Fun Girls Jewelry

Going to Davis

2011-12-01T11:35:00.000-08:00

Well I have arisen from my sick bed, and I think I can make it to Davis this weekend. Of course this could change at any minute if I start to cough or fall back in bed!

Davis, then Clearance Sale

2011-11-29T14:10:00.000-08:00

I am still in bed with a bad cold, but I am expecting to be fine in a few days for the Davis Holiday Sale. Then my Clearance Sale is coming up. I am just wondering if I should push back the date a week. These holidays are busy times, but I would really like to have a spectacular offering for this sale. Hard to imagine as I am laying flat on my back coughing my head off. Oh well. Be advised the date may change, now that it is still early enough to do so.

Anniversary Clearance Sale

2011-11-18T09:53:00.000-08:00

If you would like to be invited to my December Clearance Sale in Menlo Park, please click on the newsletter link above and add your email address. This invitation will be
by email only!

I wish I could tell you more of what I will have on sale, but I still have two more shows, and really no idea of what will be sold there. I am going to do a sweep through my studio, so things will be at the sale that I havn't had at previous shows. Sign up for the newsletter, and I may be able to post a few pictures of what's on sale prior to the event.

Sacramento's Crocker Art Museum Holiday Craft Show

2011-11-18T08:49:00.000-08:00

This Thanksgiving, after you've eaten all you possibly can, walk off those calories at the Crocker Art Museum Holiday Craft Fair! It starts the Friday after Thanksgiving and continues on Saturday and Sunday, November 25-27. For several years now it has been at the Scottish Rite Center on H Street, with lots of parking. There is a link to a map on the right of my blog page if that will help you get there.
This year I am focusing on giftable pieces under $100. I will bring all the work I have, so if you've seen something in my newsletter that is still available, it will be at the show, but I may not have it displayed. If you are looking for one of my signature pieces in certain colors, please email ASAP so I can make sure I have something for you to see.
My booth is #145, in the Main Auditorium right in front of the stage, which is really the back of the room as you enter from the front.
There is food here, too, just in case you get hungry after all the Thanksgiving feasting!

Every Industry Has It's Scoundrels

2011-11-01T11:18:00.000-07:00

You may have heard artists talk about, in a disparaging way, "Buy & Sell". This refers to merchandise that is purchased, as is, from wholesale vendors for the purpose of resale. This is not a crime of course, but for craftspeople and artisans who make their own work, it feels criminal when these merchants pass off this work as their own so they may have access to the Art & Craft show buyers.
The Craft Show Lore goes that vendors have been seen unloading boxes clearly marked "made in China" at some craft shows. After attending the Tuscon Gem Show, it is amazing that any jewelry is handmade by the artist. There must be a zillion companies making jewelry for resale, and most of this is made in third world countries.
I have seen a customer sporting a new piece of jewelry that I know was not handmade ( in America, anyhow), and yet they just bought it from another "artist".
There are many shows where Buy & Sell vendors are desired and sought after. Great, high end importers can be found at these shows, and non-profit groups that support third world artisans. I like going to these shows from time to time myself to see a different kind of work.
I just wish those that buy for resale would stay honest, and stay out of the craft shows.

Menlo Park Sidwalk Art Show This Weekend - Oct. 14-16

2011-10-13T09:15:00.000-07:00

This show is on the sidewalk of Menlo Park, not down the middle of the street. It is more casual than a big "tent" show, and there is more time to talk and hang out. The show starts on Friday, and ends on Sunday night at 5. This will be my last show on the Peninsula until next spring. Whew. Where did the summer go?
To usher in the fall, I have done a few colorful fall pieces you can see on my etsy site. I will be adding more as the month progresses. 14-16

San Carlos Art & Wine Show This Weekend

2011-10-06T08:05:00.001-07:00

OOPS. I am late once again. Back to back shows always throw me for a loop, as my mother used to say. So I am leaving tomorrow, and today will be a fast and furious make some jewelry day. I am hoping to concentrate on earrings, but it depends on the willingness of the "universe". If I screw up the first few pairs, I will move on to something else.
My booth number in San Carlos is #280. Hope you can stop by and see what the universe supported today!

Montclair Village Sidewalk Art Show This Weekend..Oct 1 & 2

2011-09-29T12:57:00.000-07:00

There is no denying that it is fall. October is here!
Montclair Village Sidewalk art show is this weekend, Oct. 1 & 2 in Oakland. I am on the corner of Mountain Blvd. & La Salle.
I am still busy making stuff....must run!

Walnut Creek Sidewalk Show This Weekend...Sept. 24 & 25

2011-09-20T15:53:00.000-07:00

The Walnut Creek Sidewalk show this weekend always feels like the beginning of fall to me. It is hard to believe that summer is over, and I didn't kayak, swim or tube anywhere.

The trip to New York last week felt like a real vacation, but perhaps not the traditional summer vacation. We were gone for almost a week, and enjoyed walking around Manhatten.

Here's a picture of Maeghan and Spencer in the subway on the way to her art opening at the Jack Hanley Gallery. I was pretty thrilled she liked my new industrial necklace with her girly little strapless red dress. She looked GREAT for her opening. And of course, her show was totally great too.

So hope you can make the show this weekend!

I Love My Job I Hate My Job

2011-09-19T11:12:00.001-07:00

Credit card processing can be a nightmare.They charge a fortune, and I never know how much any one charge will cost me.
I changed companies this year to Total Merchant Services. They gave me the cute little machine that spits out a receipt with my business name, total, etc. on it, just like a major retailer. Boy have I paid for these cute little receipts.
Now it seems that they are not very competent either. I have spent hours on the phone after learning I had two chargebacks ( customers who disputed their credit card charge because they didn't remember who I was) that the company never informed me of. Why? Because they didn't give their processor my correct address. So not only did they jerk almost $800 out of my account, they have wasted hours of my time, and of course made me go completely insane.
Thankfully, I have been able to contact both of these customers. One apologized for not recognizing my business name, but it really wasn't her fault. I have yet to talk to the other customer.
So Total Merchant Services screwed up. I wonder if they will have the gall to charge me double interest? Stay tuned. Or read about it somewhere on the Internet. My new hobby will be letting the world know of their incompetence.

Follow by email?

2011-08-31T11:30:00.000-07:00

By clicking the box above, you will recieve email notices of my blog updates. Pretty handy!! If you don't want to subscribe to my newsletter, you can use this feature to be notified of my shows. But if I decide to blog and rant about who-knows-what, you'll be notified of that too!!

Kings Mountain Art Fair this Labor Day Weekend

2011-08-31T11:22:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it is September already. I would like to write about my summer vacation, but since all I really did was organize my laundry room, I am a little short on enthusiasm.
I am very enthusiastic about the upcoming Kings Mountain Art Show in Woodside this weekend. It is in the redwoods at the top of Skyline Drive in Woodside, off of Highway 92 as you are heading over to Half Moon Bay from the bay area. Turn left at the top of the hill!!! I will post a map to the location.
This show is a fundraiser for the volunteer fire house there, and it is one of the highest quality shows I do in California. All the community pulls together for most of the year to produce this show and it entirely done by volunteers. There will be food, and drink too, all done by volunteers to support the firehouse. And , they have the most beautiful firehouse you have ever seen!
Come early for breakfast...it is great!!!

