Flower Drawings

I have not gotten pictures of beads in a while partly because until the last few days I had not been making many. Something to do with bead block. But to try to get my creative juices flowing I was drawing in my journal the other night and these colored pencil drawings of flowers were the result. Oh there was also a very ugly drawing of a dragon as well but while these are not great that dragon was awful.
This is probably my favorite of the three drawings. And it is pink which I really do not like that well.

Merry Christmas!

Hi and Happy Holiday's! I have been missing in action I know, Sorry about that. I came home from the show in Omaha sick and still have it but am much better and also the entire time I have been sick so has my truck so I have been dealing with both and not getting anything else done.

This is my own personal Santa he has been playing Santa for a few of the family's he works with the last two days. It has actually made it quite fun around here watching him get dressed up and tell about how the children reacted when he got to their houses. This is a borrowed suit but I think I should really make him one for next year. Guess I will have to be on the look out for some red velvet and white fur.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Flower Power Beads

One of my goals for this next month is to make beads to fill up my bead trays which seem very empty to me. So since it has been cold and snowy I started with some 60's style flowers. They seem very bright and cheery to me.

I won't get to torch the next few days if the snow does not keep me home I am going to Omaha for the Hot Shops Open House this weekend. It is a fabulous Free event just north of down town Omaha. There are all sorts of artists in the building and all will have their studios open to the public. If you are any where near it is a great time for young and old.

Something for you to look at. I used filagrana to make the spirals on these and I like how they kind of have the spiral floating above the bead.

I have been working most of the last two days in my new studio and man do I like it down there nice and warm and I can run up and get a drink or mess with the laundry. I am really glad to have spent the time and energy redoing and moving everything.

This is the beginnings of my Rivet necklace. I am not sure I like the top curls of wire so they may change and I have not decided just what it is going to hang from but probably a mix of chain and seed beads. I do like how wiring the pieces together came out.

Something New, Rivets!

These Rivets are something new I have been working on. For now I just made a collection of sizes and colors as I wanted to play with them in some jewelry. In my head I can see all kinds of ways to use them. They have no hole so they are going to have wire, cord or maybe fabric wrapped around them.

Winterfest

I thought since I have not had very many pictures lately that I would show you what my booth looked like for the show this last weekend. I thought it looked very nice although I may change my curtains some I do not like how they pull in at the bottom so I will have to make something like a curtain rod at the bottom as well as in the tops. Making them hang straight.

Headed out to Winterfest!

Well this evening we are headed to Aberdeen, SD for Winterfest. The show is at the Aberdeen Recreation and Civic Center in down town Aberdeen. It is both Saturday and Sunday so if you are anywhere in the area come out and see me. The really nice thing about this show is that it is inside so the 13 degree weather with windchill to -1 that we are having will be easy to avoid.

I Made Beads!

I made beads today! I know that from a bead maker that is a strange thing to get all excited about but it has been almost two months since I sat in front of the torch and made beads. We were gone for almost a month and then getting back and deciding to move the studio just did not let me make any beads. But today I did about 75 little spacers. I had to practice since it had been so long so I made spacers with all my little short rods. I can not even take a picture of them for you as they are still in the kiln. Maybe tomorrow.

Ventilation.

Well a couple of people have asked me about my ventilation system which is not there in the pictures. Just because it has not been done yet. Neither had the curtains when I took these last pictures but both are in the works. Hood will sit right over the work table and will go out the window to the right of my kiln.

Finally all moved in.

Well I am finally all moved in or almost at least. There are still some things in the cupboards in the barn but I do not need those things to really get busy and work. We did have to change the floor plan after we started moving in the tables things seem much bigger when you get them in a small space. This is the view from the door.
The view from the back corner. I moved my old kiln inside too so I can work on bottle pendants in the evenings. I still will have to do the bottle cutting out in the barn because it makes way to much mess for in the house but I left that all set up and can go out and run the furnace for that short of a time.
This is my little cart that hubby and son rescued from a dumpster. Had not used it outside but it fits perfectly in this corner and rolls around so I can see all the little shelves. Great for my presses and frits.
And this is the glass cabinet. It was really the culprit of having to rearrange as it was deeper than I thought. All that glass took a really long time to pack and unpack. And if you notice up on top there are a few new colors I have no place to put.

Paint Paint Paint

The new studio is coming along. Had a delay today though as the floor was not really dry yet so I could not do the second coat. I really wanted to get that coat on but it will have to wait until tomorrow. We did open the closet door and put a fan in there to help get it dry. Part of the problem is the yucky gray cold wet weather we have been having and part of the problem is that we have to keep the doors closed to keep the cat from walking all over the wet paint.

Look at that row of electric outlets. A 30 amp circuit just for me. And I really like the creamy color on the walls and the rust on the floor can not wait to get my work benches in place and get back to work. We did have to cut one of my tables down a little but got that done Tuesday and will be bringing things into the basement at least on Saturday if they have to leave it in the other room till the floor dries.

