JC Herrell

Necklaces: a whole new world!

2010-09-30T23:04:00.012-05:00

I just realized that I can, ought and shall make necklaces! How about that? It started a while ago when I realized that I can, ought and shall make spacers. Once you make enough of those it's only natural to start think about stringing them together and hanging them around your necklace. At least that's what happened for me. This is a new version of my first necklace, the rainbow fade spacer necklace:

...and of course a matching bracelet:

Then I discovered my love for clear glass next to enameled rainbow spacers... it's so snappy:

And I had a lot of clear spacers so I made this extra long necklace (46") that's oh so fun to twirl around in:

I plan on making several necklaces from a few of my bead series. To start, a Star Draft necklace:

Most recently I found that the best thing to do with these cute little off mandrel beads I love to make is to pile them into what turns into a pretty funky and yet elegant necklace:

More to come, more to come. It turns out that making necklaces is kind of fun! If you want to see more pictures (or purchase!) click here! Like the clasps?? I have a rainbow selection of glass toggle clasps here. Thanks!

The website booth

2010-09-02T10:35:00.003-05:00

I've always found it frustrating that my best display of beads is where the fewest people can see it... at shows. I do hope you've been able to get to a show I've vended at recently and can make it some upcoming shows - I'm working hard to make sure my display and beads are getting better and better at every show. Because of the emphasis on my inventory and display at shows, my website never really reflected the whole of what I have to offer. No worries, though - it's different now! Now my website has a huge, dedicated collection of beads that represents just about everything you might see at my booth. You can find a rainbow selection of each style of bead and pendant I make, all of your favorites included! The resulting collection is so big I've broken it down into an "easy-click" menu for your convenience or just you can just scroll and scroll and scroll... Check it out here!

Quick little summer clearance

2010-06-29T10:49:00.001-05:00

As soon as I got home from my last trip I sorted through my inventory and picked out anything odd, differently sized/shaped, older and some bead sets that I had a bunch of and wouldn't mind selling by the group at my best wholesale prices. And they're all on sale for unbeatable prices right here... ready for you to make yours (but only for the next week)! Check them out!

Picket Fences & Sunflowers

2010-06-01T15:12:00.002-05:00

It's almost time to leave for the Bead & Button show in Milwaukee, and my to-do list is like forever long. But I decided to take the time to show you some flowers... and fences. This is my newest work (though if you ask me I have a lot of new work). I love that it's so different but is still stringer and enamel based. Rock stringer and enamel, I say!

Joy of Stringer survey & update

2010-05-20T11:11:00.007-05:00

Progress Update June will be a busy month for me! The Bead & Button Show and a class at Frantz will take up the whole month while preping for these events will take up every moment until then. Therefore, I've put my notes for the next tutorial away. When I return home at the end of the month the ISGB Gathering will be just around the corner. I hope to squeeze the work for the next tutorial into that window, keep your fingers crossed for me as I think that might be a little ambitious. Thank you so much for all your support and your continued enthusiasm! Won't you show us your progress in this LE thread?

Survey says! I found that the questions asked by lampworkers have been the most helpful tool in writing about stringer work. It's in thinking about the answers to those questions that I come to understand which details are most important. In my own work, I tend to struggle over the same roadbumps over and over, but these are not always going to be the same as your challenges. So I ask you to please share your experiences with me so that we can learn together. Won't you please take this 5-question survey about the Joy of Stringer tutorials to help me make them even better?

Your very last chance! This week is your very last chance to buy tutorials from me EVER. After this week they WILL NOT be available, at all, in anyway. If you want and Excellent Enamel Adventure package or Rainbow bead tutorials, NOW is your last chance - and the good news is they're on sale. Get your tutorials here!

It feels good to be free!

2010-04-30T15:15:00.004-05:00

I'm already glad I took the time to write the Joy of Stringer tutorials. I've had a few really great notes of appreciation and I can see that this information will be used. That feels great!! Now I can't wait for questions, suggestions and pictures to start appearing. That will also feel great! So thank you! Thank you for your donations, purchases, questions and feedback. It all means so much. Now I'm looking forward to a couple more hours of catch-up computer work and then going to TORCH!!! Believe it or not... I can't wait to make some beads, with rings around them, inspired by the tutorials. It's true. And some giant spacers. I'm also looking forward to making giant spacer beads.

The Joy of Stringer: Giving it to you straight

2010-04-28T22:35:00.008-05:00

I've been thinking about how to share the joy of stringer for quite a while. I figure that while I'm far from knowing everything I want to know about stringer, I would like to share what I have learned from focusing on stringer over the last few years. Recently, I settled on a format I can handle: A series of on-going, dontaion appreciated tutorials. Each tutorial will focus on the details of creating one specific line, in addition to sections on practicing, pulling stringer, fixing errors, Q&A and whatever else you and I come up with. These tutorials are designed for soft glass lampworkers at any skill level.

Here's how it works: I write tutorials about making straight lines with stringer on lampworked soft glass beads. You read the tutorials, try them, hopefully donate if you find them valuable, and ask me questions that I might use to update the Question & Answer section or the tutorial. I keep writing more tutorials as my travel, production and mental schedule allows, informing you of new tutorials and updates through the newsletter. And the whole process repeats... You'll notice these tutorials are websites, not PDF files. That's because I want to be able to continually edit and improve the tutorials so you will want to return the website regularly to see!

So go on, check it out! Visit www.jcherrell.com/stringerjoy.htm to check out the first three sections: Pulling Stringer, Practice Tips and Ring Around A Bead! Try them out and let me know what you think!

And guess what else? Since I'm going out of the tutorial selling business I have some discontinued inventory to clear out! Check out the Tutorials section of my website to find great deals (and the last chance to buy) a Rainbow Bead Tutorial and the Excellent Electronic Enamel Adventure tutorials.

Biggest spring clearance sale EVER!

2010-03-18T10:07:00.005-05:00

Its that time of year! Spring clearance! And this is the biggest sale EVER! Click on over to JCHerrell.com to select from over 150 beads at more than 50% off... the best prices on the most inventory. Of course, shipping from my website is always free!

Spring sale on spacers & accents

2010-02-23T11:20:00.003-06:00

This week only! 50% or more off spacers, Baby Berry, Mini Draft and Tiny Rainbow beads! Click on over to stock up now!

Drafts

2010-01-28T00:19:00.003-06:00

Not long ago I had several variations on the Draft theme. Now I'm focusing on just two; original Drafts and Star Drafts. I also added an awesome new twist by using the Draft design on my new off-mandrel pendants.