Truckee this Weekend

2011-08-11T07:55:00.000-07:00

Off to Tahoe for a weekend show in downtown Truckee. On the way, we will stop at Ikeda's ( not Ikea, you easterners) just north of Auburn to buy a whole fresh pie for our Truckee hosts, and some fruit for the show. I am beginning to see the value of routines, and this routine is comforting. They also have fresh tofu in a bin of water. This is the only place east of the California coast that I have seen this, but it is hard to take plain tofu to a show so I will bypass this delicacy.
Then I have two weekends off in a row!! Holy Moly. What a glorious thng.

Connosseurs' Marketplace this Weekend

2011-07-15T09:16:00.000-07:00

I tell you, it is just crazy. I can never remember my log in and password for my blog. What is that all about? So it takes me about 5 minutes to actually log in, and by then I have forgotten what I wanted to write about. Oh My Goodness.
Of course, I remember I wanted to write about Connosseurs' Marketplace, the show coming up this weekend in Menlo Park. It is a really good show, down the center of Santa Cruz Ave. in Menlo Park. My husband's booth of paintings is next to mine. It looks like the weather will be mild this weekend, so I just have to get to the studio to finish some work, and we are off!!

Los Altos Art and Wine Show

2011-07-06T18:59:00.001-07:00

This weekend is the Los Altos Art & Wine Show, downtown Los Altos. My booth in on N. Main Street, close to First St. on the south side of the street. My booth number is 442.
I would write more incredibly interesting stuff here, but I must go make stuff!!!

Montclair Village This Weekend

2011-06-20T20:27:00.000-07:00

This Friday starts the Montclair Village Summer Art Show. I have been doing this show for years, and I always look forward to it. One year, it was so hot that even the hotels in the area had to reduce their power use. One year it was so cold, I had to borrow a coat from the employee coat rack in nearby store. And I learned a few weeks ago to NEVER trust the weather report, so it will be interesting to see what finally ends up in the suitcase.
The artists are on the sidewalks of this Oakland neighborhood, so the traffic isn't diverted. Parking is always an issue here. I am on the corner of La Salle and Mountain Blvd,. and up La Salle from me is a parking garage. I havn't noticed if there are signs to the parking garage, but I would have to imagine there are.
There is a small Israeli deli that closes on Friday at 3pm for Sabbath, and they don't open until Sunday afternoon. I usually end up getting there only once during the show, since I forget this little detail, but this year I am Awake and Aware, ready for the great felafels, hummus and salads.
Hope you can make it. There is a link to a map of my location to your left.

Rain Rain Go Away

2011-06-08T08:10:00.001-07:00

Another show day lost to the weather. This last lost day, Sunday in Sacramento, in all fairness, was really lost to cowardice on my part. Saturday at Sacramento was the worst weather I have ever shown in. It was raining at 5:45am when I looked at the window of my hotel, and it didn't stop, excepr for about 2 minutes around 5:30-pm. The wind was blowing, and two high school volunteers helped me with the weights on my booth so it didn't blow away. I must admit I was confused and disoriented most of the day. However, there were an amazing amount of Fun Girls who showed up in the pouring rain to get their Fun Girl Fix, and I am totally honored by this. Rain Bedamned.
I was wet, my booth was wet, and my mirror was wet. I stole paper toweling out of Trader Joe's bathroom to dry the mirror. I couldn't hang the mirror as usual on the edge of the canopy, so I laid it flat on the table and held it when needed. But the toweling got soaked too, so I had Wet Mirror. Then, one Brilliant Fun Girl suggested that I keep the mirror face down on the table to keep it dry.
DUH.
I never was long on common sense. Hey, I already told you I was confused and disoriented!!
So when thunderstorms were predicted for Sunday, I packed up my wet self and wet things and left.
Sunday was dry as a bone, and I was gone.
DUH.

Rings

2011-05-31T20:12:00.000-07:00

Here's a ring I sold in Saratoga. The centerpiece is a unique color of pink and gold glass on this ring. It was pretty cool. I am pretty bummed I havn't made anymore since this one. I really should have had some for June, but maybe by Oakland. It is hard to set aside a big block of time, and relax enough to focus on my silver work. I have mainly been doing glass for so long, that the silver is really a task master, and I feel too pressured to deal with the learning curve right now. Maybe later in June.

Los Altos Rotary Fine Art Show

2011-05-12T10:30:00.000-07:00

Los Altos is this weekend, and they are predicting thunderstorms on Sunday. This could all change of course, so let's hold a postive thought. For some reason, this show always has the most unpredictable weather. It has been one of the hottest, one of the coldest, and one of the wettest I have done. I guess if we get one good day I will be happy.

My husband does this show as well, so he will be next to me with his paintings.

We are in the first half of the show, near the Sherman Street end (south end of Lincoln Park) along the freeway side. My booth number is 126. I used to be at the other end of the show, but I moved into the center. So if you are confused there is good reason. I hate to move my spot, but it helps for my husband and I to be next to each other for packing and unpacking the van. Of course this way I can also keep an eye on him, and he will watch my booth for me...for about a minute!

Sacramento Art Fiesta

2011-05-12T10:29:00.000-07:00

I'll be in Sacramento the first weekend of June, Saturday and Sunday June 4 & 5 for the annual Kiwanis Art Fiesta. This show is at the Town and Country Shopping Center at Fulton and Marconi. There is a Trader Joes there, a Noah's Bagel, a Jamba Juice and a whole lot more that I can't remember.
The booths are scattered all around the center on the sidewalks, and it can be a bit of a maze. I am in booth 585, in "Canopy Row", which is the only row of white tents behind the Mexican Restaurant there. I can't of course remember the name of the restaurant, and I hope it is still there. If you stood in front of the grocery store there you can see the booths. They are sort of hidden behind one of the buildings.
I will have a "Show Special" here as well, courtesy of the Kiwanis. They, unlike many show promoters, do not charge a commission on sales made from the show, so I always extend some kind of special to my customers because of this. It is early Sunday morning on Memorial Day weekend right now, so my brain hasn't come up with a special just yet. However, it will be available only to my newsletter recipients, so if you aren't getting my newsletter right now, click on the link above here and sign yourself up!!

Two Shows this Weekend

2011-04-27T14:48:00.000-07:00

It is a little crazy around here. I have never done two shows at the same time. I have divided the driveway in half. One show is one half of the driveway, with the appropriate vehicle, and the other show is on the other side with it's vehicle. A little crazy. I just hope when I get to the first show, I have all the right stuff!!!

The first show is Walnut Creek, which is Friday and Saturday, and then on Sunday I will be in Saratoga at the Rotary show.

There are links to maps to the right here. Hope you can make one of these shows!

It Could Have Been Frozen Yogurt and One More Pound

2011-04-24T10:32:00.000-07:00

Last night after dinner, I knew I needed to do a kilnload of glass. It had been a rough weekend so far. Friday there was a big vet bill, and an even bigger car repair bill, followed by a HUGE silver order. Good news is that the cat's OK and the car still works, but it took about 24 hours of whining and depression to recoup. So last night, I really wanted to go to the new Frozen Yogurt store and pig out, but an idea about a diet I should be on stopped me. I ate a few dark chocolate chips and went to the studio.
AND did I get rewarded!!! Every piece of glass in the kiln turned out GREAT! This doesn't happen all the time. I did two new shapes, and they are great. I am more into surface exploration with the glass, and not as interested in the sculptural aspect, so these two new shapes that take the color well are a big break through for me. Of course they will make great pendants. I should take a picture to post, but also to document a 100% on a kilnload!!

