Art at Work ~ Lampwork Headpins

Have you ever seen headpins like these before? They are lampwork headpins, but don't they look like pretty little balloons? My glassy friend Mallory made them, and I think they are so much fun! In fact, I own the set pictured above. I bought them a few months ago. Each one is unique, just like lampwork beads. Until recently, I've used them as props for my bead pictures. But the other day I made a small bead set that just happened to match one of the headpins perfectly. So I strung them on and added some silver findings and some crystals, and voila:

Doesn't the headpin just make the piece? I haven't finished the wire-wrapping yet, but I'm thinking I'll just finish it off and it will be a long pendant. My 7-year-old daughter saw it on my work table and was saying how pretty it looked. So I held it up to about where I'd wear it and I asked her if she thought it would look nice on me. And she says "Yes, but not with that shirt."

This headpin set is called Poker Face. There are enough for five pairs of earrings.

I love this set of Freeform Leaves headpins. It would add something completely unique to your jewelry designs.

More of Mallory's headpin can be found in her shop, rosebud101, in the HEADPINS/SUPPLIES section.

Happy National Chocolate Cake Day!

I received an urgent email this morning from my husband informing me that today is National Chocolate Cake Day. He even provided a link, so I knew he wasn't making it up. That would be something he'd do. After dinner on most nights, he's been known to say "Where's the cake?" When I make a grocery list and leave it on the counter, he'll pencil in "cake" on it. One year on his mom's birthday, when we weren't even going to see her on the actual day, he decided we needed to celebrate it anyway and he went out and got a cake and had them put Happy Birthday Grandma on it. Then we had the kiddos sing Happy Birthday to grandma and blow out the candles, all while we video-taped so we could show grandma at a later date just how much we cared.

I think you now know how important cake is in our lives. So after I checked my sources and verified that today is indeed National Chocolate Cake Day, I set out to make a cake. I have a very easy and very delicious chocolate sheet cake recipe (that I'm sure lots of other people have - it's so good!). The only ingredient that might not be on-hand is sour cream, but lucky for us I had some. Here is the recipe:

Chocolate Sheet Cake

cream together:

2 c. sugar

1/2 c. sour cream

2 eggs

add:

2 c. flour

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

melt together and add:

2 sticks butter or margarine

1 cup cold water

4 T. cocoa

Mix until smooth and pour into a greased and floured baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees, 25-30 minutes.

Icing:

1 stick butter or margarine

4 T. cocoa

6 T. milk

1 pound powdered sugar

1 t. vanilla

Melt the butter, cocoa and milk together, stirring with a whisk. Add the powdered sugar slowly until there are no lumps. Stir in vanilla. If it's too runny, add more powdered sugar. If it's too thick, add a tiny bit more milk.

Pour the icing over the hot cake and spread to the corners with a spatula. Let cool and eat!

Tuesday Training

I know I didn't have a training post last week, and that was just pure laziness on my part. But I haven't been lazy when it comes to training. I've kept my runs at around 3 miles, and even had one 4-mile run last week. I felt pretty good during and after, so I think I'm progressing at a good pace. The key has been the rest days. I did my 4-mile run after a rest day, and I don't think I could (or should) have done it after another day of running. I also started lifting weights last week. I really need to tone up all over, so strength training is a must.

My son started his training last week, too. He's more of a natural runner than I am, so he's already doing 3-mile runs. Sheesh. So far so good for him.

This week I hope to continue to progress, and I'd like to make my long run at the end of the week a 5-miler. I can do it. :)

Murrini Monday

It may not surprise you that I have a collection of turtle butt images on my Facebook page. I like to pay close attention to detail in this particular area, so it was only natural that I placed a red and pink murrini heart on this Valentine turtle's backside.

Clive the pandora owl might look familiar if you saw my Fritty Friday post. His eyes are made from murrini I selected from Lori and Kim's Outback blend.

These mini beads are both sporting Sweetheart murrini from Lori and Kim.

Today and tomorrow, use coupon code BRRR2011 at checkout in my Etsy shop, and receive 15% OFF your entire order!

Happy Murrini Monday!

Fritty Friday

A new feature - Fritty Fridays! This won't be as regular as Murrini Mondays, but I do plan on having fun with frit every once in a while here - so look for it on Fridays.

