Moondance Beads

July 29th 2011 The most important thing that happen thus far this year is the birth of my Grandbaby. Cassandra Jayelle Caron. Not much else can be said to top that.

January 2011 Happy New Year Everyone It always amazes me as I have written before, "Where does the time go?" We all have now moved into another decade and with it comes  a lot of excitment for me. Within a month I will be a grandmother and I so can't wait. I am sure my daughter-in-law is feeling the same way about now. Very sucessful beading this past year and my home show was wonderful. A percentage of sales will be going off to the Children's Hospital as that was where I wanted my donation to go this year. So many friends are having babies I thought it was a good idea.  This year my sister Toni Jones joined me at my home show with her silver work. She did very well and I hope she will join me again next year. I am sure a lot of people hope for that as well since her beautiful jewelry sold very quickly. No major plans for trips this year as the baby will be here and well you know where my heart will be. A few new stores are asking for my jewelry, and designers are getting going again  so back to the torch I go.

Aug 29th 2010 Well it is hard to believe that a year ago I was at a wedding yesterday and celebrating a hangover a year ago today. Well not really a hangover since I barely drank at my son's wedding but I guess it was a tired hangover. I am so excited cause I  am going to be a grandmother.  Nan's is what I want to be called after Gunner's grandmother. Love that name. The baby is due in February....... Nan's it will be. School starts again for another year soon. Can't believe summer has already come to an end. We did manage to get away this year, 1st visiting New York City and then Atlantice City. It was hot, don't go to those places in the summer way to muggy and hot. But we did love it and want to go back to Atlantic City. Body surfing and walking and biking the boardwalk was awesome. Got away camping to Bluey Lake and that was amazing, check out the pictures on my facebook they will blow you away all the colors. Spending as much time as possible in my studio getting ready for fall shows and my home show in November, date to follow. Some excting and new work has been coming out of me and I am excited to show it off. Still time for a few more walks on the beach down at Boundary Bay where a lot of people do not go nor know about tso iti s a bit of heaven in Delta. Inspiring my work this year all the beaches I have been to. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

May 12, 2010 Well another season is done for the Canuck's... Was at the game last night and it was a sad situation, What can anyone say.. At least Coach gets to go on summer hours now. On the bead front I  have been busy on the torch mostly playing with blowing shards and working them into my beads, what a blast. It is always good to find a new and exciting road to travel down. Getting ready to send off my work to The National Liberty Museum's 11th Annual Glass Now Auction. Working on an exciting piece to send to them this year.  I have been teaching art classes to a little girl and that has been fun and interesting. Mostly painting and drawing. I finally finished my huge mandala painting and it is hanging in our hallway.| Waiting to get some paintings from a friend to hang on the other huge walls in our hallway. 'Three Crooked Trees' Like I do not have enough to do I bought an old hard cover book the other day and I am sticking the pages together and making an interesting book on shells and the like. There will be holes in the book where little things can be found, writings and all things to do with the sea that I so love. School is almost out for another year, many changes happening with all the layoffs and cutbacks. When will our government realize that education is the key. One principal was even heard saying "If they just got rid of the resource programs for Special Needs, then they would not have to let go of so many teachers." WOW! what a powerful statement, wonder how that person would feel if they had a Special Needs child? Makes you wonder about the people you work side by side with day in and day out. What do they really think about Special Needs in the schools?

February 14th 2010 Where does the time go? Can't believe that it is already 2010. It was a busy fall getting ready for a lot of shows and spending mega amounts of time on the torch and working full time. I managed to donate almost $600 to the Alain Reme Trust Fund. Alain and his oldest son even came by my solo show here in Ladner. Thank you all for turning out to help with that. For fun I thought I would add a few pictures from the beer n beadz I hosted in December. As always a good time was had by all. No torching just a lot of partying which is always good. Now off to the studio to make more beads for up coming shows and shops. On the left we have Kerri, Stephanie and Naz. On the right we have Joanne, Ania and Lena. Below we have Suzanne, Lynne, Paul and Tamara.

September 6, 2009 The wedding was beautiful, the weather was great for the outdoor ceremony. Dinner was great and we danced all night long. Cody and Vanessa were stunning.. The flower girl and the ring bearers were absolutely to die for. Here are few pictures of my son and his beautiful bride Vanessa.

July 31, 2009 Wow I can't believe that it will be August tomorrow. The summer goes fast. The heat has put a bit of a damper on the bead making as it is too hot to go into my studio and crank on the torch. But I do have a lot of beads that I have made over the past year that I am able to make into jewelry, so that keeps me busy.     Went down to Centennial Beach yesterday and enjoyed swimming in the ocean. It certainly helped cool the day off. Finished painting my bedroom,, 2 walls anyways, but my son and his fiance are telling me I should do the other walls as well. I will wait for a bit cooler weather to finish them.    29 days till their wedding, went with Vanessa for her final fitting on her wedding dress the other night.. ahhh so beautiful, but I was good and kept the tears in. My new car is running great and very happy that it has air conditioning.... Although it has no stickers so I need to fix that soon.. It does not look like my car,,, Troll moved away and is now living in Thunder Bay.. sad to see her go. I certainly hope that our paths will cross again someday.. and that she remembers me... Went off to Bowen Island last weekend, The thunder storm was awesome to watch from there. good times........

