Just an update to let everyone know that the website is being redesigned and hopefully will be changed sometime before June.  It will be a straight shopping site taking out any references to the studio or classes since we are no longer giving them.  The blog will disappear but I will update a page on the website regularly with new information and photos.  Most of my work will remain on my vanity site and all of my blogging and writing will be on Myspace.  I think the new site will be a lot easier to use, better layout and hopefully well liked.

Barb

Before the beginning of summer the look of the River of Glass will change formats. 

It will be cleaner, easier and slicker then it is now.  We haven't decided on a final format but I think it's time to change. 

My vanity site www.barbarasvetlick.com will be connected like it is now and I'll continue to post my work on that site. 

The store will stay up and be the main focus of River of Glass.

So if you log on some day and it looks different don't panic - I haven't been hijacked.

Sorry that I haven't been on the blog in a while.  I have been so busy that I can't even think straight anymore.  Nothing really new in the bead area - just more flowers in different colors.

This is my grandson in the cockpit of a space shutter at Space Camp in Alabama! 



We have been working on the cottage.  Installed a new little refridgerator under the cabinet and the big one needs to be taken out as soon as we get the muscle to do it.  There's still a mysterious leak in kitchen and obviously I will need to find a roofer with a tar bucket since it's a flat roof.  I'm waiting for a carpenter to get to me since the bathroom floor needs to be completely replaced before I can get the plumber in there. 

We're headed to Washington DC for a few days during the Cherry Blossom season so I shall have camera in hand as I play ultimate tourist!  I love going home and have a lot of visits planned while I am there.  Next will be my trip to LA to see my sister - that will be a four dayer but I love hitting the ground running and being back on the plane before anyone gets tired of me.  Then we have Oakland for the Gathering and with luck after that Napa Valley for a four day weekend hot air ballooning - this trip is in the hands of the men so there's only a 10% chance that it will reach fruition - can you tell I have  alot of faith in their abilities??

I wanted to plan a trip on the Train through Western Canada but I don't think I can squeeze it in so next summer I shall be doing that and maybe even take the astronaut with me - that will be a totally cool trip through the wilderness.  I also want to go on the Buffalo roundup in North Dakota - and maybe an Indian Powwow if I can squeeze that one in.  Too much I want to do.....and I have gone back to drawing again...and painting.

I am finishing up the touches on The Visitor since it has to go into the mail this weekend.  The thought of this being in the hands on uncaring postal workers is worst then nails down the blackboard............the size is 6 inches cubed...

I have been chosen for the ISGB Out of the Box Exhibit which will be shown around the country in 2008.

Saturday I get to spend some time with the ISGB Gathering Team and Pam in Miami.  They will be getting things rolling for the local volunteers in 2009. 

I have been working on hearts this week and have discovered that I just can't make a plain heart. 

The Eagles have a new Video out on their song Fabulous - very nice video too.

The Gameinformer which is the world's #1 computer and vdieo came magazine was in my mailbox today.  I ordered this for my grandson when we were buying video games last month???  I guess I need to do a change of address on it since I don't own that box thing you need to play games.

I am playing the scales on my flute...and playing them pretty well. 

Here are two sets of flowers that are going up on Ebay on Friday.





Have a great weekend.....Barb

I feel like I should write a poem about killing the tree.  I could tell as soon as I came off of the highway tonight that it was gone.  I wasn't going to plant anything in it's place but it looks so bad.





Definitely was hollow in the center.  Hopefully the boys will be back tomorrow to pick up after themselves but I'm going to call anyway because I have other things I want taken out while they are in the yard.  The smell of the fresh wood is great - someone should bottle it!

The City has inspected our tree and are issuing an Emergency Permit to take it down.  Since the tree is the one off the patio it is naturally my favorite tree. 



The squirrels are protesting since that is where I feed them.  I have to remember to go take their feeder down today. 

I put all new flowers in the store and will be working on the smaller flowers and leaves this week.

The flute - well, interesting things I take on.  I have discovered my little fingers have difficulty covering those holes but I have gotten better at playing the low note and I have to have that down perfectly before I try the scales.  Beautiful tone to it - and it's what they call the Beginners so I can only imagine how pretty the more advanced flutes must sound. 

I have abandoned entering the Out of the Box juried show for ISGB - something is interfering with my creativity so I have decided not to enter.  

It's raining out today which makes it a very blustery day in the 100 Acre Forest.  Maybe I'll go find something to add to my winnie the pooh collection.

Barb

Well my Odell Borg flute arrived yesterday and it is a fantastic piece of art. 

Flute maker Odell Borg makes each Native American style High Spirits flute from a solid piece of the finest cedar, walnut, birch and other fine domestic plantation-grown woods or recycled lumber, finished with three coats of a non-toxic hardening oil for durablity and clarity of sound. Each Native American style flute is precision-tuned so that it will blend perfectly with other instruments.

This is my adventure for 2008.  I will learn how to play the flute this year.   I've always wanted to play the piano but I think this is something I am going to enjoy a lot though my husband may make me sit in the cottage to practice.   I will let you know in June how this adventure is going.

Also, 3:10 to Yuma is out on DVD so I will be watching it again this weekend. 




I forgot to buy the stand so I have to do that this weekend. 



Barb

I have found wonderful Meditation Bottles that are made by Connie of Saorsa Studio of Beads.  So far I have the Spiritual Healing and Guidance in the Dream World but I also bought one of the petrified wood pieces.  There is something calming about wearing light cold things against your skin.  Since my stone is the green moss agate, I am going to make a special request for my own bottle since I keep losing my stones in the laundry.

The new year is great.  One of my favorite bead artists and friends is in town for a week so I'll get a lot of real bead talking. 

I also started a project to weed out my beading magazines by dropping them in waiting rooms around the city rather then throwing them away.  I don't think there is a woman who doesn't pick up a magazine while waiting for the doctor, dentist, hairdresser, etc. and Friday the hosptial I had to wait at featured 2004 Goodhousekeeping so you know they aren't throwing them away too fast.  So, if you have to thin out your bead magazines just drop them on the table of anywhere that offers magazines for people waiting.

At the moment I am trying to master the lotus style bead.  I think the trick is the right colors because the execution is easy but my final results aren't quite there.

This is a scultpure piece I am working on but it is now waiting for me to decide what is missing before I move forward.  The flowers are Japanese Cherry Blossoms.



I think it needs more air between it and the background.

Barb