Cupcakes Gone Wild

Happy Friday. I realized today that I've been so busy this week with my Cupcake Contest that I've just been pumping out updates here and not really talking to you much....and I know how you like it when I talk. So first, I will say that wowie zowie, isn't this bangle bracelet wild? I've had those transparent discs for a long time and their color is so unique that I've been waiting to mix them with just the right beads...and these are it! I had fun with the wire wrapping which I don't often do. The details and more pics can be found HERE.

I've made more jewelry this week than usual and it's been motivating, even if it is all cupcake related. I mean, there are millions of bead styles out there, but I still keep coming back to being the most amazed by cupcakes. And oh my gosh, wait until you see the ones that are coming to my studio!

I found a "new" glass artist...new for me, anyway. She only posts new beads a couple of times a month and when looking through her website gallery I saw cupcake beads unlike any I'd seen before. They have different detail than I'm used to and was awed by them. I emailed her letting her know my love of cupcake beads and her particular style and she said she was making some this weekend, and what colors would I like to see her work with!

Yep, she's giving me first dibs on them and I consider myself very lucky. Even I don't know what they are going to look like yet but I know they'll be awesome. My color requests and her glass work...it's going to be a great mix, I just know it. There is nothing more exciting than collaboration.

So, in other news around here, baby house finches are chirping like crazy when they are hungry...and WHEN are they NOT hungry! Man, the are the most insistent shortly after sunrise. For a tiny bird they sure make themselves known in the neighborhood.

Okay, was that enough chatter from me? I hope so. Tomorrow is the last day for contest entries so if you haven't done all you can, remember you can have at least a dozen of them for yourself!

Paradise

I love it when my neighbor's blooming Bird of Paradise flowers peek over my fence like they are checking things out on the other side.


The flower is standing strong, even in the rain today. Here's hoping you have a lovely weekend.

All that Jazz-mine

Here in northern California, we've had nearly a week of great weather after several weeks of mostly rain. We don't get snow where I live, so rain is as intense as it gets here, and we had more than usual, thank goodness. I didn't water my
jasmine for over a month, yet the roots found a source of nourishment which resulted in the first blossom on Monday.


One corner of the vine has the first cluster of blooms. The fragrance is wonderful and most intense at night for this Star Jasmine.



This little group of flowers is just on the other side of the fence so my neighbor can enjoy them too.


My bonus today as I was photographing the flowers was a fabulous spider web full of drops from a brief rain shower.
It's amazing that what looks like a delicate webbing could stretch like a hammock under the weight of the water and still keep itself together!


I also heard a couple of house finches chirping to one another in the beginning of their quest for the best nesting area of these vines. I have 2 sections of it and recently cut their favorite one waaaay back thinking it was early enough to grow back for their nesting dates, but they are scoping the area out early this year. Last year, 2 mating pairs fought over the same section of vines so one pair is smarter this time around.

Any hints of spring yet where you live considering 49 states in the union recently had snow at the same time???

I feel so Chihuly

The Dale Chihuly blown glass exhibit at the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco was a marvel. Left is the Macchia Forest, and below, the chandelier room. There were 11 rooms in all. Black walls and ceilings and dark floors were the perfect dramatic backdrop for the beautifully illuminated glass.

I spent most of my time in these 2 rooms. This may sound crazy, but the red chandelier? I wanted to consume it like liquid so it could become part of me. I know that sounds completely bizarre but that is how I felt...isn't art strange! The color of it, the striations in the glass tubes, the power of it...just wanted it to be part of me. No art has made me feel that before. These photos are from Chihuly's website and you can see more photos of this particular installation and others at www.Chihuly.com.

I didn't bother taking a camera and was surprised that snapping pics was acceptable as long as no flash was used. I spied one woman's photo on her camera and with just the lighting in the room against all that black, her shots turned out well, but I figure, hey, I'll just buy the book with the professional shots.

The Art of Chihuly book features this particular exhibit and was for sale at $45 which isn't bad but I told my son I knew I could get it for less online and I did. As soon as I got home, I searched and found a hardback copy still in shrink wrap for only $23 plus $4 for shipping...such a deal. Now I can relive the beauty and emotions whenever I wish.

