River of Glass Studio

Where Did I Go?

Barbara — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:06:35 GMT

Alright so no one has really had time to find me but I am still around. I am waiting for the new website to be finished which means the blog will disappear but I'll be able to write on the site instead.

Where have I been? Well, mostly on Myspace writing poetry and short stories but I am still making beautiful flowers and have finished half of the sets that are going to the Gathering with me. I think after buying the airline tickets to Oakland that I might need to make more and hawk them to get back.

I also went to the Bead & Button last weekend and have the best time in my life. The travel was great, the show was great, the people were fantastic and I didn't get arrested....that's an accomplishment. The Out of the Box Exhibit was on display and it was great to actually see all the boxes - woot....talk about great work. My favorite was Wayne Robbins. This man is just incredible. I also got to increase my Andrew Brown collection but his new work just rocks.

Put a new counter/sink in the cottage, new small under the counter refrigerator and the roof is still leaking but I guess like can't always be great. The last of the windows are going in up stairs.

Well...that's about all that is new except my sculpture piece is ready to be submitted.

Barb

Update on Website

Barbara — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:42:42 GMT

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

The Tide and Me Will Be Changing

Barbara — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:26:46 GMT

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.

Life is Too Busy!

Barbara — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 21:02:14 GMT

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.

Out of the Box Pictures

Barbara — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 07:48:12 GMT

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...

ISGB Out of the Box Exhibit

Barbara — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 11:01:08 GMT

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

Little Things

Barbara — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:42:15 GMT

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

Tree is Down!

Barbara — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:32:16 GMT

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!

Tree Coming Down

Barbara — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 14:27:36 GMT

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

The Flute and Me

Barbara — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:57:49 GMT

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

Meditation Bottles

Barbara — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 07:48:03 GMT

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

2008 Will Rock the House

Barbara — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:34:43 GMT

Happy New Year to everyone!

This is going to be an absolutely beautiful year of friendships and passion. I have to spend the first part of the year cleaning out and sorting a lot of things, the second part will be traveling and bonding with old friends and family, then will come my inspiration for the things I love the most, followed by learning and growing and at the very end of the year passion will be given back to me in a way no one expects.

Most people don't realize that for the last six months I have been writing a story that is strictly a romantic gothic tale. I have always been an advid reader and romantic. In this story I created a piece of jewelry which is an engraved silver heart with a red stone in the center. About two weeks ago I went on line searching for this heart and finally found it on Ebay. I bid and won it. It is a small antique silver heart with a red stone set in the center and the edge is engraved. This is symbolic of my passion, of my love for life, of the feeling I get from writing and from my music. The heart in my story is about my passion and the heart around my neck is a reminder every day that I will do nothing unless I do it with all of my heart.

So, if you need inspiration find something that reminds you to always enjoy the things you must do and passionately follow your dreams - they are so worth the effort!

Bad Tree and Iguanas!

Barbara — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 21:29:24 GMT

We are pressure cleaning the patio and two Iguanas obviously got aggrevated with us.

I played with them for a few minutes then the little one ran up the tree and when I went to find her I realized the oak has a large crack up the side. This means the tree is about to give up the ghost and probably eat the house when it comes down. I will be spending tomorrow on the phone getting estimates to take out the tree. I'm really upset about this because it's my favorite oak. It was originally damaged during Hurricane Andrew and has just continued to decline.

I have been busy trying to put together my entry for the ISGB juried show which is due in two weeks. Sometimes I just cut things too close. Well, I have two more days off then back to the regular job but to be honest I could stay home forever. This week has been so great. The kids were down for a few days and CJ loved the artwork on my fridge which is the Ipod Girl from Sports Illustrated!

Barb

BEADED JEWELRY

Barbara — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:21:28 GMT

This book will be released on Amazon and in bookstores after the holidays. This is a book of many good artists on how to make jewelry using a lot of mediums. Very good illustrations and directions.

One of my favorite jewelry artists, Sandra Webster of Austin, Texas, has featured my flowers in her piece Tropical Garden Necklace, pages 169 -175.

