloo.blogspot.com/">Tanya Goodwin</a> </div>
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<a href="http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/">Shai Williams</a> </div>
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<a href="http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com/">Sandra McGriff</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.sjdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com/">Sarajo Wentling</a> </div>
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<a href="http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com/">Marie Covert </a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.carefreejewelrybylisa.blogspot.com/">Lisa Stukel</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com/">Laurie Vyselaar</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.knotjustmacrame.com/">Sherri Stokey</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com/">Pam Traub</a> </div>
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<a href="http://lorisglassworks.blogspot.com/">Lori Dorrington </a></div>
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<a href="http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/">Kristen Stevens </a> </div>
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<a href="http://cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com/">Eleanor Burian-Mohr </a> </div>
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<a href="http://thestudiosublime.com/">Sally Russick </a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flipflopsandpoptarts.com/">Dawn M. Gallop </a></div>
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And don't forget <a href="http://www.kimvanantwerp.bigcartel.com/">Kim Van Antwerp </a>still has a few of our <a href="http://www.kimvanantwerp.bigcartel.com/product/halloween-kit-a-creepy-collaboration">blog kits</a> left.</div>
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<a href="http://images.cdn.bigcartel.com/bigcartel/product_images/72666327/max_h-1000+max_w-1000/Halloween_Kit_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.cdn.bigcartel.com/bigcartel/product_images/72666327/max_h-1000+max_w-1000/Halloween_Kit_2.jpg" /></a></div>
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Happy Halloween!</div>
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<br />Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-59519384413827708772013-04-10T14:31:00.000-07:002013-04-10T14:31:45.193-07:00Dreaming of BeadsBig news! I have had two submissions accepted to <a href="http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/Events/Contests/2010/12/BeadDreams%20Competition.aspx">"Bead Dreams 2013" </a> in the handmade bead and button category. Beads will be on display during the Bead & Button show. Winners will be announce during the show. This is my third Bead Dreams. My "Mermaids and Sea Creatures" beads took first place category in 2007 and my "Bountiful Harvest" buttons were second place category in 2010. Winning ribbons is nice but the real honor is sharing those awesome glass cases with such inspirational bead artists. I will be exhibiting at the <a href="http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/en/About%20Show/Marketplace.aspx">Bead Marketplace</a> at <a href="http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/en/About%20Show.aspx">Bead and Button Show</a> , June 6-9, 2013 booth#1017. I will again be sharing with <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/patticahill?ref=seller_info">Patti Cahill </a> . Hope to see you in Milwaukee!<br />
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"Robot Party" 2013 Bead Dreams submission</div>
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"Dragonflies" 2013 Bead Dreams submission</div>
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"Mermaid and Sea Creatures" 1st Place category Bead Dreams 2007</div>
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"Bountiful Harvest" 2nd Place category Bead Dreams 2010</div>
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Wish me luck for this year!</div>
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At the urging of Marsha Neal , clay artist and marketer extraordinaire, I have joined the "1st Friday Art Walk" Etsy team. Just getting the hang of this so bear with. To celebrate my first Art Walk I am offering a 15% discount in my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/JoanMillerPorcelain?ref=si_shop">Etsy Shop</a> during Art Walk( April 5-7) Use Coupon Code FFAWAPRIL13. Enjoy all the treasures this team has to offer. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Every month the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/teams/5635/aweteam">AWETeam</a> (Art Walk Etsy Team) hosts</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This is a blog hop type event where shops selling items on Etsy.com can show off their new work.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">There are three hops on First Friday, all with their own blog post so you can cruise your interest in the order that you want. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">1. </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://aweteam.blogspot.com/search/label/AWETeam%20Members%20FFAW%20Post">AWEeam Memebers</a> (You are here!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">2. <a href="http://aweteam.blogspot.com/search/label/Location%20Team%20FFAW">Theme Based Teams</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">3. <a href="http://aweteam.blogspot.com/search/label/Location%20Team%20FFAW">Location Based Teams </a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Click <a href="https://www.etsy.com/teams/5635/aweteam/discuss/11903654/">HERE</a> to see our April 5-7, 2013 First Friday Art Walk thread where you can scroll and see lots of new work from our shops!</span></span></div>
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<script src="http://www.etsy.com/etsy_mini.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">new EtsyNameSpace.Mini(103225, 'favorites','thumbnail',4,4).renderIframe();</script>Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-58381435567742546682013-03-18T15:17:00.002-07:002013-03-18T15:18:20.156-07:00Not Much Time For Blogging LatelyAs usual I have kind of dropped the ball on blogging. Sorry Kimmie! I had a successful trip back up North to PA to do the <a href="http://berksbeadbazaar.com/">Berks Bead Bazaar</a> where I also wear my promoter/floor manager hat. Had a great time seeing family and friends and had a very profitable weekend. Other than the 20 hour drive each way, can't beat that! If you'd like to know a little about the history of the BBB please visit <a href="http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/">"Love My Art Jewelry"</a> and look for the March 16 post( I guest authored.) I never did get to making jewelry with my <a href="http://metalmudandsand.blogspot.com/">Winter Kit </a>and now that Spring is almost here I am totally uninspired to work with snowflakes and icicles even thought they're gorgeous. Oh well, I'll have it for next year. Beads don't go bad or in this case MELT. I still have lots on my plate. Entries for 1000 Bead Lark Book and Interweave's Beads 2013 issue are in. Wish me luck. I have my Bead Dreams submission due March 26. I know what beads I want to make I just have to buckle down and get them done for the deadline. Planning on two sets but if I get one set done I will be happy. Orders stacked up a bit while I was at shows( Berks was preceded by Ft. Myers Show and followed quickly by Tampa Show for <a href="http://www.thedownthestreetbeadshow.com/">Down the Street Bead Shows</a>.) Among my orders is 70 face beads for Diane Fitzgerald's <a href="http://www.beadandbuttonshowstore.com/b130122.html">"Fingers in My Pocket Doll Pendant" </a>class at Bead & Button. Class is sold out! Congrats Diane :) My <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/JoanMillerPorcelain?ref=si_shop">Etsy </a>shop hasn't quite fallen by the wayside yet. Still some new offerings including my new robot pendants and my re-visited bug pins(these were a favorite in my older jewelry line.) Oh, and I crossed that line into seed beading at the Tampa show. <a href="http://www.madchiwawadesigns.com/index.html"> Jenny Shibona </a>was my neighbor and she taught me to make the seed bead collars for my dolls. I know super simple but now I look at bead weaving and I am tempted instead of running away screaming. I can't promise that I'll be a better blogger but I will promise that the excuses will be worthwhile. <script src="http://www.etsy.com/assets/js/etsy_mini_shop.