Window Beads

2010-01-27T11:09:00.003-06:00

Taken directly from architecture Window beads are a study of a box and cross design that totally turns me on.

The joy of spacers

2010-01-27T01:22:00.006-06:00

I find that the joy of spacers is color.

Or maybe the joy of spacers is color... and size?

Or maybe the joys of spacers are color, size and quantity?

Of course I strung that extreme rainbow of giant spacers into a necklace. It's only 2 pounds... I double dog dare you to wear (and buy) it.

Or maybe the joy of spacers is the support they give to the rest of my work.

Hardware beads

2010-01-26T23:33:00.006-06:00

This series is all about a concept: hardware as beads. Screws, bolts, nuts, screw heads, o-rings and all the other ideas rumbling around the parts drawer in my mind were itching to become beads. And now I'm finding the best part is learning all the different things these ideas mean to you!

Rainbow beads

2010-01-21T19:05:00.003-06:00

Sometimes I put off making rainbow beads because they're... well... all those colors takes a lot of sifting. But after they're cool I can't resist the blast of color!

Pixel Beads

2010-01-17T21:16:00.004-06:00

Looking for a new take on dots, I found Pixel beads: dots, enamel and a technology concept.

And just for fun... here's a pixelated picture of the Pixel beads:

Berry Beads

2010-01-15T10:11:00.002-06:00

Berry Bead collection: Sweet and innocent from baby to giant.

Berry pendants, taking Berries into 2010 with a new kick! Flat transparent discs dusted with two tones of enamel and decorated with leaves and berries upon a trellis of gunmetal silver. Each pendant hangs from a small bail at the top of the back of the disc. The pendants are made off mandrel and have small 2mm holes drilled with a tungsten pick.

Cathedral Beads

2010-01-15T10:08:00.001-06:00

Cathedral beads inspired by lanterns hanging in the church I grew up attending. Cathedral are form-centric beads with strict structure and candy colors. I started making these beads a few years ago, stopped and brought them back into my inventory about a year ago. New for 2010, I used Cathedral beads as a way to start incorporating new colors: browns, neutrals and blacks.

Prairie Series

2010-01-11T10:50:00.004-06:00

I'll have quite a bit new work at the Best Bead show in Tucson this year (Feb 3-7). However, my new Prairie series takes line work to a new level that super stokes the stringer geek in me. I've posted marbles here but not the series as a whole. Ready?

Pedants with a small bail on the back, at the top:

Marbles:

This Lampwork Adventure... a 5 year history

2009-12-29T12:29:00.002-06:00

As 2010 begins I will celebrate my 5 year anniversary as a full time lampwork glass bead maker. These are my reflections on this personal, creative and professional adventure. I decided to share so you can see where the work that you own and the support you've given fits into my story. Click here to read the adventure story: http://www.jcherrell.com/adventure.htm

New marbles for Tucson Best Bead 2010

2009-12-13T21:17:00.003-06:00

One of the new things I'll be selling at the Best Bead Show 2010 (look for me inside this year!) are stringer intensive marbles inspired by the prairie designs of Frank Lloyd Wright. Here I choose dark background with off white stringer and black or gunmetal accents. The light colored stringer is more challenging, but worth it. Two of the marbles are round and two have raised elements.

Happy Cyber Monday!

2009-11-30T16:45:00.003-06:00

Happy Cyber Monday! Wow. It really is a new age, huh? Well, if you're looking to go shopping on the web, I invite you to take a look the new beads for sale on my website. All the new ones are black and red! What's that? You want a deal? OK. If you enter the code "thanksbeading" in the coupon area at check out, you'll get 50% off!!! www.jcherrell.com

My birthday gift to you!

2009-10-26T23:37:00.004-05:00

October 27th is my birthday. I'm 33 years old this year (thanks for all your hard work, Mom). In remembrance of the days when I brought treats to my classmates, I have a gift for all of you. From now until October 30th when you enter the code "JCis33" at check out, you'll receive 33% off anything you order. Yup, that includes sale items, regular inventory and tutorials. So please imagine that this coupon code is covered with creamy frosting, sprinkles and 33 trick birthday candles. Enjoy! www.jcherrel.com

YAY! BABE!

2009-10-22T14:27:00.004-05:00

yay! It's almost time for the Bay Area Bead Extravaganza! I love this show. It's in California and filled with awesome beads, great people and fond memories. And it's consuming my work schedule for the next couple of weeks. I'm currently producing to fill my booth with wonderful, bright beads in a rainbow of colors AND some new more industrial work. I can't wait to present my new work in Oakland next month. And you'll be there, too... right?? Be sure to stop by and say hi Nov 14-15th. And, check the website for an admission coupon... then you'll have more money to spend on beads, too. YAY!

And the bead goes to...

2009-10-12T17:38:00.002-05:00

Glenda Edwards! Congratulations, Glenda. Thank you to everyone everyone who signed up for my mailing list to win. This was so fun I'll have to remember to do it again and again...

Win this bead!!!

2009-10-05T11:24:00.006-05:00

Sign up for either of my mailing list before Oct 11th and you're automatically entered to win this bead or a $50 credit. You'll be entered once for each mailing list you join, so be sure to join them both. Tell your friends! (Winner notified by email.) Sign up here!

I lost my mailing lists!

2009-10-01T16:52:00.005-05:00

They're gone. All gone. My mailing lists have been wiped clean by outlook, ineffective back-up and, in all likelihood, my own silliness. I cried a little. So if you were on, or would like to be on, either or both of my mailing lists please do let me know! I have one mailing list just for auctions and another less frequently mailed general mailing list. Here's a link to my sign up page. Or let me know any other way you'd like, just be sure to include your email address. Thank you!!!!

