Me Made May has kept me on my toes this month. If you’ve never heard of it, here is the link that explains what it’s all about. Participating this month has been a challenge and a wonderful learning experience. Having less of a wardrobe to choose from has made it obvious it’s very smart to have pieces that are easily mixed and matched to extend wear. My closet will soon be getting a thorough culling. There is one more day, but while I’m in the mood here is a quick roundup of this months favorites:
Jacket J from Happy Homemade Sew Chic
Sewaholic Hollyburn Skirt in hot pink linen, Deer and Doe Plantain Tee
New Look 6120 (modified) in Nani Iro double gauze- holy cats, I have a new obsession. Double gauze is the bees’ knees. Bought from Miss Matatabi, fast shipping, too!
Liesl and Co. Weekend Getaway Dress in Yarn-dyed Linen
Dress 1a from Simple Modern Sewing, made sleeveless in Yarn-dyed Linen, loved that I tried layering since this really makes it more wearable through the year!
Yay, Moneta– love this pattern, so very comfy. Both knit fabrics came from Girl Charlee
Dress R from Stylish Dress Book I actually hated this dress and never wore it until I put on a belt- totally changed my mind. Although, fabric with better drape would be more flattering.
Another Moneta, fabric from Girl Charlee.
Jacket J from Happy Homemade Sew Chic and my (super comfy!) Frankenpattern dress of Simplicity 1882 and 1652.
There are a few more but I’ll stop here, you can find more on my flickr and everyone else’s on the Pinterest board for Me Made May ’14.
Bloglovin and a Sewing Project
You can follow me on Bloglovin, if you’re so inclined. I’m loving having a list of the blogs I follow in one email I can quickly scroll through each morning!
<a href=”http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/11931773/?claim=geb9cm98hb6″>Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>
I’m also happy to finally have some photos of my Frankenpattern dress that was a mash-up between Simplicity 1652 and Simplicity 1882.
I forgot to staystitch the back neckline and my yarn-dyed linen stretched out a little in the back. Still super comfy and eminently wearable. Princess seams are my new best friend and another dress is already being planned..perhaps one with sleeves.
Publication, Teaching, and White Copprclay
I’ve been remiss in not sharing my recent good news- I was in The Flow’s 9th Annual Women in Glass issue! Seriously awesome since not only was I fortunate to be included with other very talented ladies in the gallery, there is also a tutorial for my Mermaid Scroll Hollows.
Time got away from me this holiday season and New Year with family visiting, sick child, sick me, etc.
Another wonderful piece of news is that the ISGB Gathering booklets came out in digital format for members yesterday and I’ll be teaching two classes and presenting in Houston, TX July 16-20 2014. So much to get ready for!
Also. In about a month’s time I should be in Santa Cruz, teaching at Kiss My Glass on April 5 & 6th.
Then June 7 & 8th, I’ll be teaching at The Mandrel in Harbor City, CA. Other than these three venues, I currently have no other plans to teach in 2014. I’m planning to sell at the Bead Bazaar in Houston and again in Nov. at BABE!
Here are the aforementioned Z-99 Hollows with White Copprclay bead caps. I love having more options for capping and coring my hollows. The next to last photo shows the large center bead with PMC Pro and a patina’d bead cap for comparison in silver tones. (You can click on the pic to enlarge!)
Here is a quick comparison: top/left is bronzclay that’s been tumbled and LOS’d, White Copprclay, tumbled White Copprclay, and PMC Pro. You can see how gray or pewter-y it looks next to PMC Pro- but it also reminds me of silver with a patina- guess it depends on how you look at it.
Very excited to get my hands on some more of this.
Can’t leave well enough alone. Lots o’ bead caps for hollows.
Can’t leave well enough alone. Lots o’ bead caps for hollows., a photo by wandering spirit designs on Flickr.
The bead caps and chain in the foreground are from Bills Struve’s new White Copprclay that is due to be released next month.
Meant to mimic silver, it reminds me of pewter and will go nicely with many of my beads!
Had no problems firing- he recommends two stage firing if you’re working with thicker/3D pieces. I did an open air firing with the chains and pendants then covered them with carbon to finish sintering. Doesn’t matter which carbon you use- which is nice for me since I’m currently befuddled with which carbon is coconut and which is acid-washed.
For the rest of the bead caps, I did a slightly slower ramp and fired for two hours all in one stage. Still worked, was able to dap them with no problems.
Looking forward to getting more once it’s out!
Will post more capped and cored beads once I get photos- they look great against my Z99 hollows.
Cyber Monday SALE!
 Planning to get these listed today, time willing.
Cyber Monday SALE!
I’m starting Cyber Monday a little early.
Enter Cybermon13 when checking in my Etsy shop to get 25% off through tomorrow.
And now picture overload 🙂
 BABE! and my first class were both wonderful, I’ll post pics next time.
Best for Last?
 Super-uper-duper excited about these hollows!
Barring the time consuming part, these are one of my current favorites to make due to the reactions possible. The second set is more of my Moroccan inspired beads- the patinas make them seem old and recently dug up and all that practice is fine-tuning my precision, always a plus.
Beating myself up a little since I didn’t make a necklace to wear with this style. Had laser vision about building up enough stock for the show since I have a whole table to fill. Ah, well- there’s always next year!
These will also be going to the BABE! 2013 show this weekend. I’ll be at table 711.
Almost ready for the show, BABE! 2013 inventory
It’s nearly here, leaving on a plane for CA in a couple days and these pics are some of the inventory for the BABE! show. I’m table 711, stop by and say howdy!
 Here is the link for the discount coupon good for both days of the show.
My first handmade soldered earrings
 Pretty excited to show you my first soldered lampworked earrings!
Made possible with Vickie Hallmark’s excellent tutelage. The bead was something I’d had for a while and couldn’t throw away even though it had a thermal crack running down the middle. I finished breaking apart the bead with a round file which made them perfect for a pair of earrings.
These probably took me a good 4-5 hours to make! Vickie’s studio was like being in tool heaven, I have a long xmas list of goodies for the studio. You won’t see me asking for expensive jewelry or clothes, just get me some tools!
My mind is a-whirl with new ideas, hope to get to them after the show and my first teaching gig next month.
Quick listing on Etsy
I hadn’t really planned on listing anything on Etsy since I’m madly scrambling to get enough inventory for BABE! next month. But..but! I’m in dire need of some new equipment in order to make something that I’ve been planning to use for some time. Obscure enough for ya?! This lovely lass of a bead will be going up shortly in my shop and will hopefully go to a good home.
Aja Vaz 