Photos from New York City Imagine -John Lennon Van Gogh Metropolitan Museum Harlem VanGogh Metropolitan Museum Statue of Liberty Me and Adam Grand Central Station    June 23, 2009.     Well as always time has passed,, but being so busy with moving, getting settled and coming home from New York,, well I guess that is a good enough excuse..    New York was awesome, and my student had a great time. A lot of walking and subway riding, which was all fun. We managed to go out on our own and see some things while the rest of the students were busy with drama stuff.  I even got us to and from Macy's department store without so much as having to ask for directions. Getting to the Met. Museum was a different story. Walking through Central Park can get confusing.     We saw the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Ground Zero, Central Park, A 3 hour Harlem walking tour, ( What a great place ) Grenwich Village eating tour, Empire State Building at night, Dinner at Planet Hollywood, ( where a couple of friends met up with me. ) Times Square, MSG, MOMA, Gugenheim, SOHOand many more things. We stayed in a hostel not to far from Harlem... What an amazing city.. I need to go back...      Our new place is great.. everything was here when I got home.. and it only took me about a week to get things where I wanted them and now I am still fine tuning everything. Love the smaller house... relaxing and fun..      My little red car finally bit the big one and is now getting towed away tomorrow. I went and got a 2008 Suzuki Swift last Sunday and am now driving happily around again..    Best of all my studio is once again set up and I am back making beads. Which brings me to a fund raiser that I will be doing for the next while. A dear friend of mine is going through a really rough time,, and so I have decided 1 way I can help is to donate 20% of my sales to his family. This is from now until December 2009. So if you need to get something for yourself or someone special, you will be helping out. Below is the article about Alain and his family that was in our local newspaper. You can click on it and enlarge it to read it.... and Thank you

March 2008     So things are changing around here for us... We are moving at the end of April. Was time to down size from this huge house. We bought a town house and I can't wait to move in. Although it is very hard to leave here with all the memories that I have and feelings that go along with this house......      It just so happens when the move takes place I will be in New York City. I am going along with one of my students and The Fine Art Department at my school. Should be an amazing trip.     So I leave this house and come back to a different one.. how strange will that be...     On the major news front, our son is getting married this summer. Vanessa and Cody will be married on August 28th.. It is going to be a great party and I can't wait for that...     People ask me, "Are you excited about the wedding, are you excited about moving, Hey aren't you thrilled about NYC...?"  Well for me it is all a bit over the top and I can't focus on just one thing.. So yes I'm excited.. I will take each thing as it comes, that way I can get to enjoy it in its purest form. If I over think it all, then it will not be any fun...... Troll's visit just before Christmas. We painted and played. Here she is painting one of my mandals that I had drawn.Below is one of the ones I painted but I did not draw that one. Mandala   December 2008    Well another year is almost over. Another Christmas come and gone. It is not an easy time of year for us Caron's but some how we manage to get through it. Cody had friends over on the 9th. We drank, ate and watched a hockey game. All the while I kept on thinking 'What would Jesse be doing right now, what would he look like and how much I miss his laugh and smiling face.........    I spent some time with Troll right before Christmas and that always helps. I need more little people in my life.    We had our family over for dinner Christmas Eve and then had another dinner at Cody's the next night. Cody cooked a beer butt Turkey. It was awesome.    All I can think about these days is my trip to New York this spring with one of my students and the Fine Art department,,, yeah Dale and Deanna... we will all be in the Big Apple together,,, how cool is that...   And then Me Steve and Dale planning our trip to Italy and Greece this summer.. those are things that keep me putting one foot in front of the other,, Along with my beads,, thanks goodness for glass.........

November 2008  We had a great weekend  down at Robert Held's studio. Cooking with glass Rafael made some fo his great tacos and potatoes in his dutch ovens and then we were treated to some glass cooked steaks. Robert, Mitch and the other blowers made an awesome snowman. The flames were blowing and the torches were burning. All in all another wonderful Christmas sale and party weekend.   Robert Held on the left Working on the snowman. Mitch on the right working on one of Melanie's beautiful ladies. Cooking with glass. On the left the dutch ovens with glass around them to create the heat for cooking. On the right ,steaks cooked right on the glass, there also was mushrooms. yummy. Melanie on the torch Melanie's and my booth. Me on the torch. November 12, 2008   This years home show was the best one yet. With 10% of my sales going to the Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit at Children's Hospital. NICU. Every year I pick a charity to donate to. Throughout the year something or someone usually inspires me to want to donate to a cause. After my little friend Troll's baby sister was born she needed to have surgery. Only 2 days old her surgery was a success and then she had to spend a month in the NICU. So that is where my inpiration came from this year. All those wonderful nurses and doctors taking care of the most innocent little ones we know. Troll's sister is home now and doing very well thank you....   Me Troll and Little T

October 20th, 2008     Well The Frazer Valley Bead Show is done for another year and I had a wonderful time. Sold lots of my work and shared a great weekend and booth with Melanie Rowe and Heidi Baxter. We all worked so well together and are looking forward to another great FVBS next year. Lots of ideas are in our heads for our booth next year.       It was also wonderful for me to work along side with Melanie's sister Leslie whom I have found to be a kindred spirit and thank her for all her great help.     My thoughts turn to Keri Furh and her husband and I hope that he is doing alright.     It was fun seeing so many people that I only get to see once a year...     But Mostly I would like to thank my husband for all his great help and input over the weekend, for without him this all would not have been possible.. our booth at the FVBS

September 9th, 2008 Well another year of school has started and man am I tired.  Trying to get everything ready for my students so the days go by easily and then come home and get on the torch and get a lot done for the Frazer Valley Bead Show is wearing me down. But don't get me wrong it is all good. I am just tired and having to go to bed at a reasonable time is not easy for me, but when that alarm goes off at 6am I somtimes wish sleeping was easier for me.  okay enough of that. Troll had a baby sister born a week ago today. Her name is Taryn. She was born a little earlier than planned and she has had a few little well more than little bumps in the road thus far. She had surgery at only 2 days old and she will be staying in the hospital for sometime till she is strong enough to come home. Here is a picture of Troll with her baby sister.   Troll and baby T

August 11th 2008 Well once again it has been ages since I have had a chance to get anything done on here. Spring was busy and at the end of the school year Steve spent a week in the hospital, eventually getting another stent put in and now he is doing well. Needless to say I am making it sound easier than it was.   Steve stayed home to rest and recover and off I went to Oregon for my cousins wedding with my son and his girlfriend. Then we drove off up into the mountains and spent a few days up there at Black Butte Ranch.. awesome time.   After a few days at home we packed up and went off to Hornby Island, this time Steve came along. It was a relaxing time spent there with good friends.    Then after a few more days at home we were supposed to head up to the Great Canadian Glass week in Pemberton, but all that seemed to be too much for Steve so instead he booked us a flight to Reno,  where we sat around the pool, gambled, rented a car and drove around Lake Tahoe. It was a great trip and very relaxing.   With just short of a month left before school starts again I am trying to get things done around here. Spending lots of time in my shop and I have a lot of new beads that I am putting up on the site today. Within the next few days I hope to have lots of beads for sale on my Etsy site..

