The Yaupon Tree

Back in the spring I was invited to showcase my glass art in another nearby beach town:

 

It was easy enough to locate...just a right turn after crossing the high-rise bridge.

It's a standalone retail shop...

 

 and studio where owner Brian Evans creates his pottery. 

Let's go inside:

The muraled walls are tastefully done, making it a delight to shop.

The Yaupon Tree 

has offerings by local and regional artists in pottery, painting,

photography, sculpture,

metalwork

and glass.

Notice another beautiful wall in the background!

If you're in the Southport/Oak Island area, be sure to stop in and chat with Brian and Diane Evans, the friendly owners.  You're sure to find some treasure there!

The Yaupon Tree

8501 East Oak Island Drive

Oak Island, NC  28465

(910) 278-5991

Shall We Gather at the River...

Today ~ Saturday, Dec. 17th ~ marks the final market at the Riverfront, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.  Come by my booth for something different!  These lovely hair sticks / shawl pins would be a unique stocking stuffer.

I have a trove of holiday gifts to choose from, like this lil skeleton key and turtle.  I made the bead directly on the key, but used a barrier so that it moves around...fun to fiddle with.

If you're unable to visit my booth in person, check out my 
ETSY SHOP for last minute gifts, and I'll be happy to meet you locally, or ship it free.

The markets well reopen in April.

Thanks to all of my customers!

Turtles

(Want to visit the Bead Soup Blog Party hop?)

Click here

Probably the most popular/requested glass bead creature that I make is the sea turtle (frogs are a close second).

At least two factors multiplied result in the product:

1) I am situated on the coast

2) Topsail Island's Sea Turtle Hospital is located nearby.

 Photo from seaturtlehospital.org

Now in their 15th year, many volunteers dedicate their time and talents to watching and protecting nests, and caring for injured sea turtles.

My first encounter with a real live sea turtle occurred right there on Topsail Island when I was a small girl on vacation.  A huge mother turtle had come to shore to lay her eggs, and I recall seeing the grownups trying to force her back out to sea.

It seems they (mistakenly) thought she had lost her mind or sense of direction, as they pushed on the huge marine reptile, the poor thing.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Among the turtles I create the design I try to emulate is the Loggerhead class.  I'm more fond of the ones that look more natural in color with earth tones.

But...I've had requests for turquoise turtles, 

emerald turtles,

and even pink ones!
(absent on photo day)

Think I'll head out to the torch soon...
time for some glass therapy.

And tomorrow, I'll be teaching others
how to make glass beads.  Good times!

.

Quilt Blocks in Glass

You might have noticed my business name subtitle:

And it's true ~ inspiration for bead designs is all around ~ and usually all I need to do is look at creation, but sometimes I still get in a creative slump.  Other ideas for inspiration can be found in the color scheme and patterns that others create...like fabrics designers and quilters...some of them just beg to be interpreted in glass!

My friend Freda makes quilts for her family and has a delightful Blog about quilting.  The above quilt she made for one of her 5 grandchildren, and each one has his/her own fabulous quilt, made with the love only a grandmother has.

                                                        
As I studied the beauty of each of these quilts on her blog, I thought about making something special for her, so that she could remember them often.  Why not try doing some quilt block interpretation in glass?

 

 I was ready to take up the challenge!  Beautiful fabric blocks, colors and patterns, reduced to miniature in another medium, glass!  I browsed my work- bench for twisted cane, frit, and single colored rods to begin the project.

 

The H block quilt represents a child's initial ~ clever!

Check these gorgeous greens and purples!

My interpretation of each grandbaby quilt:

Freda's quilt block bracelet,
which she received on her birthday this month!

What do you think?

 Good enough for the Empress of the Universe ?

Toadily Handmade

The last blog post about an Etsy Treasury which included my work, reminded me how much fun it is to create one.  It had been a long time since I had done just that, so I "sprang" at the chance to try it again.

"Frog on a bead" is a popular choice of my market customers, in a variety of colors, but I'm fond of the old reliable pea green.  Not long ago, I made a pink frog and about 75% of visitors to my booth commented, "Look!  It's a snail!"  Recently, a loving daddy treated his little girl to the pink... umm...I think they called it a frog ;-)

But I jumped off topic, so back to my Etsy Treasury - which I titled, "Toadily Handmade".  I took a leap of faith as I scouted around for all things froggy, and came up with everything  

from Violet-Lime Goatmilk Soap

 

and Kiss a Prince aromatherapy bath salts (deep breath),

  

to Frogs Galore Cloth Diapers (a BFGO*) 

 *BFGO = buy four get one

and Sterling Silver Trapeze Frog Earrings.  These pretty lil danglies are must haves...just click to see them. You'll be ribbited to the page! (groan)  For the final sneak peek, a precious Crocheted Frog Baby Beanie with Earflaps:

Great for those precious sleeping baby photo shots!  And many more lovely surprises to behold in the treasury, especially green froggy ones!

And let me take this opportunity to shout out to Corina, the princess of frogs, and her book Passing the Flame.  Five years in, and I'm still learning from it and enjoying plenty of eye candy too!

 

Hop on the bus!  Have a great Sunday,