Saturday, September 29, 2007

Least expect....


What happens when your all ready and excited to do a show you enjoy and look forward to doing....well, a sudden illness!! so I will not be at the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival this year! Very sorry!! and will miss getting my fill of fresh grown garlic ...seeing old & new friends, customers and their families and many shared hugs!!! So, I do apologize again, and will up and at it soon! The weather couldn't be better...sunny! Great festival with many wonderful artisans & music along with all the garlic!! It's a wonderful time if you get a chance to go! http://www.hvgf.org/


Meantime..busy making beads & pendants...and working on new designs of jewelry! Sign up on my website http://www.ladybrookdesigns.com/ and register ...it's free!! I will be offering some great deals and cool stuff soon but you must be registered at my website! The season is now turning to warm colors....thoughts of pumpkins, colored leaves, warm sweaters....hmmm sounds like fall to me!! I hope your summer brought you wonderful happy times! It was great being the featured artist on http://www.firedclayartists.com/ this month of September... and every month you'll meet a member of our group and get to know who we are as we share our love and passion for clay with you with our beads, pendants and clay products!

Fairy dust, blessings, happiness, good health & BEADS,

Christine

Thursday, September 13, 2007

September Artist on FCA!!



How exciting!!! I was chosen for Artist of the month for September on Fired Clay Artists!! You can check out my interview at www.firedclayartists.com click on September Featured Artist .....and because of this I am celebrating with a $5.00 off coupon with purchase over $50.00 at my store www.ladybrookdesigns.com for the month of September! Well, where did the summer go?? Always too fast for me!! Enjoyed and still enjoying the many birds and flowers in my gardens, the bears that treated themselves now and then to my feeders, I am sure the 4 cubs we had here earlier are getting big! Had another bear visit while we were having dinner outside....just 20 feet from us!! and he sauntered off to the woods....the deer are still feeding along the yard and the young ones are getting big also! You can tell summer is winding down, the ripening of the golden rod, flowers on last blooms...and the air! Ok, I do get lost in all the lovely nature around me...
Getting ready for the famous Hudson Valley Garlic Festival!! I have been hand creating ceramic garlic earrings for this show along with my other jewelry & whimsy! This is a fun show where garlic lovers come from all over! I'll be there the 29th & 30th of September www.hvgf.org
So many exciting things are going on in the world of clay beads!! Bead & Button had left fired clay beads and many other media out of their "Bead Dreams 2008" contest.... so our community of fired clay beaders came out in force to the B&B forum to question why we were left out....and BRAVO to all who wrote.....they have redone their rules for entering and now we can participate but must send in 4 samples of our work! Being that last year our own Joan Miller of Joan Miller Porcelain won!! with Lisa Peters raku in the finals too!!! So we are all excited about this turn of events for us!!
Busy glazing and making new pieces!! Love having my hands in the clay!! Added some new work on my website and Etsy....http://www.ladybrook.etsy.com
Hope everyone is well and back in the swing of school, winding down from the heat of summer and looking forward to the vibrant colors of fall....I am still looking forward to having a studio built....but I am married to the carpenter and he is very busy!! Does the shoemaker's wife have shoes? But I know it's going to happen soon!! Well, back to my below ground studio for now...I send you sparkly fairy dust, hugs, and may you be healthy and follow your dreams!!
Warmly,
Christine

Monday, July 16, 2007

Family ways...