Acknowledgment & Update

2009-09-25T01:42:00.005-05:00

This is my acknowledgment that I haven’t been keeping the blog very active or up to date. And I’ve been doing A LOT of bloggable things. My way of dealing with the blog situation and moving forward is to simply make a list of things I’ve done or that are different now and then to go on with my life, free of blog guilt. But before that, the most important thing to acknowledge is the support from my family, friends and customers that continuously make everything I do possible. THANK YOU!!! The list, in no particular order of importance or chronology: -I live in a tiny little town called Elsinore in central Utah. -I had an unbelievable time presenting and teaching with MZ at this year’s ISGB Gathering in Miami. -I have an iPhone now, and it was instrumental in making my latest move possible. -I didn’t like my iPhone at first due to guilt and embarrassment, but I love it now! -I don’t like iPhone’s spell check. I’ve sent some really crazy messages as a result. -I miss Margaret. -I’m officially divorced, two years later. It happened via Margaret’s phone from the hotel lobby in Miami. Nice. (My phone died permanently that morning. Weird.) -My dog Kayla is getting old… her hips hurt and I feed her medicine (lots of medicine) twice a day. It breaks my heart a lot. -I love this little yellow house I’ve rented. It has a yard with trees. -My small town has hitching posts… that are still used, for actual cowboys (and weekenders) with horses. -I feel like I’m treating myself with this house… it’s the first time I’ve fully unpacked anywhere in more than just a few years. -I found out I really like Cuban food… and the men aren’t bad to look at either! -I’m growing more and more fond of Facebook. Are you my FB friend? -Did you see how Arrow Springs has pimped the JC sifter? Actuators, mesh options, 6 sizes and 4 different line/dot sifters! Wow. Go Craig! -At the Gathering in Miami they replaced the dinner buffet with a dessert bar. Dude! That was mega awesome... for that matter; the ISGB had great food the whole conference. -I left Arizona for Utah with a full uhaul trailer and no place to go. While I did the leg work that ended me in the house I’m now so happy with, when I left, I didn’t know where or when I would find a place to live. But it all worked out OK. -Living on my own is silly kinds of expensive… -Did you see my new Rainbow Bead Tutorial? -Did I mention how outstanding Miami was? I really loved it! -Before I decided to move to Utah, I was seriously considering an artist’s community in Ajo. It’s an amazing place, really… but so is Utah. Check out the Curly School Apartments in Ajo, Arizona. -Since moving into the cute yellow house, my new outdoor hobby is making sure the new sod doesn’t die (and mowing down weeds). That’s tricky in the Utah desert. I would rather have rocks but I admit leafy trees and green grass are pretty nice. -I’ve been thinking about maybe getting a second dog… a small one. But we’ll see.

Big Sale on little beads!

2009-08-03T19:32:00.004-05:00

For a limited time (until the 10th or so), purchase Baby Berry beads, Mini Drafts, Tiny Rainbows and/or spacers (including new "Blackened Spacers") at great discounts! It's time for me to move and to do it, I'm headed north, pointed at Utah, with a U-Haul trailer and fingers crossed that I'll find the perfect spot to live and work... and quickly. I figure that it might be a little easier or more comfortable to embark on this HUGE personal adventure with few more funds behind me and so... its time to offer you a great deal in exchange for your support!!! I mean... maybe you need little beads, right? Click here to start picking Berries and snagging Rainbows!

Excellent Enamel Adventure Tutorials now available!

2009-07-29T10:36:00.004-05:00

Margaret and I are super happy to announce that the Excellent Enamel Adventure Tutorial package is finally, officially, available! The tutorial package is available at www.jcherrell.com, www.mzglass.com and on Etsy for just $37. This most excellent package of seven tutorials includes 66 pages full of hundreds of photographs and diagrams designed to thrill and entice you into the wonderful world of enamels! We focus on color fades, texture effects, coverage, application and all the special needs of enamels in addition to some bead basics like shaping, and bonuses like stringer work, among others!

The package includes the following tutorials:

-Enamel properties and safety (6 pages of what you NEED to know, file size, 597 KB)

-MZ’s rolled spacers (8 pages of rolled spacer considerations and options, 14 steps with 22 photos, 2.37 MB)

-JC’s sifted spacers (8 pages of construction notes, 8 steps with 13 photographs, 3.24 MB)

-MZ’s aventurine enamel bead (12 pages of fabulous effects, 28 steps with 32 photos, 3.07 MB)

-JC’s faded draft bead (13 pages of sifted fade fun, 28 steps with 37 photos, 5.98 MB)

-MZ’s flower pick up (12 pages of exploration featuring the Powder Vibe tool, 24 steps with 29 photos, 8 photos 13.03 MB)

-JC’s speckled data bead (12 pages of sifting and stringer work, 23 steps with 27 photos, 4.87 MB)

But that’s not all!!! Each tutorial includes:

-Candid, clever, informational, and insightful introductions to each bead. You’ll definitely be stoked to get working on the beads after reading these sections!

-Detailed step by step instructions focusing on efficiency, skill building, base formation, heat control, stringer work, and OF COUSE so many of the ways MZ & JC love to use enamel.

-Photo index note pages for each tutorial. These are designed to be easy to use while at the torch, and with plenty of space for your own notes.

-A “Choose You Own Adventure” section with variations and ideas to help you keep your adventure going strong.

-And a heavy dose of JC and MZ at every turn… (Watch out for fun and entertainment!)

Margaret and I are super excited to share our enamel adventure with you. We met and became friends at the Kansas City ISGB Gathering. And it hasn’t been the same for either of us since (thank goodness!) We found our love for enamel is the same, yet oh so different. MZ loves the cool effects and the opportunities to create texture and muted colors using enamels. And I can’t get enough of those bright colors and fades. In these tutorials you’ll have an intimate look at why and how we do what we do, proving yet again there are infinite ways to work with the same medium.

In these tutorials we use Effetre glass and Thompson’s 9000 series of enamels, however you could use any COE soft glass and Thompson’s compatible line of enamels (check out ThompsonEnamel.com to see their complete and impressive product line). We also use standard shaping tools such as graphite marvers, knives, razors, and picks, as well as the Poweder Vibe tool from Bearfoot Arts for a really cool floral pick up. (While that tutorial can still be completed without the PowderVibe, it’s a super fun addition to any tool collection.) JC also uses the JC sifter available from Arrow Springs, but with a little bit of caution to prevent melting, those little red plastic sifters can be used, too.

The tutorial package is available at www.jcherrell.com, www.mzglass.com and on Etsy for just $37. Once payment is received you’ll get an email in 24-72 hours with a link to a page where each document can be downloaded at your convenience. They are delivered in PDF format, so they’re super easy to download and view. The documents are not automatically emailed as they come together to make a pretty nice sized collection. This way, you can save the documents to the location of your choice at the time of your liking without having to worry about large files clogging up your inbox. (Refunds on digital information are not available.)

PS - Margaret Zinser and I (JC Herrell) own the intellectual rights and copyrights to the content of these tutorials. It is not OK to share or copy and distribute these files. Once purchased by you, they are for your personal use only. Any other use is BAD. Margaret and I worked really hard to make these tutorials the very best that we can. Thank you for supporting our hard work.

Oh my... so much going on!

2009-06-22T11:44:00.014-05:00

I have a lot to update, to say the least. The last month or two has taken me to Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan and a whole lotta places in between, plus a bunch of bead making in between. A full update will be hard but, I'm gonna give it a shot. Let's start with what I'm working on right now and then work back.