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">new Etsy.Mini(5169581,'thumbnail',5,5,0,'http://www.etsy.com');</script>Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-4010852990453510302012-11-17T11:14:00.000-08:002012-11-17T11:14:13.675-08:00It's Snowing! Winter Blog Kit is Here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Winter Blog Kit is here! This is my kind of snow. Kimmie is the winter sports enthusiast but I am perfectly happy with this version of snow here in sunny Florida. We really wanted to top the Halloween Kit and I wanted lots of little sparkly bits. I guess whether we topped the Halloween kit is a matter of opinion but you can't deny we nailed it on "lots of little sparkly bits." This is our second blog kit and this is how we are doing it so far. We each contribute at least $75 worth of beads, charms, components, whatever so long as it can be used to make jewelry :) We make 10 kits and keep one each for ourselves to work with. The remaining 8 are offered for sale on a first come first serve basis. Cost of kit is $100 + $3.50 S&H. That's $150+ worth of beads for $100. If you would like a kit just comment on this blog and one of us will get back to you. <br />
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Each kit contains: 4 Hand formed soldered and hammered sterling silver snowflakes,</div>
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matching pair included.</div>
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10 micro Swarovski Crystals in pale blue</div>
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10 6mm clear Swarovski roundelles</div>
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1 Raised slip porcelain snowflake lentil shaped focal bead</div>
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6 Porcelain icicle charms</div>
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12 Luster ice cube porcelain beads</div>
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15 Tiny porcelain luster stars</div>
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I have 4 of the kits here with me ready to ship. If you are kit customer 5 through 8 please be patient. Kim is in the middle of a move and as soon as we can coordinate we will ship those kits.</div>
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If we haven't enticed you by the sheer awesomeness of our kits, our next job is to try them out ourselves and see what we can make with them. Stay tuned for the finished product post. We also love to see your results if you buy a kit. <br />
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Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-42773237922777720032012-10-31T05:08:00.001-07:002012-10-31T05:08:55.715-07:00I Won A Hooter Contest!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrc_y_7b_TDSdUvQNLTtZL7cp_AYtGWt1lz6mWcAOZ7LK3iKzlFbQyLLe49EbWWn0jbQhxZ1peSoy2Ui44RXKu6hsD5mRajkHvDOKEcdsvOrTC15dK7rqPo-eCxxBYcSeuCH1kareR9M/s1600/DSCN5862_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrc_y_7b_TDSdUvQNLTtZL7cp_AYtGWt1lz6mWcAOZ7LK3iKzlFbQyLLe49EbWWn0jbQhxZ1peSoy2Ui44RXKu6hsD5mRajkHvDOKEcdsvOrTC15dK7rqPo-eCxxBYcSeuCH1kareR9M/s320/DSCN5862_edited-1.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
Winner of the Artisan Whimsy "Hooters Owl Challenge." I'm so proud of my little guy. I told him to look at folks with those big owl eyes and he'd win. Thanks to all that voted and be sure to check out <a href="http://artisanwhimsy.ning.com/page/hooters">Artisan Whimsy</a> if you haven't already. Great source for bead and jewelry info and tutorials and just general merriment. Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-53864398678611315982012-10-25T12:49:00.000-07:002012-10-25T13:03:45.033-07:00Owls Owls Owls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://api.ning.com/files/j2J5IkHwi5owDIX94S9AvuC9d5OexvQBsDQl0cNcSnQ7x8tIWvwId0kS1aFFUTi*r2OLSEgnd2PUszt1cWrCkWtaduvd-O2z/HootersChallenge.jpg?width=750" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="http://api.ning.com/files/j2J5IkHwi5owDIX94S9AvuC9d5OexvQBsDQl0cNcSnQ7x8tIWvwId0kS1aFFUTi*r2OLSEgnd2PUszt1cWrCkWtaduvd-O2z/HootersChallenge.jpg?width=750" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://artisanwhimsy.ning.com/page/hooters">Artisan Whimsy</a> is having an Owl Challenge, aptly named "Show Us Your Hooters." Now as a 51 year old woman its been a long time since anyone has asked to see my hooters so how could I refuse? Please vote for my hooters. You'll have to become a member of <a href="http://artisanwhimsy.ning.com/page/hooters">Artisan Whimsy</a> but its a good thing. <a href="http://artisanwhimsy.ning.com/page/hooters"> Artisan Whimsy</a> is a new site that grew out of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/CREATIVEBEADCHAT/?fref=ts">Creative Bead Chat on Facebook</a> and is already proving to be an invaluable resource and fun place to hang out for us beady types. <br />
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My Owl Beads</div>
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<br />Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-35207136923072719852012-10-13T08:51:00.000-07:002012-10-13T08:51:29.588-07:00Custom Orders.....Blessing or Curse? (Part 1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Custom orders are mostly a blessing for me but there is an element of curse. I'm pretty much a brat and some days I just want to make what I want to make. That's not always possible when orders need to go out. Most of my customers are very patient. I try and sit down and get orders out of the way but often my muse is pulling me the other way. There are the orders that are REALLY a challenge. Things that I know I can do; I just don't know exactly how. Usually those sit on the back burner for a while until one day it comes to me. Those are the ones with the "Eureka!" moments. More about that in the blessing discussion. There are things that I DON'T want to do but have agreed to do. Not many of these. I have actually learned to use the word "NO" but it does happen. Usually this means I really like you but that may not be apparent when you wait two years for your order The "Don't Want To" back burner takes even longer to simmer than the "Don't Know How To" back burner. But all of these actually don't qualify as curses, just minor annoyances. The only real curse of taking custom orders is the person who really doesn't get my work but wants to order for reasons of their own. There are some pretty benign members of this group. The collector: just wants a hippo. Doesn't matter who's hippo or what hippo as long as its a hippo they don't already have. Its pretty easy to make them happy so collectors probably don't belong in the curse category. So who does belong in the curse category? Sadly its the Wannabe Artist. They have worked out every tiny design detail to the point that I wonder why they need me. Then I realize its my damn skill. There is something about "Art by Proxy" that just kills my soul and make me want to scream "I am NOT your bead monkey!" Just to put your mind at rest if you are one of my customers and wondering "Is this me?" If I did a custom piece for you and you got it and you love it, then "NO" because I have learned to say "NO" to this person. It never works out anyway. Seems I have rambled on for quite a while on the con side of custom orders. I will save pro for another day. <br />