March 15th 2008 Well spring break is here and now I finally have some time to spend on this web site and get things updated. Spring is finally here and the weather is warmer, but still has a chill in it. Those of you that live around here know this and we should not be complaining because the east coast has been hit so hard this year. My Etsy site has some new work on it for sale so go and take a look, it is a fun site to browse around. I have been doing some painting lately and maybe I will show some pictures on here of what it is I have been painting. Not so sure about that though because I am not a painter... Changing up my site here and going to add a page of things for sale through here.  I have been asked by some people to do just that so I will try. Other than that not much else is happening so I will head off and spend time on my torch.

January 20th 2008     Once again a gap in time for me. November ended and I stormed into December with a million things to do. Home shows, galleries to fill up and Pyro's Christmas party at my house. All went smoothly and I am glad that my busy time of year is over and I once again survived through a time of year that I would rather not have to see. Spent Christmas morning at my son and his girlfriends new home and that was very special, I love changing things up. New years was a blast at my son house party, good friends, good food and lots of partying on. The time off work was great but I felt there was a need to push myself into an area of my beads that I had not gone before. Hence the aquarium beads that took me over completley. Check out the new page I added just on them alone. What a trip that was. I then had to put the torch down and recoup my thoughts and actually just step away from the flame for a bit. It has been almost 2 weeks since I have been in my studio, the longest time away from it while being in the house and not on vacation. Back at school January 7th and on the 8th my practicum student came, She is great and things are going along very well. I recently finished a scrapbook that took me over a 100 hours to put together and it looks awesome. It is my life. I am about to undertake a project/painting that my friend Dale does with photos, I am excited and a bit scared at what will come of it. But in the same breath it is something I need to do. All in all it is working with my hands and that is what I love to do.... so be it as it may my mind can't stop for one bleeding moment and so I keep moving forward and hope for the best......

November 25th, 2007          It was a busy weekend last week after my home show I was lucky enough to be a part of the demos and sales going on at Robert Held Studio in Vancouver. Here are few shots of a few of us in the studio. images are a bit blurry but just click on them please to get a better view.

Me and Emma November 22, 2007 I had my home show last weekend and the turn out was good despite that bad weather. I raised just over $80.00 for the H.A. ALS fund. Thanks to my husband for helping me get the house ready and doing such a marvelous job on making my workshop so bright and cozy. I would not have been able to pull of the show this year withour his help. With this bulging disc in my back it is hard to work for long periods at a time. I put on 4 different demos and had a great time especially showing my friends daughter what it was all about. The following pictures were taken by Clare Scott, thanks Clare. pulling twisties my bedroom curtain Making Emma's bead On the torch Emma's zipper pull

November 4th, 2007     Life is very different now, my son has moved out. It has been so many years since we have not had anyone live with us, it seems so strange. I find myself going through everything in the house and getting rid of a lot of things. Starting fresh or maybe it is a need to reconnect with things, or a need for a more simple life. I kinda think I would like to go back to the start and live with very little and even travel once again in a VW van to Central America. Those were the days, geeish.. that saying certainly makes a lot more sense to me now that I am older... Time will only reveal how this change is really going to affect me.....    If it were not for my torch I would probably be crazy right now, I have a lot to get ready for and that in itself keeps me going. I am having my 2nd annual home show on November 17th from 10 -4pm and then on the 18th I am doing a demo at Robert Held studio in Vancouver, I will also have jewlery for sale there as well.    I have been discovering the wonders of Vangogh, Monet, DaVinci, and Kandinsky glasses and been having a lot of fun. Oh the colors,,, I am waiting for my son to bring back a memory card for my camera so I can take some pictures and get them up on here for all to see..   I have just recently signed up for ETSY and so soon I will have beads for sale on there as well...   I just keep moving on one day to the next.......

October 16 2007    Fall is here and it is my favorite color filled time of the year.  The leaves are busy falling off the trees in all ranges of reds, greens, burgandys, yellows and browns. So rich and warm are these colors against the crisp fall skies. The smells are wonderous, clean and fresh, like there are deeper darker days to come with the possibility of snow, which will then blanket the ground and hide everything with a brilliant white coating, keeping all the secrets hidden beneath it all.     The Frazer Valley Bead Show is over again for another year. It was a lot of fun even though I was not able to spend as much time there as I would have liked too.     Mike and Kathy got married and it was a beautiful wedding, outdoors even on October 12th. Seeing lots of old friends, and hearing many great words spoken over the night left my eyes sore from the many tears I shed.  So many things run through my mind at an event like that... tears of joy, tears of sorrow for those that are not there to share it all with us.. I wonder sometimes how I make it through each day......

September 9 2007    One week of school behind me and already I am thinking about next summer. Of course the weather has gotten so nice now that I am back in school.. It always happens that way.     It was great to see all the kids again at school and so far I am really liking my classes with all of them. It should be a most excelent year.    Busy busy making beads and trying to get out into the sun as much as possible. Just not enough hours in the day.    Off to Merritt this weekend for Robyn and Jeff's wedding. Got to get down to Little Box.... JLC forever.....

August 21 2007    Well Baseball is finished for another year. Two weeks left till I go back to school.  That means 2 weeks to play all day and party every night. Now if the weather would just smarten up...I need some beach time.. I have not spent enough time down at the Bay, and I still have a few books I need to read whilst lying on the beach.....

