:: I’m taking two on-line classes, both fabulous. Like I didn’t have enough to do anyway, right?   The Girl’s Guide to Web Design is teaching me how to build my own site. Yeah!  The class is everything it promised, and more. My only problem is not finding time to finish a lesson everyday, so when I return to the class I’ve forgotten the previous lesson. Oh, you get the picture. I will make it through, especially since I need a new site by June 1st. Why? Because that is the day the second edition of my book, Go Anyway: Sailing Around the World with Parkinson’s  will be released.  So, new site reflecting the great new book design and contents, coming soon……………

The second class I am taking is Editing with Elements, all about learning Photoshop Elements. I didn’t know how much I needed this class. I have struggled with Photoshop for ages, just editing my jewelry photos, and not really understanding what I was doing. I’m moving forward at a steady clip, thanks to the class teacher,  Brandi .

Here is a photo of a new piece for the upcoming Fayetteville Art Walk, May 5th and 6th.  I’ve made new beads into some scrumptious designs. Come see them at Art Walk. The weather promises to be good,  so visit  my beautiful neck of the woods and enjoy the show this weekend. See you there!

 Meanwhile, if you want something good to read, pick up Lin’s new book: Bull Canyon, a Boatbuilder, a Writer and Other Wildlife.  Lin and Larry built their beautiful sailboat Taleisin up in the hills of California (of all places) and her memoir of those four years reads like a novel. Lin brings all the quirky people and happenings to life, and I went from being moved to tears to tears of laughter. I know you’ll enjoy Bull Canyon and will understand why I am so happy to have Lin guiding me through some choppy book writing waters.

Juggling all my hats – author, bead maker, jewelry designer, web master- jewelry photographer and PD caregiver- is an act that’s REALLY stretched me now. (Opps, I forgot gardener – my snow peas are in bloom!). I’ll leave you with a new black and white photo from the interior of Go Anyway ( a scan of one of my watercolor sketches) - and a photo of a new jewelry piece. Cheers!

Here’s a collage of   four of the new pieces.  The Teal Bubble Bead necklace is strung with handmade metal accents.

 The glass disks drops on Jim’s sterling bails are  a new style.  We will have  that style in several colors, and single and triple pendants.

I enjoy  making fantasy leaves and designed a new red leaf necklace for the Bead Soup Challenge. Afterwards I created similar necklaces in muted neutrals and beautiful blues (not shown) as well.

Multicolored  glass graffiti beads sparkle on a triple strand necklace, and are accented with  patinaed copper and brass beads. I began using metals other than sterling silver in order to keep my prices affordable. I think the different metals work well with my glass, and the end result is interesting and fun (if I do say so myself!).

Come on over to the Arboretum to see everything I’ve made recently, including lots of new earrings. If you can’t attend the show, and want something, e-mail me and I will send you specific pictures and prices.

A: Thank you for asking. I’m fine, however the last two months have been challenging.  Our dear cat Chica hasn’t been well. And back in mid-December doctors discovered that Jim needed surgery, and for various reasons it couldn’t be scheduled until early January. We kept him at home and away from possible infection for what seemed like some very long weeks, and therefore  missed several fun holiday gatherings.

Q: Oh, my! I didn’t know. I hope he and Chica are both okay now.

A: He is steadily recovering from his surgery, although he still cannot drive nor lift anything over 20 pounds.  So I am doing all the driving (not my favorite job).  Chica is doing much better as well. You know she is 14 years old which is 73 in human years. It makes her aches and pains understandable.

Q: Have you done anything since December  other than deal with Jim’s surgery?

A: Well, yes I have. Along with Rick Higginbothams’ help I published Go Anyway as an e-book. It’s now listed on Amazon.com for sale and customers seem to be enjoying it.

Oh, speaking of e-books, here is something else I did in the last few weeks. I wrote a tutorial on how to make headpin leaf beads. The tutorial will be in  the March issue of  Soda Lime Times, a great e-zine for lampworkers. It is easy to read and use on your pc or tablet reader. I really enjoy my android or Kindle  and kept one with me during all the hours I spent with Jim at doctors appointments or in the hospital, or at the vet with Chica. I got a lot of reading done.

