Fun at the Zoo...

with Miss Kelley last weekend! No beads, just critters... so if you're looking for beady goodness come on back on Sunday for the Beads of Clay Open House (and a giveaway)! Of course if you're looking for a really good version of most of these pictures you should go to her blog!

Seriously...have you NO modesty at all? We thought that he was completed knocked out but when I loaded the photo at home I discovered that he was quite blatantly flashing us the goods...
I find it so amazing that flamingos can be this color...I think I need a glaze this shade...
Have you ever seen such a relaxed rodent? This Capybara was completely zen!

Loving the lime of this prickly plant bloom... A chase in action...
One little sentinel keeping watch...
The proudest of peacocks (shaking and shimmying his tail feathers at the girls!)...
Quite the noble camel who looked like he was wearing furry Uggs!
I couldn't believe how large this Secretary Bird was...
Of course, can't forget about the furry bears... eucalyptus and bamboo on the menu!


Anyone still here or did I lose you with the lack of beads? You could humor me with a comment so I know you'll be back on Sunday for the open house : )

The Little Things...

that can make my day... On Monday morning driving in the rain I was able to take this (totally legal and not dangerous at all) picture from my phone to catch a stunning double rainbow. I was actually worried I was going to end up in a car crunch because I was so distracted staring out my side window! Not only did this stunning rainbow turn out to be fully visible as a complete arch at one point, even more astounding was a first for me...the end of the rainbow was not only visible, it ended at the side of the freeway! Alas...no pot of gold on this one... but I don't need it, I have these yummy beads from Kelley instead! She hooked me up when she was here last weekend... Not sure how long I'll hold on to this pretty little egg and trio of headpins before I put them to work! Now, on to the last kiln load now up on the website... I managed to sneak in a couple more stoneware pendants with my newest glaze...Plus a pair of little bumpy bead caps... and some new drippy branch pendants...Next post, a super delicious recipe for a snack that's just too easy (and good for you...unlike the leftover Halloween M&Ms cookies I baked up tonight!) to pass up! So what have you done with all your leftover candy?

The Good News...

Kelley is definitely NOT an axe murderer! I found it more than a little amusing that she hopped in my car and immediately called Todd to let him know that I'm not either! Of course once hubster discovered that Kelley has the exact camera he's been coveting, it wouldn't have mattered if she was an axe murderer, she automatically became the coolest person I could have brought home!

What a fun weekend it was... We went from the airport to drop Kelley's bag at the hotel (and so I could check the closet for her to make sure no one was lurking...it's what I do...) then straight to La Jolla to get her to the ocean!

The toes...well, for Kelley, the clogs went in the sand...We saw the seals and I calculated how close I needed to stand to grab Kelley's backpack if she started to go over the edge! We saw tidepool critters like this anemone (my current inspiration to create a version in clay!) and I got a peek at an octopus tucked down in a rock crevice...which wasn't going to become inspiration unless someone wants an octopus pendant? We heard waves crash and saw what happens to kelp at low tide... And Kelley was ever so obliging at posing for pictures (much more than I was)! My plan for going to the ultra kitschy Lucha Libre Taco Shop was thwarted by too much publicity last week but we still managed to find some yummalicious Mexican food...and dessert for brunch after our Walk for the Cure. Kelley gave the most lovely pink ribbon lampwork worry stone to a survivor at the walk... A pair of chai lattes then ricotta berry lemon cake for me and a mountain of toasted coconut for Kelley... You'll have to stay tuned for pictures of the pretties she left with me.

Safe travels home Kelley... Hope you make it out this way again soon!
So now the question is, who's next? If you made it out this way what would YOU want to go do?

A Little Fun...

planned for this weekend! If you follow Kelley's blog you know she's on her way to sunny San Diego for a visit (well, it's been sunny this week...they say we're might have drizzle on the weekend...boo hiss!).

It seems like almost all of my beady buddies are waaaay to the East, so I was just thrilled when Kelley told me a while ago that she would be coming to my neck of the woods to visit a friend who was about to have a baby. I didn't hold out too much hope that we'd get a good chunk of hang out time but then she emailed to say she'd be here and free for almost the whole weekend! If there's one thing I love love love, it's playing tour guide. Especially for someone who is interested in beady and artistic things! Now, since she's put it out in the world I know I have to stick to my promises... (even though she didn't find a way to pack Little Horse for me) I've promised:

her toes will touch sand (although it might be super chilly)

her ears will listen to the Pacific (and it will most certainly be wonderful)

her eyes will see sea lions (and her nose will smell them!)

her feet will walk for a cure (and she'll get to go out for brunch after...and maybe even sit in my mack daddy massage chair later)

she will eat good (make that totally freakin' amazing) Mexican food (in a super awesome kitschy setting)

she WILL NOT end up at Taco Bell if "restaurant A" falls through due to recent publicity (dang that Man vs Food episode re-airing yesterday)

she will get her fill of Balboa Park and the Artists' Village (somehow in the 10+ yrs in SD I haven't made it to the Village...pretty sad)

she will meet pupper Nana (but she must keep her mouth shut about the state of my "studio" space...I'm not kidding about this...there might be a waiver/confidentiality agreement signed...she'll even get to meet hubster)

I think there will be a couple of good fun outing surprises along the way too but I'm not going to put a spoiler out there! Despite the fact that I feel like I'm going through a particularly non-photogenic phase, I promise that we will have lots of photos of our funness to share!

Now on the topic of our walking for the cure...for the second year in a row I'm walking with the Babes for Boobs team in the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure. I've done an abysmal job of fundraising this year so I'm going to totally copy Kelley's approach and after you've headed over to her for your lampwork if you want some ceramic goodies too you can get 10% of the amount you donate via my fundraising page off your next order with me! Just make the donation online with your name identified and send me an email with the amount...I'll send you a code to use on my website for your donation discount!

Okey Dokey, some new pics to share from the kiln load this week... Tell me you love this glaze (because I totally dig it!). Some more of my new Branches series... A set of beads in that same yummy delish glaze as the first pendant... A single bead cap with the itty bitty beading detail...only one because I busted everything else that matched it :( A pair of bumpy bead caps, kind of urchiney aren't they? Last but not least, a pendant and matching beads in my new Turtle Green glaze... Stop back on by later this weekend for fun touristy pics!
So what do YOU have planned for this weekend?