August 7th 2007 What a great weekend down at the Point. Blowing glass demos, torch demos, good friends,  good food, great music, and  lots of tequila,, it was awesome. This is the view we had all weekend in the sun,,,

August 4th 2007   Don't you just love long weekends.. Off to the Point here soon. Spending a few days with some friends, camping on the beach. Arts and Musical Festival Saturday Saunday and then on Monday it is the 'Monday Meander' Come on down. Check in at the Blue Heron Gallery and go from there.. It should be a most execellent weekend...

July 20th 2007   Well I am back from my Alaskan Cruise and it was great. Did not get the weather I wanted but all in all it was a good trip. The water is so amazing up that way. It is a green I have never seen before. We did not get as close to the Hubbard Glacier as I would have liked but safety first I am told.     Met some great people on the ship and even brought a few of them home. A couple from Ireland and their littls son Patrick 4 years old.      About an hour after I landed I could not get my  land legs and it took me almost a week to get them back, but I am feeling better now.    Finally got on my torch this morning and it was great. Just loving the new torch. Flame on!    Heading out to do some camping in a few days. Hope the weather changes soon..   I have another store selling my jewelry, check it out The 'Country Mouse' in Steveston Richmond....

June 22, 2007    One more week of school and then I am off for the summer.. yeah!   Went to the Roger Waters concert last night and it was freaking awesome. I am still having a hard time hearing today and having only 5 hours sleep and then a 3 hour exam this morning was tough. But hey it was definately worth it.... I am, Comfortably Numb.   I am off tomorrow morning to buy new torch and oxycon. I am so excited about this I cannot think straight.  It will be like starting all over again.. what a rush....    In the afternoon I am heading out to the beer n beadz and I have not been to one for a long time so this should be a blast, just hoping the weather lasts for tomorrow.. I love a good bar-b-que....    I have made a lot of beads lately and not had a chance to post pictures.. but I think I will get on to that tonight as these will be the last Hot heads beads  I will make... smiles....  In a couple of weeks I will be on a cruise to Alaska with my mom and my sisters... What a great way to start the summer... I am planning some tricks and games for them while we are one the cruise...shhhh don't tell them... smiles

June 3rd 2007    Went to see 'The Police'  last Sunday night, they were great. Not a band I followed closely, but they put on a great show. As sick as I have been I did manage to sneak out and enjoy something.   Went to the beach yesterday layed in the sun and read books.   Saw the Priates of the Caribbean last night. Gotta love Johnny.   Been torching a bit, working on some designs. I hope to be getting my new torch and oxycon next weekend.. then the fun will begin.. more power,,, more heat.!! Flame on dudes...

May 6th 2007   I had my home show yesterday and it went very well. I raised over $100.00 for Vanessa to go towards her walk in the Weekend to End Breast Cancer.   Lots of people came and I really enjoyed seeing a few people that I had not seen in a long time, Thanks Janice for coming all that way i.. We need to get together soon..   Jodi's mom Mary bought some beads to work into these amazing purses she is making. I gotta get a picture of it when it is done..   Sold quite a few Van Gogh beads that I had finished in silver. The display looked awesome. Now I have to get the rest of them into the gallery.    Working with red glass lately, not my favorite color to work with, although I do like red.. It all started because I have been trying to make a bead for my friend Cindy.. I did make one and she does like it,, but now that I look at it I am not happy with it.. so back to the drawing board... It will come Cindy, it will come...   Spring feels like it is here but we still have some very cold days.. Looking forward to a long streak of hotter ones...    Trying to think of a good time to get back to Seattle with the girls and catch a Mariners game...   We had so much fun last year.... And now that there is no hockey to watch I have to turn to baseball... Soon I will start playing again.. those are fun times on the Homer's... Ahh the days of summer......

April 18th, 2007    I looked out my kitchen window today and there I saw the Troll playing across the street. So I grabbed my camera and went over to see her. Her dad was there with her and they only had a few minutes and she wanted to play in the park. She yelled my name when she saw me and ran and jumped into my arms.. then she had to go back to her playing,, Here she is climbing on the play ground gear. Geeish I love spring.

April 4 2007    Well I am just so excited. I have been published. I have a tutorial in April/May 2007 Glass Line Magazine. The tutorial is on my enameled stringers. These are stringers that I make and have been using to achieve my Van Gogh beads among many other beads I have done. I love the water color effect they have and also I am never sure what they will look like till they are done. So there is no positive control over this and that can be very exciting. Check out the link to Hot Glass forums in my links, go to GlassLine Magazine and see a little bio about me under my name and the heading enameled stringers.

April 1st 2007 So tell me is spring here now? I want to know. I have been out walking a lot and my poor little nose still gets pretty darn cold. mmmm.   I have been in my shop busily making beads for my up and coming home show which will be on May 5th. I will be sending out invites soon.    I have a whole new look to some beads that I have been working with my enamel stringers and I am loving them.   Recently sent out some beads on a RAOGK (random act of glass kindness) I hope they sell well to help raise the monies needed. You can view the beads I sent in my Van Gogh beads.    Troll stopped by to see me yesterday in her new dress. It has poka pots on it..if you didn't notice. The troll in poka pots dress

February 28, 2007     Well it would seem that I am only able to get here once a month and update this.     I took a course over the past weekend with Alexx Cheng down at Andrighetti's and it was awesome. Got a lot of time on a minor torch and made some horking big beads. Learned some new tricks from Alexx and met some new people.    Now I want a new torch and oxycon. Will have to make some money so I can buy these things before too long.    Mostly this past month I have been playing with different glass types and shapes of beads. Check out my beads to see what is new.   Here is a picture of me and Alexx at the course...

