Hey there!

I have this weekend off from doing the Art shows and hope to be listing just about everyday. I am getting ready for the State Street show at Ann Arbor and for the Chicago Tribune Show. They run back to back with only one day inbetween...so, as you can imagine it is difficult to prepare for. I will be at the torch from morning to night everyday till we leave.

Today I worked on a really great Retro type necklace in Turquoise, Black and White. It is quite modern with not a flower in sight!  I adore it! They are flat irregular shaped beads with melted in designs in a funky retro style...it lays so nice around the neck. I'm going to do more! Anyone interested in seeing it?

Who's comming to Ann ARbor State Street Show this year!!?? Don't miss it, its an incredible show with more then 1500 exhibitors. Insane, Fun, Amazing!

Just thought you'd get a kick out of what my studio door looks like.... I'm inspired everyday!

Our 2nd show of the season was in Cleveland Ohio, in the swanky section of Beechwood.  Another one of those outdoor posh shopping malls with the Starbucks and Crate and Barrel yuppy mentality. It is beautiful of course with lovely, although insanely expensive stores just right for the up and comming. The show was also good, the art work exceptional and the weather cooperated as well. All in all it was a fine show. Our sales on Saturday were stunning! Sunday I think it was just too hot for anyone to think about walking around in the heat! We are so fortunate to have great customers that are friends too, and we were able to catch up with them again after the long winter. So very good to see them all. 

 On to not so good news.

I had to put to sleep another kitty on Friday. Momcat, a dear but terribly old cat is now buried on the hill with Doodle, and Sidney. I've made that trip up the hill with my towel wrapped love too many times in the last few years.  Momcat came to me 17 years ago as a young mother. She deposited her mud incrusted litter on my front stoop. Really, what was I supposed to do? Of course I got them cleaned up, bottle fed them, saw the vet with the whole crew and eventually found homes for them all. Momcat came into my home the weekend of hurricane Andrew...and again...what else could I have done?

I just finished up my first show of the Season, in Cincinnatti, Ohio. It was a quick add on show and not on the schedule. Kind of a surprise attack!

It was a first year show, with pretty good attendence and even better sales. We were pleased that we took the chance and drove the 5 hours down to the show.

It was a Howard Allen Events show which is a promoter out of Florida whom we know quite well. The venue was a one of those new snazzy, outdoor, upscale mall places that are springing up everywhere.  Beautiful location and the weather was perfect. If you like to visit art festivals or want to participate in one, I would consider this an up and comming area in which  the quality of the work was good and the sales were excellent.

I just received the new book "Masters" Glass Beads and Major Works by Leading Artists, published by Lark Books with Curated by Larry Scott. It is on par with the beautiful "1000 Glass Beads" also published by Lark Books. It is full of lushious photographs off well known Lampworkers..well worth the price just for the inspiration. Like "1000 Beads" there is little information about how the beads were made, just a short list of materials. I guess its up to us to be inspired and create our own techniques...I think thats fair, although frustrating too.

My only complaint is that I have seen allot of the images reproduced elsewhere. Leah Fairbanks has quite a few images...which are incredible and beautiful...but I've seen them before. Kate Fowle Meleney, known for her sensational electroformed inclusions is another one that just sent in the old photos that have gained her a talented reputation. Same with Kristen Frantzen Orr, Rene Roberts, Kristina Logan (how many times do I have to drool over but can't figure out how she does her "Ivory Totem Beads"?) Diana East..and her sandblasted mosques?, the list goes on. Thats not to say there isn't some new images by the "greats" Sharon Peters has some of the old stuff (great as it is) but has also included new and wonderful work as well. Loren Stump has new items too, along with the tried and true.

As I stumble along the years at the torch, I am forever changing, improving and strengthing my skills. I am sure that these "Masters" are moving along in their skills as well. So I find is annoying that they or maybe the publisher got lazy and just phoned it in so to speak.That we are not allowed to see their "new work", see what they've been up to, to see how they've changed too.

 That is only one of the things that is so exiciting about working in glass...it is a never ending process of learning. There is always new ideas to develope, new materials to master, new tools to try and all the new glass companies that are springing up everywhere providing exciting new colors to experiment with.

There are allot of other Lampwork artists that I am not that familiar with in the book as well....very interesting work showing fantastic skill. I am glad I got the book, and I think you will too if you are an admirer of Lampwork or an artist yourself.

I purchased my copy through Amazon.com

Home again, in Indiana!

We had an uneventful, however mind numbingly dull and long ride from Florida to Indiana. I am happy to report that all the pets, Joe and I survived and landed happily in Angola on Sunday.

We spent the first day....doing....what else? Raking, scooping and dragging the leaves that pile up like snow drifts in our lawn and garden. We pile them up like a mountain in the woods, and then the next year use it as mulch/compost. Handy little system.

I did get the studio up and running today, and after a lovely morning at the Shipshewanna Auction, I got back to work.

I will be listing more beads this week, so keep in touch!

