Today I am celebrating Elizabeth Little, an amazing woman who was true to her business values throughout her long career as the owner of St. Andrew's Lodge here in Qualicum Beach. She believed in excellent customer service, routines and not changing what worked. Elizabeth lived at the other end of the beach from me and she was 87 last week when she left us. She was one of the original group who started the local historical society which now manages our Museum and ensures our local history is preserved and easy to access. If I were to make a bead to remind me of Elizabeth, it would be pink, white and periwinkle blue - the colors she wore and the colors of the ocean and sky at certain times of the day. It would be a very happy bead with curls on it - like her hair and the waves in front of her lodge. It would be imbued with a dry wit, a smile and a real sense of humour. Not a flamboyant bead, yet one that would catch your attention.
I think I have to go create while the memories are close and there are no distractions.
Cheers,
Wendy
I live across the street from this beach. I sit at my torch, melt glass and create beads. Sometimes I actually melt pieces of glass I find when I take a break and walk along the shoreline. My life is an adventure and just as the waves offer a constant variety, so does the creation of glass beads.
Friday, 1 April 2011
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
Wow, what a great Welcome!
Thanks for the warm welcome to the world of blogging!
I feel like I jumped into the deep end of the pool when I thought I was wading in the shallow end. I still have to figure out how to resize my header photo and guess I better post pictures of my beads:)
This morning I was sitting outside soaking in the hot tub because my shoulder was sore and I wanted to relax it before I sat down to the torch. I wished I had a video camera because high up there was a steady stream of seagulls flying past in a long line. This happens during spring migration and you wonder where they suddenly all come from and you can't predict when it will happen. It was pretty amazing.
Any advice you have on blogging is greatly appreciated. I did jump in without thinking about it too much, just thought it was time do it.
The beads in this necklace are made out of swizzle sticks - yes the kind that you use to mix your drink. The glass was amazing to work with and I had no bubbles in it either.
Cheers,
Wendy
I feel like I jumped into the deep end of the pool when I thought I was wading in the shallow end. I still have to figure out how to resize my header photo and guess I better post pictures of my beads:)
This morning I was sitting outside soaking in the hot tub because my shoulder was sore and I wanted to relax it before I sat down to the torch. I wished I had a video camera because high up there was a steady stream of seagulls flying past in a long line. This happens during spring migration and you wonder where they suddenly all come from and you can't predict when it will happen. It was pretty amazing.
Any advice you have on blogging is greatly appreciated. I did jump in without thinking about it too much, just thought it was time do it.
The beads in this necklace are made out of swizzle sticks - yes the kind that you use to mix your drink. The glass was amazing to work with and I had no bubbles in it either.
Cheers,
Monday, 28 March 2011
Springing Into Action
It feels right that with the official advent of Spring, I take the excitement and joy I experience with my creation of glass beads and share it. Spring is a time for new beginnings, nurturing new growth and happiness. When the sun comes out - it is like magic and it is time to celebrate. The grey skies of winter are gone and people can't help but be grateful for being alive - especially in such a pristine environment as the one we live in.
Last weekend I attended the Fraser Valley Bead Show and bought my first Jim Moore tool - a large lentil shaper. Yesterday I used it for the first time and it takes a LOT of glass. I created a sea colored bead and added a starfish and sea anenomies and could hardly wait to see how it turned out today, once it was cool. I will keep it for myself and happily wear it. Always good to keep the first to see how a skill improves.
Today, I walked on the beach with my sisters and we breathed in the scent of cedar and laughed when we picked pussy willows for our Mom. Pussywillows are a sure sign of spring and I watch for them each year with eager anticipation. Their soft grey balls don't inspire me to think bead design, however the lines of the branches do.
I am also inspired by eel grass as it waves in the shallow water as waves swish in and out and sand dollars when the tide is very low.
The rainbows of course are always inspiring and at this time of year, we have lots of them. We saw one yesterday that spanned an entire mountain top.
Today is my first time ever to blog. This will be an adventure and my goal is to share the story of being an emerging artist. I hope you enjoy the journey with me.
Cheers,
Wendy
Last weekend I attended the Fraser Valley Bead Show and bought my first Jim Moore tool - a large lentil shaper. Yesterday I used it for the first time and it takes a LOT of glass. I created a sea colored bead and added a starfish and sea anenomies and could hardly wait to see how it turned out today, once it was cool. I will keep it for myself and happily wear it. Always good to keep the first to see how a skill improves.
Today, I walked on the beach with my sisters and we breathed in the scent of cedar and laughed when we picked pussy willows for our Mom. Pussywillows are a sure sign of spring and I watch for them each year with eager anticipation. Their soft grey balls don't inspire me to think bead design, however the lines of the branches do.
I am also inspired by eel grass as it waves in the shallow water as waves swish in and out and sand dollars when the tide is very low.
The rainbows of course are always inspiring and at this time of year, we have lots of them. We saw one yesterday that spanned an entire mountain top.
Today is my first time ever to blog. This will be an adventure and my goal is to share the story of being an emerging artist. I hope you enjoy the journey with me.
Cheers,
Wendy
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