One of the big things I've got stirring in the next couple months is another move! I've had so much fun living and working with Margaret Zinser here in Tucson over the last several months! And now Margaret and I will have finished up our projects by the time we leave for the Gathering and then it'll be time for me to dig into a house hunt (which, of course, I've already started) and find something exciting and new. I can't wait to find out what that will be. I have my eye on two or three places scattered about the country and will probably make a decision pretty soon (I'll let y'all know when I know for sure). And as soon as I decide where to go, I'll need to start putting some finance into the plan. To make sure I'm in a position do that (in addition to the next line up of events), I'm offering some pretty terrific deals on some pretty terrific beads. I hope you'll find a few beads you'll love!! CLICK HERE TO SEE THE GREAT DEALS! THANK YOU so very much!

But before the next move, I'll be headed to sizzling hot Miami (and I hope you are too) for the International Society of Glass Beadmaker's annual Gathering. It's going to be an extra exciting year for me, as I'll be teaming up with Margaret Zinser and making the conference a big stop on our Excellent Enamel Adventure Tour. We'll be team teaching a class on enamels July 21-22nd, presenting/demonstrating together July 24th and selling next to each other at the Bead Bazaar on July 25th. It's going to be a wild and crazy time! Of course because Margaret is my roommate and super close friend, so you know we're going to make some noise! AND... I think one spot has opened up in our two-day enamel class. If you act quickly you may be the lucky one to score the last spot in the ISGB Excellent Enamel Adventure!!

And are you in southern California... just waiting for the Excellent Enamel adventure to come to your door? Check mark! Margaret and I are taking the Excellent Enamel Adventure Tour to Brea, California August 8-9. Sign up quickly to get a spot in our two-day enamel class at Brea Beadworks. Hurry, Hurry!

And right now Margaret are just finishing up the last details on a whole bunch of projects. So with a move and a few trips in the next weeks, MZ and I are finishing up the last of our Excellent Enamel Tutorials for The Flow magazine, putting the finishing touches on our ISGB presentation and class, AND putting together a suite of tutorials. Plus, of course and thank goodness, there's a bunch of stuff to work on at the torch too. I have new ideas I want to try, beads I need to make to get my inventory ready for the next couple months and some very specific learning to do. As always, I have about 3 people's worth of stuff to get done and just myself to do it. Just the way I seem to like it!!!

OK.. now for where I've been! I just got back from a two and half week trip to WI/MI that started in Milwaukee at the Bead & Button show. The show was super... even more super because it was my first time vending there (though I've been there as a "tourist" many, many times). So that was really cool. And of course it's always great to see the friends! So after B&B I continued on to Lansing, Michigan with my mom's car to hang out for a few days. It had been a little while since I've visited and so much has changed, but so much is perfectly just the same. Love when that happens. It was really, really great to hang out with Alex, his family (holy awesome fam, bro!) and my friend Julie. And before that, I got to go to Indianapolis to hang out with the super awesome fun folks of ISLAGA. Lisa Atchison did such a professional job organizing and managing the class. It was amazing. Lisa is amazing... and so are her beads. And the people in the classes were a total party! I truly had a fantastic time. Thank you so much ISLAGA!!

So... that's the nutshell low down. I'll keep in better touch, especially when I figure out where I'm moving next!

New Auctions

2009-05-12T13:41:00.001-05:00

New Auctions

2009-05-06T11:29:00.000-05:00

Summer sale at JCHerrell.com!

2009-05-05T12:23:00.004-05:00

If you love a great deal on a JC bead, now's your time. My travel and show schedules won't allow me to offer any more sales until fall so now's the time. Plus, all sales from my website will recieve a certificate for 30% off any purchase at the Bead & Button show in Milwaukee June 4-7! See the at JCHerrell.com!

New Auctions that I forgot to blog about... all ending this week!

2009-05-04T13:07:00.002-05:00

MZ's Birthday Picnic Party

2009-04-12T15:09:00.003-05:00

Happy Easter! Happy birthday, Margaret! Tomorrow is actually her birthday but we're having fun today. Yesterday I baked 120 cupcakes (24 of them are in the trash because I forgot to add eggs...) in 4 flavors to make a cupcake bar. A cupcake bar is like a salad but with cupcakes: different frosting flavors, different decorations, different toppings and such. And this morning got up before MZ and decorated the house with streamers, balloons and a pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey game. Now it's time to get ready for the people to come over. yay... party!

New Auctions

2009-04-10T09:03:00.001-05:00

Bar codes... round 1

2009-04-09T12:39:00.005-05:00

For a while now I've been paying more attention to bar codes than usual. I learned how to read them, I learned about their history and I learned how to format them. I wrote most of it down, too. And yesterday I finally made a few experiments. (And talk about crazy... it felt weird to not use enamel or dark silver plum!) They aren't as crisp and wonderful in real life as in my mind's eye. But there's something there to play with more. They remind me of Honda's rumble strip musical road for some reason... the concept seems cool enough that a less than "perfect" execution still works.

Watch Me Create

2009-04-08T00:06:00.002-05:00

Hey, check out what Sheila Morley did with one of my old beads: Watch Me Create! Very interesting... Ah, the WMC crew. I love those guys. They run a super spiffy blog, if you haven't checked out yet.

New Auctions

2009-04-07T23:57:00.000-05:00

New Auctions

2009-04-06T21:25:00.000-05:00

Big beads... size matters

2009-04-06T01:53:00.003-05:00

Once upon a time, not that long ago relatively speaking, I made pretty big beads as a norm. Then I start making more reasonable beads. Then I started making mini, tiny and baby versions of some of those beads. Now I'm thinking big, really big. Bigger than before. The biggest one (the rainbow) weighs just a hair shy of half a pound... it made the mandrel bend, even cold. My wrist hurts but here's some of what I've been working on (next to the normal sized counterparts):

New glamor shots - of my beads

2009-04-03T17:09:00.006-05:00

Last year, before I headed out for the Tucson show, I took group photos of my stronger series and neato fun stuff. This year, I decided to make it a tradition and took photos that I feel document the new trends in my work. Here they are:

New Auctions

2009-04-03T17:05:00.002-05:00

For all my auctions click here! http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/jcherrellglass

On Wisconsin!

