Therapy Thursday

From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere.

Dr. Seuss

Need a pick-me-up today? Try reading a book. If you have kids, read one with them. There are so many fun and funny kids' books, and they can serve as a mini escape from your day-to-day life. One of our favorites is this silly book we were handed down from a relative. I have no idea where they got it. It's called "All About Scabs." That's right, scabs. Not only does it discuss how kids get scabs, it also goes into what a scab is made of and how it heals. But the best part is where the cartoon kids talk about picking their scabs and what they think scabs are made of - paper? poop? One kid wonders if he could eat a scab. Mmmmm. It's funny read, written by Genichiro Yagyu.

Wordless Wednessday

Fire Diva of the Month - ME!

Pineapple Orange Swirl I Scream

That's right - I'm Fire Diva of the Month for the month of February! I was very excited to be chosen for this feature - the first Diva featured was Janel of JanelDudleyBeads, and I really enjoyed reading about her. Here are links to my interviews - it's a fast read, with lots of pictures.

Part 1 - Intro.

Part 2 - 10 Things Glass

Part 3 - The Lighter Side/Silly Questions

Part 4 - Conclusion

And I want to give a big THANK YOU to Holly, of HollysFollyGlass, who organized and wrote the four-part series. As an administrator, Holly puts a ton of work into the Fire Divas, and we all appreciate her so much. Thank you, Holly!

And now, for your viewing pleasure, some of my favorites from Holly's Etsy shop (including the ice cream cone above):

Robin Eggs Blue Brown (these are a big hit this time of year - order yours from Holly now!)

Sasha Off Mandrel Heart - I own one of Holly's off-mandrel hearts, and it is gorgeous!

My Envious Heart - made with aventurine sparkly glass. I'm envious!

Murrini Monday

Happy Murrini Monday!

It's all turtles all the time! The first two are Spring colors with pretty pink and purple murrini. The last two feature primary colors and my new Jewels murrini from loriandkim.

Twinkle the turtle (sold)

Spring turtle (to be listed soon)

Todd the Turtle

Patches the turtle (to be listed soon)

And now for some guest murrini! This set is called Ecstatic, and it's from a new member of the Fire Divas, PrimaDonnaBeads. Imagine the possibilities for these beads!

And guess what? Donna makes her very own murrini! These are called Kronos Pops, and there's an example of how they look on a bead in the listing. Check it out!

I Heart Cats

That's our black kitten, Bert, suckling on our orange and white kitten, Ernie. Bert is suckling Ernie's paw. I'm starting to understand why Bert is so skinny.

Beware of the kitty under the rug. Danger.

Here's Bert giving Ernie a love bite. It looks like suckling, but this time they were playing.

Ernie is trying to make friends with our older cat, Buzz. Buzz looks annoyed.

Oh look! Cat beads! I guess I was inspired.

Therapy Thursday ~ secret ingredient

If you came here earlier for some therapy (sorry, Rachel!), sorry for the delay. I've been sick with a lousy cold for the past few days, so I haven't been on the tightest schedule. I also haven't felt like cooking. I've still felt like eating, however, but that's a different story. Needless to say, we've had leftover meatloaf and frozen pizza for the last four nights. Today I woke up feeling better, so I'm going to make dinner - and it won't come from a package or tupperware in the fridge. It will be an easy recipe, though, and I thought I'd share.

A couple years ago I took a cooking class at a Chicago restaurant called Red Light. Chef Jackie Shen was amazing, and she shared some Asian cooking secrets and shortcuts. One was her favorite sweet chili sauce by Mae Ploy. You can find it in the Asian section of your grocery store, and it is delicious! It's sweet, with a nice kick in the pants finish.

So here's what we're having for dinner:

Shrimp 87 (I believe this recipe is for one or two people - I make more)

4-6 U-12 shrimp (I don't remember exactly what U-12 shrimp are - I just buy medium, tail on)

3/4 cup sweet chili sauce (Mae Ploy)

1 medium tomato diced

1 stalk green scallion, sliced

1 orange segment (I use mandarin oranges)

Poach shrimp in water to translucent chilled down with ice. Drain.

Reduce chili sauce to 1/2 cup.

Add to sauce: shrimp, tomato, scallion and orange segment and toss evenly.

I serve it with brown rice. I also make this with chicken. I imagine you could put this yummy sauce on a dirty sock and it would taste delicious. And my son just said how good the house smells.

secret ingredient ~ Mae Ploy Sweet Chilli Sauce

shrimp close-up

One World One Heart ~ Winner!

Ibis the fish will likely keep one eye fixed on Abner, who is flying on his magic carpet to Lea's, of LAJewelryDesign.

I've been sick, so I'm a couple days late announcing my One World One Heart Winner. I used the random number generator and it picked #173. So with 208 comments, I counted backwards (who wants to count up to 173???). And boy was I surprised! The winner is a lampwork friend of mine, Lea of LAJewelryDesigns - what are the chances of that? Um, 1 in 208? Lea is one of the administrators on the Fire Divas Team, our new Etsy team that started on Facebook. I'm thrilled that my little alien bead will be headed east to NY and can watch Lea at the torch. Maybe he can send me back some pointers. :)

Abner will feel right at home with these shiny orbs from Lea's shop that are out of this world!

