Excuses, Excuses and More Excuses!

I know, I know, anyone who still reads this must think I'm a total flake...and, well, I wouldn't blame you!  I think about my blog, but just rarely get over here.  I could say I'll be around more often, but let's just say--I'll try!  These two guys take a lot of my time and interest these days--

who can blame me for wanting to hang out with my sweetheart and our precious grandson instead of digging in like a hermit with my beads and baubles?  With two precious grandsons to melt my heart and make me smile, and play 'til I'm exhausted--don't blame me for forgetting about beads, and blogs and everything else most of the time.  It won't last long enough, so I'm going to savor it while I can!

 

I have managed to find a little time lately to work on a few simple designs, just to try and get back in the swing of things.  I've gone back to my lampwork roots for now, and put the gemstones on the back burner, but who knows what will strike my fancy next week.      

 

I enjoy so many things that settling down is difficult, especially when I have the luxury of choice these days.  But a recently returned art glass artist tempted me back to my beads and now I'm getting excited about all the new ideas and beautiful art glass that seems to be having a revival--at least for me.

 So, tell me how you've been?  I have my excuses, what are yours?  Maybe I'll try a contest, or tutorial or something to draw you out of your shell, so you'll talk to me again?  Or maybe I'll go back onto hiding....

    Whatever you're doing, I hope you are happy, and healthy and enjoying every day! 

Falling In Love Again

 It's no secret that I'm crazy about silverglass.  That's why there are several pieces hidden away in my stash that I pull out to admire now and then.  Working with a couple of my special pieces this week just made me fall in love all over again.

 The glass isn't all that easy to work with, just take a survey of lampwork artists and many were frustrated with how finicky the glass was to coax the colors to sing.  These pieces definitely were coaxed into all their glory by lampwork artist, Tiffany McCoy.  She's one of the best with silver glass and I do love these beauties. 

I've combined some boro beads from my stash with th three stunning silver glass beads and used 22k gold vermeil beads and toggle clasp to make the colors pop even more.  Dangling from the toggle is a silverglass seashell and a pacific opal Swarovski and pearl charm for a perfect finishing touch.  Love those beads!