2009-04-02T13:19:00.016-05:00

To be straight with y'all, I was kinda nervous about going back to Wisconsin. Last time I was there (a year ago, for the same show) I left with a little U-haul packed as full as it could be with everything I was keeping from my married life. And last year I saw my parents for the first time in a long time. This year I flew into Wisconsin and spent two nights there. It was awesome. My parents, of course, are so supportive and cool. They borrowed me their car for the weekend (thank goodness I didn't take the fancy hybrid I just couldn't figure out how to use), drove to Madison to see the show, and hooked me up with new luggage (the old stuff came out of baggage claims totally destroyed). Seeing my dad at a bead show was entertaining... he came complete with that "bead show face" that so many husbands wear as they support their wife's bead shopping passion. Plus he actually heard some compliments about the display stands he made for me first hand. I'm pretty sure he liked that. And my mom clearly enjoyed the show (and the pretty ribbons) too. It was their first bead show. (I'm interested to see my dad's face at Bead & Button... but I definitely made it clear he had no obligation to attend!) Related pictures: My Mom (Dad went to work by the time I got out the camera), my parent's beautiful living room and breakfast area.

And of course one of my favorite things to do in Wisconsin has always been hanging with Cathy Lybarger (and husband Don & friends) in Madison! Cathy's just so cool and very much on my wavelength. We roll well together and thus we decided, since it works well for both of us, to share a booth at Bead & Button! And that booth will be right next to Lori Greenberg's booth. Now I know B&B is going to be an absolute blast! Related pictures: Assorted tiles from around Kathy's house (there's so much cool stuff to look at there I forget to participate in social stuff sometimes), "here" says her front porch - and that's always just where I am, a flower made by our friend, Erika, using a metal hat-like object found in Utah when Cathy visited, a very useful gong, two cool stuff in the snow on Cathy's lawn photos.

Anyway, back to the Madison Art Glass & Bead Show... It was great, as always. It's my favorite show because it's smaller than most I do, extremely well managed and professional, plus I feel like it's kind of a hometown event for me. I always feel great there. My booth was between Jeff Barber and Cathy's (as usual) and (as usual) we did very well at entertaining ourselves. Plus I like this show because I get to hang at Cathy's house each night. This weekend was a Bob Foster weekend, which means lots of people hang out at the house because Bob has off from work for a few days. And Bob can sure entertain! And I would say that this weekend was no exception, but due to a gnarly little snow storm, it kind of was. Just a couple people came out during the snow making the entertainment low-key... which is another version of awesome fun at Cathy's!

All said and done... Rock on, Wisconsin! Thanks for a great visit!

New Auctions - spacers galore!

2009-04-01T21:23:00.001-05:00

Order a "Random"!

2009-03-31T19:43:00.006-05:00

Back in Michigan, a friend of mine visits a local deli every morning and orders a “Random”. A little while later he is served a random meal from the breakfast menu. It’s like he gets a yummy surprise every day. And so for a while now I’ve been thinking about offering a “Random” on my website because it’ll fun for both of us (and I’ll make it a pretty sweet deal for you). Purchase a $10 Random and receive a bead or set of beads that retails for $20-$35 or even more. Purchase a $25 Random and receive a bead or bead set worth $40-75. I’ll also give you the opportunity to let me know what colors or styles you prefer in your beads by email and I’ll do my best to surprise you with something you’ll really like. So now, for the first time, order “The Random” and serve yourself up a special surprise: www.jcherrell.com

Madison Art Glass & Bead show

2009-03-25T19:41:00.002-05:00

Woot! It's time to go back to Wisconsin! I'm headed out tomorrow morning for Green Bay where I'll visit with my parents and then head to Madison where I'll hang with Cathy Lybarger and sell at the ever awesome Madison Art Glass & Bead show. It's gonna be a super duper awesome weekend. See you on the other side (I'm not even taking my computer!)

New Auctions

2009-03-25T11:07:00.000-05:00

New Auctions that I forgot to blog about...

2009-03-19T08:05:00.002-05:00

Opf! When I plan ahead for auction by getting them all ready and then scheduling their start, I forget to blog about them when they do start. My bad! Here's what's already happened this week:

The FCC at our door

2009-03-19T07:37:00.011-05:00

On Monday, I came back to the house to find Margaret outside asking two guys in a truck with a large antenna sticking out the window at our house to leave. They did. We scratched our heads and went about our day. Then they came back, drove slowly by the house a few times and parked their ambiguous white SUV right outside the house and stuck a large white antenna out the window at us. We were starting to get upset. We both walked out and we both told them to go away. Forcefully. We told them we could call the police and that they best stay off the property because we have mean dogs (who really just sound like they're mean). They said that was just fine because they needed to get their job done and could prove themselves to the police who we might be more willing to believe. They were trying to tell us that one of the Verizon cell tower isn't working dues to an interference they've tracked down to our house. We didn't really understand the big words they were using and accused them of trying to hack into our computers and steal our identities. They left and started walking up and down the ally in back of the house, where we greeted them with mean, unfriendly stares. Finally they end up showing us that the only place that makes their detector (attached to the large antenna) beep is our house so we agreed that if they stay off the property we will try turning our high tech (and that's a relative term) items off. We started with the WiFi, but we still beeped. And I mean classic cartoon beeping, like as they pointed the antenna at our house (and specifically my shop, it seemed) the thing started beeping faster and louder until it just went crazy, which is when it was pointed directly at the house. So we turned off the cordless phones, but we still beeped. At this point we thought we had it all but and started to get a little huffy with the two guys again. I mean, what else can we do? Are the guys with the antenna just going to live in the ally now? How do we get them to go away. And more than that, what's making the house beep? Who planted what and where? Was it a joke? Was the FBI bugging a bead lady house? We were stumped. But then I made one last run through of the house where I turned off the antenna to the TV in my shop and immediately heard cheering from the two guys outside. That was it! My cheapie little TV antenna (that I hadn't even used to watch TV yet) had been blocking the Verizon tower since Friday Morning... the morning I rearranged my shop and found out that if I put the antenna on top of my tv and position it so both antennas are touching the metal ventilation hood, I get really great reception. How odd...! So I had to give the antenna to the guys (FCC/Verizon guys) and they came back an hour later with a very nice, way more expensive, far more function, DTV ready antenna (after making sure we were ready for the DTV conversion and offering their help if we weren't). And Margaret and I gave them cookies because we felt bad about being not so nice. Then I started taking pictures. (The one on the top left is the two guys trying to explain how the antenna, that they are holding, blocked the tower.) They liked showing off their fancy equipment!! They even turned it all back on for us.

New Auctions

2009-03-16T13:47:00.000-05:00

Bead & Button Show

2009-03-14T16:24:00.003-05:00

Guess what!? I just found out that I'll have a booth at the Bead & Button show in Milwaukee June 3-7! It's my first time at the B&B show (as a vendor). Oh! Excitement! And that means that there will soon be another smaller, but just as awesome, web sale coming soon (oh those pesky booth fees, I tell ya). Yay!

