The End of the World...

is nigh! Buy something! Quick!!!

Three Guys Walk Into a Pub...

Bill Bailey, British comedian...see more on his flash-heavy website, if you dare...

Happy New Year!

The year of the Rat! (I don't have a rat, just a dragon.)





From http://www.chinapage.com/newyear.html

There are three ways to name a Chinese year:

1. By an animal (like a mscot).
2008 is known as the Year of the Rat.
There are 12 animal names; so by this system, year names are re-cycled every 12 years.

More.
1. By its Formal Name (Stem-Branch).
   This year is the year of Wu Zi.

   In the 'Stem-Branch' system, the years are named in 60-year cycles, and the Name of the Year is repeated every 60 years.
   2008 is the 9th year in the current 60-year cycle.

2. Current year is Year 4705 by the Chinese calendar.

   [A few Chinese astrological/zodiac websites believe this year should be considered as Year 4706 for zodiac calculations.]

Thought I'd take this chance to show off my sushi sets, once again. Once I get motivated, I'll actually start listing these!

Intimidating or....

just plain silly?!? You decide!

Hidden Hearts Scavenger Hunt

Hidden Hearts Scavenger Hunt

Ah, St. Valentine's Day, the day of love. (sigh) Feel the love and join the CGGE's Hidden Hearts Scavenger Hunt!

Members of the Creative Glass Guild are holding another scavenger hunt, and you are invited to join us. Find the hidden image in our Etsy shops, and win cool glass prizes!

Take a good look at Pippi Love, the cupid girl, above. She's the clue that will lead you to the prizes! Participating members of the CGGE will hide Pippi somewhere in our shops. Find her in every participating shop, tally your results and send them in to Artglassfusion

From The Poppy Fields Edonated copper on glass enamel Sgraffito pendant by DichroicDazzle

Time Machine Dichroic Fused Glass Pendant donated by Quotentials

Heart lampwork bead donated by DjinnGlass

And while you are searching our shops for Pippi, you'll notice fabulous sales which may include set percentages off, Buy-One-Get-Ones (BOGOs), free shipping, and more. See each shop's announcement for its special SALE!

Here’s how to play!

• Contest runs Feb. 1-7.


• To play, you must be an Etsy member. It’s EASY, sign up here if you are not a member
  already: www.etsy.com.


• Each participating shop has one Pippi secreted somewhere. When you find one, make
  a note of the shop name, and the item number shown in the address window of that
  item. For example, you find Pippi here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=285136.
  Jot down "creationsinglass 285136" (shop name and item number). Remember she may
  be hiding ANYWHERE in a shop. Simple!


• When you've found a Pippi in each participating shop, send a convo to to Janet at
  artglassfusion, with all your answers.


• The contest will run for one week, Feb. 1-7. At midnight on Feb. 7, our CGGE judges
  will check all of the entries for correct Pip sightings. Winners are the entries
  with the most correct sightings. In the likely event of a tie, the three winners
  will be drawn at random from all the correct entries. The lucky, clever winners
  will be notified via convos on Feb. 8, and their names will be published before
  the cheering throngs on our website and in the Etsy forums.


• CGGE members are not allowed to participate, but will join in, chat and cheer contestants
  on in the thread while you are searching for Pippi Love!

Participating shops:

CalyxAnn	glassprimitif	Getglassy
glasscatjewels	shasglasscrafts	creationsinglass
matechuk	smokeylady54	colorshoppestudio
gimmebeads	melissabeads	CassaroCreations
ccvalenzo	dichroicdazzle	periwinklesuz
kerichrystian	artflowe	artglassfusion
JoanJewels	papernclay	eccentricity
squidglass	geltdesigns	LaWatha

Have fun and good luck!!!

CCCOE January Challenge - Voting time...

Here's my entry for our January Challenge: Science and Geekery....Vote for me if you wish,

but also check out all the other entries. You wanna be fair, right?!?

Welcome! The California Crafters Club of Etsy (CCCOE) is proud to present the entries in their January challenge under the topic of “SCIENCE and GEEKERY”.

Now it’s your turn to judge which one is the best. Polls open until midnight Thu., Feb. 8.