January 27 2007    A picture to share and that is about it for now... for this says it all... my great niece Addison

January 20th 2007    My mom's birthday today,, she is 80 years old and does not look a day over 65.. Way to go mom.        Great beer n beadz the other night at Sunlight Glass.  Good to see lots of people that I have not seen in awhile. It was press night and there were some great demos of everyones favorite presses...       The weather was awesome today so we went for a long walk. It looked like it was chilly outside when we left and so I was over dressed for the walk, I think I could have worn flip flops today.. great to see the sun again...   Stopped by Rafael and Sonja's Gallery and Studio.. it sure is looking good. If you are in the area it is a definate place to check out. Down and across the street from Speed's Pub in Ladner...       Stopped by the Picture Gallery to drop off a necklace that I changed for an order, also found out that I have sold a necklace.. awesome news...    Now I have to get my butt in gear and make lots of jewelry for the show at my house in May. I am putting on a show to raise money for the WEEKEND TO END BREAST CANCER. 20% of all my sales will go to my son's girlfriend for her walk this coming summer. Her teams name is  THE RACK STARS, this will be the 2nd year they will do the walk... I would like to do it but it always lands on the same weekend our final ball tourny is on... can't miss that ya know... ok gotta blaze, peace out...

January 1st 2007   Happy New Year ! Well it is a cold wet 1st day of the new year, so I decided to use some really bright colors help brighten your day. I hope you all have your hang over in tact and you will all be feeling better soon. I really don't have much to say but I am going to leave you with a quote from Jan Arden that my friend Karen passed onto me. Dying is nothing more than a dream we wake up out of. All of this was wonderful and worth the heartache. I hope you have stillness. I hope you have your family and friends around you. I hope you know that you are a tiny shard of light that has the universe inside of it. I hope you know that living is an extraordinary chance to simply "be". Now go "be". And try as hard as you can to be happy.

December 30th  2006   Wow only one more day till another New Year. Happy New Year to everyone...   It has been a fairly quite winter season break, I have healed well from my surgery and now I am ready to return to work in the new year.... Look out kids. Ms. Kerry is back. Lots of new beads up on the site, will add jewelry as soon as I get some time.   We had a lot of snow and I finally got the photo shop working again so I am adding a few winter in Delta pictures.. geeish I can't wait for spring... Off to a friends wedding today.. I gotta run and get ready.. Out my front door Out my back door My favorite tree

December 17,2006    The sun is out today and that is a good thing. It has been so darn dreary lately... It is cold and crisp and clear... just what I like at this time of the year.   Been very busy in my shop and I am getting all my orders filled.. There will be lots of happy people at Christmas.    Finally got the computer fixed and should be able to take some pictures soon of all the new things I am working on and get them posted on here. The fellow that fixed it put on a newer version of Photo shop than I am used to so now I have to learn another program...    I got carried away a week or so ago and started making 'Evil Eyes'. I was researching the power of these eyes and what the history has been on them over the centuries and then I just started melting glass.. .Will have to post those pictures with some history soon...    Troll came over for a visit yesterday... Have not seen her for awhile... So sweet...sorry no pics...   I am still moving a bit slow and my final specialist appointment is this coming Friday, I have a lot of questions to ask him.. one for sure is,, why am I still in pain?   Oh well Christmas is coming soon... should be a quiet one this year.. I am looking forward to turkey though...

Kerry watching Rafael and Lynne. Rafael making my chili pepper December 4, 2006     What a great day we had at the Pyros Beer n Beadz down at Heidi's in the point. Crossing the border was a breeze.    Food and drink were great and the company even better.....    We all got to experience some first hand glass blowing. Rafael now known as the glass grocier is making Delta spuds, and lots of red, yellow, and green hot chili peppers. I asked him to make me a real long pepper and the picture shown above is him working on just that.    Joanne made a beautiful golden pear, sorry no picture. Lynne made a pear and so did Paul..   a little chilly outside but the heat from the hot shop kept most of us warm.    Went for a long walk on the beach with Maria and Joanne and saw some amazing things. A sea lion started us off on our walk and then Joanne pointed out all these different types of birds. Good thing she was there as I thought I was only seeing 2 different birds.. ducks and a bald headed eagle. As it turned out we saw a killdare.. some other types of ducks. a kingfisher, and about 3 other types of birds, ( can't remember their names right now ) Joanne is an avid bird watcher...Oh yeah I did also recognize the seagulls....    We then returned to the house to have something to eat and everyone brought s omething great to munch on... Loved the ambrosia Suz... I will have to get the recipe...    Then it was time for the bead exchange, very lucky me I got one of Melanie's hand cast faces..   Then we had our Christmas gift exchange and I was really happy when I got Maria's gift of great smelling hand soap and cream, and then Tamara stoll that from me. So I picked another gift from under the tree and it was another one of Mel's faces.. So there I sat very content. Until the last person decided to steal my face. 'Lynne!' So it was up to me to end it there and pick from the tree or steal from someone.. So guess what I did...?    I stole from Heidi and I stole one of Rafael's red hot chili peppers so now I guess I will have two... Sweet..   Rafael was so funny throughout this whole thing.. saying that it was a bummer when someone stole from you.. but that is the fun in it all Raf....    Back out to the hot shop we went and watched Rafael blow some more glass.. Then it was time for us to come home.    Once home Joanne fitted my working glasses with some new clip-ons that will be didymium when all is said and done. She brought me some red and white moretti as well so I can finish my Chirstmas beads...Thanks Joanne.    Tired but not too sore it was a great day out for me 3 weeks after surgery... I feel very good, a little sore from bending over and picking up all the seashells that I found on the beach.. ahhh can't wait to do it again... Heidi's birdhouse The beach.