My dad drove up from the central coast to join me and my son at the museum and he treated us to lunch afterwards in the museum cafe which featured all fresh food, cold & hot, and the prices weren't bad at all. We ate outside in the garden area.

The weather was overcast and wonderfully cool, just right for tee-shirt attire. It was fun to watch birds, from little Brewer's blackbirds to pigeons to one big seagull, munch on whatever lunch bits people dropped, be it on purpose or accidental. From our seats we could see the odd, multi-storied domes of the nearly finished construction of the new Steinhart Aquarium.

The domes are dotted with small round windows or solar panels maybe, and the rest is covered with what looks like moss. In the newspaper today an article stated this quote:"it is supported by recycled steel, insulated with recycled blue jeans and topped with a living roof." Interesting photos can be found here: Steinhart Aquarium.

Well, I highly recommend you visit the Chihuly site above to see if he's going to be near you any time soon. It's something not to be missed!

My 100th post!

Yay, I'm posting less than a week since my previous entry! Made that a goal to keep you all entertained and so far so good. And my reward is that this is my 100th post. Now that's a good omen. I added a visitor counter on July 4th. You can see it at the very bottom of the blog page and in 45 days I've had 187 visitors...not a lot, but I'm just glad people are coming.

Custom bead news following this story:

My husband and I were able to spend a 3 day weekend in Napa with our godson (photo at left of neighborhood cafe) who is two and a half and talking up a storm. He understands concepts now so his reactions and humor are absolute entertainment. A sweet and happy soul with a smile always at the ready along with kisses and hugs upon request!

Sis and her husband were out of town for the historic car races in Monterey...are you aware of these races? Old, old cars built for racing long ago are maintained (with large wads of cash, no doubt) for racing condition! Wouldn't it be something to see them whipping around the track? Sis takes their camper and hunkers down for 2 nights right at the track...wow!

Must be great, but what me and my husband needed was peace and quiet and that's what we got in the midst of huge oak trees surrounding house and pool just above a small vineyard surrounded by hills. Wow was it ever quiet. We did a little snoozing, lots of laughing, and slowly, slowly got our godson to swim.

It was wonderful that he trusted me enough to rest his body on just one of my arms while he flailed feet and legs to catch the big rubber ducky. What a bold one...of course, it took about an hour to go from just feet in the pool and refusals to step down to lower steps to full on swimming...but he got there. One final grab by me when he looked very confident and he let out one big scream....and then had a blast.

On the jewelry front I'm having a couple of spectular custom lampwork glass beads designed as pendants...won't tell you by whom yet as I don't want to create any pressure, but one is a harlequin mask...white face, teardrops from the eyes and an elaborate wavy collar in black and red...nice!

I was also inspired to request a hot air balloon bead after seeing the big balloon upon which Sarah Brightman sang in the Olympic opening ceremony. The balloon bead will be golden yellow with blue Kronos glass as the basket...and you'll seem some Kronos spikes on the balloon as well. Remind to show them to you after I receive them in a few weeks.

I've been reminded that the glass birds (photo above) from the Green Glass Cafe are big sellers in jewelry so I will be working on those designs this week...birdie pendants...yum! The bird pictured here is one of several different styles and color combinations I have.

Shopalicious

That's a word, right?

I know it's DEFinitely an experience. I've been shopping like crazy for my new Etsy shop, MomsArt.etsy.com. It's a tribute to my mother's artistic talents. She drew and softly colored cards for our entire family on birthdays and anniversaries.

My plan is to reproduce and then color them as cards for you. In the mean time, I'm buying paper goods like crazy to also provide shoppers with hand punched confetti (party hats and birdies are the latest), beautiful ribbons, and even handmade stickers (think sealed with a kiss).

So, come on over and visit my pretties for a whole new twist on my talents. Don't worry, RockerJewlz is alive and kicking as well. My spring line arrived last week at Midoma salon & gallery in New York City and I am working with my friend Lezlie on an amazing line of black & white lampwork beads that will enhance Sumie Tachibana's fashions at the aforementioned salon.

I'll let you know how it goes.