Menlo Park this Weekend

2011-04-13T22:23:00.001-07:00

This Friday, Saturday and Sunday is the Menlo Park Sidwalk Art Show. I will post a link here to the right to a map of my location. I am always in front of the Wells Fargo on the corner of ?? I can't remember the name and Santa Cruz Ave. La Boulanger is on the other side of the street, if that helps. Sorry! Mapquest doesn't tell me what the street is either.

Juried Art Shows

2011-04-13T22:16:00.000-07:00

As I talk to people at the shows, I realize there is a lot of confusion about how the shows operate. All of the shows I am in are juried shows, which means there is a promoter who chooses who is going to participate in their shows. Usually this is done by submitting photographs 4-6 months before the show. If you are selected, you are invited to participate and you pay a fee. Most shows have a jury fee, and the Sausalito Art Fair charges $50 just to apply. Needless to say, I will never apply to their show. Some shows charge a flat fee, and some shows charge a smaller flat fee, with a commission on sales (usually 10%) from the show. Usually, the artist self-reports these sales. At a few shows, such as the Saratoga Rotary, all the money from the sales are collected by them, and they take out their commission and send the artist the balance. I like this because I don't have any paperwork to do. I just get to cash a check!

West Portal

2011-04-06T19:48:00.000-07:00

I am leaving tomorrow afternoon for the San Francisco show that starts on Friday. The weather at this show can be brutal. It is most often cold and windy, but if there is any rain it is nasty. This weekend, it looks like it may rain a little on Friday, but hopefully not enough to call the show for the day. If it is really bad in the morning when we are supposed to set up, the promoter may cancel the show for the day, and all the artists will return on Saturday and try again. Saturday and Sunday look good, but a little cold. But I have noticed that San Franciscans will go out in the coldest weather with just a little wrap. One year, we had left home for the show, and there was about 5 feet of snow on the ground. But in the middle of the day in San Francisco, I was almost in tears because of the cold. And just then, a beautifully dressed red head walks by in her pumps and little silky throw, and I was completely impressed. Time to woman-up!

2011 Rings

2011-04-02T10:06:00.000-07:00

Well here is the first ring I have sold this year. I did do rings several years ago, and I may do some of that style again, but I am really having fun playing with the silver. What a time to play with silver. The cost of silver has tripled in the past year or so. But, I feel like doing it, so what else can I do?? This is a large ring, as you can tell, with a glass cabacon. I entertained the thought of keeping it, since it is so unusual, but of course that thought went away. A long time customer bought this, and it fit her perfectly, so I guess I really made it for her!!

Belmont This Weekend

2011-03-22T15:50:00.000-07:00

I just posted my update to my husband's blog. Oh my. What a way to start the year!
I'll be in Belmont this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Carlemont Shopping Center. This is a small show, but the quality of the artists is very good. We are all so happy to have a show to do in March!! We are under the eaves of the Shopping Center walkways, so the March wind and rain won't stop the show. Maybe March winds over 45mph may stop the show, but most likely we will be there. I've been doing this show for 9 years, and I am looking forward to the Mexican restaurant there, name unknown.
If you aren't receiving my newsletter, click on the link at the top and add yourself. You will receive a newsletter before every show, and I always put new work in each newsletter. So if you want to see some new work, add yourself and in a day or so I will send the newsletter out to you.

Contemporary Crafts Market

2011-03-07T10:07:00.000-08:00

I'll be showing my work in San Francisco this weekend at Fort Mason at the Contemporary Crafts Market.
The show is Saturday and Sunday from 10-5. For free tickets, go to their website and print them out. I will add a link to the right to the website.

Slow Pace Again

2011-03-05T09:45:00.000-08:00

I have been sick since I returned from my trip back east. Not a good thing. Everyone around me this year has had epic colds, and I hope that this one of mine is just a short story.
I will be behind now for the San Francisco show next weekend. Holy Moly. I can't believe I am going to start the season behind.
I do have a lot of new things for this season. Let's just hope I can get some of them finished!

Going to Baltimore

2011-02-21T17:15:00.000-08:00

I am leaving tomorrow to visit the American Craft Council show in Baltimore. There are 700 exhibiting artists from all over the country. The first three days are wholesale, and the last three days are retail. I can't remember when I have seen a wholesale CRAFT show. It will be interesting to see the difference between how the artists display for one or the other, and perhaps there will not be much change between the two types of sales. I will hope to see some inspiring booth designs. However, at this type of indoor show, I am sure that some of these artists will spend days building their booth. This "high design, high time" kind of booth can't be done at an outdoor show, at least not by me!
I am hoping to streamline my booth this year, but I say that every year. It is right up there with: " I will be more organized this year," and " I will be more relaxed this year," and I will remember to charge for shipping this year"...oops, I do have to charge for shipping this year!!!!
I hope I remember.

Going to Tucson

2011-01-31T20:55:00.000-08:00

Here are two more rings I have made. You can't see the front of the ring in my hand...it is a pearl...but I wanted you to see the textured metal on the back of the ring. I really like it!! The ring on the stand is my glass bead cabochon set in silver.

I leave this week for my annual pilgrimage to the Tucson Gem Show. I have written about this before, but just in case, I will tell you again about how great a trip it is. I am buying stones, pearls and other "consumable" parts of my jewelry that I don't make myself.

There are a billion vendors at Tucson from all parts of the world. Half of China comes. Lots of people from India. It is very exciting. I shop for 8 hours a day, looking for the unusual, the extremely beautiful, and the great buy. This is why some of my work is so well priced....I am such a good shopper!!!

I learned a lesson in the 90's when I made my second trip to Tucson. I saw a strand of beautiful big round jasper beads; so big that they certainly weren't fashionable at the time, but the stone quality was absolutely amazing. They were a good price too, but I wasn't in the market for them . A few hours later, I saw the exact same strands in a different vendor's booth, for over three times the cost of the first!! They were so beautiful that the second vendor knew he could get a lot more money for them . I think I went back and bought them from the first vendor at that point!

Bad Blogger

2011-01-30T12:20:00.000-08:00

I have not been blogging lately. I am existing at a slower pace than life during the show season ( which is most of life for me) and this slow pace feels lazy although I am still working. I have forgotten about things that I do constantly during most of the year, like production, and I am "getting" to do things I don't do most of the year, like polishing up my rusty silversmithing skills. I procrastinate doing the silver work, but once I get started, and accept the dreaded learning curve ( you know that curve, where you make a lot of crappy stuff until you get over the hump!) I really enjoy the work. So I am posting some pictures of the rings and things I have been doing. The photo to the right is a ring in progress that I was thinking about turning into a pendant on these pearls. It isn't done yet, but I think it will turn out to be a ring.

The "hump" ring, figuratively and literally, is the copper and silver ring. What a monstrosity!! But I am showing you all right now, but don't expect to see this ring, or it's relatives at a show this year. The photo of it will show up at the right of this post.

Working

2011-01-11T20:29:00.000-08:00

I am making it to the studio everyday. I have spent hours putting things in their place, sweeping and cleaning. I am a few weeks behind in my production schedule. Christmas too more time than I thought it would, but then again, that was probably more fault with the schedule than with the holiday.
None the less, I am working, and I started the silver fabrication I have been talking about for 6 months. I knew I would procrastinate on this. There is a big learning curve with silver work, and it isn't pretty. At the cost of silver these days, it is not pretty and not cheap! So I fumbled around for a few days, burned up some silver and some time. I solved my problems, and I am happy to say that yesterday I make 2 1/2 rings!! They are pretty simple, but at least I am going on them and warming up the old skill sets.
Right now I am waiting on a kilnload to cool down, so I think I'll go out and see whats happening. I will post some pictures of rings when I get a nice grouping.

