:: 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!

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.

I’ve worked with ARTS and ACT before. This time I  created three mixed media collages that will be included in the auction and I’m excited about them.

The first one is Memories: Kyoto. It’s  a collage of torn paper, watercolor, and my glass beads.

The next one is Waiting for Spring – also mixed media collage with my glass beads.

The last one, A Closer Look, may be my favorite. It is made using photographs of one of my beads that was inspired by a moth. I enlarged the photographs, played around with them and made the collage. The auction for it will include the simple pearl and glass bead necklace I made with the bead. ( The necklace is not shown.)

All of the pieces of art are the same size, and I believe the bidding starts at $200. (Contact all the links below to find out more.)  There are some amazing pieces of art in this auction, and Karen tells me I already have some bids on my pieces. You still have until February 18th around 8 or 9 pm to bid.

I really enjoyed creating these artworks, and I am excited that money will be raised for a cause so close to my heart – Art for Rural Texas. Our local school systems (and probably yours) are not providing much, if any, art education. Here in Fayette County Texas  using ARTS and ACT, we are making a big stab at providing it ourselves. Your bids and purchases will help with the funds we need. You know, art is not just about appreciation of what is fine and beautiful in life, it is about encouraging creativity, learning to problem solve, learning to be expressive, and gaining the ability to communicate on a deep level. As Karen so aptly says, “Art speaks when there are no words.”

 Join in, have some fun, buy some great pieces of art, and make a difference in the lives of hundreds of children.

Art Auction and Reception Tickets are $35 each

4 or more tickets: $25 each

February 18, 2012 – 6 pm to 9 pm

Sterling McCall Event Center, Warrenton, Texas

RSVP online: info@artsforruraltexas.org or call 979-378-2113

http://act4art.org/

If you can’t attend, register for a proxy bidder. Don’t miss this opportunity!

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.

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.

 I’m still hopping around to the posts of the participants in the Bead Soup Party. I will get to visit you all.

And I am also making jewelry for the upcoming show in Dallas: Artscape, A Fine Art Fair in the Garden. I’m out of here and back to my torch, and later my beading bench.