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Monkeys are based on a custom order request. The "Monkey Love Bead" was inspired by the monkey pattern I came up with for the dress of the monkey girl. I often like results so much that part or all of custom winds up in my non-custom work. Mean Girl and Mean Boy at the top of the post are a brand new custom order based on my Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. They haven't even shipped yet. Love these but they are extremely difficult to do, so I will probably do variations but not many. Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-71427046511172629282012-10-04T16:48:00.002-07:002012-10-05T04:47:34.031-07:00My Halloween Kit CreationsAfter the awesome job Kimmie did stretching the kit to the max, I am a little embarrassed to follow her. I took an entirely different tact. Partly because my jewelry skills are kind of rusty. I have fallen into "Just make the beads." Which is not entirely a bad thing. Focus can be very good, but you gain a different perspective when you work with the beads. I did well getting the multiples done on time for the kits. However shows, orders and life didn't leave me with a huge window of time to put my finished jewelry part together. A position I am all too familiar with but that's not entirely a bad thing either. Sometime it takes pressure to get me working. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfoIeKL2TBUUbjmBY60sgxJ7BW100ZuaCU6tagw4ewO_V_mpnMfit8oNU15LkODEqJJNEVJS6KGnxVVDLbol3BmpLwrYRt9fhyphenhyphenGlcilcqFDn3ibGJ5mRhrFGCZvED1uHxFP4s8SMr208/s1600/DSCN5532_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfoIeKL2TBUUbjmBY60sgxJ7BW100ZuaCU6tagw4ewO_V_mpnMfit8oNU15LkODEqJJNEVJS6KGnxVVDLbol3BmpLwrYRt9fhyphenhyphenGlcilcqFDn3ibGJ5mRhrFGCZvED1uHxFP4s8SMr208/s320/DSCN5532_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So here's what I came up with using very simple jewelry skills. I added a good deal of colored enamel chain ( available from<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/MyELEMENTS?ref=shop_sugg"> MyELEMENTS</a> .) I love her purple and lime green chain and they are my "Go To" for Halloween jewelry. My first piece is a bracelet using the whole enchilada. I used all my charms beads and washer rings. Bracelet is simply jump ring-ed together. Doubling up on jump rings at clasp for extra strength. As my friend friend Yvonne from MyELEMENTS would call it "jump ring technology." My favorite part of the bracelet is one of the washer rings used as a toggle clasp. I had some bars on hand that fit through perfectly. My other little innovation was circles of chain around the bracelet holding some of the charms. I also like how the chain weaves through the rings. So for a one-shot-whip-it-together deal, I guess I am pretty pleased with myself and the results after all. <br />
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As I mentioned earlier, I wasn't very frugal on my use of porcelain charms and beads on my bracelet, so I decided that all chain earrings would be cute to wear with it. For Halloween I am calling them "Dungeon Chain" earrings. I simply threaded assorted lengths of the purple and green chain alternately and slipped on an ear wire. <br />
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On to Kimmie's contribution of crystals, headpins, wire bat and spider. I simply adore this bat and spider and wanted to make something that really showcased it. I came up with this simple lariat necklace. I kept the addition of crystals to a minimum. Just enough to give it a little spark of color. The bat and spider are the focal point when worn which is what I was going for. I had lots of crystals left so I stacked a few up for fun earring that can be worn with lariat. I lost the adorable little metal flower cap in my work clutter, so I will have them for another project.<br />
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A reminder of where we both started. We still have kits left. Hopefully we have inspired you to make some Halloween bling of your own. Kits are available at <a href="http://www.joanmiller.com/gallery?category_id=2642">Joan Miller Porcelain </a> and <a href="http://www.kimvanantwerp.bigcartel.com/">Cute Glass Beads</a> for $100 ($150+ component value.) Our results: Kim $352 jewelry retail and Joan $280 jewelry retail value. We'd love to see what our kit customers come up with and will be happy to post your results. Our next kit is in the planning think brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr........Winter!</div>
<br />Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-43072300552535051892012-08-09T06:21:00.001-07:002012-08-09T06:22:59.245-07:00FREE PASSES TO BEADFEST!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Come see me at BeadFest booth #265/364. </div>
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I'll be there with beads on! Clothing too.......so don't be scared :)</div>
<br />Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-54417435419444350212012-07-05T13:50:00.000-07:002012-08-31T14:00:49.231-07:00Ready, Set, Make BEADS!!!!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Its taken nearly 4 months, but I finally have my space set up and ready to start work. I moved from PA to FL in mid-March. I had lived in the North East all of my life and in my little house in the woods for over 15 years. This has been a BIG change for me. It has also probably been the biggest break from work I have</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">ever taken, but I am ready to get the creative juices flowing again. I did design and entire line of beads in my head. It will be interesting to see if the results are anything like my vision. Usually I am able to work much more directly when I get inspired. But for now I just need to get my hands back in clay. Fill some orders</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">for folks that have been patiently waiting for beads and make some new work for BeadFest coming up in August. Guess it all starts with the first bead. Wish me luck. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgXPX1mrkodwC4GtnOACtYADzlgUJP10cyQs96zCrdxQdQbY1SkvL26oXPw5Stlgik9I_YyRiSz3ERJH2rRQTh8SgjetfjNimP7dbZOyQckZjmnNO1P3uO2aIfChbEFtiG-As1z4dk5M/s1600/DSCN4948_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgXPX1mrkodwC4GtnOACtYADzlgUJP10cyQs96zCrdxQdQbY1SkvL26oXPw5Stlgik9I_YyRiSz3ERJH2rRQTh8SgjetfjNimP7dbZOyQckZjmnNO1P3uO2aIfChbEFtiG-As1z4dk5M/s320/DSCN4948_edited-1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's my new work space. Its organized......kind of. Just don't ask me to find anything.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from my main work table.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Place to leave my inventory trays out to fill orders. If I ever get<br />