Also, If there are any lampworkers that read this blog, I picked up at the Shipshy flea market a bunch of my favorite glass tools. I use a special dental palette to push and indent my flower petals. I use this high tech tool most often with my Hibiscus flowers, but I always have them on my desk for a variety of uses including shaping the sides of the beads. I would be completely lost without them! If any lampworkers out there can't find this invaluable tool themselves, I have plenty, and would be happy to share them with you. They cost all of $2.25.  Now thats High Tech stuff! This tool was mentioned in the Bead and Button Spotlight page about my beads. Just email me:  Elliotart@aol.com

Hey there,

We are leaving for Indiana on Friday!

The last chance for shipping this week will be on Thursday, mid morning. I prefer to ship within a day of an order...but we will be on the road! Watch your highways for the Doodletart Caravan!

You can order after Thursday, and your new beads will be shipped from Indiana on Tuesday.

 My studio will be up and running within a day of arriving, and I will be back at the torch ASAP!

See Ya Florida!

I spent the day making Focal beads with matching accent beads... two of the sets are ruined by a crack! Oh, and they were so pretty. Phooey. Now I have some pretty accent beads with no where to go!

I have been asked by quite a few to do some sets....So I will continue. 

One more week before I will have to pack up the studio and head north again. I hope to list allot in the next week to make up for the fact that I will out of hear shot and on the road. Joe, a Van, a Car, A cargo trailer, a travel trailer, two cats , a dog and myself....on the open road....Watch out!

I spent the last couple of days working on a new flower...the Tiger Lily! or Daylily. In  Indiana the locals call the daylily a ditch lily. Its so common and grows like weeds in the ditches along the country roads. I have huge beds full on lilys at the cottage, and they are glorious! Common or not...they are a delight.

I also spent a few hours trying to do a hummingbird with my florals....oi! not so good...so far. One turned out looking like it was pregnant and the others were okay but I just didn't like the bead...I will keep trying.

Well, our antique hunting yesterday was a bust...didn't find a thing! Well, actually I saw quite a few things I'd love to have, but not the space or budget to buy them.  We checked out Webbs Antique Mall and Smilieys Antique Mall, both near Gainsville. Also checked out a new one in Ocala...but...that one was more la de da fine antiques and not my style at all! Give me funky and fun collectables from the 50's over what they call "Fine Antiques"  anyday! It was still allot of fun.

Today, after such a nice visit with our artist friends, I got back to work. I spent the entire day working on lampwork beads for the website. We will see after they get out of the kiln whether it was a good day or a bust as well. I have high hopes though! So check back later today or tomarrow and see!

This weekend some artist friends of ours are visiting, bunking in at our house while they are participating at the Cedar Key Art Festival. Yesterday Joe and I took a day trip to visit the them, the show, and see the area. Its only an hour away from us and well worth the trip. What a lovely little beach side town! Its a very small island on the Gulf in Northern Florida. Famous for the seafood of course...oysters, crab and shrimp. Also famous for making wood pencils in the old days! There are charming cottages for rent and it would be a heavenly vacation for anyone wanting to escape for a while.

 Our friend, Michael Weber and his wife Carol are watercolorists and won a $500. prize this weekend at the Cedar Key show. His work is exquisite, so its no surprise he won a prize. He also won the super grand prize Best of Show at the Gasperilla Show this year...and let me tell you...it was a doozy! Congrats Mikey!

Tomarrow we are off to cruise the antique malls just north us us. Ahhhh....so nice to not have to work!

Its almost time for us to pack up again and head north to our Indiana cottage for the summer. It is always both a happy and regretful time for us. Its hard to leave our place in the North Florida woods when all my plants are just beginning to flurish...and I do love it here, so peaceful and quiet. (Not like South Florida!) Then again, we adore the cottage as well. Nice life I say....! You may be thinking, Wow, shes doing pretty well having two homes! But the honest truth is that the two homes put together aren't worth in monetary terms more then your average single home! Our cottage in Angola, Indiana is only 750 sq. feet! Of course we have a huge free standing studio for our work....that helps. Its lovely though, our little cottage surrounded with huge perennial beads full of the most incredible flowers! Its a huge inspiration for my lampwork floral beads. And we have so many critters! Deer roam our back fields, and sometimes nibble on the landscape!, muskrats, beaver, squirls, racoons, thousands of birds including tons of buzz bombing humingbirds, swans, ducks and geese.  We have wierd lake turtles that once a year head up the hill to our cottage to lay their eggs....Everyday is an adventure in nature. And of course Fish! We have a small pontoon boat which is great fishing and boating parties. Quite a few other traveling Art Show artists have moved into the area, so we have a great time getting together for pot luck dinners, movies or our famed Domino Nights.

Anyway, We are beginning to make lists of chores  and tasks to complete before we head out. Of course that means moving the studio again...now that is not fun! I have close to 100 pounds of glass to move. I just can't resist getting another pound of some new lovely colored glass rods. 

Have a great week!