November 28th 2006     Well here we are snowed in. I feel like I live in northern Alberta again. I left that province so I would not have to deal with the snow unless I wanted to go skiing...    I have not been out in days as I am not risking a wipe out just after having surgery.   I have to admit though it is pretty. I have been taking lots of pictures from my windows. The icicles are melting today and I guess all this white stuff will not last too long. We are after all in Southern B.C.    At least I have my beads and I can torch all I want, so I have been making Christmas beads. Snowmen, Santas, Reindeer, Stockings, Christmas trees. and what ever else I can think of to keep me busy.    I just finished watching the second season of LOST, I rented it and it was a good way to pass some of the time. Now I am not so lost about LOST anymore.   Off to the Point this Sunday for the Pyros Beer n Beadz, should be a great one with lots of glass being melted by Rafael, who is set up in Heidi's shop for now...    I am healing fairly well a few set backs but nothing serious. But I really can't wait to get back to my old self that can do everything....smiles

November 19th 2006    Well I am feeling a great deal better. I have been out for many walks around town, which proves to still hurt a bit but I am sticking with it.    Staples are out, yeeha. Not a trace of me being in the hospital is left, well except the nice scar I now have. yuk.    I finally got back in my shop and back on the torch. I have been busy making Christmas light bulbs, snowmen and a few Christmas trees. Fun to do some sculptural work for a change...   I will post some Pictures soon... Off to a friends bridal shower today,, wow my first big outing since the surgery. Can't wait.   The weather has been the pits lately and I guess I should be happy it is not summer and I can't go out and play. But for my walks that I am supposed to take are a bit hard while holding an umbrella and my tummy at the same time,, lol. Oh well with each passing day I feel stronger and that is all good..

November 12th 2006    Well I am home from the hospital, the surgery went fine. I am a sore but each day I am felling better. My home show went really well, so glad that I got it all done before I had to go into the hospital. A lot of very happy people came through my house and bought lots of jewelry and orphan beads. A few more private showings before Christmas which will be good. Not able to go in my shop for awhile so I will be doing a lot of drawing in anticipation for hitting my torch. Thanks to all of you that wrote me nice get well letters. smiles Kerry....

October 31st 2006    Happy Halloween everyone. It has once again been awhile since I have written in my blog. So busy getting ready for my bead show this weekend. I am having an open house here from 1 - 4 on Sunday November 5th. The push was on to get it all done since I am going in to have surgery on the 8th of November. I will be out of order for 6 - 8 weeks. So many people wanted to come by and buy things for Christmas and with me not able to help them after the 8th I thought the best thing to do would be is to have a home show. Also very busy getting things ready for when I am not at school, I just hope they get a good sub for me. J-5 was amazing the other night at the Commodor.  The Tragically Hip this weekend should be the  ultimate viewing. Ha! In View.... At least I am getting in some great shows before I am not able to get out for a bit.

October 14th      So with very little sleep I did manage to get it together and get ready by 8:30 when Heidi came to pick me up for the FVBS. I had a great time and saw lots of people I have not seen for awhile.     I bought and Alex Cheng bead, a Maria Keating bead, and a  David Sivers bead. I bought a bit of glass, got some free Gaffer samples from the great girls from Washington and the next time I am down in Seattle I will have to stop buy there and check out the glass for myself.       Oh right am I suppose to sell beads there? WEll that was going kind of slow for me today, although so many people were looking at my beads and liking what they were looking at, I hope after I left some of the masks sold or maybe a few of my sea shells.     It was a great show and I am tempted to go back tomorrow but I have too many things I need to do around here to get ready for the Beer n Beads that is at my house this Thursday.     After wandering around and browsing I decided to go into the Casino next door. I won $20.00 . Had a great lunch with Heidi and then we booted it back home. So right after I post this to the web I am going to catch some zzzzzzzz's. Below is a picture of me at the bead show at the Pacific Pyro's table with Heidi.......

Friday the 13th of October.......!     Was a crazy day at school today. Hazy day with fog surrounding the lower mainland all morning. Finally in the afternoon it cleared and bits of sunshine came through the haze.     Was just hanging aroung collecting my thoughts and the phone rings. Troll's dad asks if she can spend the night with me as mom was layed over on business and he had to go to work. So I had a little person with me all night.    I had some last minute bead things to get together for the Frazer Valley Bead Show tomorrow so there I was sitting at my table and this little person wants to help...     So she climbed up on my lap and began to help me. At one point as I was working she said to me. "Hey I can't see, Kerry move your hands please." I told her "Who do you think is doing the work here?" She said to me that she was working very hard. OHH so cute.     Finally time for bed and off she goes, as I am tucking her in she said to me, "Kerry I have a worry about you." I said really.. a nd what is that Troll? She looks at me with those big blue eyes and she tells me, "Kerry you have messy hair." Well I just about lost it. I told her I like my hair this way and that is just the way it is. She then kissed me goodnight and off to sleep she went. Ahhhh.     I went to bed later and sometime in the night I had just about had enough of her wanting to sleep across the pillow with her feet in my head so I threw some blankets on the floor and made a bed for her there. At 6 am she wakes up crying because she has no idea where she is. I pick her up and bring her back to bed with me... Of course now I cannot get back to sleep and the little Troll that she is slept till 8:30. She woke up just in time to see me leave out the door for the Frazer Valley Bead Show. Below are pictures of her helping me with my jewelry......

October 6th 2006    Hey it's October, where the heck did the time go. Feels like it was just summer. At least the weather still feels like summer. I am still wearing shorts to school and riding my bike lots.   I feel great. I got all my beads together for the Frazer Valley Bead Show and I am taking them in tomorrow. great feeling to have that out of the way. Now I can work on all the orders that are pilling up.    Beer n beadz at my house October 19th. Then the day after that I am heading to Whistler with the girls.. Party at Buffalo Bills....    Sea shells are amazing and I am having a blast making them, check them out under beads they are awesome.    Still trying to perfect the tie dyed affect I want, not sure if I have and I am just not satisfied with it? I will keep trying with the enamles..    School is great and a girl we all work with just got her postion permenantly.. so Cheers to Marci.... we will have to celebrate that in Whistler as well.                   peace. Kerry

September 17, 06   Well I have survived the first few weeks back at school. It is great seeing all the students again, but getting up to fight the morning rush hour traffic is taking its toll on me. Something has to be done about the tunnel.   I am working on the orders I have as well as getting together some new things for the store. So many ideas running through my head and never enough time to get it all done. I have been doing a lot of enamel work lately and finally getting it under control and liking what I am doing. It is something I want to master..   Went to the casino last night with a bunch of people, had a blast but did not win any money.   Off to do some school work this morning and then I really need to make some jewelry with my bead stock that is pilling up..   The weather was great yesterday, sitting outside eating crab that a friend brought over and having some shots of tequila. Today is cold and dark so at least I won't feel bad having to work indoors..   Saw Troll yesterday and she is growing up so fast..here is a picture of my little friend..I took her to the little park across the street from my house and her she is on the slide...