going online again. Tile space between studio and living room is<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oQIvTPYlyqe0W83xFiEM_p_8SLT_RLJfPQMxsM0dGEAG6R-9vNi48VpoqvsySMJcMolEzvjzscWNoPYrtiWSIKMDCXbXnUZluwkLYNP5jYkiaxveTJE8AOUUGH1k1KkGwOfT8uZ8cy4/s1600/DSCN4951_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oQIvTPYlyqe0W83xFiEM_p_8SLT_RLJfPQMxsM0dGEAG6R-9vNi48VpoqvsySMJcMolEzvjzscWNoPYrtiWSIKMDCXbXnUZluwkLYNP5jYkiaxveTJE8AOUUGH1k1KkGwOfT8uZ8cy4/s320/DSCN4951_edited-1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
Other door goes to my dining room. How convenient.......cuz I NEVER commandeer the </div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
eating area for bead and jewelry purposes :)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClxVV0CwdW1vjYlEajNnp4OG8VX4KnpbAsDDXK0qiwhA0o2JPlEjAMwNrBsgcJ1wj4KjRPRjxkkEYgsollITPCM6LLhxvQ2-eM6-Q0tiA7b4hvqelMPx4SegXuhY1eHNem5Iyl5auaRE/s1600/DSCN4952_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClxVV0CwdW1vjYlEajNnp4OG8VX4KnpbAsDDXK0qiwhA0o2JPlEjAMwNrBsgcJ1wj4KjRPRjxkkEYgsollITPCM6LLhxvQ2-eM6-Q0tiA7b4hvqelMPx4SegXuhY1eHNem5Iyl5auaRE/s320/DSCN4952_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of my work station.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiE1mJ3fZhtUcClZ917f0KfS0aVmyztxwrkGzSfpOvIV8IVu2YoGcGBstr6OEtjFEFBhaGEYuUg4uZ8pJDGPxNmELyyXBQrEyCnGwOljxTEYpk5eLmAowLYMVi7RndRK4tKzXdCMi94E/s1600/DSCN4953_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiE1mJ3fZhtUcClZ917f0KfS0aVmyztxwrkGzSfpOvIV8IVu2YoGcGBstr6OEtjFEFBhaGEYuUg4uZ8pJDGPxNmELyyXBQrEyCnGwOljxTEYpk5eLmAowLYMVi7RndRK4tKzXdCMi94E/s320/DSCN4953_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New flat screen TV/computer monitor. I will have a computer<br />
right in the studio!</td></tr>
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<br />Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-24013090407598948042011-07-24T06:22:00.001-07:002011-07-24T06:36:16.498-07:00Halloween in July<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpLU31ZcEf6i7wq4IpMrLaOmOpioz1BFtr5w8NyFmScG_gmz1tbmf4ryeQW0viCL41JJ5WNgiwpNX7akjrL6-yHS5Ar-8xhEBGpY2_uT1HiNGClG32m9zsWLsFEt3B7xY9ML1xHlYO1A/s1600/il_570xN_254967004.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632910033057094642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpLU31ZcEf6i7wq4IpMrLaOmOpioz1BFtr5w8NyFmScG_gmz1tbmf4ryeQW0viCL41JJ5WNgiwpNX7akjrL6-yHS5Ar-8xhEBGpY2_uT1HiNGClG32m9zsWLsFEt3B7xY9ML1xHlYO1A/s320/il_570xN_254967004.jpg" /></a> Every year I seem to fail to get my Halloween designs up on my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/JoanMillerPorcelain?ref=si_shop">Etsy</a> shop. These pieces are ready to go and available for immediate shipment. Shop early and be all decked out for the big day. My Halloween line is always available by order on <a href="http://www.pennymichelle.com/penny_joan.html">Penny Michelle's Halloween page</a>. I also have been known to take the occasional special order. Yes, I have made a Halloween vampire bunny. I love the stuff my customers come up with. And you all thought I was twisted! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1SKkXmsG6Gs0uQHqtKBSyJ3aHv_WGTBvqC_Vg57YxG2N_PpNMvUdJgEiVuk5YW7jMiUV6cU_56Irmk1e104C-KLn9daxAK1eBw4DjU6-Mr_h_HzVWIHrAjL8UgGlx3O1lqEgRC5i6U0/s1600/07+24+11_4572_edited-1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632910027077969538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1SKkXmsG6Gs0uQHqtKBSyJ3aHv_WGTBvqC_Vg57YxG2N_PpNMvUdJgEiVuk5YW7jMiUV6cU_56Irmk1e104C-KLn9daxAK1eBw4DjU6-Mr_h_HzVWIHrAjL8UgGlx3O1lqEgRC5i6U0/s320/07+24+11_4572_edited-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizU9sZxzI1m1GIWx45TIJkmMc6qULceYF8VC9-gIBwqxVh29hgLO5Az7idCyixT_AmPLTTtyLeb6cbvd4b8vUFX-bGoABFFT2NsMSnXacdBO1zupQWenl2PWwm-UZreadPHBEEKuBcRI/s1600/07+24+11_4569_edited-1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632910026762576834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizU9sZxzI1m1GIWx45TIJkmMc6qULceYF8VC9-gIBwqxVh29hgLO5Az7idCyixT_AmPLTTtyLeb6cbvd4b8vUFX-bGoABFFT2NsMSnXacdBO1zupQWenl2PWwm-UZreadPHBEEKuBcRI/s320/07+24+11_4569_edited-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-42051649874067593372011-06-30T11:52:00.000-07:002011-07-04T11:56:56.961-07:00500 Etsy Sales<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvucYXBdhjXCGmTJblBe3t9QUhT9YB9_5WMwVLpS7FV4NcRvPVuQ_MaZHTPf_vFIRVM939KgaPnwrcmBfMu9YL1F0Bormg5CHmfrMljG7XAQCJ9ZqH0Qv2w4Dbncj37WDR-TvCY-MLHBI/s1600/06+23+11_4216_edited-1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 290px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624089172090475714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvucYXBdhjXCGmTJblBe3t9QUhT9YB9_5WMwVLpS7FV4NcRvPVuQ_MaZHTPf_vFIRVM939KgaPnwrcmBfMu9YL1F0Bormg5CHmfrMljG7XAQCJ9ZqH0Qv2w4Dbncj37WDR-TvCY-MLHBI/s320/06+23+11_4216_edited-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2JakYUcuGQpIa2JSGZpQ53j8CWXte4X6E1fwghL0mTvF4HLbHjBDjK6M4DXeD608E1e_rSBTvFQQMTvIsZszvJ-k6M7kU-gihlT2g-sv223xCtNSvfk6DuJhFo1ezxGGSzwA0IWj0s4/s1600/06+30+11_4235_edited-1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624089160513787394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2JakYUcuGQpIa2JSGZpQ53j8CWXte4X6E1fwghL0mTvF4HLbHjBDjK6M4DXeD608E1e_rSBTvFQQMTvIsZszvJ-k6M7kU-gihlT2g-sv223xCtNSvfk6DuJhFo1ezxGGSzwA0IWj0s4/s320/06+30+11_4235_edited-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBbb7y1AOj3uaoQbBE5Czfrw3WhHg0Xy0chJwipP1SWT_uTNWQribLmHpwfINJtB90jLWDyjPZwCVVrYArYpYFtMbOJCT1OOak2DQQrrRE1V37M-_sOLiFEfcYHKnzfX86DahLVMTmSw/s1600/06+30+11_4233_edited-1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624089155931964978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBbb7y1AOj3uaoQbBE5Czfrw3WhHg0Xy0chJwipP1SWT_uTNWQribLmHpwfINJtB90jLWDyjPZwCVVrYArYpYFtMbOJCT1OOak2DQQrrRE1V37M-_sOLiFEfcYHKnzfX86DahLVMTmSw/s320/06+30+11_4233_edited-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFi8IsD8k6wQ68p1XSdJ2HGgYHRafGjNIMJiKPu150dVG0rPuKjnrmSR55xEX7Ulm2RXxfFfoMCOQ1SzdWozJVHdGBJDctdiR_UAxg8db8hXi21ILwsvcFMlkVztOZ7VvhmYxLqfRp_bI/s1600/06+30+11_4245_edited-1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624089155183849250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFi8IsD8k6wQ68p1XSdJ2HGgYHRafGjNIMJiKPu150dVG0rPuKjnrmSR55xEX7Ulm2RXxfFfoMCOQ1SzdWozJVHdGBJDctdiR_UAxg8db8hXi21ILwsvcFMlkVztOZ7VvhmYxLqfRp_bI/s320/06+30+11_4245_edited-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Its taken me a few years but I finally hit 500 sales in my main <a href="http://joanmillerporcelain.etsy.com/">Etsy shop</a> . To celebrate from now until July 7 I am giving 25% off all orders using coupon code 500MORE. Just posted some stunning black and white beads including my new <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/76944807/tiny-dagger-charms-set-of-six-black-and">Tiny Dagger Charms.</a> Happy shopping! </div></div></div></div>Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-73162586224761390262011-03-08T11:46:00.000-08:002011-03-08T12:12:15.151-08:00Thank you Honolulu!Kimmie here:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-EePvto7UMe9H__YleJ45fpY1UnE92b7WF9wcbmiv50HZlnvWB7KklXqd4yA5QyY5509KemOlwc9SJWaU0oskywFHLDF1LEABI6qgn2ZZm9uVe8vtb2_hfZPC9TFuVaOrx9wvOHYCgg/s1600/kapaa+seal+point.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581803957327084082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-EePvto7UMe9H__YleJ45fpY1UnE92b7WF9wcbmiv50HZlnvWB7KklXqd4yA5QyY5509KemOlwc9SJWaU0oskywFHLDF1LEABI6qgn2ZZm9uVe8vtb2_hfZPC9TFuVaOrx9wvOHYCgg/s320/kapaa+seal+point.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I didn't get any pictures taken in Honolulu, so here's a nice kitty we saw hanging out by the canal in Kapaa.