Onward

2010-12-29T14:12:00.000-08:00

Here is a Christmas Chunky Monkey I did last month. Lots of fun!

Well I am still practically comatose. Fragments of ideas about work are starting to swirl around in my befuddled brain, and I suppose sooner or later they will begin to coagulate into a complete, coherent thought. I am reluctant to go to the studio, as I can only imagine I will sit there in complete confusion.

Next week my husband and I are taking a trip to the Impression Show in San Francisco. We like to stay in the Cow Hollow Motor Lodge, because you can walk out the door of the hotel and you are on the sidewalks of the bustling Marina District, full of restaurants, stores and pubs. For the City, it is a pretty good deal, about $100 with taxes, and there is no charge for parking. I am always hesitant to try to Priceline a hotel in the city, since I have once been charged $35 a night (extra) for parking.

So this is the regular room rate at the Cow Hollow, not a Priceline one. I Pricelined a hotel by the San Francisco airport once, and it was really inexpensive. Then I spent the night wishing for an air filter for the smell, and a Uzi for self protection. Won't do that again.

The Crocker Preferred Customer Show Special

2010-11-23T16:28:00.001-08:00

I've done a lot of these fun roll on bracelets for the Crocker "Show Special". Buy any two bracelets, and get a free pair of $29 earrings. You must have a coupon to recieve the show special, so click on the newsletter link above, and sign yourself up for my newsletter. I will send you the Crocker Newsletter containing the coupon by Thanksgiving evening....
Don't forget that the first 10 Fun Girls that present me with the coupon receive the gift felted bag containing a silver polishing cloth.

Fun Show Special at the Crocker Art Show Thanksgiving Weekend

2010-11-19T12:12:00.000-08:00

Here is a fun reason to be on my email list. The first 10 people to come to my booth bearing a copy of my email will get one of these fun felted bags with a silver polishing cloth inside. How fun is that? No purchase necessary for this, but you will have to bring a copy of my newsletter. If you aren't currently getting my newsletter, there is a link above where you can add yourself. You will need to add yourself by Thanksgiving around 5pm in order to receive the email in time.

The Bruno Room at the Crocker Holiday Show

2010-11-19T10:13:00.000-08:00

It is so hard to believe the holidays are upon us. WHEW. What a year!!! It is cold and rainy outside right now, just like winter should be.
If it's Thanksgiving, it is time for the Crocker Art Museum Holiday Art & Crafts Festival. They hold this event at the Scottish Rite Building in Sacramento. I will put a link on my blog soon with a map to the location.
I will be in a small room off of the Atrium, called the Bruno Room. In the past, they had artists in the lobby, in the main auditorium and in the Bruno Room, so I can only assume this year will be the same.
I will have a Crocker "Show Special", but I am still working on it, so come back in an hour or so!

Orinda Holiday Show This Saturday Nov. 6, 2010

2010-11-03T09:22:00.000-07:00

I'll be back in Orinda this Saturday at the Community Center for their Holiday Bazaar.
They brought the show back this year after having been cancelled last year. It is only on Saturday this year.
It is a fun little show. Not everything is handmade, as it isn't an arts and crafts show, but there are the usual knitters that sprout when it gets cold, Narsai David food stuffs are there, and it is just a little different from the shows I regularly do. I will put a link to a map on the left if you need directions.

Menlo Park This Weekend

2010-10-14T15:27:00.000-07:00

Friday, Saturday and Sunday....Santa Cruz Ave. I am on the corner of Chestnut on Santa Cruz Ave. in front of a bank...? Sorry I don't know which one.
My husband is in the car waiting for me right now.....

San Carlos Happiness

2010-10-11T15:08:00.000-07:00

We stay at the same hotel in Mountain View for many of the art shows we do on the San Francisco peninsula. We stayed there last week for the San Carlos show, and we planned on eating at a little Vietnamese restaurant that I thought I had noticed across the street the last time we were there. We walked over from the hotel, and the Vietnamese restaurant turned out to be an Indian place. Well, my mouth was ready for hot and spicy, so I was pretty disappointed. The Indian place had fluorescent ceiling lights, and not much ambiance. But then I saw that it was vegetarian, and I got excited again. We decided to try it out, and it was so great I still can't believe it. It was a Saturday night, and the Indians were out in force, in their glorious native garb. 75% of the patrons were Indian. The food was absolutely delicious, the best Indian food I have ever eaten, and we still don't have a clue what we ordered.
We will be staying at the same place for the Menlo Park show this weekend, so you know where we will be dining. I will remember the name of the place to post next week.
Oh yeah, and dinner for the two of us was $17.00 before the tip!

Last Minute....

2010-10-08T11:29:00.001-07:00

Here I am at the last minute, adding pictures of work I just finished for San Carlos Art & Wine Show this weekend, Oct. 9 & 10. I loved this set---torch colored copper. I should have enhanced the photo. On my computer screen the colors aren't as intense as they really are. This is a great set! Wish I knew what kind of pink earthy stone I dangled from it. Probably jasper of some kind.
San Carlos is downtown on Laurel. I am booth #274. Please forgive me if I already posted this. I honestly can't remember right now!

Tired

2010-10-06T08:57:00.000-07:00

If you are waiting on something from me, it will be a little longer. I had an emergency trip back to Ohio between the Mill Valley show, and the Montclair show. Now I am trying to get some new work together for San Carlos this weekend, and I am pretty tired. I was hoping to have more of the earrings pictured here, but I don't think it will happen this week.

Montclair Village Oct. 2 & 3

2010-09-27T20:51:00.000-07:00

It's time for the Fall Art Festival "downtown" Montclair Village. This is a really small, interesting neighborhood off of Hwy. 13 in the Oakland Hills. My favorite consignment boutique is there ( Utopia), a great kitchen store and bookstore. Of course there is a Starbucks, Peets, Noahs and a few other coffee shops, in about two blocks!! I will be in my usual location on the corner of La Salle and Mountain Ave. Hopefully I will be able to get a mapquest link up before I head out. I was hoping to have some rings for this show, but I only did two, and one of them didn't get finished, so they are still in the oven, so to speak. Practice, practice, practice!!

To Find Mill Valley.....

2010-09-22T21:48:00.001-07:00

I am having a hard time getting my blog to list the link to the Mill Valley Fall Art Fair Website.

Try this....
http://www.mvfaf.org

I don't know how to get there yet myself!

Mill Valley Fall Art Festival This Weekend

2010-09-22T21:30:00.000-07:00

This weekend, Sept. 25-26, I'll be in the Mill Valley Art Show, for the first time. A lot of you will remember that I previously have done the Walnut Creek Sidewalk Art Show this weekend, but I decided to try the Mill Valley show. My booth number is 122. It is in Old Mill Park in Mill Valley, and I will add the link to the show so you can access a good map. I have been told the show is in a redwood grove similar to Kings Mountain, and the weather looks great!

I will miss my Walnut Creek friends!

Packing Up

2010-09-02T07:33:00.000-07:00

It looks like cool and hospitable weather for this weekend's show. It can be cold in the redwoods in the early morning, though, so be sure to bring something warm if you are coming to Kings Mountain for breakfast.

