THE LAST HURRAH FOR THE SUMMER!

Yesterday was the first day of fall and here in the eastern sierras it started out windy and chilly. By 5pm it started to hail. It quickly turned to snow but with thunder!  I watched out the window as a layer of snow started to cover the ground.  I made hot chocolate and turned up the heater.  I don't know how cold it got but we were cozy in our little cabin. 

 

View from our front window

 The dogs got me up early and I was anxious to see what it looked like outside.  A beautiful layer of snow on the ground and on the trees.  I remember this from my years in Minnesota. The first snow. Wanting to keep it pristine and not make tracks.  I haven't missed snow all these years in California. But somehow snow in the mountains is different.  The trees are different and of course there are mountains. 

 

About 6:00am

The dogs were having a great time on the deck running back and forth and playing in the snow. But I knew what they were really wanting to do.  Make those tracks!

I leave my heavy coats here along with warm socks and a scarf. I forgot gloves and a hat at home! I am not serious about snow or cold weather! The sun was out and the snow was starting to melt so I knew that once I started walking I would be fine.  I did put some socks on my hands to start!

Steve was curious to see what his boat looked like so that is the first place we went.  Oh my! Lake Mamie was like glass and the trees, well just look at how beautiful!  The boat was covered in snow as I knew it would be.  No tracks down on the dock and I didn't want to disturb that snow. 

Lake Mamie

We saw fishermen waiting for the snow to melt so they could go down to the shore to fish. And others just looking at the beauty like me. 

I knew the dogs wouldn't be happy just looking around so I took them to the other side of Lake Mamie where we always walk.  Well, I walk and they run in circles, in the water, up, down, more circles, more water, you get the picture. 



Lake Mamie with Crystal Crag in background

Aggie eating snow and Lily making a dog snow angel

It is always beautiful but with the snow it was another kind of beauty.  Most likely the snow will be all gone by tomorrow.  A high of 58 today and in the 60's tomorrow. Maybe one day more for fishing then the boat comes out of the water for the drive home in a day or two.  The umbrellas and chairs come in and everything gets buttoned up for the season.  I hope my little flower garden makes it through the winter but I won't know till next June or July. Depending on how much it snows this winter and how quickly spring comes determines when we can get back in the cabin. 

Before Snow

 

After Snow

 

I will back to making beads and jewelry soon! And my etsy shop will be back too.

I have two shows coming up this fall. If they are in your area, please stop by!

Art Glass Guild Patio Show - Sat & Sun - October 12th & 13th
Spanish Village Art Center, Balboa Park, San Diego
Click here for directions and more info

BABE! Bay Area Bead Extravaganza - Sat & Sun - November 16th & 17th
Marriott Convention Center, Oakland, CA  Classes & Bead Bazaar
Click here for more info  

Thanks for stopping by! 

Jan

SUMMER SHOWS HERE I COME - HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

I love summer. Summer means time in Mammoth Lakes California.  We have a small cabin in the woods and summer is the only time we can use it. We try spend as much time as we can.  I love the smell of the mountains and the quiet.  I bring my beads and a lot of my jewelry supplies so I can work on pieces when I am not hiking or just chilling out.  What happens when I am back in San Diego is bead production and working at Studio 9 in Balboa Park.  I also love to make beads so this going back and forth to the cabin is hard on bead making.  Tough life I have! LOL! 

Summer also means the Pasadena Bead and Design Show July 25th through July 28th and the San Diego Bead Society Annual Bead Bazaar August 3rd and 4th.  These are great shows for me to sell and shop!  To find out about the Pasadena show click here.  To find out about the San Diego Bead Bazaar click here. (There is a $2 off coupon for entrance to the bazaar.)

Here are some photos of new beads and jewelry.  Some mountain photos too!

 I have been having fun with red glass. This glass is transparent and a beautiful blue red.  Sorry the photo doesn't do them justice.  I made small and large focal, hollow beads and my regular small beads.  