Click through the list or see them all in one place here
http://quirkynberkeley.blogspot.com/2008/02/cccoe-january-challenge-entries-science.html

Rules:
1. Post your vote here.
2. Chat as you wish but vote only once!
---------------------------------------------------
One lucky voter will receive this LP recycled bracelet and business card holder by http://tresijas.etsy.com. See them here;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/quirkynberkeley/2235271498/
or here
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9227267
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7961267
______________________________

1. MI CORAZON by SandySimone
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8682994

2. Intravenous by Tresijas
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8715644

3. Scanning the Universe by ElenaMary
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8717744

4. Science is Sexy by Surly
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8719461

5. Sum of Two Halves Necklace (w/free matching earrings) by prettycheap
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7992783

6. Albert Einstein Soft Sculpture by peggradyart
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8742322

7. Girls are Great Science Students by TresLocas
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8758697

8. Victorian astronomy necklace by AlliesAdornments
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8833144

9. Paige the Wild Carrot by buttercupbloom
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8748121

10. Marching Prehistoric Lava Bugs Bracelet by cigarboxbeads
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8875464

11. Shell Bracelet (Marine Biology) by PalleikoDesigns
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8838625

12. Dichroic Computer Chip Fused Glass Pendant by CalyxAnn
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7789765

13. elemental aka chaos theory by mrsm
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8963269

14. Salute to Gregor Mendel by ArttoWearDiva
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8982688

15. A Heavenly Body by PamelaJean
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8985032

16. bbzz by OhCuddles
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8912991

17. Star bracelet by appleandstar
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8934388

18. Phrenology tie by knittergirl
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7933960

19. Transistor Earrings by luchi
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8997798

20. I Am Having Heart Palpitations by NeedleWorks
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9011656

21. Starry Sky by RedBessBonney
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9061449

22. ALBERT EINSTEIN soldered glass pendant by DesignsbyTami
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9027245

23.A New Beginning Ring by AmandaKLockrowJewels
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9074432

24. Serotonin Necklace - for happiness by molecularmuse
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9231252

25. Theoretical No. 1 - blank note card set with visible green squid
by audelaine
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9130620

26. dichroic DNA by jenifereadington
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8987595

27. The Marie Curie Origami Peace Crane
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9244301

Been Just A Little Busy Lately....

But, you know, the busier you are, the more you get done!! Isn't that the crazy part?!?
So, I've been working on some new freeze-n-fuse pendants....I've got just the glass part done. I've wanted to create enough that I could work on incorporating them into Silver Art Clay in one session.
Also, there's a gigantic project at the studio, and we've been working overtime to get it finished. I've not got any beautiful pictures to show...but this project has got sandblasted, fused, and painted elements incorporated into the leaded glass windows. Below is me, prepping some pieces to get sandblasted. The glass is flashed glass, which in this case means that there is a thin layer of blue glass on top of a thicker layer of clear glass. When these pieces are sandblasted, the leafy area will then be painted with green paint and fired in the kiln to make the paint permanent.

While I was working with the buttercut and prepping for sandblasting, I was able to salvage some scraps to prep for a project that I'm trying to finish for Todd's birthday. Eventually, it will be a stained glass suncatcher of the seven chakras. I was able to dig out some scrap for the red, orange, blue, and violet; but I need to fuse together a green and yellow disk. Can't wait to show you the finished pics. Here's what I've got as of the latest photo session:And, now, for the unveiling of my latest series of pendants:

Sterling silver charms incorporated with tumbled stained glass! I really love these!!
Umm....perfect for your Valentine?

Kooza - Cirque in SF

We were able to see the latest Cirque du Soleil addition in San Francisco a few weeks ago, thanks to Todd's brother and sister-in-law! It was an interesting performance and the colors were intense and inspirational.
Cirque du Soleil is trying to go green with this traveling act by re-using and re-purposing almost everything, from turning the old circus tents into messenger bags, to adding recycling bins in the tents.
My favorite act during this show both awed me and made me uncomfortable all at once. The two contortionistas who sat on and ran circles around their own heads!
We had a great time! Thanks again:)

Styling Your Product with Props...

Just wanted to bookmark this link for future reference, and for anyone else interested in a little photo stylization....

Consciousness...

And Tee-shirts...
Again, I was flipping through a free magazine that I picked up (Yogi Times, I think); and found a few ads for tee-shirts that I really liked...and perhaps, when my discretionary funds perk up a bit, I will add these to my wardrobe:
I really love the Dalai Lama shirts here. And the Teacher shirt here (although the site is a bit too Hollywood trendy for my tastes.) I like the look of the Love Not War, but don't like that the shirt is asking for both Love and War at the same time (seeing as how I subscribe to the notion that focusing on a negative (not war) is simply asking for that which you don't want...So, perhaps Love and Peace would be my preferred alternative:) I would absolutely buy that one! (And, I'm not sure what the Portuguese has to do with anything.)