Hi everyone!!
Lately, much of my energy has been shifted to family...my wonderful mother has just closed on a house that has the panoramic sky of sunrise & sunset that she has been looking for quite some time...and is needing much help with the move! Anyone who has moved a loved one with many possessions, keepsakes and garden lover ( of course her special plants!) takes time.....so, I have been going back and forth when I can (4 1/2 hr. round trip), and having had a medical issue that I am also getting through ( thank heavens for CLAY!!! I do believe it is my sanity!! LOL) I am busy glazing porcelain beads at present....need to get some finished work on my website!! Apologies for delayed presentation of new beads, pendants and jewelry!! I promise I will get them up!!!
Also, living in the country with nature we were visited by a mother black bear and we couldn't believe it....and 4 small cubs!!!!! Wow! we were amazed and she wouldn't leave! (focused on our bird feeders)...well after a time..she and her 4 cubs romped up the bank and were gone ( so we thought...and this is in early afternoon on a hot summer day!) well, I returned back down to my work painting my beads, hubby left for errend....and about 45min. later I came up and the bird feeders were down!! The Finch feeder busted in many pieces and the metal bird feeder yanked from the tree and wires bent (has happened before...so we take them in at night). ..so that mamma was determined to get those feeders!!! It has now been almost a week and no sign or sight of her and her babes...but, as nature goes....she'll sure check back sometime!! It was truly an awsome sight to watch..especially the cubs!! Anyone have Woodpeckers drinking from your Humming bird feeders?? Well, we have a few that must think they are Hummingbirds!!
Just sharing a bit of nature around here...I know the fairies are busy playing around the flowers!

Fired Clay Artists..FCA...is growing leaps & bounds!!! Jessica Sharrah & Marla of Marlas Mud have taken it and it is blossoming with many of the groups input!! I am proud of all the members work and sharing as on BoC! I have much to catch up on and need to plow more focus on the clay and my site....I feel as if I haven't been giving it my all in recent months...with much going on personally! But fear not as they say!!! The artist shall prevail!!! I bloom at a slower rate so I can absorb what is happening!! I love what I do, the groups of clay I am with and sharing this passion!! I recently got a few special orders I am also working on...
OK, I shall stop now and get to work!! The internet is a great tool for getting out there...and marketing with it has endless possibilities!! I am learning!!! So, thanks for stopping by! My roundtuit is big....so I best get going on ....
See you on FCA & BoC!!!
Wishing you blissings, laughter & of course beads & fairy dust!

Christine

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Back On Track!


Here we are ...it's summer!! Happy Summer everyone!!

Been away from blogging & posting on BoC but getting it together!! ...much going on in life!!

Our clay bead world is on an incredible journey especially lately!! A busy sister member Jessica Sharrah, has been grabbing ETSY treasures like crazy!!! and what a joy to see so many members join & share!! Keep going Jessica!!

I'll be back again at the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival in September (largest on the east coast!) with my handmade ceramic garlic earrings!! Fun!! I have a pile of porcelain beads I am in the process of glazing....I know..I am hurrying to get them in the kiln !!!! and then to you!!

Fired Clay Artists first ever contest....just design something from any of our members ...too cool huh??!! so go to our website and check out the details!!! http://www.firedclayartists.com/ !! Looking forward to seeing your designs!! Have fun!!

Traveling this 4th? I pray for safe journey to all. The photo is of little ceramic dangles I created.

Getting new stuff on my site....I promise!! :)

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Branching out....


As I am busy working on creating my LadyBrook beads & pendants in porcelain for the next kiln load...the Beads-of-Clay group is also now on divantArt!! and members are showing their beads & work & blogging there too! I am there too (so exciting!! it's an amazing site...so much to navigate and see!!!) my site there is LadyBrook Beads in the Beads-of-Clay site. It's all very new to us..but is taking off, thanks to enthusiastic members!! And...on the FCA (Fired Clay Artists) site where my website is....that is growing too!! Marla, has created an auction site for us too!! Well, these are new things going on in our bead world!! Meanwhile...the Impatience plants I planted are growing...the Hummingbirds are busy at the feeder as the birds, squirrels, chipmunks & an occasional black bear feed at the feeders! Enjoying the chorus of singing birds..and watching spring ripen to summer...and now it's back to work and getting these beads done! I am so excited with so much happening in our world of clay beads!! I am also blogging on Beads-of-Clay too!! Yes, we are growing & branching out...and I am so happy to joined with such a warm & wonderful group of clay bead artists!!
Feeling happy,
Christine

Thursday, May 31, 2007

The Kiln is Fired Up!!