September 2nd 2006   Well only a few more days before I go back to school..I am excited though . I have missed my students for sure.   So far no one has got the right answer to the question asked below, a couple of blogs ago. About the verse " And only the Jordan River has bodies floating."  What I need from anyone is the name of the song that verse was in. Keep trying though.   Also Check out the Pacific Pyros web site then go to the bead report and check out who is doing it now.   That is what has been keeping me so busy.. Have done some great enamale work lately, can't seem to step away from that.. it is ever changing and I think that is what I find so amazing. Have a good Long weekend all,, smiles Kerry

August 29, 2006    Well I went to school today, What a mess our classrooms were. They knocked out a wall so now we have 2 class rooms, made another bathroom for us, painted and fixed things up, but never covered a thing so there was dust every where. We had to clean out all our cupboards, wash all the dishes and wipe down everything else. They never even covered our computers so I can imagine just how  well they are all going to work this year. They even threw our camera into a box and it broke. What is with these people?    Anyways it is now time to go and get my frustrations out on the torch.    I am just waiting on a few more bracelets to come in, then I can mail off the ' Late summer black and white ' bracelets for the exchange I hosted through the Canadian Lampwork Forum. They are all so awesome..    I am almost finished the orders that have come in and hope to get them all done before I go back to school next Tuesday,, Wow I can't believe summer is almost over... smiles Kerry

August 27th 2006    Only one week left before I go back to school..... Seattle was amazing. I went down there with 2 friends to catch the Mariner's play the Yankee's and then the Mariner's play the Red Sox. The Mariner's won both games...Here we are at the Stadium, that's me on the far right.  We went to Olympic color rods and  I bought so many cool colors of Richenbach glass I think I have died and gone to heaven. I can't wait to get onto the torch and make some funky new beads...   We also did some after game partying at 'Sluggers' and then we stumbled on over to 'Cowgirls' a good time was had by all.  It was great because we took buses in and out of Seattle for the games and partying and never had to drive after our nights of fun.  We did however drive in one of the days and my friends did some shopping damage at all the cool stores Seattle has to offer...   Home and tired on Saturday had an nap and then went to bed around 11pm. Up fairly early,, got to get back into school mode..   Off to Beer n Beads today with Heidi to Kerri Fuhr's house, swam in her pool and had some great food. Bead exchange and of course a great demo  by Kerri on how to make her amazing dragonfly beads...   Home by 8pm and now just chilling. Wondering if I should go into my shop and try some of my new glass, but I will wait til' tomorrow, fresh eyes and all of that.

August 18 2006   Wow where does the time go? Ok So we were away for a bit doing the Juan de Fuca Wilderness Trail,camping at China Beach... Just up from the Jordan River. ( Any of you out there remember that song? ("And even the Jordan River has bodies floating." ) For the first person who e-mails me with the name of the song I will send you a prize... Subject title should mention 'Jordan River'      Any ways from there we went off to Cowichan River and stayed a t a friends place that was right on the river... awesome just freakin awesome.       Then on to Hornby Island. The weather was great. Lots of lying on the beach. Not as much biking this year nor any kayaking.. I think the Hornby scene is finally out of my blood now.     But I did happen to set up a table at the local field market and sold some of my jewelry. A couple of necklaces and then I traded some beads for a really cool pendant an artist from back east had made... So that was a fun day.    Back home and building up my stock again and enjoying the great weather. This weekend is our teams final ball tournament.. We finished 5th out of 16 teams so not too bad..   Our team is putting on the dance tomorrow night Mexican theme..  I have made 500 hundrend jello shooters for the party,,,,Ole...  I just took in some of my work to Sunlight Glass to  have shown at the  181 RoundHouse Muse from August 21st through to August 30th. So if you are interested in seeing some great glass works of all kinds,, make your way down there. It is being put on by BCGAA. British Columbia Glass Arts Association.   Well I better blaze as I have ball tonight, the start of the Tournament... yee ha.. Adios..

July 25 2006    Man the heat has been a killer for all of us that torch. . But hey I am not complaining, really...   What have I been up to, well enjoying the sun, biking when it cools down at night. going to ball games and oh yea, on the torch. I have been trying to make a certain bead, well not the shape but the color effect..So far things have come close but not what I want. so everyday it is back to the drawing board to try something new. To slow the frustration down I am making lots of spacers..lol    Beer n Beadz was good last Saturday at Cathy's. We had a demo on a jeweled press, a little lizard demo, and Heidi did a demo with Boro, showing us how she builds up her speed skaters.. very cool.    Looking forward to going out to Keri Fuhr's next month,, that should be freakin awesome,, she is going to demo her famous 'Dragonfly' ahh I can't wait..    Okay time to hit the torch.. smiles Kerry

July 3 2006    Ahhhh what a relief, school is finished for the summer.    Went away over night camping at Harrison Lake, 40 minutes up and down a dirt road to a beautiful camping spot on the beach. Hours spent in the sun and on the water. Could have stayed there for a few more days but we had to return for Steve to go to work. But there will be many more days to enjoy this summer outdoors.    People are getting the Zipper pulls from the Canadian Lampworking forum exchange  and they seem to be happy, that is good. For hosting my first ever exchange it was fun and I am ready to host another.    I have been working on some crazy beads. I am calling them pieces of art instead of beads .But then all beads are pieces of art, so mmmm I am not sure maybe I will call them my funky folk art beads...    Did some fusing on the last days of school,, tough days with no kids let me tell ya.. I made a face..  and it is good, especially since I have only fused a few times.   I want to get into my shop but I have some new curtains I want to make so that comes first.   Waiting on a good book I ordered from Amazon.ca ' The History of Beads 30,000 B.C. to Now' Can't wait for it to get here. But no mail today,holidays I guess....    I was very happy to find out I sold 3 of my pieces at the Molten Obsessions in Invermere.  I sold all but my Royal Blues collection, you can seem them on my Molten O's page.   Okay gotta run and get on those curtains..