Ki ngs Mountain Art Fair Around the Corner

2010-08-30T07:57:00.000-07:00

I am making new glass for Kings Mountain. I am still working on these, so I don't have pictures yet. I hope to post them tonight.
I also have a "new" dangle option for the "Macha" chain that I sell. There will be new chain options as well.
The blue and ivory pendants pictured at the right are new, and I am working on different colors of these.
Hope you have this show on your calendar. It is at the top of Skyline Dr. in Woodside, in the redwoods. There is a feel to this show that is a little different than other shows. It is completely run by volunteers from the community to fund their volunteer fire department, and it has been going on for years. Talk about community service! The volunteers do all the food, all the artist set up and coordination, and did I mention all the food? I look forward to this food all year. They put BUTTER in the scrambled eggs ( I love these eggs, but I would never put butter in my eggs at home) and the pancakes must have something equally delicious and bad in them, not to mention the hot syrup available to drench over them.
This is down home comfort Fair Food. At least nothing is deep-fried!!!

Sorry to Cancel Tahoe City this Weekend

2010-08-12T14:39:00.000-07:00

I have to cancel this weekend's show in Lake Tahoe ( tomorrow, August 13-15), but I will be there next weekend in Tahoe City, Friday Saturday and Sunday August 20, 21 & 22. I am sorry for any difficulty this may cause in your weekend FUN plans. I will have a link to a map on this blog next week for the location, which I believe is the Boat Works, but I will have to confirm that.

Truckee Art Show This Weekend

2010-07-30T09:45:00.000-07:00

Hey Fun Girls!! This tired girl with be in Truckee this coming weekend, with new work I might add. This will be show number 4 in a row, so my brain may even be a little slower than my body! I am happy to say I have some new pieces for this weekend, and some new glass hearts! I have a customer from Oklahoma that summers in Tahoe, so this is my only chance to make the heart she wants! I tried some new techniques on my glass pendants, and although these first results aren't too different than past designs, I can see new color possibilities for the glass, and I am pretty excited about it.
Thank God for spellcheck. See you in Tahoe.

Menlo Park this Weekend

2010-07-16T09:49:00.000-07:00

I am getting ready to leave for the Menlo Park Connoisseurs Marketplace this weekend. The necklace pictured here is sold, but I have two variations of it available.

My booth number is 805. There is a link to a map of my location to the right.

Sorry this is so short, but I have to pack!! See you there.

New Booth Locations for the Los Altos Art & Wine Show This Weekend

2010-07-07T12:47:00.000-07:00

My booth location for the Los Altos show this weekend has moved west on Main Street to #444, which is between First St. & Second St. I am on the south side of Main.

I just got home from my trip to New York City, and I am having a hard time getting to my studio. Is this a normal reaction to a vacation? We usually only take a vacation of a few days in the winter, so a trip during our show season is pretty unusual. I hope you all can give me feedback on this. We had a very wonderful, relaxing time with the new grand baby and parents, but what's up with this tiredness? It feels like, now, having been completely relaxed, by body would prefer it as a constant way of life, to be experienced in it's totality only by laying on the couch. This just came to mind...
The couch is calling, dark and deep
But I have lots of jewels to make,
And beads to do before I sleep
And beads to do before I sleep.

Leaving for NYC

2010-06-29T21:54:00.000-07:00

I am off to NYC for a short trip, but I will be back next week for the Los Altos Art & Wine Festival on July 10 & 11. My booth is on N. Main, around the area of La Boulanger. This is a new location for me there, so I hope the map helps. There is a great Moroccan restaurant nearby as well that I can't wait to return to.
I will add some new pictures next week.

This Weekend : Read this to receive the $10 Coupon for Oakland!

2010-06-19T08:40:00.000-07:00

To receive the $10 coupon good for any purchase over $30 at this weekend's Montclair Village show, click on the link directly above to be added to my email newsletter, and you will receive my show schedule via email . This is a blatant bribe, in return for signing up for my email newsletter. I send out a newsletter before every show, and all my sales, announcements, whatever will be via this newsletter. I will send about 25 a year, and there is an unsubscribe link at the bottom of it.

The deadline to sign up for the Oakland Coupon for new subscribers is Thursday, June 24 around noon. I must send it before I leave for the show, so if you sign up after that, I will be away from the computer.

I would much rather be making jewelry than making labels and postcards!!!

Recouping

2010-06-09T08:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my "Sunday", after working last weekend's show in Sacramento. I was still pretty tired yesterday, so nothing around the house was accomplished, but I am going back to work in the studio today.

The Sacramento Art Fiesta was so great!! Everybody in Sacramento knows what "hot" means, so most of my brilliant Fun Girls came on Saturday, when it was a little cooler. I had a fabulous sales assitant who was invaluable. It seems this year that my ability to focus has been reduced to one thing at a time, and this is such a detriment in a retail sales booth. I would have been lost without my helper!

Sunday was BLOODY hot. My husband came to the rescue, and drove up to the show to help me pack up, in that harsh sun. I was so grateful for his help.

Sacramento Show Special - sign up deadline HIGH NOON Friday June 4

2010-06-01T19:21:00.000-07:00

As I labored away on a large mailing for the upcoming Sacramento Art Fiesta, I knew I had to come up with a way to get the email addresses for these customers. The postcards are so time consuming to do, and soon I will just quit sending them! So, I created the Sacramento Show Special, and everyone on my newsletter/email list is eligible to print out the coupon good for $10 off a purchase at the Sacramento show. If you aren't on my list, you won't get the coupon, so click the link above and join my list. You will get a newsletter before every show, so that is about 23 or so a year. There is an unsubscribe link if you want to be removed, and you do it yourself, so there is no way I can screw that up!
The deadline to receive the coupon is Friday at noon, as I will need to email them before I leave for the show.
I think this is great fun.

Good News/Bad News

2010-05-23T10:33:00.000-07:00

I went on a shopping excursion to replace some of the lost items in the now infamous suitcase.
Good news- two new small suitcases for the business, and I will use an old suitcase for my clothing.
Bad news. I found the perfect pants to go with a cute top I got at The Rack (never worn) only to find AFTER I brought the pants home, that this top, too, was in the lost suitcase. The count is now 4 favorite new tops lost. On top of the replacement cost, it is the time it takes to find the darn things!! Now I have to take the pants back.
At least I have a spare toothbrush, and lots of extra toothpaste.

Glass Workshop on Saturday

2010-05-21T08:33:00.001-07:00

No show this weekend, and I am so excited that I will get to attend a glass workshop to learn a new technique I have heard about. I usually don't get to attend these workshops, so I am very happy! And, on the way home, there will be a small shopping trip to buy a new suitcase!!

2010-05-19T10:34:00.000-07:00

I lost my suitcase on the way home from the Los Altos Rotary Art Show last weekend. We were on 237, heading towards Milpitas, and there was a knocking sound that seemed like it was coming from the wheel well. To make a long story short, the back hatch of the van released itself, and my suitcase fell out onto the freeway. We were lucky that John's paintings (large; heavy) also didn't fly out and cause a major accident. I was incredibly lucky that it wasn't my jewelry suitcase, which would have been a disaster. It was just my clothes.
But we turned around and went back to see if I could pick up anything from the road.
I stood by the side of the 3 lane freeway, hoping for a little break in the traffic so I could run out and grab one of my THREE FAVORITE new tops that were blowing about in the middle lane. No chance. I saw underwear, like confetti, blowing about lane three. The suitcase was nowhere to be seen, probably stuck underneath a car merging onto 880.
OH NO! My DMAE cream that I bought ( half-off), GONE. My Body Magic Eye Serum....gone. All my sunscreens, night blinders, travel alarm clock, hair poof stuff ( also half off ) -- gone. My cute little PJ's ( thank god from Walmart and not Nordies) were blowing around the median.
It could have been worse. No shoes, ipods, hats or jewelry were lost. No one was hurt.
I mourned my stuff all the way home.