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br />We had a great time at the show in Honolulu last weekend, and especially visiting with friends Daniel and Karen Howell, of <a href="http://www.deehowlbeads.com/">Dee Howl Beads</a>. Karen grew up there, and they drove me and Morgan around a bit. We went up on top of Tantalus mountain and caught the view of the city just after sunset, before hitting a classic local burger spot. I was especially excited to go up Tantalus, since Karen told me she and her friends used to skateboard down that road back in the day. YIKES! She said they would grab the vines to slow down going around the turns. YIKES! Back when skateboards had metal wheels and if you hit a rock you are toast. YIKES!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Sounds fun.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I also got to meet <a href="http://www.prettybabiesglass.com/">Sara Sally LaGrand</a>, whose work, face, and name were all familiar to me from past shows, but we had never actually talked. She is so talented and interesting. Her work is wonderfully expressive!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The show was great, so now I am pretty officially cleaned out of beads. At the show while visiting with other beadmakers it was hard not to get excited and start making plans for other shows, especially the next Softflex show in Honolulu. I kept having to remind myself that I don't have a torch here, much less someplace to put it and work. We are, of course, looking for an apartment, and working outside in this environment will be a pleasure. After we find a place, we will have to make a trip to San Diego for a major garage sale/packing/shipping vacation. Whee.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This Friday is the deadline to apply for a scholarship to the Gathering, the annual conference held by the International Society of Glass Beadmakers. I am planning to apply, if only for the practice at writing an artist's statement and putting down some goals on paper. I have never really done that before, and it seems like there are a lot of opportunities out there for artists who know how to do stuff like writing grants and proposals. Also, I am self-taught and would really value the opportunity to take a class there. I think I would take a class that seems totally contrary to the kind of work I do myself. I'd also like to pick the teachers' brains about how to get started teaching. I have done lots of demos and enjoy that; teaching seems like a natural extension of demonstrating.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />If any readers have some experience with writing statements, teaching, or the Gathering, I would love to hear about it!Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-79339979337550622982011-03-02T11:37:00.000-08:002011-03-08T11:46:14.823-08:00Finally FeltedKimmie here:<br /><br /><br />At long last, I give you FELTZILLA, in all his glory!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdXrrURR6bZkdPJSGasD35cQAODK_rL37uWQCFyhxEzFn7a_GheUIv5bXCMx3_w8LhtMwaJPfTpbU7boRjDh4lTjsQUDVfRVUJgxwHKzbaLzeLrp13Uwu3MdN-Z2CEhEaMm3WQeRQA70/s1600/FZ0226.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 281px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579570465350498914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdXrrURR6bZkdPJSGasD35cQAODK_rL37uWQCFyhxEzFn7a_GheUIv5bXCMx3_w8LhtMwaJPfTpbU7boRjDh4lTjsQUDVfRVUJgxwHKzbaLzeLrp13Uwu3MdN-Z2CEhEaMm3WQeRQA70/s320/FZ0226.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(no photo could do him justice)</span><br /><br />I'm really happy with how tight and smooth he is; the details really pop! I have been wearing the ring and it is so comfortable, thanks to <a href="http://www.katemckinnonl.com/">Kate's</a> terrific shank design. After my show this weekend, the <a href="http://www.softflexcompany.com/WSWrapper.jsp?mypage=FestivalHI_Main.html">Honolulu Glass Bead and Art Festival</a>, I will send the ring to be moulded, so that I can have it cast in sterling silver. I want to sell FZ's but I'd like to keep this original for myself. Every ring will have its own, original, handmade felt Zilla inside. Of course, if somebody has a particular building in mind that they would like to see him wrecking, I will work with you on a custom ring!<br /><br /><br />I have a bit of clay left and a fresh idea for felt + PMC that I'm excited to get started on. This will be a bracelet, and will not have a monster-movie theme...<br /><br />The laptop I have been using for over ten years decided last week that it was done, so I'm working on a new machine right now. I'm enjoying its speed, but not in love with the keyboard layout. Hope it won't take too long to get used to. We are trying wireless internet, too. The network seems to work fine, but the idea of pay-as-you-go seems to be a joke. One month or 1G, whichever comes first...Ha, that gigabyte is going to last us maybe one week. So here I am at the Duck again for the data-heavy communications...(I'm not sure why we call McDonald's the Duck; you'll have to ask Penny.)<br /><br />The Duck here at WalMart is a real gathering place for the locals, it is funny to sit here for an hour and observe. Kauai is more like East Texas than I ever would have imagined, complete with monster trucks and rednecks (I use the term redneck not as an insult, but as an adjective). Not to mention the chickens everywhere.<br /><br /><br />Unfortunately, we are not free from mainland-style troubles here. There have been four bomb scares in the last two weeks at a local school. Some idiot, no doubt. A kid at my high school tried to call in a threat, but did it using the payphone in the courtyard, twenty yards from the principal's office. The principal saw him using the phone and put two and two together. I repeat, <strong>IDIOT!</strong><br /><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579577054407378866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPYuAoYjwOTfRJ1l0hbXEW0DtBeNzr6Pz9AIlzJze6LWEFIfn_UM1qCdUsp2iXVvuSf4_PDYFAAyQBqejFqylhAfxkDjmcsvzDN5PnB-90PGZu03_SS_KanHiGSkPbYAtDFV9V3-PnSk/s320/kim+surf+trailer.JPG" /><br />In happier island news, we are now ready to hit the surf. Morgan's surfboard trailer is a complete success! Made of a thrifted golf cart and some bamboo, it looks great, too, like something the Professor from Gilligan's Island would have come up with.Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-79366970221384928362011-02-21T19:36:00.000-08:002011-02-21T19:55:00.516-08:00Yes--I said FIERCE!Kimmie here:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Feltzilla is looking much more ferocious these days!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDMZEnWK-vZ8zWELeNzm6WbuZTmXTjhnGnxUscsTgrUxyK3R3vUmWlWwvfBuYcUrxmiPILGwqO_7Zd9CpLylz6_qKaBOy4sPZjQTKuXgCIX93gNz4LQELpsWiwvTRM3GR9Zz1nmb2CKw/s1600/fz+feb+21a.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 259px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576352912642472082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDMZEnWK-vZ8zWELeNzm6WbuZTmXTjhnGnxUscsTgrUxyK3R3vUmWlWwvfBuYcUrxmiPILGwqO_7Zd9CpLylz6_qKaBOy4sPZjQTKuXgCIX93gNz4LQELpsWiwvTRM3GR9Zz1nmb2CKw/s320/fz+feb+21a.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Way sharper armor plates, angry brows, and yes <em>flames</em>, if you can dig it! I think they look pretty good, and not too much like he's puking at all. Next up some trimming and tidying up, a couple of pupils in those eyes and we are in business. I'm so tempted to try and make the eyes bloodshot. He's a little bigger than he was in the last post, but probably not big enough to make that actually viable. Oh well. I'm just so much happier with this result, can't wait to get him done and show off the finished piece! Maybe tomorrow.