Pandora's Music Box....

I'm totally lovin' this new music site that I've found....Pandora.
I've found so many new artists that I'm falling in love with. The best part about it is the fact that you can create personalized radio "stations" based on songs or artists that you already love.
The site has songs and artists catalogued by certain musical styles, such as "mellow rock syncopation" and "acoustic sonority," and sounds, thus comparing your favorites according to the "musical genome" of each selection. It really makes for great background music, plus if you are so inclined, it links you to iTunes or Amazon where you can purchase the music.
Happy listening!

Fusing Plastic Bags

I've always thought this was a fascinating technique...I'll have to try it once again, as the last time I tried, I wasn't too successful. Seems like the iron temperature is a spot of contention, or at least question:)

My first REAL Repair

So, I've been working on stained glass pieces for a few years now. And, I have done a few repairs, but only on pieces around the house, like the broken candle box. While that was a three dimensional piece, it was a cube; making it fairly easy to repair.
This lamp, however, posed a bit of a challenge. The repair was a bit of a puzzle, really. When it first arrived at the studio, we thought that we would slide the bottom pieces off, and then slide the middle pieces out. However, after examining the piece awhile longer, I realized that it would be easier to slide the top off. Anywho, it wasn't too hard, and didn't take much more than an hour from start to finish. I think my favorite part of the whole repair process is breaking the broken pieces to get them out!
So, I think the two pieces that were broken are the two pieces just to the right of the piece that's centered in the photo. But, I did such a good job :) that I can't pick them out!!

Birthday Wishes...

I'd like to thank everyone who sent me greetings and happy thoughts on my birthday this year. I had a great day!

I started by waking up at 7 AM (I actually woke up at 6:45, and rolled out of bed just before 7!) to get ready for my kindergarteners! I'm a guest artist in a seven week session with the ArtLinks program at both McPherson and Salvador Elementary schools in Napa. We're working on "Stained Glass Windows" for our first project. But, instead of using glass, we're working with tissue paper on waxed paper. Aside from that small detail, the rest of the process follows very closely to the actual stained glass process. I was a bit nervous at first, because I wasn't sure if their motor skills would allow them to carefully cut the tissue paper. But, they are really loving it, and are doing a great job!
So, I spent the day at Salvador elementary (from 8:45am-2:00pm). I did have an hour break for lunch, in which I raced to the new Whole Foods to meet Todd and sample some of the multitude of prepared foods.
After school was over, there was a special program taking place at Salvador. Wild Cats!!! The good people at Leopards, Etc., a group which strives to "expand learning opportunities about wild cats and increase awareness of the impact of human behavior on the habitat and survival of these rare species," brought four cats with them to Salvador, and it was thrilling to be able to see them up close! They explained that we should be very quiet and sit very still while the cats were on stage. Now, one would think that this direction would be given for the safety of the humans in the room. But, actually, the cats are very shy and easily upset. So, if there's too much commotion, they won't come on stage at all! I was very impressed with the children for being able to sit still for a whole hour to watch the captivating cats. Even the shyest cat of all, the leopard, didn't need to be enticed to stay on stage with the "treat buzzer" - a Pavlovian trick that the handlers use to keep the leopard focused on meaty treats and not the bustling audience. We got to meet the Canada Lynx, the Serval, the (highly endangered) King Cheetah, and the shy African Leopard. What a great birthday present!

After that was all over and I arrived home, I walked into a beautiful bouquet of roses and some chocolates from Dad and Uncle Jim! So very thoughtful!
To top off the night, Todd took me out to dinner (our fave, Uva), and then we went home to enjoy the decadent chocolate birthday cake that Todd got me:)

I truly am blessed to have so many caring people in my life! Also, I don't want to forget everyone who wished me happy birthday early, or late;) Thanks for all my gifts and for being a part of my life!

Broccoli Obama and Celery Clinton...

While making some interesting points, and some corn-y jokes (couldn't resist that one after watching the video), The Road to the Greenhouse is mildly comical. Give a listen, if you dare...


Find more PETA videos at PETATV.com

Take the Stairs!