Q: Well, I am surprised to hear what you have been doing. You must be anxious to get back to making jewelry and beads though.

A:I am, and fortunately I have  torched some wonderful new beads in the last few days in spite of all the caretaking.  I also managed to make and send off six new necklaces to a professional photographer. I’ll show you those photos once I receive them. Having good photographs of my work is so important for entering juried shows. I’m lining up my schedule for 2012, and the new images should help me get accepted into new venues.

Q: Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions? 

A: I resolved to take better care of myself, and with that in mind I have lost 13 pounds since November. I feel so much better. I think I mentioned the Game On Diet in my previous post. It is easy and fun. That’s about it for resolutions.

Q: Well, dear, I’m glad to hear you plan to take better care of yourself. It sounds like you need to, so I encourage you as well. A visit to a spa would be a lovely idea. If you decide to go, do let me know. Until then, ta ta. I’ll catch you later. Oh, I almost forgot. Isn’t your 67th birthday day after tomorrow? Never mind – I know it is. Do have an especially happy day.

A: Thank you – I will.

I’m STILL Blog Hopping for the Bead Soup Party – it’s taking me awhile to look and read. Thank you to everyone who left comments for me.

Meanwhile, I’ll be off to the Cottonwood Art Festival in Richardson, Texas this weekend. I’ve made a lot of new pieces, and if I can get to it tomorrow I’ll give you a peek. Otherwise, hope to see you there if you live in the area.

I finally received my soup beads yesterday! Wow – they took a long time getting to Texas from B.C., Canada, but worth the wait. Barrie made the focal and the clasp herself, as well as those darling pink lampworked beads. A multi-tasker, that’s for sure. She also sent pearls – must be telephathy, since I sent her pearls as well. That one picture on the bottom right – not a bead, but a sticker. Nice inspiration though, got me thinking.

So now I am moving the beads all around on a white plate I pulled out for them, adding and subtracting things from my stash, and generally getting the visuals working on cooking up a new recipe for these fun ingredients. See ‘ya here on September 17th for the reveal.

P.S. Check out “What’s New” on my website. I’m gotten a start uploading the new jewelry I’ve made for my next show in Midland, Texas.

A two2 day show actually takes us six days. A day driving there, a day setting up, two days showing, a day driving home, and day six  for recuperating and doing paperwork, order assemby, etc.  But the time away from the torch and our benches sets our creative juices afire. The wonderful art we see  at the shows inspires us, as do the sights we see while driving and visiting cities so different from our tiny town. By the time I’m home my sketchbook is brimming with ideas. So some fun new jewelry will be coming to Kerrville.

Here’s the e-mail ad. I’ll give you a real sneak preview later after I take some photographs. 

What I have cooked up will need to stretch across both shows. (I promise I will hold some really good pieces back just for those of you planning to come to Cottonwood.)   I’ve made lots of earrings, and double the amount of bubble necklaces with my new popular wire ” Scribbles.”  Here’s a peek.

Lyn Foley at the Lubbock Arts Festival April 8-10, 2011

The Lubbock Art Festival is this weekend, and I’m photographing and pricing new jewelry today. I’m also hoping to finish our taxes before we leave,  take a few pieces of  new jewelry over to the Gallery at Round Top, and work on my display. I also need to get together with my sister Mary. I planted my vegetable garden, and since Mary takes care of Chica and the house while we are away, I need to show her what is planted where so that she can water it. Nothing like a lot to do today, is there? Somehow all the last minute things always get taken care of, so, I’m off to work.

Oh, I almost forgot: Go Anyway did launch last week. The e-mail I sent  about the book signing may have been a little confusing. If you didn’t understand how to buy a copy from me  follow this link, http://www.GoAnyway.net to purchase my book. If you want me to sign it,write a note in the shipping instructions. ( Shipping is generally media mail.) If you live near Round Top and want to pick up your copy, just leave off the shipping, and send me an e-mail seperately. I’m working on the digital formatting (in between making jewelry, can’t forget that), so the book will be available on all the popular sites for e-book downloads in about two weeks. I’ll keep you posted.

Go to http://www.GoAnyway.net to buy a copy of my book