New Auctions

2009-03-11T11:29:00.002-05:00

New Auctions

2009-03-09T14:02:00.000-05:00

New Auctions

2009-03-05T12:06:00.000-06:00

New Auctions

2009-03-04T22:18:00.000-06:00

New Auctions

2009-03-04T11:57:00.000-06:00

Which door?

2009-03-04T11:16:00.003-06:00

"Any door." That's what Margaret (you know The Zinser) said. When she came down the hall with an arm load of boxes I asked her if I could open a door for her. She said yes. I asked which one... you know, because she has a lot of them. And she said "any door". Really, MZ??? ANY door?? What...? I didn't know what to do. She didn't have a destination in mind when she picked up the boxes? (Turns out she was taking them to the shed... and knew that when she picked them up. She just gave me a wonky answer to the door question.)

Goings on: creative challenges, life and business plans

2009-03-03T12:00:00.010-06:00

For the most part I'm settled in my new living situation. I've been torching a little, even. I'm still working out a daily routine and I'm definitely still looking for a working mojo, groove, direction... ect. I have a very simple bead design I've been trying to work out but it's slow (very slow) going. The design is simple, soooo very simple, but to do it cleanly is not simple at all. And I want clean... very clean. Most frustrating of all the design has no enamel and (most frustrating) no stringer! We'll see how it goes. But I figure this slow, frustrating experience is not only extremely educational but it's simply part of the process and for that reason, it feels good (except for the ego-diggers involved in making one so-not-right bead after another). I remember when I was first learning to make beads, those first 40 hours or so on the torch. It feels like this. Everything works in my brain, I can picture it and I can theorize it. But I feel like I'm trying to make a fine sketch with my weak hand. The concept just hasn't materialized yet and I don't know if I should give up. It's kind of an exciting place to be and a wonderful struggle. Another shop struggle, this one more mediocre, is the quest for ity bitty, teeny little spacers in enamel colors. Ah... another learning experience! And even more ego diggers! Sometimes I stand in amazement at the never ending personal growth that glass demands from those who love creating with it. And at other times I'm curled up in frustration. It's beautiful!

While my creative life is experiencing growth pains, my life in general is lovely. I miss Utah and the pace there but Tucson has a whole different spectrum of life... with so many stores (with so many options in them) and so many people with all their events. I choose not to go to so many of them (because there are so many things to do) but I've had a great time when I do choose to do things. I went with Margaret to a party... one attended by people who did thing other than glass. Most of the people there even had jobs! It took me off guard at first but I had fun and I'm looking forward to more things with that group of folks. And of course Andy Ray is here. Margaret, Andy and I all hang out going to breakfast at Gus Balon's (a great greasy morning joint), hiking with the dogs or just making and sharing diner. The pictures throughout this post are from our hiking tip south of the city. It was a lovely hike... and the weather is warm! Highs for the last two weekends were in the 90's... making me a bit worried about summer. But! Speaking of breakfast at Gus', I figured out my first Tucson secret! For me (and a lot of people) the best thing there are the cinnamon buns. Unfortunately they only make one pan and by the time our posse rolls in there are none left. So since I've been here I've twice set an alarm for 7 am and gone to Gus' to get the rolls then gone back to bed. This last time I asked if they would just set them aside so I didn't have to bring them back and they informed me that I can just call them early in the morning and ask them to set a roll aside for me. It turns out that's what everybody does and why there are never any cinnamon rolls! I'm so proud that I figured this out and that cinnamon rolls will now be a regular event in my life.

Other than a difficult, slow creative life, missing Utah, and a different and opportunity-filled life life, it's just about hammering out business. I have a lot of paperwork to do, a show in Madison at the end of the month, a class in Indiana next month and a whole lot of scheduling and Enamel Tour work to do with Margaret. Plus! Margaret and I are busy planning a mimosa and studio tour party. Are you near? Let me know if you would like an invite and directions: jc@jcherrell.com The party is from 10-3 pm March 22nd. Hope to see you there!!!

New Auctions

2009-03-03T11:58:00.000-06:00

New Auctions that I forgot to blog about...

2009-02-25T12:08:00.001-06:00

My new diggs

2009-02-23T12:22:00.004-06:00

I've pretty much settled all my stuff into my new place. It feels good. And warm. Today they are predicting record heat (88-90 degrees) here in Tucson. Wow! I'm wearing a tank top and sandals... without socks! While all of this is enjoyable and nice... it's also scary. If this is February, what are July and August??? Oh dear. Anyway... thought I would share a couple pictures of my new digs. They up loaded backwards and I'm too busy relaxing to fix it so, in reverse order:

My favorite little tray. A clock from my mom, a nice stand for a special bead, and an old rusty gear from the Utah desert. And, hanging nearby, a pendant from someone I love.

Sitting and working on the computer, reading and watching TV.

Sleepy time.

My rainbow ship. Devin, Ben and Margaret gave it to me. The found it walking around at the other gem shows here in Tucson.

Bead cleaning and thinking about inventory happens in this little nook.

torching. (why does this picture looks so odd?) I'll modify the vent and the bench so I can stand but for now this is great.

The shop. This picture is already outdated, as all the rest will be soon enough. I'm always changing and moving things. (My dream house has concrete floors and lockable wheels on everything.) I moved the two concentrators under the inventory and cleaning desk in the back. The space under my bench is currently empty (that surely will change).

Your own private Tucson... a spectacular web sale event!

2009-02-19T11:27:00.004-06:00

Did you all enjoy the Best Bead show in Tucson earlier this month? I sure did. It was a great show and I'm now on my way to being settled from moving here (to Tucson) after the show. It's all very exciting!

Oh, dear... What's that? You didn't get to Tucson this year? That's very unfortunate. But wait! Today is your lucky day! I've made your own private Tucson on my website! You're saving on airfare, rental car and hotel... and the time of finding my booth in a big city full of booths. And even more awesome yet, I'm offering better than wholesale discounts on a huge selection of my inventory where you can cruise for your new beads in your PJ's, munching on your favorite snack. Click here to see the beads. Enjoy!