 

 I have been missing a turquoise color in my "torch fired enamel" beads.  I use turquoise often in glass beads but the blues I use in the "torch fired enamel" beads didn't go with them.  So here I am introducing my new color.  I love it! I can't wait to use it in a design.  

Also, I am introducing some new shapes. Large and small leaves; small domed flowers; round drain disks; and a large filigree pendant. How can they be used you ask?  

I have used the large leaf as a focal in a necklace. It is so nice and light! Actually all of the "torch fired enamel" beads are very light.  They add texture and color to designs.  

The small leaf is great to add to the end of a necklace or as a dangle.  It adds a pop of color.  

I use the small flowers all the time as caps for beads.  

So far I have only made earrings with the round drain disks.  I call them drain disks cause it reminds me of a sink drain. 

I haven't had a chance to make a piece of jewelry with the filigree pendant yet. Maybe I will have something to show you at the Pasadena Bead and Design Show or at the SD Bead Bazaar. My thought it to use it as a pendant/bail and hang pieces from it. Or to use it as an element in a necklace. Also, I have formed some of the pendants over my wrist so I can use it in a bracelet. 

 Spring Blossoms

This is a good example of how I use the small leaves. Also, the wire worked elements are made with aluminum! Ask me about it!  

Mexican Days

 In this design I used the large leaf as my pendant along with copper beads by Patricia Healy.  Patricia will be at the Pasadena Bead and Design Show and the SD Bead Bazaar. She designs all of the beads and has them made in Mexico. 

Cathedral Earrings

Another new shape! It felt like I was forgetting something when I took the photo of the new shapes and color.  This was my accident shape that I discovered when I ran over a bead with my car!  Now I my grand kids make them for me. They love hammering!   Of course you can use them for other things than just earrings like for an element in a necklace. For some reason I always think of earrings first!  

I have many more examples of how my beads can be used. Come to one of the shows and I will give you all of the details. You can also see the samples at my retail studio, Studio 9, Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park. Directions and location is listed at the link at the top of page.  

If you have any questions about my beads or how I have used them, don't hesitate to ask. I am willing to share!  

Thanks for stopping! Hope to see you soon! 

Jan

Lake George and Lake Mary on trail to Crystal Lake Mammoth Lakes, CA

END OF SEASON

Took the boat out of the lake, closed up the cabin, and took one last walk before heading home.  So many fun and relaxing days this year at the cabin. The longest season for us so far and the warmest!  

We need snow. I am not a winter or snow person. Did that, done that. The lakes are down and the trees are showing stress. The town depends on tourists who come for snow. 

Here is hoping it will be a good winter season! (And hopefully not too much snow so we can get in the cabin in June!) 

Lake George, Mammoth Lakes, CA - September 2012

 

 

Closed the Computer

Well, I finally closed my laptop and took the dogs and I for a walk.  It was another beautiful day here in Mammoth Lakes, CA. I just kept checking one more thing and before I knew it, it was noon!  I had changed out of my pj's and cleaned up a bit however.  My grand kids are here with us but right now they are in love with our  neighbors who have two boys, 8 and 4.  I think they like their parents too!  They built a Tepee today. So no wonder they didn't want to go on a walk with me and the dogs! 

Nefret and the Tepee

We did go to Panum Crater yesterday. This area has lots of craters to explore. We were on the hunt for more obsidian.  We found huge rocks of it.  Unfortunately, there was a sign that said no collecting. I didn't actually see it so when the girls showed me what they collected I didn't know they were breaking a rule.  But the rocks are happy now in our obsidian garden at the cabin. 

Mono Lake from Panum Crater.

Grandma and Nefret

Cool Juniper on a large obsidian rock.

Nefret and Juni (Nefret has on a jean vest we got for $4 at the local thrift store)

Piece of Obsidian

Tomorrow we drive back to San Diego.  I have more beads to make for the bead bazaar coming up Aug. 4th and 5th.  For more info on the bead bazaar click here. 