Be green! Take the stairs...



Clever, but a little long...my fiance never would have gotten the message.
He didn't make it to the end.

A Belated Thank You...

...to the IN Crowd of Etsy, the Indiana Street Team.
I had so much fun taking part in their online Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt.

They hid Thanksgiving themed items in item listings from their shops.
It was quite a challenge to find all the items, there were some tricky ones!
I was just lucky enough to be drawn as the winner from 16 correct entries!
I was so excited and surprised to find out that I won! My fiance jumped when I shouted "Whoo-hoo!"
My gift basket included beautiful jewelry, lovely candles, and more!!
Special thanks to:
PinGwen
TexturedTurtle
Berry Creek Candles
Nana's Sewing Room
The Peach Martini
Celestial Beings & More
Guiding Light Candles
(and forgive me if I've forgotten anyone)
Thanks again!

Dunder Mifflin needs YOU!!

"When a company gets stagnant, it dies. At Dunder Mifflin Infinity, we don't want to die. Ever."

Are the writers still on strike? Yes, they are...And until their issues are resolved, I am growing restless for new episodes of The Office. Anyone else feel the same? Well, now there is something you can do while the writers are away and still get your office fix....kind of...

Join me at Dunder Mifflin Infinity - Omaha, NE!

Why Omaha? Why not? I grew up near Omaha, in Lincoln, NE, but currently live in Napa, CA. And like the Counting Crows sang, "Omaha....somewhere in the middle of America...it's the heart that matters more." Why Omaha? It's the meeting place, right in the middle! Yeah!

So, "Tell me more," you say. I have you intrigued? "What is there to do at Dunder Mifflin Infinity?"
Well, honestly, I'm probably not the best person to ask, but when has that ever stopped Michael Scott from answering? So, taking my cue from Mr. Michael Scott, I'll pipe in:

1) You can earn ShruteBucks!!! While, ShruteBucks are fairly worthless, as pointed out by Jim, you can earn them to pimp out your virtual desk. (Mine's empty right now, still working on the buying virtual things....)

"Diligent and hard-working employees will be rewarded in SchruteBucks, which can be spent on decorating their Virtual Desks, as well as with exclusive content (video, photos and downloads), official merchandise from the NBC Store, items featured in actual episodes of "The Office", and much, much more!"

2)Complete fun or pointless (or both) tasks to network with other branch employees or give your creativity a kick in the behind...

3)Climb your way up the corporate ladder...I'm tired of being a temp!

DMI JOB HIERARCHY

Temp 1000
Warehouse Employee 1300
Receptionist 1600
Customer Relations Specialist 2000
Quality Assurance Specialist 2600
Supplier Relations Specialist 3400
Accountant 4300
Salesperson 5300
Warehouse Foreman 6500
Human Resources Manager 8000
Assistant Regional Manager 10000
Regional Manager Appointed

4)Oh, yeah, you can even buy your own Office Branch logo-ized mugs, t-shirts and more! Wow!

I know you want to...don't ya? Check it all out, here.

P.S. It's really hard to convey sarcasm on line, so just throw in some funky gestures and eye-rolling every other line:)

P.S.S. Oh! and if you do join, tell 'em I sent ya!

Win $100 from Etsy!!

Just by taking this simple survey to help them make the site better!!
For those of you who don't know Etsy, it's an online community for crafters and artists. It was created as an alternative to Ebay, where you could go to find homemade, one-of-a-kind, hancrafted items. I love shopping on Etsy, because of the opportunity it offers me to support other artists. I'll avoid the big chains any chance I get, and am especially averse to buying from China.

I hope everybody on Etsy takes this survey!

For all the love that I have for Etsy, it could still definitely be more user friendly.
So, pipe in with all your suggestions, here!

Yummy Garnacha...

From Todd:

A 2005 Alto Moncayo Veraton Garnacha. A 100% Spanish Grenache wine with 15.5% alcohol. Modeled very much in the American fruit bomb tradition (though not in the unbalanced sense). It's always interesting to drink a 100% varietal, especially one that isn't so common.
It has an inky purple body that forms long slender fingers along the glass (from the high alcohol) after a good swirl. Delicious aromas of butterscotch, blackberry, vanilla and plum. Soft and smooth forward palate with a nice peppery spice on the way to the gullet. A fantastic Spanish wine that's well worth the reasonable price. Salud!