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

Recent Work

These are fun to make ~ they're like little dark tide-pools ~ and the lentil shape is comfortable to wear.

A sea wheel.

Strung on a hand-dyed silk ribbon, beautifully made by Tammy, here.

Key to the Sea.

Turtle Dave

These and others are all currently on display in the July "Going Coastal" show at Art Exposure Gallery.

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!

More Candy

EYE candy...for your sweet tooth ~

but they'll look better hanging from your ears.

Mr. Frosty here was a custom order, 

but I decided to go bigger and made another.

Note his little flower in his hat, and the icy crystals sticking to him.

Snow Bear is another custom request.

 Mr. and Mrs. Snow.  The hats are a bit Turkish without the brims.

The holidays bring joy 

and exciting challenges for me with glass.

Sweet Beads, Low Cal

A friend asked whether I could make beads that look like peppermint candies.  Sure! I said, but it's been awhile.  Hmm...it might be time to light the torch. 

Here's the result:

Almost lickable!

This one is sold, but I'm ready to make more.  Sa-weet!

Uh-oh...

...what am I getting myself into...

You may remember that I have several previous blog posts about quilts and quilting.  In one of them I mentioned how I've wanted to learn the craft some day.  Well...

THAT DAY IS HERE!

 And --- I've started a NEW separate blog:

THE QUILTING POST

to keep my hobbies distinct and to keep up with the quilt progress over there, so please visit often!

 I'd love for you to follow me there!

(click the machine to go!)

Soup, Soup, Who's in the Soup?

Does the blog post title take you back a few years?  I haven't thought about my favorite childhood game since heck was a pup!  But tonight, the phrase just crept forward from the ancient archives of my memory.

My sister and I, cousins, and neighborhood kids used to stay outside til after dark playing this "interactive" game (to use 21st century verbiage).  The children formed a circle around one blindfolded person who stood with outstretched pointing finger while slowly twirling and reciting the game's mantra in monotone (spooky-ish) tone:

"Soup, soup, who's in the soup?"

Whomever the pointed finger landed on when the question ended, had to reply what kind of soup they were, but with a disguised voice: "TOMATO SOUP!" (deep, husky voice).  If the blindfolded guessed who spoke, they gave chase and if "tomato soup" was caught, they had to return to the middle of the circle and be "it".  Such were the days of my youth, ah......

In my last post, I sorta blindfolded YOU and asked:  

Soup, soup, who's in the soup? 

 Can you guess?


Ok, let's take off the steamy lid, so we're able to get a peek...

I think we could call it "Seashell Macaroni"!  LOL.

This is the bead soup I sent to my partner, Kitty at Perles and Life; I do hope she likes the ingredients I sent.

And tomorrow, we shall find out "Who's in the Soup" that Kitty sent to me!  I can't wait to show you!  Off to shoot photos...

Bead Soup Teaser

I have prepared my Bead Soup ~  

stirred and simmered it with love ~

and even turned up the heat a good bit!!!

  Now it's ready for shipping!

  I think my partner, Kitty at Perles and Life will be surprised and pleased.

For my readers who might be unfamiliar with Bead Soup Party, the contents for the partner should be a surprise, i.e., no photos of the soup prior to the receipt of it.

But I'll give you a hint...


Wanna see?

Come back for the reveal!

Treasury on Etsy

Barb of Silvergoldberry Jewelry on ETSY has included one of my lampwork beads in her TREASURY LIST   Thanks Barb!

You can view her entire Cool Summer Breeze treasury HERE, which features a wide variety of amazing and beautiful handmade items.  Thanks for looking

Bad Hair Day???

Long hair can be a daily challenge, but the right learning tools and accessories can prevent potential bad hair days! {Click the pics to zoom}

 

With the use of decorative hair sticks, you can color coordinate or even go with a wardrobe theme for the day. 

Take a moment to "poke around" ;-) this assortment...you just might see something that makes hair care fun!

 

Whip it up into a Chinese knot, wrap up a Figure 8, or twist into a Basic bun ~ possibilities abound!

A huge shout out to my cousin Sabrina, for the tutorial demonstrating the techniques.  She has the longest and prettiest hair of anyone I know.  Great job Cuz!

 

Hollow / Empty

Hollow beads can be tricky to make, but once you catch on, the process can be intriguing, mesmerizing even.  This one is adorned with random blue and green glass particles...really dresses it up I think.

 

The hollow, or empty, bead brings to mind the empty tomb...now hollow...because death and the grave could not hold Him.   The Lord is Risen!

Sunday's comin'

Some of my favorite beads to make are using striped cane for raised flowers, or simple "poked" flowers, or these...rosy and magnified with clear encasing. Soothing colors and pleasing pastels remind me of spring, my favorite time of year.  And flowers remind me of the Easter season in particular. 

The trees are in bloom!  And it was a tree that our Savior carried himself - to die on - yet He lives, that we might be a kind of first fruits among God's creatures...

a Tree of Life.