RAKU BEADS BY KEITH O'CONNOR

While I was at my local bead shop picking up some new supplies I got the chance to meet Keith O'Connor. Keith is an amazing artist that makes his own raku beads.

Raku is a way of firing pottery first used in the 16th century Japan. These handformed beads are painted with two or three coats of glaze, fired on rods in a small kiln and removed while red hot. They are plunged into a tub filled with crushed leaves or sawdust which bursts into flame - a lid is then fitted into place. The fire consumes all of the oxygen in the container causing the glazes to reduce and change colors. The beads are cooled in water after which the soot must be scrubbed off by hand. This rapid firing and cooling gives each piece its own wonderful crackle and luster. So much work for each little bead!

I did purchase a few of his beads and made some new things last night!

These two leaf beads might be my favorite...I love the rust color with the green. They remind me of how the leaves in my backyard look now...

I used two of his beads for this necklace..I love the colors...and got a chance to experiment with some new chain!

I used this great leaf bead to hang from one of my hand hammered Gold ring pendants. I made two of these...one with large ring and one that is a bit smaller.

Now I am just waiting for the rain to subside so I can get some decent pictures and get my new things listed in my Etsy shop!

A PICK ME UP

The majority of my jewelry is now sitting cozy in a local day spa waiting for a new home {yay!}, but now my shop is frighteningly empty. With the holidays approaching super fast, I really need to get with it and make a ton of new things and get them listed. The problem is...I am seriously lacking ideas. It has been raining here for what feels like forever and I am blaming the weather for my lack of inspiration! What I need is something bright, cheerful and uplifting....what I need is an original painting by Karen Fields! I love these one of a kind paintings, they are a like a ray of sunshine! Looking at these wonderful works of art immediately brighten my outlook and clear the path for creativity!

Be sure to check out Karen's Etsy shop here for an instant pick me up!

GOOD TIMES!

I am off to Savannah for a few days to enjoy haunted pub tours, ghost tours and good food...like Paula Deen's restaurant! Did you know that Savannah is known to be THE most haunted city? With Halloween right around the corner, this is the perfect weekend trip to get me in the mood and maybe get a few ideas for a costume! Not to mention that it is the first week for OctoberFest! Should be a blast! Hope you all have a good weekend!