Getting settled in Tucson

2009-02-17T14:39:00.007-06:00

Hi! I'm in Tucson. Not quite settled at all. I'm settled in my bedroom and all the house items have been either unpacked or stored but the shop is still in boxes... and those boxes still aren't even in the shop. But Margaret worked hard to get the area all clean and ready for me, so when I'm ready I can hit it. But I'm taking my time. I've actually spent the last two days sleeping and going through my inventory (and taking many, many pictures to ramp back up for eBay and for a mighty, mighty web sale event). And I'm going to continue to do the same today and maybe tomorrow (though tomorrow will also include a hike with Margaret and Andy Ray). Then I'll set up shop, casually. In the meantime, the major entertainment is my dog Kayla becoming friends with Margaret's new kitten, Minou. They keep each other busy with teasing, staring, pawing and chasing all day. It looks mean but its very playful.

New Auctions

2009-02-17T11:09:00.001-06:00

New Auctions

2009-02-16T13:04:00.001-06:00

Hooray! These are the first new auctions in a while!

what the heck... I'll move during the show!

2009-01-27T17:31:00.004-06:00

It turns out that the room I'll rent at Margaret's house will be available a bit earlier than we thought. So on Sunday, with one week left before the Best Bead Show, I decided to make the time to pack now and take all my stuff with me to the show, unpacking my stuff and setting up the show booth on the same day. My inventory is pretty much in order, my display won't be done before I leave anyway and I don't have much to pack so... What the heck!? Thus, I am now a bit busier than I thought I would be so this is most likely my last post until after the show... and the last post in Utah. Sadness and joy (and pre-show anxiety) all at the same time! I'll check back in from Tucson!

The last sale before Tucson... & Tucson!

2009-01-21T14:57:00.002-06:00

The beads on the sale page will be available until January 29th, or until sold. You can check out the deals here! After that I'm headed to Tucson (with every bead I can have) for the Best Bead show Feb 6-10 . And then I'll zip right back up to Utah to pack my things to move in with my awesome friend Margaret Zinser in... yup, Tucson. Thank you all so much for all your well wishes... and your purchases!

New Auctions

2009-01-20T13:45:00.000-06:00

New Auctions

2009-01-19T10:50:00.001-06:00

New Auctions

2009-01-16T12:13:00.000-06:00

Tucson... & Tucson

2009-01-16T00:00:00.006-06:00

ah... it's Tucson time. And in more ways than one! Of course I'm all busy getting ready for the Best Bead show Feb 4-6. The beads are getting made. I have a good inventory and could go right now (probably could have said that a couple of weeks ago), but I'm not letting up. Some days finding motivation is harder than others. But I find variety works. I find motivation by the stoke of 5 lbs of new, clean, clear glass arriving, by watching a TV series online for days on end, by filling up some column on my work chart or by working some arbitrary quantity of work units or an empty container (that should contain beads) works. So the work is getting done, plus some. I'm finding challenges making my new display. The materials aren't as available or easy to work with as I thought they would be and time is not on my side. So it may not be done. In the worst case scenario I may use exactly what I've been using. But likely I'll improvise something that will display my beads by color, not by series. How about that? It's the whole point of the new display... And I'm struggling with the "fun" items like beady choppers, really big beads, a necklace from and a name for my new series, fused tiles and whatnot. I haven't worked on my tiles since last year... I don't have any beady choppers made (where did my wheel making mojo go??)... ect. But other than that I'm really looking forward to Tucson!!! It'll be great to see some friends I only see a couple times a year and, like every year, there are many social opportunities. It's going to be, like it always is, awesome!

But the other Tucson, the reason I'm going to have to start calling the first one "gem show" the way the locals do, is that I'm moving there after the bead, er... gem show. YUP! Margaret Zinser's roommate is moving away and I scored the opportunity to live with MZ in the warmth and all the other things Tucson has to offer. We're going to be up to all kinds of trouble, both beady and other trouble. It's going to be wicked fun. I feel a little, just a little, like Lavirne and Shirley (I wonder who's who??) But other than making the decision and a little brainstorming with MZ, the focus is on the first Tucson (Best Bead Show, aka: Gem Show). Then, when the show is all done I'll come back here to Utah, pack it up and then head towards the heat. Rock that!

New Auctions

2009-01-15T14:57:00.000-06:00

New Auctions that I forgot to blog about...

2009-01-13T22:57:00.003-06:00

Yup... I forgot to blog about a whole lotta auctions.

Electric New Year's sunset

2009-01-06T22:52:00.004-06:00

Thought I would share a pretty sunset. It was New Year's day.

New Auctions that I forgot to blog about...

2009-01-06T14:53:00.003-06:00

It's January and I'm deep, deep in work mode. I get excited about torching and making beads and, sometimes, that's all I can think about. (An issue, for sure!) And I forgot to blog about my auctions for a while. So this will catch you up... and thank you for finding and bidding on the auctions I didn't share!! And... oh my gosh... HAPPY NEW YEAR!! It's gonna be a good one, I just know it!

New Auctions

2008-12-29T16:31:00.000-06:00

A new year, a new booth display... which means a web sale!!!

2008-12-29T02:10:00.003-06:00

I'm thinking it's time for a new booth display for bead shows. I've got some ideas in my head and some plans in the works but funds are short for an extra like that so I figure it's a great excuse, along with the new year, to have a sale! Enjoy the beads below and purchase knowing that the proceeds will go towards a fresh new display for my beads... you can pimp your bead collection and I can pimp my booth (as the kids say these days). Visions of brightly lit white frosted acrylic displays with beads neatly aligned in color organized rows dance through my head...

Check out the opportunities at JCHerrell.com! Thank you so much!!!

'Twas a white Christmas... and my dog is cute

2008-12-26T13:22:00.004-06:00

Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope your holiday was warm (or cold if you prefer it), wonderful and just the color you like it. Mine was white (very windy and snowy) and full of good food and times with friends. Not much else to share... but wait! Do you want to see cute pictures of my dog? Kayla (my dog) got a new bed from Grandma for Christmas. Kayla loves the bed and watching her love it makes me very happy:

New Auctions that I forgot to blog about...

2008-12-26T13:16:00.004-06:00

So.... I forgot to post almost all of this week's auctions. So here they are, all together at last:

The view from my shop window

2008-12-22T11:57:00.005-06:00

One of my favorite things about my current shop is the view. I'm not sure I've seen too many shop window views that are as scenic as mine. I took a picture (through the window) of what I see when I torch. I love this view with the mountains (the peak in this picture is 11,500 feet), the barnyard, pretty weather and... when it's just right... I can see the steam from the 2nd hot springs. It's awesome!

New Auctions

2008-12-22T11:16:00.000-06:00

Fuzzy wuzzy was a bead... all beads were fuzzy once

2008-12-19T16:22:00.003-06:00

Today and yesterday I've been working on 2nd Excellent Enamel Adventure Article for The Flow (look for the first one in the next issue). And, while just about every bead I make looks like this at one point, the close up picture of it is really interesting to me for some reason. Wanna see the fuzzy stage of a bead?