I been using frit more and more on my beads. Frit is crushed or broken glass that you can apply to your beads for color and design. You can make your own by super heating your glass and then plunging it into cold water, causing it to break into pieces. Or you can can buy. I like option 2. Lately I like buying frit a lot.

The frit I used for this turtle is from Lori and Kim, my murrini dealers. That's right, if you didn't already know, they've expanded into the frit industry. This blend (this is why I love to buy frit - the artists who make it create the coolest blends!) is called Sweetheart, and Lori and Kim made it to match their Sweetheart murrini. For this turtle, I took a light blue bead and heated it up, then rolled it in the frit blend and melted it in. Then I encased the whole thing in clear for a somewhat magnifying effect. I love this blend! The colors are right up my alley.

Here is the same blend on a pink heart balloon bead. This bead is not encased, so the frit is right up on the surface. Doesn't the green look like textured paint?

This fritty kitty doesn't really look fritty now, does she? I rolled this white kitty in one of my most recent fabulous fritty purchases - glow frit. It's from GlowJoe, and it's actually pink. I bought the small size - which refers to the size of the frit. I like my frit pieces fairly small because my beads are also small. GlowJoe offers three sizes - it's good to have choices.

And here is the best part about glow frit - Fritty Kitty glows in the dark! I am thrilled with how this bead turned out, and I especially love the picture (my husband took) because you can see the silhouette of the kitty glowing in the dark. If you haven't tried glow frit yet, I highly recommend it! You can add a whole different dimension and appeal to your beads by sprinkling a little bit of this glowing fairy dust on them. Super fun!

This owl bead is wearing raku frit feathers. Raku frit was one of the first frits I bought. I love it for owl beads - it has so many different colors swirling around in it.

Murrini Monday - Love & Kisses

There is no end to my love of murrini. I'm spreading the love with hearts and kissy lips for all my little critter beads.

Panda Bear Love has a super sweet pink and blue Sweetheart murrini belly.

Kissy My Boston Terrier Butt, literally.

Nothing says Valentine's Day like a pug in a red heart sweater.

Metallic Kitty Cat is sporting her own Sweetheart murrini.

This little pug is keeping warm with pink murrini earmuffs.

The pugs have found homes, but the rest of the beads are in my Etsy shop. Murrini for this edition of Murrini Monday is brought to you by Lori and Kim.

Beads of Courage, Glow Frit & a Torch Giveaway - Oh My!

I've written about Beads of Courage before, but I've been meaning to share a video about it for some time. Jean Baruch, a pediatric oncology nurse and founder of Beads of Courage, was recently on the CBS Morning Show. Her moving interview and interviews with children in the program can be seen here. After you watch it, you will know why this program is near and dear to so many lampworkers' hearts.

I recently ordered my first batch of Glow Frit. Frit is crushed up glass that can be used on beads for decoration. Glow Frit actually glows in the dark! And here's the connection to Beads of Courage - GlowJoe , the artist who makes the Glow Frit, includes an extra packet of frit with all orders, with one stipulation: use some of this frit to make beads for Beads of Courage. Ok, Joe, you twisted my arm. :)

These little glow critters will be in my next shipment to Beads of Courage. Each one is made with GlowJoe's Netty Confetti Glow Frit. I have a couple more glowing turtles to send, too.

These critters aren't scared of the dark one bit. What a super idea - glow beads for kids! Thank you, Joe!

I highly recommend this seller. Try the Glow Frit and add something unique to your beads ~ plus help out with Beads of Courage - it's a win-win!

But wait - there's even more good news when it comes to Beads of Courage! One of my bead idols (yes, there is such a thing), Marcy of StudioMarcy, is giving away a torch. That's right. She won another torch (ho hum), and because she already has one that is practically identical to this GTT Cricket Torch, she wants to give it away. But there is a catch. A good one. Marcy will put your name into her torch raffle for every 25 beads, or $25, you donate to Beads of Courage. The more beads or money you donate, the higher your chances are of winning. But the big winner will be Beads of Courage, because a torch is excellent incentive for lampworkers and non-lampworkers alike to make more beads, as well as go through their bead stashes, to donate to the program. For all the details on Marcy's giveaway, head to this blog she set up specifically for this event.

I don't know about you, but I sure could use a torch upgrade. So let's all start making and gathering up more beads for Beads of Courage!