Lea also has a shop on ArtFire, and her Boro Glass Bead Skeleton Key can be found there.

Lea's items are marked down 20% until the end of today. Search Fire Divas Sale for more fabulous sale items from my teammates!

Murrini Monday

Happy Murrini Monday!

Murrini placement is critical when it comes to turtle butts.

Whoooo likes owl eye murrini? Me!

Four tiny turtles. Four different murrinis.

Valentine's Day may be over, but it's never too late to love a big hole bead decorated with heart-shaped murrini! My friend Lara, from the shop Lutrick, made this lovely Love bead. Guess what? It's on SALE through Feb. 17!

This Ice Ice Blue Focal Bead from DorsetHillBeads ships Free through Feb. 17.

And this large and lovely focal called Through the Woods is on sale through Feb. 17 in teasebeads' shop.

For more fabulous lampwork beads, with and without murrini, search Fire Divas Team on Etsy. And search Fire Divas Sale for my teammates participating in our SALE!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Looky what I got! My husband ordered this blue kitty cat bead from my friend, DorsetHillBeads, and had it wire-wrapped into a pendant for me. I LOVE it! It's perfect - I love blue animals. I'm going to go find a chain or ribbon for it right now.

There are more cute kitty cats at DorsetHillBeads - check 'em out!

Happy Valentine's Day heart-shaped pancake

Weekend Deals

Whoooo said something about marking me down? Darla's a little peeved to be on the sale rack.

I decided to extend my Deal of the Day to the third power. Instead of just one bead marked down, I'll have three ~ look for them in my featured section in my Etsy shop. And there's still FREE SHIPPING through Feb. 17. Don't forget to search Fire Divas Sale for my teammates' bead sales! Have a great weekend!

Vinnie the Alien with creepy clown lips.

Deal of the Day ~ Fire Divas Team SALE

As you may know, I'm offering FREE shipping on everything in my Etsy shop through Feb. 17. But that's not all! I'll also feature a Deal of the Day ~ one listing at a special low price. I'll post the deal in the center square of my featured items. Today's Deal is Sherry the Sheep in a Party Hat. Sherry has been hanging around my bead box for a while now, waiting for the party to start. At this point, she'd settle for a game of pin the tail on the donkey and a piece of cake, but she'd much rather join the party at your house.

I'm not the only lampworker having a sale in my shop this week ~ search Fire Divas Sale for my Fire Divas teammates' shops to see what they've got on sale, too! Happy Shopping!

Fire Divas Team Introductory SALE? When Pigs Fly

The Fire Divas are having a sale to celebrate our new team status on Etsy. Individual team members will be offering a variety of discounts or free shipping from their shops. Search "Fire Divas Sale" to find items on sale in participating shops from February 11- 17. After the sale, we hope you will continue to search "Fire Divas Team" for quality lampwork beads, jewelry and accessories.

Let's go shopping!

1. LA Jewelry Designs - 20% off all items in Etsy and ArtFire
2. Lutrick - 20% off all items in Etsy and ArtFire
3. Hollys Folly Glass - 20% all items in my Etsy shop
4. Tease Beads - 15% off all lampwork in my Etsy and artfire shops (artfire shop discount will be given as a refund)
5. Janel Dudley Beads - 15% off all items on Etsy, additional 10% off to returning customers
6. Something New 4 U - 20% off all items in my Etsy shop
7. Rivers Edge Glass - 15% off beads in my Etsy and ArtFire shops
8. Vedas Beads - 15% off in my Etsy shop (excluding squares)
9. MayBeads - Free Shipping on everything in my Etsy shop
10. Giapet - 20% off loose beads in my Etsy shop (jewelry,supplies not incl.)
11. Glasstastic Treasures - 15% off all items in my Etsy shop
12. Ema Kaye - 15% off all items in my Etsy shop
13. Dorset Hill Beads - Free shipping on everything in my Etsy shop

I'll also be offering a Bead Deal of the Day ~ so check the center square of my featured items every day during the sale for a bead or set that's been marked way way down.

Warning: Sale Ahead

That's right - there's a sale just up the road. This is your one and only warning, because it will be here before you know it. The Fire Divas Team, now an official Etsy team (thank you very much), is celebrating its new status with a SALE! Search "Fire Divas Sale" on Etsy and ArtFire for shops that are participating. I will be offering FREE shipping on all orders. Plus, I'll run a Special of the Day each day of the sale - look for it in my featured items on the first page of my shop. The sale will run from Feb. 11 to Feb. 17, and I'll be adding new beads throughout. I know my teammates are stocking up as well. Here's a sneak peek of some beads that will be listed in the coming days:

Look out for the gang of owls

Adding more pandora critters

It's not a party without a wiener dog

Wine Glass Charms ~ Do you use them?