<br /><br /><br /><br />I have lots to do right now. I didn't finish the 'update' post, so, long story short: we moved to Mammoth Lakes, CA for the ski season, and two days later Morgan got an offer of a full-time job in Hawaii. Guess where I live now! There I was, a badass snowbunny tearing up the slopes, and suddenly it's time to practice my paddling again. I hope I can remember how to surf! We have been on Kauai for almost six weeks, we're in a temporary apartment right now and without a car. Here's my mode of transportation:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjira-XrA3cor0NLjxzIWzqBS86bNPGdeuemk_VFfhABbvJkaSG9TKCXMbDEmozJg-rZAAabO4hANSTAP1gkkjZeNAJbMB6CHe5b5_qpkxx8BNmUWqscze8qztkpjaHpohJ8ISZ9KAX7Vw/s1600/mtb+with+cart.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576354477828234770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjira-XrA3cor0NLjxzIWzqBS86bNPGdeuemk_VFfhABbvJkaSG9TKCXMbDEmozJg-rZAAabO4hANSTAP1gkkjZeNAJbMB6CHe5b5_qpkxx8BNmUWqscze8qztkpjaHpohJ8ISZ9KAX7Vw/s320/mtb+with+cart.jpg" /></a><br />I take my cart to the grocery, to the beach, even to Costco! We upgraded it with baby buggy wheels--does anyone else remember those Bill Cosby albums?--and it rolls like a charm. Morgan also made a really great surfboard trailer out of some bamboo and a golf bag cart. Don't have those photos uploaded yet, but will share next time.<br /><br />Although I didn't bring my torch, I did bring my beads, so I signed up for the <a href="http://www.softflexcompany.com/WSWrapper.jsp?mypage=FestivalHI_Main.html">Softflex Glass Art and Bead Festival. </a>It's March 4-6 in Honolulu, so if you are in town or want an excuse to visit the islands, check it out.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to the show, but scrambling a bit for inventory and display. My table is bound to be pretty creative, to say the least. I'll post photos, for sure.Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-43637628420953740492011-02-15T14:44:00.000-08:002011-02-15T15:36:14.566-08:00Work In Progress: or, Yes, I am Still Working on Feltzilla...Kimmie here:<br /><br />While we were in Montana, I got a face put on Feltzilla. This, I thought, was the final step, and I would call him finished:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAPfdmDxVP0gJs7nGpVLvhJc-xycxI6pZ3Z2fQyL5HnRxauQjfYjpgpEaTwI-6wLIsIz7X7kOFmaoBgSjKRuYA4GMSXjEMJMvMVD4bE0NAClS7j-jfdXfHwSl5yJx_b8gbNsfB199CfA/s1600/feltzilla.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574060081031378466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAPfdmDxVP0gJs7nGpVLvhJc-xycxI6pZ3Z2fQyL5HnRxauQjfYjpgpEaTwI-6wLIsIz7X7kOFmaoBgSjKRuYA4GMSXjEMJMvMVD4bE0NAClS7j-jfdXfHwSl5yJx_b8gbNsfB199CfA/s320/feltzilla.jpg" /></a> Sorry about the blurry picture, but I didn't have a camera with a macro function there. The blurry photo is pretty accurate, though, in describing how the piece looked to me. I wanted it to be harder, sharper, meaner looking!<br /><br />There were a couple of difficulties with this. I had trouble finding the finer felting needles I needed, and after we got back to Mammoth Lakes, I started working full time on the mountain. I was tired enough at the end of the day that FZ was not high on my list of things to do when I got home. Then, Morgan accepted a job in Hawaii...HAWAII??? So after one month of glorious snow, we moved here to Lihue on the island of Kauai. I brought FZ of course, and a few weeks ago I found a website that offered not only size 40 needles, but superfine 42's as well! WooHoo!<br /><br />The finer needles are working wonderfully, but my obsession with firm fine felt is one that requires patience. Needlefelting is incredibly time-consuming: I spent an entire day on FZ, removing his face and adding felt so that I could pack it in and give him a solid, not-overly-fuzzy surface.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrylh730bFyv8z_nh6evJj-PU3eyRInaCPAfld7Ejr25yL8dLAhzc__mFKcb70VxG_cYiZqCbgewF-syumnKjN92i_PM2opep49AVyUzBxkdEouPMbzXS7iorlBJ-qmFGSuAbzNrLbs5M/s1600/fz+on+a+penny.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574051117099904610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrylh730bFyv8z_nh6evJj-PU3eyRInaCPAfld7Ejr25yL8dLAhzc__mFKcb70VxG_cYiZqCbgewF-syumnKjN92i_PM2opep49AVyUzBxkdEouPMbzXS7iorlBJ-qmFGSuAbzNrLbs5M/s320/fz+on+a+penny.jpg" /></a><br />I tightened up his arms and legs, got rid of that paunch and lengthened his neck. He now has some very handsome plates on his back and stands a little taller. He is not so easy to pull in and out of his building though, so I have to make a decision about how removable I want him to be. I may have to compromise on those plates in order to keep the versatility. With the longer neck, I also plan to have flames coming out of his mouth.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXIdTQHhyYx0vKyZakftyg4RFDVBIUdDf_lNJHd_feQ8IkyIkvZ6fQGugmFWK2e57AjL7n_DYuYv6AnU-Tan0qYoTDRm_v0n7-auZzxsxW8dR6AFsM93VvtpV5MAp5lVzooaOcKHj5hU/s1600/fz+in+ring+feb15.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 247px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574060078145104690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXIdTQHhyYx0vKyZakftyg4RFDVBIUdDf_lNJHd_feQ8IkyIkvZ6fQGugmFWK2e57AjL7n_DYuYv6AnU-Tan0qYoTDRm_v0n7-auZzxsxW8dR6AFsM93VvtpV5MAp5lVzooaOcKHj5hU/s320/fz+in+ring+feb15.jpg" /></a><br />The process of needlefelting is an interesting one, in that to add firmness, I am trying to add material while condensing the bulk. It's easy to try to add too much, and tricky on this scale to pack it in. But I think the results will be worth it. I learn a lot with each project, and this one is no exception. I am hoping to have a mold made of the ring so that I can make a multitude of FZs and offer them as special orders!<br /><br />I have no pressing duties today, so am going to grab my needles and get sticking! ...I have new ideas and projects I want to work on, but am determined to Finish FZ First!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-74034481578638429622011-02-03T15:54:00.000-08:002011-02-03T16:13:19.812-08:00Major update!<div><div><div><br /><div>Kimmie here:</div><br /><br /><div>Wow, these past three months have been epic. I'm going to update as much as I can right now, looks like the laptop is running out of juice.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div>At the beginning of November, Morgan and I schlepped our stuff to Mammoth Lakes, ready for a season of snow. We headed up to Montana to visit my parents a couple of days later, intending to stay for my birthday on the 11th and then come back so I could start my job as a lift operator. It was pretty warm when we got there, but snowed the next day, just a little: </div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8i1zEVm4vxrZwTs8uLJqVxKVcDi6zkuKDAW346nUZq761U33gbeHGo7bcoV51IsoTN3-_xkAR-iVCArh1NgGvPf-vO8UKAB5RdisPpVGIz-0336_1dpL7jRUP56uLSabXzMoHEsA0C0/s1600/IMG_4380.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569616686285071426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8i1zEVm4vxrZwTs8uLJqVxKVcDi6zkuKDAW346nUZq761U33gbeHGo7bcoV51IsoTN3-_xkAR-iVCArh1NgGvPf-vO8UKAB5RdisPpVGIz-0336_1dpL7jRUP56uLSabXzMoHEsA0C0/s320/IMG_4380.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJ82zXTzUgFEj1weCxbOYZa-A-22XGRL1JGJ7q9VPHtGaI10H-EFyyWD-gTpu7pcvFh1zhS4Qz21Xns9w-uXqsu0GGysUE0PisvlwW8okHKs7mmtxgSaDHDdDWNHyBjMkzkFIq2W3qqY/s1600/IMG_4389.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569617359699266738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJ82zXTzUgFEj1weCxbOYZa-A-22XGRL1JGJ7q9VPHtGaI10H-EFyyWD-gTpu7pcvFh1zhS4Qz21Xns9w-uXqsu0GGysUE0PisvlwW8okHKs7mmtxgSaDHDdDWNHyBjMkzkFIq2W3qqY/s320/IMG_4389.