My Double Life...

First of all, I would like to say that I am thrilled to be a part of this group with an amazing group of artists. I am looking forward to see all of the possibilities that can happen with our new blog and website.

Hmmmmm...a double life....Well...It's not really all that juicy...just wanted to get your attention ;o).

You won't see it in the upcoming movie of the week or a new reality show (although there was a time in my life that I think I could have made millions during the years I was raising teenagers), but my double life today is pretty common in the world of jewelry.

I have been a special education teacher for 26 years which means I'm no spring chicken anymore!  Although I really do love my job and feel very fortunate to have some special friends that I work with, I do hope to retire one day.  It's the hope that my husband Bill, also a teacher and artist and I can retire and spend the golden years creating with clay.  He is a wood-fire potter and I am a ceramic bead artist.  I love creating with clay.  I love clay because there are so many choices in terms of shapes, size, styles and glazes that makes this form of creating something I don't think I will ever tire of. 

Okay...I'm going to cut myself off here since I need some material for my next post ;o)

Here are some beads that are a definite favorite.  There is a little story that goes along with these....

The above pictures are the original Lacey Beads....made right from the little artist herself!!!

My granddaughters...Lacey and Chloe

One day approx. 1.5 years ago when my then 2 year old adorable granddaughter Lacey was starting to show an interest in bead making, I tried to teach her to roll a little ball.  Each time I rolled one and tried to get her to do the same by putting it in front of her, she poked her little finger in it.  I'd say, "Look Honey, Watch Nonnie...."

I'd roll again....She would poke again...

This went on until we had about 50 or so squished beads.  I decided that it was her design so I would make the most of it even though it wasn't the plan.  I had so many of them that I decided to put a bunch aside for her to glaze in primary colors and glaze the rest with some adult colors.  Well, I listed my first group on Etsy and they sold in less that 2 hours!!!  Yay, Lacey!  Lacey beads have been re-created many, many times since.

Lacey Beads today... A replication of the original :O)