My studio is moving.

Well I finally decided the other day to move the studio from the barn back into the house. I got so tired of traipsing out there in the snow and ice and running the furnace and air conditioner to heat and cool a building I was only in a few hours of the day. Besides I hated going out there at night. (Yes I am afraid of the dark.) And it was lonely. So since this room in our basement was empty and sits right beside my sewing room I decided finally to use it.
It is way smaller than the room in the barn but it will be way more cozy. It is about 10 x 14 and narrows to about 8 foot wide. I did just find a problem in the plan today when I realized one of my tables will not fit as it is almost 9 feet across. No big deal we will either cut it down or use something else.
Jeff started this morning patching the cracks in the concrete and they have been working all afternoon to run a new electrical line so I will be on my own circuit and have plenty of juice. The cracks will have to dry but I think when I paint the floor it will look kind of like large patio rock if not no biggie. I am going to paint the walls too I just could not handle that day glow blue.

New Jewel's

Yesterday I spent the day making a couple of new pieces of jewelry. Both pieces are already spoken for and I have taken way too long getting them done. The red spiky piece is a version of the amber spikes I made last year and is going to Sioux Falls.
This bracelet is for my cousin in Michigan who kept us a good deal of the time we were there. She picked the beads from my stash when she and her daughter were having their own trunk show in the living room.

Beads from my trip.

One last set of pictures from our trip although there are so many more. I really thought that you all might want to see the beads that I got while I was gone. The Delica's were a gift from my aunt in Michigan. She gave me a whole sack of them it ended up filling up a tackle box. I can not wait to stitch something up to use them.
These hanks came from the bead store in Frankenmouth, MI and from the bead show in Grand Rapids. Needless to say this was not all the beads I bought but it was a good share of them. Lots of fun new colors to play with.

While we were in New York

While we were in Michigan and New York the trees were just the most beautiful colors. It has been a long time since we have seen trees like that. Besides that fact that here in South Dakota there are not that many trees we also do not get the colors as we do not have many of the Maples and Oaks that really make the fall seem like fall to me.
We did get to go to the city one day and got to see lots of things. I had wanted to go to the American Folk Art Museum and we did that first thing then we went to Times Square and Rockefeller Plaza.
Then we went to Central Park to a huge playground where Griffin could play for a while. He was so good the entire time we stayed with my sister and her husband. Even this day got through all the boring stuff for a four year old and then played his little heart out when we got to the playground.

It was sure a great trip I have been trying to figure out how we could go back again. There are a bunch more museums I would like to go to.

Impromptu Class

We had a little impromptu class at a local bead store in Grand Haven MI while I was there.

My cousin and her daughter had a couple of things they wanted to make from my beads while I was staying at their house so we went to the local bead store where we could use tools and get supplies. Jonelle made her own flower ring while Diane looked on.
The ring went together very well and I think she will be able to make another one when she wants to.

We've been gone oh so long!

Well we have been gone for nearly a month but are home now. I thought I would show you some of the things we did while we were away since I have not gotten any beads made in a while.

While we were in Michigan we got to go on a boat ride out to Lake Michigan. When we got to the marina the boat was not in the water yet and we had to wait a bit. They call this in and out service and all the boats are stored out of the water. We only waited a few minutes and into the water she went.

You did know boats shrunk when they got wet didn't you.

It was pretty cold out there and kind of gray and rainy but we had a good time and before we headed in for the day it had gotten nice.
This is the old salt driving. Everyone lately has asked if he is ready for Christmas since his beard is all fluffy and white.

More new beads.

Well I just wanted to show off some more new beads that are headed to Iowa this weekend. All four sets have been etched which I love the look of them when I do it makes me want to touch them all the time.
So if you are any where near Marshalltown Iowa tomorrow or Saturday stop by the Best Western for the Bead Show. Starts tomorrow at 5 pm. If you need directions shoot me an email and I will do the best I can.

New Bracelet

Oh my two posts on the same day you are going to think I am a really active blogger now! Not really I just had time to get this finished this afternoon so here it is. I really like how the amber glass in this and in the set of beads from earlier look so rich and reflect the light in such an amazing way.

New Beads

In an attempt to rescue myself from the most boring blog award I have a couple of new pictures here for you today. Just some of the new beads I will be taking with me to Marshalltown IA on Friday.
Some of you know why it has been so quiet around here lately. I have been having shows one weekend after the other and on the 3rd of October we are leaving for a three week trip to Michigan and New York and on that trip I am doing three more shows. I have been working hard to make sure I have enough new things to last the trip since I will not get to make anything new in the middle like I usually do when I do shows closer to home. Any way I am off to try and get more chore done so hopefully I can post again tomorrow.