Saratoga Rotary Art Show This Sunday

2010-04-30T11:16:00.001-07:00

The title says it all! For my booth, #558, take the main entrance into the campus off of Fruitdale, (or is it Fruitvale?) turn left on College Circle ( the first place you must make a turning decision ) and turn immediately into the lot on your left to park, if you can. My booth is on the nearest walkway from this lot, very close to the parking lot. The Rotary is ususally there on the corner of the lot and the walkway, selling water or something, but this can change from year to year. They give out fabulous programs, so that too will have a map.

Beautiful California

2010-04-26T12:12:00.000-07:00

What incredible weather last weekend! The crowds were out enjoying the Art Show, and the warm temperatures.
This coming Sunday is the Saratoga Rotary's Art Show at West Valley Community College. This is Sunday only, and the shows starts bright and early at 9:00 a.m.
Hope you can make it. I am working furiously on orders from the last shows, and hope to have some new things for Saratoga.
See you there!

If it's not fun, what's the point?

2010-04-20T15:36:00.000-07:00

Handmade glass beads ( handmade by me of course) sterling silver and fun stones combine for a truly unique, statement piece. You can't hide in the back of the room wearing this necklace. You will be seen.

I will be showing my work downtown Walnut Creek this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Click on the link for a map to my location. Click on the newsletter link to receive my show schedule via email.

Get Show Announcements on Email

2010-04-02T10:25:00.000-07:00

Hey there's a new gadget to the right. Add your email to receive show notices. Love this!! I am going to quit sending the snail mail postcards, except perhaps once a year or so. This email is effective, and less time consuming, and I don't send them out to you unless there is a show. I really hate it when I sign up for email from a company I really are interested in, only to realize they are going to send email everyday! That's just too much.

Blog Fairies

2010-04-02T10:18:00.001-07:00

It looks like the Blog Fairies were out. When I open this blog now, all the text is SO large??? I didn't do this. Is it my computer? Or,was it the mysterious Computer Fairies that came in the night and changed everything I know how to do?
Or, most likely of all, did I hit a button somewhere that made this happen? Is it just my computer, or everybodys?
These are the new questions of the age, or is it really the questions of the aged?

And The Electricity at Belmont Story Goes On...

2010-04-01T09:15:00.000-07:00

I had put a lot of time and effort into getting the electrical access at the Belmont show...I will spare you all the details. The last post was the result of going to the location the night before the show to check the power outlet. Then, I wi-fied to my blog that I did indeed have the power that I told 100's of my customers about. So, it looked like all the previous steps paid off, and the power was a GO.
The Friday morning of the show, I was setting up and a maintenence man noticed my electrical cords, came over to me and told me I didn't have power. Oh yes I did, I told him, I checked it. No I didn't, he said. Yes I did, I repeated. I checked several times, and tried it last night. No I didn't he REPEATED. He has worked there 7 years, and to believe him when he said I didn't have power. The outlet only worked AT NIGHT..................
I laughed so hard, and cried at the same time for about three minutes. The man must have thought I lost my mind.
But the universe was with me on this one. The man's boss wasn't there that day, and he utterly devoted an hour of his day to hook up power for me.
What is the moral of this tale?? It seems to me that our best and most persistent efforts in life really are a crap shoot, and without helpful people our efforts can be lost. Helpful people, and a lot of luck.

Power On!

2010-03-25T21:23:00.000-07:00

I have electrical access at Belmont, and it seems to be working, so bring your Fun Girls Jewelry on down to get cleaned!! It could take an hour for a very tarnished piece to clean up, so plan on having a little down time.

Equipment Problems

2010-03-25T08:43:00.000-07:00

So I am working away in the studio trying to get ready for the Belmont show, and I have a tumbler ( jewelry cleaning equipment) full of stuff. This is the same tumbler that I have used for years, the same one that I am bringing to Belmont to clean jewelry on the spot!! It usually works like a dream,except yesterday. Everything I threw in , came out GREY. It is supposed to come out shiny bright silver! And I got dull dull grey. Well, I just had to laugh. OF COURSE it would only happen after I emailed 600 people to bring their jewelry to Belmont so I could clean it!!!! Gotta love it.
I worked with it a while, tried a few things to see what could possibly be the problem. I still don't know what happen, but when I closed up the studio last night, things were looking brighter, literally. Let's see what it looks like today!

Confusion Queen

2010-03-24T10:50:00.000-07:00

Not a great way to start the year. Of course I am in a hurry, getting a photograph for the show email, and getting it out so I can actually FINISH the jewelry I have been working on for months. So, if you got my email with the wrong dates for the Belmont show this weekend, the dates on this blog are correct.
I wish I could say it was a plot to see who was actually reading my emails. This sounds good, but certainly not the truth.
I am going to blame it on my marketing department.

Free Jewelry Cleaning at Belmont

2010-03-22T17:09:00.000-07:00

I am going to bring my electric tumbler to Belmont to clean up all your FUN GIRL tarnished silver jewelry!!! I will tag it with your name, and throw it in the tumbler. Depending on the level of tarnish, it could take a half an hour, to an hour to make your piece look brand new!!!
Now, the drawback to my plan is that I don't really know if the electrical outlet I saw there really works. So, if you are planning to bring something down, please check this website for an electricity update. I will stop at Carlemont on Thursday night to check for power, and will post the results here that night, or perhaps Friday am.
Hope you can make it! I have some fun new work too!!!

Working Like Crazy

2010-03-02T10:32:00.001-08:00

Or maybe I am just plain old crazy. This could be it.
My husband and I are leaving for a show in La Quinta next week, so I am getting ready for my own show season. I should be posting my schedule soon. I won't be at the Contemporary Crafts Market in San Francisco next weekend. I will miss that.
My cat sitter is $244 for a week. WHEW!

Snake Vertebrae!

2010-02-16T10:10:00.000-08:00

This is old African snake vertebrae. I love the mix of textures in this necklace, the contrasts of the dark aged bone and shiny freshwater pearls. The vertebrae are very interesting. Each segment fits exactly into the one in front, and behind, like a jigsaw puzzle. These pearls are white, but I may try one with pink pearls as well, or perhaps champagne.
Of course, if you buy it now, you have 3 days to contact me for a return.
Thanks for looking!

Busy in the Studio

2010-02-02T15:37:00.000-08:00

I am getting ready for my annual buying trip to Tucson, to the Tucson Gem and Mineral show, which is really about 30 big shows happening at the same time. I don't go to the mineral shows, but I do have many favorite Gem shows, and Bead shows that I go to. Most of the vendors are from other countries, and I swear I have met many people from Hong Kong, whose only experience of the United States has been the booth they are working at the gem show.
Lots of people from India as well, and all over the globe.
What I really love about this show is the hunt for the unusual stones and pearls. There is so much to see, it is impossible to see it all. Literally impossible. And in this vast array of offerings, if one hunts and pecks hard enough, the really unique items can be found, many to never be had again either, I may add.
I have been busy in the studio getting ideas ready, making lists and trying to inform my creative unconscious of what I need to buy. There are lots of stones that I need, so I am making up a budget! Then, I get a "bonus" buy, over my budget, for the extra special thing I find that I have to have, whether it is on the list or not!

January TO DO list - partial

2010-01-24T07:46:00.000-08:00

Sales Taxes due this week
Fed. Taxes - start now! do 1/3 a month
Show apps due - this week
Work on new website
Get new label design
Consolidate mailing lists
Make beads to take to Tuscon for color match-11 days
New ideas???

