They Grow Up So Fast

I mean...they really grow up fast, don't they?

Gardening Nun

Diana from AZ emailed me this gorgeous artwork using our Gardening Nun and I just had to share what she wrote to me:

"I've had a stamp of a cloister made by Sparkle 'n' Sprinkle for the longest time...the drawing was actually done by a cloistered nun in Florida. It's a beautiful stamp, but the entire left side was taken up by a very shapeless tree. There was no detail, so it was very hard to color. When I saw your new "gardening nun" stamp, I ordered it right away so I could put her in the cloister garden. She arrived last week, along with another bunch of Beeswax stamps, and we took to each other right away. However that shapeless tree began to bother me something awful, so after having a conference with my new gardening nun stamp, we decided the tree had to be cut down and replaced with a wall and part of a tree from PSX."

Isn't this just fabulous and the colors are wonderful!

Alien Babies

These guys get scarier looking with each photo. I've been asked quite a few times what kind of birds they are and I have to admit that we're pretty clueless. The nest is in an awkward place, high and kind of hidden. I only see mom as she's flying away. I can tell you that she's brown....does that help at all? LOL! Maybe as they get older one of you bird experts out there can figure them out.

Delays Ahead...

Unbelievable. I had my entire day planned around the release of the new images. Unfortunately when I opened the package that came today it only contained the engravings. I had asked for the matrix boards to be made for me as well and it wasn't done. So there is now a weeks delay as I wait for a delivery of matrix boards so I can do the last step myself. Sorry folks! Best laid plans and all. Now what shall I do with all this free time today...

Feed Me!

Now they're cute in an ugly cute kinda way. Such big mouths for such little babies.

Bead Art Originals Items of the Week (April 20-26)

Bead Art Originals Items of the Week (April 20-26)
Originally uploaded by Sand Fibers

I belong to an Etsy group made of talented bead artists in one form or another. There are clay artists, seed bead artists and of course glass. Each week they do an Item of the Week list and I finally got around to joining in this time. Lots of fabulous stuff and tons of talent in this group. You can go here to see all of the specials offered for this week. Make sure to visit all of the Etsy stores because some of these artists are truly incredible and do some really unique work.

Babies!

They aren't very cute yet, are they? This was taken yesterday and today that last egg has hatched.

Ice Crystals

This is a focal that I made on a day I decided to just play at the torch instead of sitting down to make anything specific. Sometimes I end up with crap and sometimes I end up with amazing things. I just love this bead. The color contrast between the light aqua dots and the light peridot dots up against the ivory accent dots....it's so elaborate looking. I pulled another one out of the kiln that I made yesterday in lavender and pink. That one took 2 1/2 hours to make! I'll post a picture of it next week once I get it cleaned and photographed.

Those awaiting the Beeswax new images will have to wait a bit longer. I got my tracking number today and the new engravings won't be here until next week.

One other Beeswax thing....does anyone have any idea why I'm getting loads of orders that include our Music Collage? It must have been published somewhere but since I only get RSM I'm kinda clueless. It's one of those stamps that rarely sells and it seems every order has it lately.

Signs of Spring

I think today may be our last chilly day of the year. Warm weather is coming and Wally just got this picture of a bird nest. Isn't it amazing how well they build these? We usually don't get much in the way of Spring here though. It's pretty much cold one day and 90 degrees the next but we're ready for some warm weather and sunshine.

New images coming!

I've sent the new images off to the engraver and I expect to get them back near the end of next week. I think there are 36 new images including this Rocky Beach which I think is my favorite. I also did our Lake Scene smaller by popular demand.

I've been spending some time cleaning our office and it's amazing the stuff you find. Lot's of nice cards sent by customers that have gotten lost in this mess. Mess is an understatement actually.

Pink

I got a special request from a customer to make a light pink bead and a fuchsia bead for her Pandora bracelet. Fuchsia is easy to get with Rubino but a light pink usually isn't. I'm always disappointed when I cover Effetre Dark Pink with clear because it's so pale. So I experimented with Rubino and I got a gorgeous pale pink that is so much prettier than this picture. If you baby Rubino by working it cool you'll get fuchsia. So instead I worked it just like I would any other color. As I put down each dot, the base was clear and the peak was pink. I melted all the Rubino in and it blushed back up to a medium pink but I wanted it lighter still. So I covered each dot of Rubino with clear....and melted that all the way in. Then I covered each dot with clear again and melted that half way in. The double layer of clear really lightens up the Rubino and what I got was a light bubble gum pink. The base the Rubino is on is Silver Pink instead of Ivory too. The Silver Pink still looks like Ivory but it plays nice with the Rubino, unlike Ivory.

April POTM

The April POTM is up and I'm really happy with it! I was pretty intimidated in creating a book but after doing a lot of research online, I found a pretty simple stitch. I just altered everything to fit this size. The book shown is my very first attempt so if I can do this then anyone can. I tried to show each step and explain everything in detail so I really think you'll find that creating this book is a breeze. This would be a fun project for a stamp group to do. You can find the project here:
Missy/Sissy Book