Busy Day

Well today has been one of those inefficient days where you try really hard to get things done and nothing got accomplished. I am finally packed and ready to go to Watertown tomorrow for the Watertown Art Festival, but I did not get any new pictures taken to give you some eye candy here tonight. And frankly I am really tired and going to bed soon. We have to get up early so I am just going to give you a link to the show so if you are anywhere near you can come out and visit.

Watertown Art Festival

Autumn Harvest Beads

Some more new beads. This time Autumn Harvest. Lots of shapes in the sets.

Alien Vegetation Beads

Do you ever have ideas in the middle of the night. Well when I do they are usually pretty off the wall. One night last week I could not sleep and for some reason (probably because that is all I ever think about) I was thinking about beads and these popped into my head. I was going to call them Alien Pods but when I made them they look more like plants than pods so they are Alien Vegetation. Now I want time to make enough for a big neck piece. Any votes for color?

Good morning! I did not realize that I had only posted once in a week guess that the harder I work the less I get done. I have been making beads and I promise to show some of them to you next week but today I am off to Sioux Falls to do a little shopping. Hit the bookstore and the Harley place (what happens when you take your Hubby shopping). I have a show tomorrow in down town Sioux Falls called "Sidewalk Arts Festival" and we have to be there at like 5 am so we always go over the day before. If you are in the area come check it out it is a fun One Day show.

Art in the Bag Project

Well the Art in the Bag project is done and shipped off to the auction. I added a few more accessories. A couple of which you can see here. The check book cover and wallet. I loved how the wallet came out it even has little pockets for those credit cards. And I had to use some red and white it was headed for Husker country. There are other little surprises in the bag too just for the fun of it.

You might want to check out the website for the project and maybe go to the auction it is a cancer benefit. Click on the link if you want to see the website: Art in the Bag

Sand and Sea

When I was getting out colors the other day to make beads I was thinking of the beach I guess because I came up with this the earthy brown of sand and the soft blue green of the sea. I almost kept these to make a bracelet I love them so much but the bead box needed them more.

Still Fall

The colors of fall fade as time goes on and winter sets in. These are called "Still Fall" because they still have the colors of the last of the season.

Well the Art Bag is coming along. The main portion of the bag and the weights on the flap got finished up this afternoon. Now I have to make all the accessories to go inside it. Sorry about the picture by the way no place was really good to take a picture tonight the wind just would not let it lay still outside.

Updating Schedule

Hi I have been updating my fall schedule on my website. If you are interested in where I will be this fall check out the Schedule page on www.tanyamcguire.com

I finally got some pictures taken of these new beads. "Festive Fall". And I just love the color combo. I have not gotten to make beads in several days though so this may be a drop in visit the way the week seems to be shaping up is much the same as last week. We spent the weekend having a garage sale and it is hard to make beads when you are doing stuff like that. I did get to go to the Yankton Summer Art Festival though on Sunday and really enjoyed getting to look around and not have to work. Any way I am off to other things this afternoon check in a few days there is another fall series in the kiln that is totally different from this one.

Hi! Just wanted to drop by and show you a few of the silvered ivory swirl beads I have been making the last few days. I now have a butter tub full of them and have moved on to something else. I had started them to fill my trays but I think I will make a few sets up too as while I was working I could see different color combos in my mind.

A few of the earth tones I was talking about.

These are just some of the new black and white sets I have been working on the past few days. I am off to some more earthy colors now.

The list for the Messenger bag has grown. Here is the new list.
*wallet
*cosmetic bag
*check book cover
*glasses case
*key chain holder
*cell phone holder

And the Guild has started a blog about the event. Here is a link www.artinthebag.blogspot.com

This is the start of the messenger bag. I had to stop working on it for a while as my thumb is starting to hurt. The plastic is harder to crochet than yarn is. Of course cutting the bags into strips is not easy on the thumb either.

A focal bead for a customer to match a set from last week.

And a list of the things to put in my Art in the Bag project.
*wallet
*cosmetic bag
*checkbook cover
*glasses case

This I know is a strange picture. It is one of the shopping bags that I have been crocheting the past month or so. I wanted to show it to you because I have an upcoming project that I have decided to use this technique for it. I am participating in a Art Auction called "Art in the Bag" that the Midwest Lampworkers Guild is sponsoring in October. I am going to make a messenger bag style bag out of the cut up shopping bags. Then last night as I was trying to go to sleep I started thinking about all the accessories that the bag is going to need inside it that I can make out of recycled and saved from the trash things. So now I have to find some of the heavier shopping bags to make a wallet and a makeup bag. So what else do you think the bag is going to need in it. I am going to make a list here on the blog and show the things as I make them. Help with your ideas please.

I have been adding things all week to my Etsy listings. Here is another set headed there in just a few minutes. Check out the other listings by clicking on the links to the right.

More new color combo's. This one is Fashion Fabulous because every where I look these days these three colors are showing up in the close I see. Thing is they are showing up two at a time and sometimes all three colors are in a piece. I just love how they came out.