Well a new creative batch of my handmade LadyBrook beads, pendants & many styles of dangles..(including quite a garden of my teeny tiny flower dangles!!) With this kiln load I experimented with some new glazes...so, looking forward to see them when they are ready and to get them up on my website for your creative designs! Meanwhile, I have been busy making porcelain beads, pendants & dangles...soon for these to be in the kiln!
This month has flew by! With so much of my energy creating beads, pendants & dangles....I have not been able to put forth the time to create my own jewelry designs!! This is truly a first for me! So, I see a transition going on here....hhmmm, but I am in clay bliss making the beads!! What a joy to share this passion with my fellow members of Beads of Clay & Fired Clay Artists!! There is so much energy & exciting things happening in our clay world....hard to keep up!! LOL!!!
Will post pictures of opening the kiln from this batch on the Beads of Clay Pool when they are done!! So, while I am excitedly waiting for them I am going to try my hands at creating a toggle clasp from the porcelain clay for our new challenge!!

Sunday, May 27, 2007

Link to May's Prize of beads for Ophelias Garden!

Here is the link to the donated prize beads, pendants & dangles to the winner of the Ophelias Garden challenge from Art Bead Scene! Gets ideas & creativity going!! Check out all the beautiful beads ....and have fun on the Art Bead Scene site too! Enjoy.

http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2007/05/dig-into-ophelias-garden-detail-of-mays.html

Catching up!!

Warm greetings to all!! It has been quite awhile since I last posted....much has been going on! Excited I made some sales from my website to wonderful & creative jewelry artists...what a joy!! Will be great to see their designs!!
Before this month is done (where does the time go??!!) ....Art Bead Scene had a contest for jewelry designers "Ophelia's Garden" theme, and I was very happy to donate some of my tiny flower dangles, leaves & flower bead, along with other clay artists & members of Fired Clay Artists...Thanks Melanie!! ...and what beautiful pieces were created! Also, on Art Bead Scene Blog, my tiny flower & leaf dangles were featured with a good close up of detail and lovely comment...thank you again Melanie of Earthenwood!!
Meanwhile......as spring is blossoming with green, colors & song...so beautifully I take moments to take it all in & enjoy! and in between...life happens...my dear brother had his back operated on was there for him & family...recouping well right now ...working the plans for my new studio!!!! Will be getting out of the basement & into the light!! Oh how I have dreamed of this!! and yes, I have been making new items with clay, both in ceramic & porcelain almost have enough for a kiln load...and glazing bisque beads, pendants & dangles soon to be also kiln fired! Excited to get all this done and posted on my website!!! It's not like just making the jewelry designs with everything right there for you....I am making the parts!! which I enjoy so much and picture all that can be designed with them as I am creating the pieces in clay...on these lovely days I bring the clay outside along with 3 draws of objects, stamps, buttons, tools, rolling pin, and create LadyBrook beads, pendants & dangles ...while nature abounds around me! I feel so blessed as you are too, dear reader! Been spending most of my time creating with the clay....that I have not been as focused on making my jewelry designs!! Yikes!! and I have a craft show next weekend!!! ...and life goes on!!! Hope your day is wonderful and you feel good!

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Hands in earth...


Happy Spring everyone! I know it's been awhile since I last posted (need to work on that!). Well, the snows have melted...the rains have come... the sun is warmer....and earth's beauty of greens & flowers are emerging along with all the bugs & insects...looking forward to the humming birds to come...we feed birds all year long...and the singing in spring is a most amazing orchestra and evenings bring the chorus of peepers!...so my hands have been a bit busy both with our mostly clay gardens...where the fairies will dance & play, and the clays of my designs....soon to have a kiln load of glazed new pieces to place on my website with fired clay artists! Some of my LadyBrook pendants have found new homes and excited to see how they will be embellished!
Looking forward to having a page on my site under the bead fairy just for your creations with my LadyBrook beads & pendants....your designs...your gallery!! Create with joy! Will post again...have a happy day!
Well, back to glazing! I took this photo after a storm last year...never let go of your dreams!
Warmly,
Christine

Thursday, April 5, 2007

Website about ready...