I think wine glass charms are such a charming idea. It sure beats serving wine in plastic cups and putting your name on yours with a black Sharpie. But do you really use them? I had this farm animal set in my shop for well over a year, and although they seemed to be well-liked, there were no takers. Of course, that could be because the theme is farm animals.

I'm planning on making a set of wine glass charms for a raffle at my in-laws' Lion's Club ~ they'll most likely be included in a basket with a bottle of wine and some crackers. The crowd is mostly 60 years old and up. Any suggestions for what I should make? Critters? "Regular" beads? Thanks for your help!

Murrini Monday

Disclaimer - I did not make the first two bead pictured below! As much as I wish I had, I didn't. A lampwork friend pointed them out to me and I had to share. They are the work of michoudesign on Etsy. Aren't they amazing??? She makes her own hand-pulled murrini, and incorporates it into her beautifully detailed and brightly colored beads.

Walking on Sunshine - this is a two-sided bead! A bird on each side!!! I'd be walking on sunshine if I could just touch this bead. I think the murrini eye is the star, but the artist points out her other "good mood" ingredients include enamels, silver, ivory stringer, detailed stringer work (no kidding!), bubble dots, smaller raised dots and shiny gold stone. Whew! Absolutely amazing!

I couldn't stop at just one ~ this is Lilac Gold Fish. Another murrini eye and more to decorate the fish body. I love it!

Obviously, the last three are mine.

Meet Gottlieb the Owl.

Bradford the Owl.

Rachel the Turtle.

All of the murrini I've used has come from loriandkim.

Happy Murrini Monday!

Banner Headline ~ Getting to Know Kelly Schwark

Have you seen my latest Etsy banner? I love it! And not just because it's designed with Valentine's Day in mind. Over the past year I've had several banners and avatars designed by the talented and humorous Kelly Schwark, of Kelly Schwark Designs. She is so creative, and I wanted to show her off and also get to know her better. So let's get to it.

How did you find your craft, or did it find you?

I was born an artist. Some of my very first memories are of drawing on the walls with crayon, sketching out stories of my musing family, painting ornaments, creating sculptures with little treasures found in nature, snapping pictures with my very first Fisher Price camera- so many memories of “creating!”

When are you most productive?

I used to be one of those people that would have a burst of artistic energy while everyone else was fast asleep. The quiet of the night was a perfect to collect my thoughts and arrange them in a visual way!

These days, my creativity is at the mercy of my two and a half year old. I steal away moments to work when she naps or is engrossed in her own imaginative play with her little animal figures, baby dolls or kitchen set! But my eyes are always searching, studying, and examining textures, colors, patterns and compositions. There is so much around every corner to just take in and let inspire you if you let it!

Most proud of:

I am most proud of my little family. My husband and I will celebrate our ninth wedding anniversary this summer. During our marriage we had moved away from the place where we both grew up, saw the city and country that we loved so much suffer an unimaginable attack, said goodbye to one another as we faced a year long deployment, grew together as we were half a world a part, adjusted to life after being reunited, suffered change and loss, birth and death, certainty and uncertainty. Looking back at it all now, I can say that I am so very proud of the family that we have created for our daughter.

Where can you find me online:

www.KellySchwarkDesigns.etsy.com

www.KellySchwark.com

www.KellySchwark.etsy.com

www.KellySchwark.blogspot.com

and now for some fun . . .

Chocolate or Vanilla?

Vanilla. No... chocolate... no, make that vanilla. Yes please; I’ll take both.

Laundry hamper: full or empty?

Full until the closet and drawers are empty! (Never enough time!)

What did you have for dinner last night?

I made us Ruben sandwiches! (They were delicious!)

Bed: made or unmade?

Made.

What’s on your nightstand?

Black and white photo that I took of my daughter and my husband hugging. (One of my favorites!)

Last book you read:

The Last Lecture.

Salad dressing: on the side or mixed in?

Side

Ever eat Playdoh?

Nope. I’d rather have a piece of chocolate.

How do you like your eggs?

Eggs Benedict.

Ever have a perm?

Do I really need to answer this one... yes....

Three favorite condiments?

Flavored Olive Oil

Mayo

Blue Cheese dressing- just a little!

Deep dish or thin crust?

I was born and raised a New Yorker- so thin crust!

What’s on your living room wall?

Black and white family photos!

Least favorite smell?

Cigarettes. Instant migraine

Can you play an instrument?

I played the Violin for eight years.

Pets' names:

Tina, but she’s often called kitty.

Ever try their (your pets') food?

No, but she often attempts to try ours!

Ever broken a bone?

Does a tooth count? If so, then yes.

Do you like guacamole?

YES!

BUILD A BANNER with Kelly Schwark Custom Banner and Avatar set Designed with Color Scheme and Illustrations of your Choosing

Girls Just Want to Have Fun Ready Made Banner and Avatar Set for your Shop

SET ME UP Banner Set with your own Images on a Custom Designed Set by Kelly Schwark Designs

Sock Monkey LOVE Valentines Photocard Personalized and Designed by Kelly Schwark Designs

And check out more of Kelly's work over at my friend Ankle Biter Beads' Etsy shop!