New Auctions

2008-12-17T10:24:00.000-06:00

The barnyard (in a snowstorm)

2008-12-16T12:13:00.004-06:00

It's been snowy here in Utah. Nineteen and a chance of flurries all week. But the week started with a snow storm... the first one of the season. And so the desert turned white. And for some reason I thought it would be lovely to go take a walk during this storm. I quickly decided against the walk and turned around to go grab my camera and take pictures since I was bundled up already. I headed up to the barnyard (which I can see out of the corner of my shop window) since I don't think I've shared the it with y'all yet. Yup. Mystic Hot Springs also has a barnyard including several emu, donkeys, goats and horse and more. They're fun to watch and I even like hearing the donkeys scream all day.

Watching all the snow accumulate on the animals, I wondered what I looked like. So in an unusual move I took a picture of myself (I don't like turning the camera on myself and if I do I really don't like sharing it). Yes. That's snow accumulating on the side of my face.

Too much work?

2008-12-16T11:24:00.003-06:00

Wow.... It's kinda been a while since I checked in with anything other than auctions. The only excuse I'm going to offer is beads. I've been working HARD. Probably harder than ever before... maybe. I've been working for 10-16 hours a day. It's a darn good thing I love my work, I guess. Why have I been working so hard? I need to make inventory. The reality is that I tend to sell beads as I make them to supply income, which I'm sure is very logical. But! I also need to be able to go to shows with plenty of inventory, and I have yet to do that. Every single show I've ever attended I've felt that I didn't have enough beads to sell (regardless of how many beads I've actually had with me). So my goal going into the Tucson Best Bead Show this February is to have so much inventory with me that my head starts spinning. And, on paper, if I work very, very hard every day.... I'll make that goal. And so far not so bad. I've been surprising myself with my dedication. And that builds a sense of security in me. Which I 'm seeking when I look into the short term future and I know I'll be preparing to move soon (I don't know where or when yet). And moving means money and time. I'll be spending my time not working and I'll be spending tons of money to do it. I'll need some inventory to back up that situation. And, a little over one year since leaving my marriage, I also feel like the only thing I can rationally do to buy some kind of security is to work my butt off. The down side of that is that I forget about life. I forget to do dishes. I forget about article deadlines until 3 days before the due date. I forget to wash my hair and shave my legs. And I forget that I have a blog and I forget I have friends and family. So... for that I'm sorry. But you should see how much work I'm getting done!!! And I took some pictures of the barnyard durring our recent snow storm and I'll share that soon. See... it's not all beads!

New Auctions

2008-12-16T11:07:00.002-06:00

New Auctions

2008-12-09T10:55:00.001-06:00

New Auctions

2008-12-08T11:01:00.000-06:00

New Auctions

2008-12-02T12:22:00.001-06:00

Other folk's finished work with my beads

2008-12-01T23:52:00.009-06:00

For as many beads as I've made and sold, traded or given I don't often get to see how the beads are used. That seems to be the same with all the beadmakers I've talked to about the subject. So every time I get to see a finished piece with my work I'm thrilled. First, it's awesome to see how someone else has put thought into the bead. Really awesome and super educational, too! And second, it's such an honor to see the proof that someone involved my work in their (valuable) time and effort and creativity. I feel a huge internal (maybe external, I don't know) blush when ever I see someone at a show with my bead in the necklace on their neck or someone emails me a picture. For instance... This was recently sent to my by Misty Darrington. You can see more of her here http://GemmaBeads.etsy.com and here http://gemmabeads.blogspot.com.

And typing/thinking about all of this reminds me of a super special treat last spring. At the Madison Art Glass and Bead show (a GREAT show) I had the great privilege of making the challenge bead for the show. The challenge bead is available each year for folks to purchase and create with. The contestant's creations are then entered into a design contest and the winner gets a fabulous prize (the nature of which I clearly can't remember). I know this was designed for the contestants but I think the real treat of this event is for the beadmaker. I mean... how cool was it to see a dozen or so finished peices of my work... AND of the same bead. It was amazingly cool! The winner of the contest was Mary Bublitz (below) and that's the necklace over to the left. And below Mary is a picture of the bead. To see the rest of the entries (and they are sooo worth checking out) click here.

Fresh new work and great deal at JCHerrell.com

2008-12-01T10:36:00.007-06:00

I've just loaded up my website with awesome new beads including Baby Berry beads, Tiny Rainbows, Mini Drafts (and all their full sized focal counterparts) plus a bunch of fresh new work in awesome new shapes and more muted, earthy colors! Check them all out!

And... Check out the great deals on my sale page!

New Auctions

2008-12-01T10:34:00.000-06:00

Pretty mountains

2008-12-01T10:25:00.003-06:00

This weekend was cold and rainy. However, in Utah changing weather always brings a new kind of beautiful. And the mountains felt pretty this weekend. Oh so pretty! The clouds had a great time playing with the mountains right behind the hot springs:

And the mountains on the other side of the valley felt very pretty, too:

I loved watching the clouds roll in and out of the valley. Here there's a thick layer of cloud in the valley below the mountains and a thick layer above, but the peaks were peeking out wonderfully:

New Auctions

2008-11-26T14:15:00.000-06:00

Newest Auctions

2008-11-25T21:22:00.000-06:00

Margaret's pictures from Cali: monkey butt, me, trees and more...

2008-11-21T16:36:00.007-06:00

Margaret just got her pictures off her camera and posted a few on Facebook. So I snagged these and they'll tell you a little more about our trip through California. First... the monkeys holding super cheesy torches on the river walk (on the Colorado river) in Laughlin, Nevada. Margaret and I thought these were really funny:

So I climbed up on one one and, while trying to smile, I made a chipmunk face:

Margaret took a lot of photos of me:

And here's another picture of glass beach. It was awesome:

Margaret and I (MZ looks cute, I look weird and like I have a mullet but it made it to the blog because there aren't many pictures of us together):

We took an awesome hike in the redwoods:

My favorite of MZ's pictures is this one of me pinching a pretty big redwood:

We found our favorite breakfast spot in Fort Bragg (Egghead's). Here are our hot chocolates and the bestest cinnamon toast EVER!

Last a shot of Jiley and I before we headed down to Oakland for the BABE show. I wish MZ would have included my socks... they were over the knee rainbow stripped socks!

New Auctions

2008-11-20T14:05:00.000-06:00

New Auctions

2008-11-19T11:32:00.000-06:00

New Auctions

2008-11-18T12:59:00.000-06:00