Whew! Much of my new LadyBrook Designs website is done! ...and happy & excited to have it done with Fired Clay Artists!!! Thanks so much to Marla James of Marla's Mud...our fearless leader!!!...as a group we are being launched in Beads 2007 next week!! I think the site looks fabulous and so many amazing clay bead & pottery artists!!! Anyway, much of my time has been devoted to this project!...and I am looking forward to getting my hands back busy in the clay...I have some great ideas I am excited to try...and will gladly post here & on my site as I go along..but do check my site for some of the new pendants that are from the kiln load below!
A touch of winter has come but will not be long....the daffodils are coming up, crocus blooming, such singing of birds!! I wish you blissings & a happy day!

Monday, March 26, 2007

Kiln lid open...


Top shelf........ Bottom shelf...

Yes, the work is worth it. These will soon be available on my website at fired clay artists. Well, back to work.

Waiting for kiln to cool!....

Greetings from the LadyBrook Studio! After the glazing and critical tedious time consuming job of loading the kiln & carefully closing the lid...Whew!!! fingers crossed!!LOL!! Now I am waiting for the kiln to cool down so I can open the lid!! Anyone remember the song from Carly Simon...Anticipation????!! Excitement, anxiety, and the thrill to see & handle a new batch of pendants & beads...and hope they all come out great! I will post a picture when the lid is open....a few hours from now!!! sing it Carly!!! LOL!!

Sunday, March 18, 2007



Handmade ceramic Kaleidoscope bead...large & different designs painted all around using detail brushes...steady hand...magnifier (a must!!)lol and underglazes with clear glaze. I love design & color and I find myself lost to the bead when the brushes & glazes are in my hands...and the bead design takes on a life of it's own! I have this bead pictured larger to show detail. I am new at this show and tell blogging but I see I am not alone and very happy to share as you other beadmakers are too!! I am sooo happy to have found clay to create with ....the whole process is a joy! Calling it a night...our beagle Gracie needs her night walk.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Website & Glazing....

Seems I am working on my website all the time...and yet it seems still so much to go!!! but I feel very good about this new journey with Fired Clay Artists!! the launch is in about 4 weeks!! so I have much to do!!!
Got downstairs and glazed pendants I have created a while ago...the website got most of me this winter and all this new planning!! so I am very psyched and getting ready for an exciting Spring and beginning!! We are due for more snow...and I see the daffodils coming out of the earth...nature knows!! I am excited using some new glazes I got on my pendants!! will post pix when they are loaded and done!! I am thinking of new customers for my work and the designs they will create with my beads and pendants!! Being a jewelry artisan for many years this is new and exciting to be making pieces for other jewelry artists to create with!! March is flying by, and I wish happy beading to all!!
Christine

Monday, March 12, 2007

Spring is almost here...

Welcome to LadyBrook Designs Studio Blog! With encouragement from BoC (Beads of Clay) members, I am going to share with you my journey with making my LadyBrook Beads & Jewelry designs... somewhere the road forked and I chose this path...more like it chose me! At present, my studio is & has been the basement, now it is time I get it out in the light...an old garage we had (how it lasted this long is mystery!) has been taken down by my wonderful husband Bob, and my new studio will be in its place!!! I am so excited!! I will be happy to post photos as we go along making my dream ...reality!!! So much is happening in the bead clay world...a new website for Clay Artists has been launched but will have more artists up and running by April 1st....Yes, including me!! the side is Fired Clay Artists! It is a great group of dedicated clay artisans...and I am so very happy to be part of it! Well, I need to go and glaze pendants & beads....
Christine