Studio Sounds

2010-01-21T22:05:00.000-08:00

I just locked up the studio for the night, and there was a strange noise. Did I leave something running? I checked the tumbler, the exhaust fan, the torches. Everything was turned off, and the noise remained. As I locked the door, the sound grew louder, and I realized it was the creek! Most of the time, it is a little dry creekbed that my studio overlooks, but now of course it is roaring!! Funny how we get so accustomed to our everyday sounds.
I can't wait to see if the nearby lake fills up. We need this rain!!

Trip to Ohio

2010-01-15T07:16:00.001-08:00

The studio is almost clean, I have lots of new ideas to start working on, and after a short trip back east, I hope to start on 2010 designs!

Sketching Trip

2010-01-12T08:50:00.000-08:00

I don't know if all of my customers know that my husband is a landscape watercolor painter. At some shows his booth is next to mine, but I do more shows than he does, so I know some of you have never seen his work ( http://www.johnmuirreid.blogspot.com/)

So, one of the wifely duties of a painter is to encourage and support his art. So, while on a sketching trip last weekend, I was pretty much caught up in the "duty" part of the trip, and was consumed mostly with worries of locations, numbers of sketches, future paintnings, etc etc. My obsessive work related thoughts were interupped , however, when we ended up at Moss Landing, south of Santa Cruz, midway through the sketching trip. Up until there, my mind was focusing on, well, work- getting the sketches whence come paintings. We were there on the beach, quickly scanning, quickly sketching and clicking photos so we could stay on schedule. Hurrying back to the car I noticed some floating things in the lagoon, and OMG .......there floating serenely in the water were sea otters!!! A whole gaggle of sea otters lounging and playing! It was so breathtaking , and I remembered one of the big reasons I love California is this incredibly accessible wildlife. Then of course we saw the sea lions, always a joyful moment for me, and I was able to relax and look forward the journey of this day, and not focus on the "work". What a great moment!!

You've Got to Read This

2010-01-07T09:35:00.000-08:00

This is worth signing up for TWITTER for.....
Shitmydadsays. (that's the name of the (?) Tweet??? It's on Twitter anyhow.
It is good for a belly laugh every time!!! I am busy cleaning my studio, so I really need a good laugh. It has not, however, been good for my vocabulary. You'll see what I mean. TOO TOO FUNNY.
http://www.twitter.com

I am on Twitter as well, Fungirlsjewels, but I can't say that I am too exciting.

A Rare Starbucks Moment

2010-01-03T13:26:00.000-08:00

I just had a Chai Latte at Starbucks. I have had these many times from Starbucks, but this was the first time I actually sat down, read a paper and drank the chai AT Starbucks. I see people do this all the time. One of my favorite shows is in San Francisco, where my booth is right in front of Starbucks. I watch many people hanging out there with computers, friends and coffee.

I always thought that someday I too would be able to just sit there and relax like that. My usual Starbucks experience consists of scurrying in frantically for caffeine enroute to a show, needing a bathroom break at a show, or getting coffee for the way home from a show.

So if I am sitting down in Starbucks, it must be January.

Happy End of 2009

2009-12-30T10:23:00.000-08:00

This is it for 2009 and I don't think I am alone when I say DON"T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU IN THE A#$%.

But this blog isn't about complaining or negativity. When I look back on this year, I am really so incredibly grateful for all of my loyal, and new, customers who helped me survive a history-making (and not in a good way) year. I still was able to make new designs, repeat old ones with a fresh twist, and pay my bills. I havn't had to cancel my health insurance, and my "nuts " are stored for the winter. I am looking forward to a few months of fun in the studio. Who could really ask for more?

Jewelry is really about JOY, and I believe exists as a totally optional way to celebrate the self, and the day. If this is true, as I believe, despite everything in 2009, joy still triumped over despair in many hearts.

I do know, however, that it was a challenging year for a lot of people. To those people I wish positivity and hope for the new year. As long as we are breathing, there is hope, and many many ways exist to celebrate your life. If you can't think of one, make one up and do it. I am going to do this right now too.

Oakland - The Crucible Holiday Gifty Show This Weekend

2009-12-08T14:41:00.000-08:00

The Davis Art Center show last weekend was a really fun time. I spend more money at that show than any other one! I got a new ( handcrafted of course) hat, and I had to limit myself to one, since there were THREE that I really loved! And of course, the candy......
On to Oakland this weekend, where I will be at The Crucible's Holiday Gifty Show. The Crucible is a teaching non-profit facility, and they teach what I call the 'fire' arts, welding, glass blowing, lampworking, etc. It is a huge building in East Oakland. I will need to add a link with a map, or at least a link to the Crucible's website. There will be about 60 artists here, and if you don't feel like driving across the Bay Bridge in the rain, you can stay in the east bay and still do your holiday shopping. I hear it will be cold in this building, since it is so big, and probably well ventilated, so bundle up!

Davis Art Center This Weekend-Dec.4, 5 & 6

2009-12-03T07:48:00.000-08:00

I am almost ready for Davis this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This holiday gift show is at the Davis Art Center, which features many rooms filled with artists for this annual show. The volunteers cook great soups, sandwichs and salads for customers and artists alike, and I am especially happy that there are a lot of vegetarian choices!!!!
There is also a few "handmade" candy vendors here that I particularly like! Wonder why?
There is a link to the right with a map of the location. The show starts on Friday at NOON!, then Saturday until 6, and Sunday until 5. Hope you can make it!

Whats Happening?

2009-11-16T22:02:00.001-08:00

I had a really wonderful time in Reno, but I had a very sick little cat this week, so I was too sad to write about it. So now it is time to pack up for San Francisco.
I will be in booth 220 in Fort Mason for this weekends Celebration of Craftswomen.
Hope you can stop by. I have a lot of sterling silver earring designs. This is a departure!!!

Getting Ready for Reno

2009-11-16T22:02:00.000-08:00

I am bringing my silver earring/bracelets to Reno. I havn't had them at a show in a few years, mostly because I just couldn't keep everything stocked the way it needed to be, with the glass necklaces, pendants and stones and pearls. Now it is time! I am going to put them on Etsy in a few weeks, so they can be purchased there. A lot of my newer customers have never seen my silver!!!

I leave for Reno on Wednesday, as there is a fashion show on Thursday night, the preview night with food and wine. No wine for me of course. I drank up my life time allotment already.
I am working on restocking earrings sold at Saint Marys. The Mom's that put on the St. Mary's show really do a great job. Everything went like clockwork. Good job! I took my husband to the emergency room for a sprained ankle, so there will be a little less new earrings than I would like!

It is always fun to see my regulars at the shows and catch up with what's going on in their lives if there is the time to do that.

Another Blue Pearl for Sacramento

2009-11-12T09:37:00.000-08:00

I just love this pearl! It has great subtle tones of purple and pink, but overall of course it is blue.
I have no idea how they color this pearl. I have heard that perhaps they dye the water the mussels are living in. I have also read that they are radiated, irridized or who knows what. They look great, however they do it!

Working for Sacramento - St. Mary School Fine Art & Craft Show

2009-11-10T11:40:00.000-08:00

Here's a new piece for St. Mary's- pearls and quartz crystal.

I have been making a lot of glass the last couple of days, but the only thing finished is the Black Lava and Crusty Bead Squares Necklace on the right. I should rename that piece!

I am also working on some small glass and silver necklaces with matching earrings that are "giftable". If you don't see them, you will know I couldn't make it work!