I made some fun earrings and a couple of necklaces this week. I will post some photos later this week. I am excited to show them to you so I hope you can make it to the San Diego Bead Society Annual Bead Bazaar.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks for stopping!  Jan

Summer News

Well, it has happened again. I had intentions of updating my website once a week and before I know it, a month has gone by! Summer is a busy time for me as we spend a lot of time at our cabin in the Eastern Sierras.  In between I am working at Studio 9 at Spanish Village, making beads and jewelry and taking classes.  This may be a long post so I hope you won't be too bored. You can just scroll through to see the photos! LOL! Here goes.....

My Granddaughter, Juniper, had her "promotion to 6th grade". Interesting how schools now have all sorts of awards and make big productions going from elementary to middle school.  But isn't Juni cute?  It looks like she is crossing her eyes!!! LOL! I will have to ask her about that.

I have been having a wonderful time going on hikes this year. Since I had my hip replaced in January I can now walk, climb, and do more walking. It is fabulous! One of the  lakes in Mammoth, Horseshoe Lake, is like a dog beach. My dogs, Aggie and Lilly, and I try to go there often so they can run and I can get some exercise too. Here are some photos of the lake and us walking around it. The lake is down this year due to below normal snow fall.

This was my first time in Mammoth Lakes, CA for the 4th of July. We sat on the edge of the street and watched the parade.  Lots of horses which are my favorites.  Afterwards, there was a concert in the park and an art festival.  The weather was wonderful, in the 70's, my favorite temp. 

I mentioned in an earlier post that I would be taking a class with Diana Frey, a mixed media artist. This class was my introduction into this type of jewelry and I have fallen in love! The class was held at her studio in San Luis Obispo.  SLO for short. I fell in love with SLO. Very laid back and just beautiful. The downtown has all sorts of restaurants, bars and cool stores. I could have spent three days just exploring the downtown.  Here are some photos of the class, her studio and the class projects.  

BRIAR ROSE

From left to right: Jan Petek, Diana Salvucci-Smith, Julie Strohlman, Charlene Gray

From left to right: Jody Cottrell, Vickie Orlando, Sandy Navarro, Cecelia Alvarado, Terry San Filippo, Brigitte Willse

I am in the center back. Diana Frey is in the middle in the back top a long necklace.

Class sample - Bird in Hand

No I haven't finished mine yet! 

As you can see from the projects, we used vintage jewelry pieces along with some doll parts and a soldering iron. All new to me! 

Here is photo from the class I took with Diane Cook in Coronado, CA.  The workshop was put on by Vivi Magoo with Barb Solem.  Check them out! Barb does wonderful workshops! I actually finished the projects in class but don't have any photos of them, sigh...... I tried to take photos with my phone today but they are just not good enough. ( My photo area is piled with enamels right now!) If you go to Diane's website you will see the two projects, "Heart Strings" and "Window to my Heart" along with projects she will be teaching in new workshops. Diane also does mixed media art and I just love it!   Totally different from the jewelry I usually make. I have been looking for awhile for alternatives to sterling silver as the price of sterling has gone so high. I don't want to raise my prices but I also don't want to risk quality. The mixed media art may give me what I am looking for.  I am hoping to hone my skills and include my beads in some pieces. As I get more into it you will be hearing and seeing more! 

In the meantime, I am still working on glass beads, sterling silver jewelry AND torch fired enamel beads.  I am in also love with making the torch fired beads and using them to make fun and whimsical pieces with my glass beads. You may have seen some of the earrings at the last Art Glass Guild Patio Show or on my Etsy site.  Here are a couple of photos. 

In two weeks is the San Diego Bead Society's Annual Bead Bazaar. Aug. 4th & 5th.

San Diego Bead Society Bead Bazaar

Saturday and Sunday Aug. 4th & 5th, 2012

10am to 6mp Saturday

10am to 5pm Sunday

Scottish Rite Center

Mission Valley, San Diego, CA

 Here is a sample of what I will have at the bazaar this year. I am excited to show you all the torch fired enamel beads and how they can be used. Stop by, it is always fun to catch up! 

If you have any questions on anything you see here, just let me know.  Thanks for stopping by!

Jan