Monday, September 24, 2007

Open House at Pacific Art Glass



This past weekend was the Pacific Art Glass Open House and Sale. What a fun time! John Williams sure knows how to put on an event. The sale started on Thursday in the hopes that by Saturday and Sunday the people who wanted to hang out, watch demos and talk glass would come and visit. And they did! Cathy McNassar and myself demonstrated lampworking. Rich was making marbles with soft glass. There were a couple of glass blowers - glory hole and all! Plus some other demonstrations as well. All as related to glass. John served lunch and on-going soft drinks throughout the day. I really had a good time. Cathy and I split torch time and demonstrated some interesting techniques. John held a raffle both days. I won some great dichro frit from CBS which I gave to Cathy because she is the fuser and works with bullseye. My glass is usually effetre. After two days I was exhausted! I went to work today to recover! Oh and the best part sunday noight I went to my daughter's house to pick up my new lap top (really excited) and of course to kiss my two grandbabies.

Friday, September 21, 2007

WOW, I'm saved!

Happiness reigns - they couldn't find anything wrong with my car. Just cleaned out some parts, checked for vacuum leaks and I'm on the road again! Yeah! Considering I just bought a new lap top I was cringing at what my car was going to cost. Just the same I need to start thinking about a new car - hopefully in the Spring. Got to sell more beads. Need to open an etsy store soon. I'm researching and thinking about it now. Soon, soon soon. I've change my About Me paragraph and I like it much better. I think I need to start a challenge on Monday so stay tooned. I'm demonstrating my bead making this weekend at Pacific Art Glass's Open House and Sale. Should be a fun two days. Hope it's not too tiring as next week is going to be a very busy work week.

I have 3 beads on eBay this week, no new bead until Sunday. I think this post is very scattered with thoughts but there's alot going on in my head right now!

Thursday, September 20, 2007

JUST WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT???


Sometimes we get so caught up in getting through the day, doing what we have to do so we can grab a moment doing what we want to do. Then we have the eyeopener! I'm a new grandma, my second granddaughter was just born and I took a vacation day to go spend it bonding! Now that's what's important. My daughter just needed to get some sleep as all you new mothers can relate, so I gave her one of my vacation days and she gave me the best gift of all. I got to have little Quinn all to myself! We forget that all of us came into the world that small, that helpless, that innocent. My car broke down that night but I just kept remembering the glow of "Grandmotherhood".

See how I snuck in the car breaking down! That is one of the things that can send me into a total funk. I hate car issues! Luckily I have a good mechanic even if he was 45 miiles away! So I drove my daughter's car home last night, went back today and had my car towed, rented a car and went to work! My bead on eBay didn't sell! Don't know what's wrong with my car yet - I don't really care whats wrong with it. I just want to know in the terms of $$$$$ and how soon can I have it back. But I have a new granddaughter and that is the best! Look at that little face!

I think these two pictures came out so great considering how camera challenged I am. I might use one for my thank you cards. I've got some great ideas to work with from some other blogs I've been looking at. I'll post a picture when they are done. I guess I better hurry - I want them out before Quinn walks!

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Another Day, Another Step Forward



I'm still trying to set up my blog to my liking. I've added my profile but I'm not real enthused with it so I'll probably change it. I've got 2 beads to go up on auction on eBay. A pretty blue teardrop floral and I'm following that the next day with one of my Still Life Flower focal beads. Both of these beads have so much design potential. EBay is kind of slow right now so we'll see what happens.

Are you wondering about Another Day, Another Step Forward? Well I'm trying to work on my bead business every day. Today was a good day - I reviewed a couple more merchant card companies, I set up 2 auctions, and played a little with my blog. I'm also thinking I need 1 day to rest but since I have a need to be creative every day I haven't come up with a solution yet.

Monday, September 17, 2007

ISGB SO CAL FLAME SURFERS MEETING


Although Saturday is but a distant memory I thought I'd share with you the ISGB So Cal Flame Surfers meeting held at Winship Designs in Torrance, CA. Winship is in an industrial center kind of like a big warehouse. They specialize mostly in boro glass. Meeting was interesting though. We always have business, then a fun raffle, a bead exchange, a buffet lunch and a guest demonstrator. I actually won the coffee mug pictured here! I never win anything and although I didn't win the pound of ASK glass the mug was a nice surprise. The bead exchange was based on a fall theme. I gave away a couple of my pumpkin beads. The girl that won them was happy with them which always makes you feel good. I won a very whimsical set of Halloween beads - candy corn, ghosts and a witch hat (sorry I forgot to take a picture. I'll try to take a picture soon and show them another time). Very cute though! We had a great turkey chili and lots of salad for lunch. Of course there were many dessert choices - since I can't have sugar none of them were for me! I did eat 2 grapes and boy did they taste great! The demonstration was done by Joe Rooks and his friend (never got his name, nor could I tell what he was making). Joe did some sort of implosion piece out of boro. He really never explained what he was doing and it was actually a little boring. Sorry boro boys! Our next meeting will be in December. The Christmas meeting is very fun. Lots of great raffles, good food, fun Christmas bead exchange and our guest demonstrator will be Sharon Peters who is always entertaining!

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Welcome to My Blog

This is my first post on my new blog! Welcome everyone!

My intent is to use this blog as a journey in creativity. As a lampworker I am constantly searching out more creative ways to express myself in lampwork glass beads. I hope from time to time to show pictures of my work, offer tips and tricks and maybe some design challenges - not making beads necessarily but what can or have you done with my beads. I know I won't be able to resist putting in some personal stuff as well.

Currently you'll find my beads on my website, www.jackiemixon.com. I also have beads on eBay. Here's a picture of two auctions presently on eBay right now.
I hope that you will continue to come back to this blog to see what's new. I may be offering some specials exclusive to blog readers. - Jackie