Making Glass Pendants

2009-11-07T20:56:00.000-08:00

It has been great to be home! This is my second weekend home in a ROW! I have been making glass pendants like crazy. I have decided to do some smaller ones that are "giftable" ( not that the larger ones I do most of the time aren't giftable).
My shows start next weekend with Sacramento, then Reno, and so on and so on.
I am waitlisted for Celebration of Craftswomen in San Francisco Thanksgiving weekend, and I may get a booth. Then Davis, and then Oakland. Whew!
I need to keep making glass!

Danville Fall Crafts Festival This Weekend

2009-10-22T14:26:00.000-07:00

I havn't been to a show in Danville for a few years. I almost didn't make it this year either. I broke a toe Monday night, and I really didn't think I was going to go to Danville. Today, however, I am either used to the limping, or it is better, so I am going to go.
My booth is on Hartz Ave, facing south, close to School St. My number is 341. Hope you can make it!

Danville Fall Festival This Weekend

2009-10-20T11:38:00.000-07:00

I havn't checked the weather yet for the upcoming weekend show. I am limping around with what I think is a broken toe. Bad weather and a broken toe may keep me at home this weekend!! I think I will check my weather source.
I will post my location tomorrow or the next day if I know I am going to make it.

Winter White- Blankets With Your Menu

2009-10-15T09:38:00.000-07:00

Do they do "Winter White" in California, or is that just an eastern thing??

Back East this was the time of year that wool sweaters and skirts came into the stores. One's choice of clothes changed dramatically.

My stepdaughter is in Berlin, ( Germany, not Ohio ) and being a native Californian, I am afraid she is facing the stark realities of a real winter. She needed help to buy functional hats and winter clothes.

It was a fun thing to hear, however that it wasn't too cold in Berlin, only in the high 30's or 40's! She said people were still eating in the outdoor cafes.....the restaurants provided blankets, so everyone was eating wrapped in the blanket. I would love to see a video of this!!!

Menlo Park this Friday Saturday & Sunday

2009-10-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

This weekend is the sidewalk Menlo Park show. I am on the corner of Chestnut and Santa Cruz Ave., in front of a bank that I can't remember the name of. It is a new location for me at this show, up the block from my old booth location. It is sunnier!!
I hope to post a few pictures, but time is running out. We got home late Sunday night from the last show, and the storm knocked off a day of work. It was like a hurricane here!! I was afraid to work in my studio with the wind and rain. There are power lines over my studio, and I was afraid I would get electrocuted!
Idid get some new things done, so I will try to get at least one photo up here. I didn't have time for any new glass.

A New First

2009-10-13T11:13:00.000-07:00

This is just an interesting tidbit, perhaps more interesting to me than to you. I met THREE husbands of long-time customers at one show! I just don't meet that many husbands, and believe me, I have a husband, and I know all too well why I don't meet them. Most guys just are just not the "hang out a jewelry booth '' type. One of these husbands seemed unhappy to find himself at an art show. He was just there for the pizza! It looked like the other two were doing a "hang with the wife" day, even though one couple were hanging at the same show, but not together. This would be the way my husband and I would hang out at an art show.

Some husbands are actually helpful when their wives are shopping at my booth. This may come as a shock to those of you whose husbands would rather lick poison postage stamps than shop, but there are a few who shop well, and an even smaller number who have a good eye for what looks good on their wife! Once I met a man who picked out all of his wife's jewelry because he had a better eye for what looked best on her. I think he was an architect, or some other visual occupation. That has never happened again!!!

San Carlos TOMORROW

2009-10-09T11:08:00.000-07:00

Here are some new pieces for tomorrow's show. There are more new, but just not enough time to photo them all.

Hope you can make it!

This amethyst necklace is really pretty. Long too...about 20" I think, but it can be shortened.

San Carlos Art & Wine Festival

2009-10-07T07:20:00.000-07:00

My booth at San Carlos is on the corner of Laurel and Cherry, #178, facing east. I am very close to Alta, the clothing store.
I should read the paperwork on this show. I think it is an Art & Wine show, but there may not be wine. This could be a big disappointment for some people, so I should have this info correct. Please take it under advisement, there may be no wine. There is music however, which I hope my booth is a good distance away from.
Hope you can make it! I will try to post pictures of new work in a few days.

San Carlos Ahead, Montclair Behind

2009-10-05T19:48:00.000-07:00

Montclair was a really good show! It seemed like more people than usual at this semi-annual event, and it was interesting that it was so cold, and people still came out!
Next weekend is San Carlos. I havn't checked the weather yet, but I have a corner booth facing east on Laurel at Cherry St.
Now I am going to go make something beautiful!!

Glass and Lava Bracelet

2009-10-02T09:20:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the Montclair Two Day Art & Craft Show. There is a link( to the right)of my booth location. This great little bracelet is all new - a "crusty" bead ( yes it is glass) paired with black lava. I think I have a pair of earrings to match...?....maybe I need to go out to the studio and make some! Hope to see you there!

I hope someone will come by to give me a break...no husband this weekend.

Montclair Village ( Oakland) This Weekend

2009-10-01T20:33:00.000-07:00

It'll be a cool weekend coming up in Oakland. I'll be on the corner of La Salle and Mountain, I think it is, the main drag in Montclair Village. Saturday and Sunday, October 3 & 4, from 10-5. Hope you can make it! I have some new pieces, but I am just too pooped right now to Photo/and Insert. No inserting tonight.

Montclair This Weekend.....October 5 & 6

2009-09-29T12:46:00.000-07:00

It is really hard to believe that it will be October in a few days. It is overcast and chilly here today, and it really finally feels like fall. This coming weekend in Oakland should be enticingly cool after last weekend's breathtaking heat in Walnut Creek. So bundle up! I may have to turn on the space heater in the studio today!!!!

Fun Girl Thing in Walnut Creek

2009-09-28T16:48:00.000-07:00

" I saw this last year and didn't buy it. I am buying it now, and my husband won't be happy, but I'm tired of being good."

Total fungirl.

Walnut Creek This Weekend

2009-09-23T08:05:00.000-07:00

This coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday I will be in my usual spot on North Main St. in Walnut Creek. There is some sidewalk construction there, but they have built a walkway on the side of the road, so it is still accessible. And it looks like good weather!!!

So Bummed Before Lafayette

2009-09-18T18:12:00.000-07:00

My computer let me down, so no pictures of new work for tomorrow's Lafayette Art and Wine Show. Booth 369. I'm in the hotel, and my battery is low. So much for technical dependance!!!
Hope you can come...I have a LOT of new things!

Life Returns to Normal before Lafayette.

2009-09-16T09:53:00.000-07:00

It is amazing how I am counting on my computer more and more for my business. So, when my USB port seemed to QUIT ( except for the printer, which, WHO KNOWS WHY?) it means I couldn't listen to my audio books, no skpe-ing, and no posting pictures to this blog. Frustrated, thinking of the additional stop at Best Buy in the East Bay for the Geek Squad repair, I tried to look on the bright side. It would give me a little extra time to make work for the Lafayette show this weekend. No new pictures on my blog, but, I could actually make more jewelry!!

Laying in bed last night, I had a brief thought that perhaps I had more USB ports on my laptop.
For those of you over 50, you may know what I mean when I say that this thought went immediately out of my head. However, this morning when I plugged in my microphone for a phone call, there to my amazement were TWO more USB ports. Life has returned to normal. So I am looking forward to posting some new pictures of work before Lafayette this weekend.