How I Spent My Summer

3 months! That's how long it's been since I last posted here. It's not that I didn't have anything to say; it's just that so many other things kept getting in the way. Where to start? I guess I actually should start just before that last post. 

I've been craving an iPad ever since they first came out, and I finally bought one for myself. Call it a Mother's Day gift. I'm still learning how to use all it's features; but it's really pretty much all I expected. 

Of course, what I didn't expect was all the Apps I would need (or want), but luckily they've all been free or just a couple of dollars. And all the accessories: a cover, a case for when I travel (I bought and tried out a slew of them till I found just what I wanted, and then found out that I mostly just use the cover) and I've found a stylus really comes in handy. Now that I've got the hang of it, I've even been able to take some pretty good photos with it. And the ability to sync everything between the iPad and my computer is awesome. I've been using it constantly.

In June I went back home for the first time since we moved out here permanently, back in the Fall of 2008. It was exactly the same weekend I was supposed to go back last June, but ended up hospitalized with Pneumonia and Valley Fever instead. This time the trip was for my High School Reunion, which was a  a small, intimate brunch; probably the last formal reunion we'll have, so it was good to see everyone. The rest of the week was great; I stayed with some friends and got to spend time with my son; saw other friends and family, attended a couple of great performances, and had some terrific meals.

Then, in July, I went to the Gathering, the annual conference of the International Society of Glass Beadmakers. It was the first time I attended in 5 or 6 years, and I really enjoyed all the presentations, Gallery Tours, and the camaraderie of other glass workers. I also took a pre-conference workshop, so it was a full week. And of course there were all the technical vendors. I made a serious dent in my finances, buying some wonderful reactive glass and a few new tools. I've been having a ball playing with them. Photos of new work soon to come.

In between all of these events, I made a new Breeze shawl;

and continued working on the monthly squares for the 2012 CAL-BAM Afghan. I've still been doing a lot of jewelry: metal work, wire work, and of course glass.  But mostly, I've been working on setting up a new online shop to sell my Beads & Jewelry, and I finally opened it this week. There's considerably more finished jewelry, especially Shawl Pins for all you fiber artists. Check it out, I welcome your comments and critiques. 

Purple Butterfly Boutique