Julia and Thad – The Wedding

Julia and Thad

photo by Andrew Ranta

Our daughter Julia married her sweetie Thad at our family cabin in Fish Camp, CA October 11, 2008. Here is a picture of the happy couple. Their short outdoor ceremony was blessed with a dusting of snow! Then the family and close friends that attended enjoyed refreshments inside by the fire. Much love and happiness was shared by all.

Preview night

Preview night, originally uploaded by janet_farris.

This was my display of beads and jewelry at the preview night of the River City Quilt Guild annual show in Sacramento, CA.

Broken bark

Broken bark, originally uploaded by janet_farris.

The bark on this dead tree had broken in very straight lines, it was almost a mosaic look.

DonorChoose.org

For the longest time I’ve believed that Life is one big learning experience. I enjoyed most of my formal education years. After the long hot summer I was ready for the start of school. Still every fall I am overcome by the strong desire to purchase new pencils, notebooks and binders (plus some crayons!).

Well this year I came across this website and now I can channel my cravings into something that will help children that are in school now. It is wonderful to read the innovative ideas that our public school teachers are devising to stimulate their young charges. I hope you will consider one of the many projects and help make some classroom’s projects come true.

From the website

“DonorsChoose.org will improve public education by engaging citizens in an online marketplace where teachers describe and individuals can fund specific student projects. We envision a nation where students in every community have the resources they need to learn.”

Bad, bad, bad blogger

Well I knew I wouldn’t be an everyday poster, but I sure meant to post more often than this. So this past weekend I had two shows in my hometown. Saturday was the Artworks show at the Northwest Church. This is a beautiful, well run show, with a nice variety of artist. Many watercolorist, painters, potters, a photographer, and many jewelers.

I tried something new with my display,

Display at Artworks show

The wax doll head is something that I purchased at “Castle in the Air” in Berkeley. http://www.castleintheair.biz/main.html

I made a wreath of flowers to cover her little bald head. The wire display she is sitting on is a metal bread basket from Target. I can hang earrings on the wires.

I have had fun collaging the background of some new earring cards. They are pinned onto a display board of velvet covered foam board. I decorated the pins with polymer clay roses, birds and beads.

New earring cards

My second show this weekend was the CCBS Bead and Jewelry Show on Sunday at the Ramada Inn. CCBS is Central California Bead Society.

I was a little nervous about the outcome of the shows because of all the bad economic news lately, but it turned out to be a very good weekend. People still need “pretties” yeah!

CCBS show

I tried to email friends to let them know about the two shows and divided up my finished jewelry for the Artworks show and brought more of my beads and supplies to the CCBS show.

Daughter Julia’s wedding is less than 3 weeks away now and lots of details to finish up.

Puget Sound Bead Festival

Final count down until I leave for the Puget Sound Bead Festival July 11 – 13, 2008 in Tacoma, WA. I will be teaching 4 classes, mostly in the evening. I have almost all the kits assembled and the instructions sheets ready. Only a few more items to be prepped and then just the packing left to do.

I tried to put the logo up for the show, but do not seem to have it figured out right. Don’t want to spend the time on that now, so more info on the show can be seen by clicking on the link.

Templeton Quilt Show

Well I was afraid that when I started this blog I wouldn’t be able to post as often as I should. I hope to update more info soon on what I have been up to. Right now I have my nose to the grindstone getting ready to show some of my new work at the Templeton Quilt Show. I will have some quilt beads, buttons, and jewelry, and some of my little forest creature beads. If you are in the Central California area I hope you will come by.

Templeton, CA is a little south of Paso Robles on highway 101. Here is the website for more information and pictures.

http://www.templetonquiltshow.com/gallery.htm

It is a one day show and they hang the quilts on the business buildings down main street. I hope it doesn’t get too hot!!

Medium goldfish bead

Medium goldfish bead, originally uploaded by janet_farris.

Here are photos of the beads I have been working on. I plan to show them at the Phoenix Bead Expo. I wanted to share some of the process in their construction and the design decisions that went into making these beads.

Large goldfish bead – back

Large goldfish bead – back, originally uploaded by janet_farris.

Canes for scales of fish

Canes for scales of fish, originally uploaded by janet_farris.

The start of the goldfish cane begins with making blends of color with a “Skinner” blend using translucent clay and red, orange and gold. This is rolled with the translucent in the center. I also made white canes with pearl and translucent. I reduced these canes into smaller diameters and divided into fourths and stacked these into the fish scale pattern. I didn’t remember to take photos of that when I was making these. I got involved in the construction and forgot!