BABE! BAY AREA BEAD EXTRAVAGANZA

This is a shameless plug for the last show I am doing this year! BABE! November 17th and 18th.  beadextravaganza.com

I should be writing all about the things I have been doing, which is a lot, but that is my problem. Too much to do! I am finding myself running from one thing to another with little preparation in advance. So, now I am updating my blog at the last minute so if you come here after reading my latest newsletter you will see something new! 

I could write a book on all of the things I have done in the last month but that would be so boring for you! Yes or no? I am never sure how much personal things you want to know. Or if you just want to know about beads and jewelry.  Please leave a note in my comment section below to let me know! I would really appreciate it! 

I am obsessed with everything to do with Day of the Dead or Dia De Los Muertos, the Spanish word. It is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and the world.  It wasn't something I was familiar with when I lived in Minnesota but I came to find out about it when I moved to San Diego. Especially because it is also my birthday. It is also the christian holiday of All Souls Day and All Saints Day.  Tradition is to honor those who have passed by building altars called ofrendas using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods of those passed. 

This is a typical altar.  



My main focus is the sugar skulls and 



the painted faces.  

I watched a lot of you tube videos on how to do this. It has been something I wanted to do but just never did. So this year I was taking my grand girls to Disneyland for a Halloween party and I decided the time was right.  

I can't wait to do it again next year. Maybe I will even practice first! Ha!

In honor of Day of Dead, Halloween, and my birthday, here are some sugar skull focal beads I have been working on.  

My next project is to make a necklace with one and add a body using other beads. At my last show a customer and I were talking and we came up with all sorts of ideas.  I have started working on it but haven't finished. So next time....  

Have a great  Thanksgiving! And if you are in the Bay area of California I hope to see you at BABE! 

And as always, I am at Studio 9 at Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park, San Diego. My etsy store is on vacation right now but that will change after BABE! 

Thanks for checking in! 

Jan

NEW BEADS & OTHER NEWS

Not a very enticing title, "New Beads and other News".  But I do have new beads!  

My bead Buddie, Donna Struthers, (many of you may know Donna as we have always done the San Diego Bead Bazaar together.) has decided that her days of doing bead shows are over! (I still hope to convince her to join me once in awhile.)

Getting ready for a show can be stressful. We often feel like we shouldn't work in the garden or have coffee with girlfriends. We feel like we should make beads instead. We can never have enough beads and jewelry.  

While Donna has decided to only make beads when she feels like it I have inherited her beads!  We have a similar style but yet different.  I love to use her beads so why not just buy all of her beads? That is what I did!  It is a win win for both of us!  I now have more beads! 

I want to share them with you. 

 
Most of them are hollow beads in browns, golds, white, and green.  They all have a mat finish.

 

 

Here are some fun focal beads with an unusual shape, color and texture.  

Aren't they great? I can't wait to use them in my jewelry designs. If you are interested in any of these beads, let me know.  I will be putting some of the beads on my etsy store but not until September. 

My retail studio in Spanish Village Art Center has been stocked with new beads and new jewelry. If you are looking for something special or just looking be sure to check out Studio 9.  Hours are 11am to 4pm every day.

Take care!  Thanks!

           Simple necklace with dichro nugget; torch fired enamel  leaves and open cog as bail.

Monday Musings

I have been so tired lately which makes me so lazy. I guess I don't have to have an excuse to be lazy but I feel like I should be doing something constructive. Ha! Do you have days like this?

Well, I got off my butt and took photos of parts and beads that I have acquired and made lately.

First up are the things I acquired at the Pasadena Bead & Design Show a couple of weeks ago. I traded with some wonderful artists that were near me. I keep looking at the stash and my head is still spinning with ideas for using them. Do you have any ideas for them?

Gail Crosman Moore

Gail has some wonderful bead components. Brass stampings, bass bead caps and Lucite bead caps.  She torch fires some of the brass stampings with enamel. 

 

Joanne Zekowski

Joanne makes all sorts of wonderful beads. These are different from most of her tribal collections. I envision these as components for earrings with my torch fired enamel or glass beads. I can't wait to play with them.

Patricia Healey

Patricia Healey was behind me and what a hoot she is!  She was a great person to have around for 4 days. No dull time with her!  She makes these beautiful copper beads and findings. She designs them and has them made in Mexico. My plan is to use them with my torch fired enamel beads. I got beads, dangles and more!



XAZ Bead Company/Amy & Daniel Mealey

Another fun stash of beads and pendants!  These are from XAZ Bead Company. They are raku beads. They make each bead, fires them, then glazes and fires again. It is the last firing that it is done with paper that brings out the beautiful raku!  They are nice and light and will make wonderful pieces! 

Just to prove I have been doing something...... here are some of my heart beads. Since Valentine's Day is around the corner I thought I should stock up on some of my favorite hearts. I never get tired of making these.

I am part of a jewelry group that meets once a month. This month we played with the hydraulic press. I guess I am still thinking of hearts for Valentine's Day as I cut out these hearts and shaped them.  I thought the little hearts would be nice earrings. 
 

And lastly,here are some components that I have been playing with in aluminum wire. You may have seen the necklace I did with aluminum wire work that was polished to look like silver. I purchased some more 14g aluminum wire that is stiffer and darker. I like to work it better as it doesn't get marks so easily. I hammered it and then tumbled it. It didn't get as shiny as the last batch. It looks oxidized.  You can see the piece in the middle and the one below that haven't been tumbled.  I like it and you will probably start to see it in some of my jewelry. Much lighter than silver and of course more affordable.  I am not going to stop using sterling silver but I want to be able to offer a range of price points for my jewelry designs.  What do you think of the aluminum? Would you use it?

THANK YOU!

I want to thank you all for coming to the Bead Bazaar this past weekend! And for purchasing my beads!  I appreciate your support of my work so much! It was great to see that you liked my new "torch fired enameled" beads! The best part of the bazaar is seeing everyone and catching up! I also love to look at other artist's wares and purchasing some new things for myself! Don't forget to let me know how they work for you and send photos of what you make with them.

I am in town for another week before we escape this heat for the mountains.  I am working on custom orders, making beads and ordering supplies.  I plan on posting some of my glass beads and the torch fired enamel beads on etsy before I leave. I will send out an e-mail to let you know when I do.  If you have any requests, let me know!

If you want to be on my e-mail list, send me an e-mail at jpetek@cox.net

Thanks again! 

Jan