Okay, so it has been a *really* long time since I've posted on this blog, but I've been updating Twitter (@unc_docschick) and Facebook pretty regularly. I find it hard to find time to write anything of real length and substance these days because my 9 month old is such an active little boy. Being a stay at home mom has a lot of advantages and I consider myself very lucky to be home with him, but it doesn't leave me a lot of time for other things. However, slowly but surely I'm finding a way to get back to being a creative individual and not just a mom.

As October quickly approaches, I find myself hoping that I'll have enough inventory to go around. I'll be at the Holly Springs Farmers Market every weekend but the last weekend of October and I'll also be at Chapel Hill's Festifall event on Oct 3rd. I also need to get some jewelry ready for Mylestone Gallery and Wines so they'll be ready for the holiday season. My beaded gemstone and silver jewelry items do pretty well there and I feel very fortunate to be featured in this lovely store.

So, while the little man sleeps during the morning, I rush out to the garage and throw whatever I can into the kiln as quickly as I can. I've been focusing on Halloween themed bowls lately and will add some pics once I have a chance to resize them. I really love working with the kiln and figuring out what works and what doesn't, and I find I'm rarely lacking in ideas (though the execution of these ideas doesn't always work out for me).

With the jewelry, however, I feel like I'm in a bit of a rut. I've made a few new things, but I've lost my muse for the most part and that makes me pretty sad. I really want to get back into the creative flow and will try to focus on it a bit more this week and next. To help get myself out of this rut, I've signed up with Rings & Things as a blog partner. Maybe I'll be one of the lucky folks who get to review and create with some of their supplies. It could be just the thing to help me find my creative jewelry spark again. I've added a link to their site on the right side of the page. Check them out if you haven't already. I'm looking at getting some of their kiln-friendly Art Clay eventually, to try my hand at making my own beads and focal pendants.

Anyway, that's all for now. Time to head to bed and here's hoping I'll find time to be creative again tomorrow. One day and one project at a time -- that's my motto these days.

I just heard from the folks at the Holly Springs Farmers Market today. I've been accepted for my 3rd season there and will be selling my creations on the 1st Saturday of each month, starting in May. Plus, October is craft month at the market and I'll be there every weekend for the last month of the market. I'm relieved that I've been accepted again and nervous about the new season.

Why nervous? Well, because I don't have a lot of glass inventory at the moment. But, that's okay. I have a plan. Today, after hearing the good news, I orderd some glass supplies so I can make some new jewelry pieces, some candle holders, coasters, and maybe even some artistic pieces. I can't wait to get back in the garage and fire up the kiln again.

Today also brought another present, of sorts. The swing we orderd for the baby boy arrived and has been assembled. He's still not sure what to make of it, but putting him in that and keeping him occupied while I'm working with the glass seems like a great plan for me. I can put it in the garage with me and keep an eye on him, which I haven't been able to do thus far. Let's just hope the weather continues being warm and mild so I can get started really soon.

Wow... time flies, especially when you have a baby (who is sitting in my lap and kicking my hands as I type this). I put everything creative in my life on hold for a while and am just now thinking it is time to find my muse again. The time off has been both good and bad. Good in that I have the cutest and sweetest baby boy I could have ever hoped to have. Bad because I find myself lacking a lot of inventory (family members had to get *something* for Christmas and fused glass items seemed like a good plan at the time).

I've applied to be an artist at the Holly Springs (NC) Farmers Market for the 2010 season. This will be my 3rd season there if I'm accepted again. Last year we were allowed to be there each and every Saturday of the month. This year, the application was like my first year's application, stating that artists were welcome the 1st Saturdays of the month and each Saturday in October (craft month). I, and another crafter I know, asked to be there on the 1st and 3rd Sats of the month, but we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

Until the first Saturday in May, I have to rediscover my hibernating muse and begin crafting again. I hope we have lots of warm days coming up, as it would help me get motivated to get out in the garage and work with the kiln. It has just been too cold this winter to think about it. Not to mention my 3 month old son taking up lots and lots of my time.

And speaking of the little cutie... here he is:

I'm still playing catch up to get a preview of my new kiln work available online. Today I will be featuring some of the new pendants I've been working on. I've gotten pretty good at layering dichroic glass and clear glass together to form pendants, but with so many beautiful type of glass available and so many different styles and techniques to try, I've decided to experiment with my designs a bit more.

For example, here are some pendants made with dichroic slide paper:

And here are some pendant attempts with art glass (black patterned clear glass layered over opaque lavender glass:

And, finally, here are some pendant attempts using stringers and frit over blue swirled art glass to create organic floral motifs:

More to come, so stay tuned!