Susan Elliot

Next weekend is my last Florida Show of the season. We are showing in Naples, Florida on 5th Ave, at one of the better art festivals in the area.  If you have not been to Naples, it is a beautiful city with lots of fancy and fun shops and lots of cafes and resturants right along 5th ave. Where we are showing is also only blocks from the Gulf of Mexico. This is a large show stretching over many many blocks, with some incredible artists in every medium showing their work.

After the Festival, its time for me to buckle down and work towards developing my summer inventory of jewelry to participate in the Mid West shows. July is an expecially difficult month for me as we are showing in Chicago, Il one weekend and then the following Wednesday we have to be heading for the big Ann ARbor show. There is hardly any time to breath in between much less recoup any work. So, I have to plan now to have enough work available to last through July. Of course I have other shows as well....8 shows so far for the summer.

Of course, my first love, will be to list more items on Doodletart.com! I wish I could devote all my time to it! I will be listing more items...by lets say Wednesday...Okay?

I must have spring fever! I've listed quite a few new pastel floral lampwork focals. I have developed a new technique of hand mixing colors right on the mandral. I gather a large blob on white glass on the mandral and start swirling in transparent colors, really digging in with the rod to mix the colors. The end result is a delightful mix of light color. Hope you enjoy.

I'll get back to the darker colors next week, if you are searching for black backgrounds...check back!

I am trying to keep up with new listings, but they are selling too fast! I also at least try to list new items on Thursdays, so check back each week to see what I'm up to. Now, thats not a promise mind you, its a goal for me!

Today, I think I burned myself 4-5 times. Ouch! Too hot today to wear long sleaves and I always get nailed on my forearm with flying hot glass chips. Oh well, I think it was a good day at the torch, and I'm waiting for them to finish annealing and cool. We shall see...maybe tomarrow I will have some new beads to list.  I have been trying to make a purple silvered bead with an ancient tree...its a fantastic color combination but everytime I try one it ends up cracking. I tried again today, so ....fingers crossed...maybe it will survive.

I was in Jupiter, Florida last weekend doing a show right along the beach road. It was windy and a little nerve racking with everything in the booth shaking and swaying, but the weather was gloriously cool for Florida. We sold 2 of my "Crustacean" necklaces with are huge Flinstone style semi hollow rounds in clear with silvered ivory and hand made canes. They are really elegant and funky at the same time. So I spent so time making more of those beads for my Naples show comming up. Perhaps I will offer some on the site sometime.

Anyway, Thanks for checking on me, and for those who asked....my ears have cleared somewhat now after my flight home for the coast.  I have to say, that it was really annoying to loose most of my hearing for a week.

Thanks also to everyone to wrote to say they saw the "Bead and Button" spotlight page!

Hello Everyone! We just got home from out adventure out west. We went snow sking at Squaw Valley, NV. YES! This tropical gal can ski.....well sorta. It wasn't pretty, but we had a blast. I am more then a little thrilled that no bones were broken...no twisted wrists or banged up knees.  Whew! Of course I caught a cold...wouldn't you know it! and the flight home has nearly deafened me. I still cannot hear out of one ear. It sounds like I am in a tunnel every time I speak.

Luckily it will not keep me from getting behind the torch tomorrow morning....! I have had torch withdrawal and need to get back to work. I promise I will add allot more beads this week. REALLY!!

Hopefully everyone has heard me crow about being in Bead and Button Magazine, April Issue. I just got my copy!  Hey, if I don't crow about it who will?? Anyway, I am so honored and thrilled to be in it. ...can you tell?!

And thank you to all have already seen it and wrote to say how much they liked it...it really means allot to me to hear from you.

 I've put on ebay one of my new crazy face bead sets.  I sold a necklace made with crazy faces, surrounded by Joe's Sterling Silver Hair to a delightfully nutty woman at the big Ann Arbor Art Festival last summer. She buys from me every year, and its always a hoot. We laugh like crazy and generally have a ball, everytime we see each other. We where kidding around how I should make each face either happy or koo koo looking and call it "On Meds, Off Meds" So, this time I revamped the design so they could be made into a bracelet or necklace without the silver and made sure each bead had a happy face and a nutty face.    It was allot of fun making. I have made smaller ones for earrings for awhile and they have sold out at every  art show so far. Its just a simple way for us to all lighten up a little! Have some fun!

I just recently got myself a new toy. A upgraded my torch a notch. I used to use a GTT Bobcat, and now I am on a Lynx. I liked the Bobcat fine, it was a good torch, but I wanted a little more umph, a tad more power. So far, I am not seeing allot of difference....except it cost allot more! Maybe with time, I'll figure out how to use it properly.

We had a interesting thing happen out in the woods this last week. For about an hour and a half a helicopter circled our neighborhood...police cars went up and down our sand road....it was pretty scarey when the copter shined its search light into our yard every once in awhile. We decided that if you wanted to elude the police helicopter the best thing to do would be stand in a yard and wave at them.   It does make us a little nervous out here, we are so isolated in these country woods....Anyway, we never did find out what was up...but I'm guessing they didn't catch the person they were after.   Just another new adventure in North Florida!