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Nice! It wasn't snowing in Mammoth, however, and my job training date was moved back a couple of weeks. We decided to stay for Thanksgiving! It continued to snow:<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDPP_ePCuBWs08YwodUK0bIEZ3pLr1HUdeeCRQ1lWmG8KTO-o6zHhajMtwpnxpVfVvM8jbQhXP6M_wkjqK9Id43QVSjIgOx62-d8vunIYIl_einCbHq2zcEN-sIAaHMqkdfZdemZ2rbw/s1600/IMG_4390.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569617172396191778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDPP_ePCuBWs08YwodUK0bIEZ3pLr1HUdeeCRQ1lWmG8KTO-o6zHhajMtwpnxpVfVvM8jbQhXP6M_wkjqK9Id43QVSjIgOx62-d8vunIYIl_einCbHq2zcEN-sIAaHMqkdfZdemZ2rbw/s320/IMG_4390.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbY5prb_nHhZHJVxE1I5qWcENTzNb6GVi7KCpAIWjtILDIowjah6UziywMsZMXSWD4hWqH5woR6KZImQ8yrCJyqa_9f_s0BuW0Ecchd2OvJs5ofyH48cK1t_PbiyjVYNMhjB6MXbteaM/s1600/Photo0243.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569619587112534482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbY5prb_nHhZHJVxE1I5qWcENTzNb6GVi7KCpAIWjtILDIowjah6UziywMsZMXSWD4hWqH5woR6KZImQ8yrCJyqa_9f_s0BuW0Ecchd2OvJs5ofyH48cK1t_PbiyjVYNMhjB6MXbteaM/s320/Photo0243.jpg" /></a></div>nice finger in front of the camera there, Kim!<br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>We spent three wonderful weeks dyeing yarn, knitting (Morgan learned to knit!), slalom snowboarding behind the ATV and trying to ride our bikes in the snow. And boy did we eat well! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>OK, the computer is about to give up the ghost. Next: onward to Mammoth, and the snowiest December on record!</div></div></div></div>Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-70493515024106870672010-10-31T18:09:00.000-07:002010-10-31T18:20:31.684-07:00We Have a Winner!Kimmie here:<br /><br />A Big Thank You to Susan B., winner of the Magpie for Andrew.<br /><br />I hope y'all will visit his blog and bid on some of the wonderful things being auctioned there.<br /><br />I'm working at a big quilt market this weekend, one more day to go then home to Encinitas and then we are moving up to Mammoth Lakes on Tuesday! We're hoping to squeeze in one more surf before we take off. After unloading we will head up to Montana for a visit with my parents until I return for training as a lift operator on Mammoth Mountain for the season. I am SO excited, can't wait to snowboard myself silly this winter!<br /><br />Sadly, I won't be able to take my torch with me, but I have a good inventory and will update my website with loose beads and finished jewelry, including some great new button pendants. We will return to the coast in June; I'm sure I'll be bursting with inspiration. Of course, I expect to be knitting and felting up a storm while in the mountains, so it won't all be stuff from my stash here in the blog and on the site.<br /><br />And by the way,<br /><span style="color:#993399;">HAPPY HALLOWEEN!</span>Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-34887777500873903262010-10-24T11:33:00.000-07:002010-10-24T11:41:45.681-07:00We're still here!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89xGRzOu9UD4_mFz_iPZ5PJdBCQbi1SdyHtb2Wc8lsuVf2ECRG3oMNWrsOnqFk7VrTRywX8C2THk2viwcI15OQxsy7vCLKfhGVqPZMp_tfysvx4Uqyvprkl_3yb4KvBUxhnh4CbeZLR8/s1600/bird-magpie-r-side.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 194px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531684016856633490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89xGRzOu9UD4_mFz_iPZ5PJdBCQbi1SdyHtb2Wc8lsuVf2ECRG3oMNWrsOnqFk7VrTRywX8C2THk2viwcI15OQxsy7vCLKfhGVqPZMp_tfysvx4Uqyvprkl_3yb4KvBUxhnh4CbeZLR8/s320/bird-magpie-r-side.gif" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5c9xdZKg9IQxj29U_XhDvw2Ge5zJGZcp1ErlPhsUur5G3Cd0vD7mtaFTQRR30UMlZ3jBILQkx2fjIGnkUOop_cpZG2IBoVGkywwpmNdGx-SbbfnKygh3YaGLsiKgbaYO2LY2SjAX7GE/s1600/bird-magpie.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 194px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531684004874541074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5c9xdZKg9IQxj29U_XhDvw2Ge5zJGZcp1ErlPhsUur5G3Cd0vD7mtaFTQRR30UMlZ3jBILQkx2fjIGnkUOop_cpZG2IBoVGkywwpmNdGx-SbbfnKygh3YaGLsiKgbaYO2LY2SjAX7GE/s320/bird-magpie.gif" /></a><br /><br /><div>Kimmie here:<br /></div><div>Joan and I have both had a lot going on the past month; I am moving in a couple of weeks to Mammoth Lakes, California to work on the slopes for ski season! I won't be able to bring my torch to make beads, but I will be updating my website with beads and jewelry from my stash, and I hope to be felting up a storm :-). A snowstorm, that is!</div><div></div><br /><br /><div>Our friend Andrew Thornton, a wonderful artist, has some big medical bills coming at him, so I decided to offer up my magpie wearing a monocle and sterling top hat in a silent auction to raise some funds. If you want to place a bid, you can email me <strong>through my website, not the blog: kim at cuteglassbeads dot com.</strong> You can also bid via facebook message to the Kim Van Antwerp <a href="http://www.cuteglassbeads.com/">http://www.cuteglassbeads.com/</a> page or to me. You can check out Andrew's work and see some other great things to bid on at his blog: <a href="http://www.andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/">http://www.andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/</a></div><div> </div><div>The high bidder as of Friday evening (central time, I will be in Houston) wins the bird. In a slight departure from usual procedure, if you are high bidder and get outbid, I will let you know!</div><div> </div><div> </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-33586791076682211062010-09-09T05:15:00.000-07:002010-09-09T05:38:58.797-07:00Off To Connecticut!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXAC7sKVADO-ZHwIztD9xMMaLj_v20vlkv5UFhQRjFy5qv5PflvV6jWQly_xmmyeTnB_IWu7CeUSP-RKz3k-cHxJeYZjegD1wyihoiAbEhxmv2CXsmrV-YZYc4550YLLdExnhxINssxc/s1600/a1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 51px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514886444322650418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXAC7sKVADO-ZHwIztD9xMMaLj_v20vlkv5UFhQRjFy5qv5PflvV6jWQly_xmmyeTnB_IWu7CeUSP-RKz3k-cHxJeYZjegD1wyihoiAbEhxmv2CXsmrV-YZYc4550YLLdExnhxINssxc/s320/a1.jpg" /></a> I will be ehibiting at the <a href="http://http//www.ctbeadsociety.org/bead_bazaar">CT Bead Society</a> show this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 11 & 12. This is a very sentimental show for me. This was my first bead show Sept. 15, 2001. A customer at the Guilford Handcrafts Expo had mentioned there was a bead show in North Haven and gave me the info. It was all of $35 to exhibit and I figured what do I have to lose? I grabbed my friend <a href="http://eglassplace.com/">Louise</a> and off we went to CT. Oh............one little hitch 4 days after the towers fell. I will never forget driving over the Tappan Zee and looking up the Hudson river to see the huge columns of smoke still rising. None of us knew what to expect at that time. We called to see if the show was still being held. Life must go on was the general feeling and the show was still going on, so off we went. CT Bead Society show was about 20 tables in a smaller banquet room at the Holiday Inn. We came. We set up too much display(you can take the girl out of the craft show but you can't take the craft show out of the girl) and we sold BEADS to NICE people! We were in heaven. Possitively giddy on the drive home we decided "We could run a bead show!" and Spring 2002 we held the first <a href="http://berksbeadbazaar.com/">Berks Bead Bazaar</a>. So giddy that we missed our exit and started driving into the city. Turn around. Back on track and on to countless bead shows which have been added and dropped over the years. The CT Bead Show is now about 3 times its original size and 2 days instead of one. It had quite a peak but like alot of shows has leveled off a bit. I have high hopes for this year. Just feel like it is going to be good, but even if it doesn't quite meet expectations I will continue to do the CT Bead Society Show for sentimental reasons.Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-17726132959302380382010-09-08T08:07:00.000-07:002010-09-08T08:15:06.305-07:00Halloween Starts Early at Penny Michelle. Boo!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAs0R8es2u2o1xQvMeB-yft3Ogz1d-6qPxlC6tmXkqeqfcWbulaxQJM3FcfIzzSd8WJPyDjSnQBH5xzIJv4Yra00VolqjIYQmO7DmJep_B_9ogRlzFbXysxWt7UejNf4pBk9N0IK4_gAo/s1600/batcc95.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 207px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514559853408988322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAs0R8es2u2o1xQvMeB-yft3Ogz1d-6qPxlC6tmXkqeqfcWbulaxQJM3FcfIzzSd8WJPyDjSnQBH5xzIJv4Yra00VolqjIYQmO7DmJep_B_9ogRlzFbXysxWt7UejNf4pBk9N0IK4_gAo/s320/batcc95.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><br />Halloween is Coming to <a href="http://www.pennymichelle.com/">Penny Michelle</a>!<br />Get an early start on your Halloween designs...<br />All FINDINGS on the <a href="http://www.pennymichelle.com/halloween.html">Halloween page</a> are 25% off now thru September 13th<br />Discount will be applied when your card is charged and <span style="color:#ff0000;">NOT</span> reflected in the shopping cart. Discount does <span style="color:#ff0000;">NOT</span> apply to finished pieces or beads.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Grab 'em now and be the belle of the witch's ball for Halloween</div>Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-70411552576896356162010-08-26T13:10:00.000-07:002010-08-26T13:59:46.664-07:00Learnin this Internet stuff<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhST28ZkWemS547GaeMqxQZ5KxrPHX7W-wGaYPaThAAoFNWfcp0Abq_AhFd4diU5eZG_IHKEsG3FAytC87J73pUVA4yHsG8Zj6TCTRxi89QqnL6Wcp0o497a43DVZZk3rpCGi_tLUL3n2o/s1600/phone+pix+011.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509818433846918194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhST28ZkWemS547GaeMqxQZ5KxrPHX7W-wGaYPaThAAoFNWfcp0Abq_AhFd4diU5eZG_IHKEsG3FAytC87J73pUVA4yHsG8Zj6TCTRxi89QqnL6Wcp0o497a43DVZZk3rpCGi_tLUL3n2o/s320/phone+pix+011.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">King's Canyon National Park<br /></span><br />Kimmie here:<br /><br />Sounds like Beadfest was great! And those starfish beads of Joan's are beautiful.<br /><br />I had a great time at the San Diego Bead Society's Bead Bazaar, thanks to everyone who came, and especially to Cindy Lohry, who made a beautiful necklace using my Precious Metal Clay fairy pods and let me display it in my booth! She's going to have it photographed and email me the pictures; I will share them as soon as I get them. I'll also update the blog when I get some more pods made and posted on the website.<br /><br />After SDBS, Morgan and I drove up to the Bay Area and across for a week of camping at Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Parks. The weather and the scenery were just spectacular, there's no other word for it. We didn't have any bear encounters, but there was a racoon who stole, and promptly rejected, a bag of rice cakes!<br /><br />That weekend, <a href="http://www.klewexpressions.com/">Klew</a> hosted me at a trunk show in her Tehachapi store. What a treasure! (both the store and Klew)<br /><br />Now I've been home for two weeks and summer has finally arrived in San Diego County. I have been filling orders and making beads for finished jewelry to show at the Ocean Beach Music and Art festival on September 11. Art Row is free, and there's a stage that's open too, so you don't have to buy a ticket to have a great day!<br /><br />In the meantime, I have overhauled the look of my <a href="http://www.cuteglassbeads.com/">website</a> and added both beads and finished jewelry, as well as an FAQ on the about me page. If you check it out and find any issues, please let me know!Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-851423515643504596.post-28195772232515352622010-08-24T05:26:00.001-07:002010-08-24T08:05:06.280-07:00Back from BeadFest and Back to Work<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvALNmEVG_c-vTPhJf-4CEbNq2OtgKWYkwcr8d8URdO1vMEHoFlwL8uPHgMHDIQemCKCBdZDcGIoL1b8BYlx0RIYV3qvcgiEgxjPzzWgPMA9IQ6ZcG-09aasrYT_CR-H4GdDLyckOzJSM/s1600/08+24+10_2556.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508957385347754722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvALNmEVG_c-vTPhJf-4CEbNq2OtgKWYkwcr8d8URdO1vMEHoFlwL8uPHgMHDIQemCKCBdZDcGIoL1b8BYlx0RIYV3qvcgiEgxjPzzWgPMA9IQ6ZcG-09aasrYT_CR-H4GdDLyckOzJSM/s320/08+24+10_2556.jpg" /></a> Gater by "Fired Up Ladies"<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiamjtXQZF3iAMLfzAL7XB6CM6_wfdrOYareiHEsVgR40thWitSuHbDOA882PeYSQkztAe8YCgC6OvndjsCsx2rX-MPiGPFnskAX1M3U45B6pn8S_XuO82HsKhXP31fT_abPsexnJ3k6U/s1600/08+24+10_2551.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508951967073549762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiamjtXQZF3iAMLfzAL7XB6CM6_wfdrOYareiHEsVgR40thWitSuHbDOA882PeYSQkztAe8YCgC6OvndjsCsx2rX-MPiGPFnskAX1M3U45B6pn8S_XuO82HsKhXP31fT_abPsexnJ3k6U/s320/08+24+10_2551.jpg" /></a> First installment of starfish Beads for "Moonbabies"</div><br /><div>I am happy to report I had an excellent show at BeadFest. Phili seems to be my town. Not sure if it is because I have been doing shows in the area since my art/craft show days or just because but I am on alot of people's "must see" lists.</div><br /><div>I am very grateful to all my loyal friends and customers. We got a new booth location last minute so we were not listed correctly in the show program but everyone managed to find us.</div><br /><div>I got very little time out of the booth for shopping and socializing. More due to being exhausted than not being able to leave the booth. My friend Dona Jones of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ksdjewelry">Kindred Spirit Designs</a> helped out all day Saturday and Sunday. I push myself so hard getting inventory ready for a big show that people at the show get the goofy barely able to function version of Joan but that seems to work. I think they find it amusing. Beads and entertainment. </div><br /><div>I got to see Melanie Brooks of <a href="http://www.earthenwoodstudio.com/">Earthenwood Studio</a> briefly. I meant to go back and buy a piece for my bead collection but ran out of time and energy. Only purchase I managed to make was this great gater by fellow BOC'er <a href="http://firedupladiesjewelry.com/">Fired Up Ladies</a> . I also got to see my cabs set in sterling silver as clasps by <a href="http://www.claspon-claspoff.com/">Clasp On-Clasp Off</a> . They looked fabulous! and Dee sold alot. Looking forward to a long collaboration. I am going to send some pieces to be set for my own inventory as pendants and bracelet components. </div><br /><div>Finally the back to work part. I am doing a large order of starfish beads for <a href="http://www.moonbabies.com/">Moonbabies</a> that will be part of a fundraiser for breast cancer. I put a pink breast cancer ribbon on the back of each bead. 50 down 250 to go. I am hoping to be at the halfway point by the end of Aug.</div><br /><div>In closing happy to be done with my last "BIG" show of the year. Really happy to have so many great fun customers. And think I will be content to hole up back in my studio for a little while. </div><br /><div>Joan</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Joan Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08050733284851824130noreply@blogger.com2