Well, the holidays are definitely at the door and I am still trying to figure out who stole 2007. I just returned from a few days in North Carolina where I met up with two beautiful artists [and their husbands] for lunch. I think I need to live in the mountains surrounded by nothing but artists who are filled with passion for just breathing the air.

I hope everyone has a beautiful Christmas and remember what Dennis Miller says: "Santa is very jolly because he knows where all th bad girls live." And if nothing else go out and buy yourself something small and frivilous!

Happy Holidays

Barbara — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:38:48 GMT

A great friend gave me this link for Christmas so I want to share it with everyone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fehkF0XJ-_w

Anyone who has been to MySpace website will understand this like perfectly. Hope everyone is looking forward to the holidays.

Barb

In Memory of Jonathan

Barbara — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 21:36:15 GMT

There's no heartbreak as painful as parents who lose a child....what do you say to your heart.

In memory of Jonathan - the first child and oldest son of one of the sweetest people I know.

Vonna may you be surrounded with love, family and friends.

Jon
~ December 26, 1986 ~ November 30, 2007~

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

Through many dangers, toils and snares...
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...
and Grace will lead us home.

My son, my fighter, my baby, he is home, he is at peace ~ he is not troubled anymore ~ It isn't fair. His journey here on earth is over, he passed in his sleep with no pain. Don't cry for me, I am doing that enough myself, just find peace for yourselves, know that my son couldn't help himself, that is why "God" took over to ease his pain. His spirit and soul will always be with me ~

Vonna [as posted on TAM]

Pre-Thanksgiving Stuff!

Barbara — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 10:34:13 GMT

Thanksgiving dinner was great even though anything that I don't cook is great to me! It's raining this morning - the world gets cooler dry weather and we get rain! My Ipod is updating itself with all my CDs so I have the Bose system cranked up to keep me happy with the Eagles.

I also bought a pistol case this week - perfect size and construction for carrying my flowers to the next Gathering. I need to get on the torch but have determined that if I don't do it at night I'm not as happy with my work. I think this is trained behavioral patterns or something. For a total morning person I am getting to where I do most things better between 7:00 and midnight.

Nothing exciting from my kiln this week but I hope everyone is having a great weekend. I will be spending it trying to learn MySpace and the new Bamboo pad that I just had to have because for no reason at all!

Barb

Absolutely Crazy

Barbara — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 22:40:45 GMT

As if I don't have enough to do in life I have created a MySpace page - I haven't figured out why and trying to learn how to do it is not easy.

http://www.myspace.com/thecluelessvisitor

It may be months of playing before I decide whether or not I need the extra work but what else can you do in life by try to learn something new. Right now I am completely in love with the Eagles Long Road Out of Eden - OMG this is absolutely the greatest CD to come out in a long time!!

So, I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving - I will be traveling but thinking how wonderful it is to know all of you!

Barb

The Holidays

Barbara — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 08:01:55 GMT

Who took the year and why are the holidays already here?

Unprepared, procrastinating and just enjoying moving through life seems to be my favorite thing right now. I have been working on poinsettias to get in the mood.

Other then that I have done nothing exciting except bury myself in David and Steven Gordon instrumental music. Amazing artists. I also received Chris Isaak's Christmas CD but I don't know if this one will go on my Ipod or if I'll just save it for the holiday times.

Well, have a great weekend - we're experiencing our first cold snap!!

Barb

Glass Bead Workshop

Barbara — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 07:24:09 GMT

One of my pieces,Key's Hibiscus, has been considered for inclusion in the upcoming Lark Book publication by Jeri Warhaftig, Glass Bead Workshop.

I received a letter today that they have accepted the Key's Hibiscus images for use in the book. This is prelimiary in that when the layout is done it's possible that images will have to be cut. I'm hoping that mine does make the book. This is the first piece I have had professionally photographed because it required raw photos and the work by Jerry Arnold was equisite. So with fingers crossed, I will make the final cut but I'll have to wait until the Spring!

I almost have Leisha's hibiscus finished and have been making poinsettas but today's photos are using a new enamel color.

Hope everyone has a great day!! Barb