June 5 2006.    As a fellow worker remineded me today,, "We only have 5 more classes of each subject left and then the stundents are out for summer." Can I possibly explain how excited I am at this news. I am not sure if knowing that the end is almost near is what excites me or just that I know the weather will be getting a lot warmer soon.mmmm... Time to wrap all the things I have started with my students and start sending things home for their folks to see.    I take a student to drum class, he does not drum but loves to listen to the music.. by the way I have gotten quite good on the drum. well anyways we made a cd. This is the second cd that I am on and this years is quite good, certainly not because of me that is for sure.     In the shop today and mixing up some awesome stringers. Just loving the cooper green mixed with some black and gold. turns out amazing on copper green with turquoise beads. I even got a heart made for the June bead challenge,, and I am not a heart person. I even surprised myself. Gotta get back in the shop. smiles Kerry

May 21, 2006   Well finally I added some new things and rearranged the site. May long weekend and I have been in the garden and getting a lot of things done in my shop. Still have more to do,,, it never ends and I love it.   A little friend is coming over tonight to spend the night with me. She is 2 1/2 years old and her name is Derion but I call her Troll,, because she looks like one of those cute little wild haired trolls.. So I will be heading out to the park with her when she comes and then we will come back home to have dinner, a bath, and watch 'Finding Nemo' then to bed.. lots of picture taking will happen along the way I am sure. She is the little one I taught sign language to before she could talk.    Have to head out soon to see Michelle's ( Caliente Glass ) place soon and have a class in her glass and a few shots of tequila with her.. should be good..... smiles Kerry Derion aka Troll

May 15 2006    Holy Cow,      Where does the time go?  I guess it must be the flame.. it takes you away and it sometimes lets you come out to play,,,      I have been making lots of beads and yes I have even been putting them into fine works of wearable art. Steve should be getting them onto the web site soon. Oh yeah I know I have said that before,,, you know the story the weather gets better and the last thing you want to do is stay in a shop and take pictures,but we will..     School is almost over for another year, yeah!!    Wish I was going up to Invermere for the Molten Obsessions this coming weekend. For those of you going, have a great time...     No Beer and Beadz for the folks staying behind. Too bad I like getting together with the gang.. smiles Kerry

Larry & Kerry April 18/06     Had a great demo from Larry Brickman a couple of weekends ago. I thought it very informative. I have even tried to make a few dotted beads although they are not my thing I have enjoyed doing them.     I bought some charms that same day from Michelle of Caliente Glass but have not had a chance to make the bracelet I wanted to do with them, but soon I hope.    Easter break is over and now back again at school. Almost finished the book I have been working on with one of my students. She is the illustrator and I am the author. This years book is called 'Friends around the world.' Lasts years book was great and this years book should be even better. Now if we could only get them published!!    Well I have an amazing amount of beads lying about so now it is time to make them into wearable art. For those of you that are awaiting new jewelry ,,, it is coming. I made 3 bracelets on the weekend and 2 necklaces. I should have the pic's up on here soon,,,, be patient.. smiles Kerry.....

Apres Skiing @ Whistler April 5th 2006 Well, It would seem I am not so good at keeping this updated. But then again I don't think anyone reads this.... So I went skiing at Whistler last week and it was awesome. It was sunny and warm. Snow was great from mid-station up and slushy at the bottom but all in all it was a great day to ski. We rented skis we wanted to try some different ones and I guess it was all meant to be because one of the workers had a seizure while we were waiting to pay and I helped him through it. He had 2 seizures and I was with him for about 40 minutes and then the ambulance finally showed up. They took him to the hospital. Later that day I went back to the rental place and asked how he was doing. They said that he was doing alright. I have tried to get some info about it all but have not been able to reach the right people... So Pete I hope you are doing alright.. My things are in at Molten Obsessions so that is one monkey off my back. I received my bracelet from the Canadian Lampworking Forum exchange.. that was a fun one. I set up an exchange myself,, my first one. It is a summer zipper pull exchange and so far there are 4 of us involved. So go to the site and check it out and sign up,, it will be fun and it should be easy,, Going to see Brickman this Sunday and I can't wait,,, it should be a real good demonstration..... School is going well,, spring is in the air and the kids are now all pretty healthy... but I am still l ooking forward to summer and having 2 months off... yee ha,,, that is when the tequila should be flowing from my veins,,, nah just kidding... I have been working on lots of new things and should have a lot of new pictures up here soon.

March 21 2006   Well spring is here,,, and of course it rained today. 2nd day back at school and  the kids are getting back into the swing of things,,, for me it is taking a bit longer,,,   I did finish all that I wanted to finish for the  'Molten Obsessions' show so I will be packing it up and getting it to Sunlight Glass this weekend,  should have some pictures of that work up here soon,,,   Got my eggs made for the CLF and wrapped up to send. Even found the time to make myself a new bracelet,,, might get a picture up of that as well...very springy.    Made the beads people have asked me to make for them so if you are one of them give me a call, , for the others I will be sending them out in the mail on Thursday... thanks,, smiles

March 16th /06   Spring break is almost over and I have not had a full day on the torch yet. So many other things to do. I have managed to get two necklaces made for the Molten Obsessions and I will be on the torch today to get this idea that is in my head onto glass. Those of you that have got in touch with me and are wanting to order please e-mail me with your sizes and what it is you want and I will get on top of that asap.   Thanks to all of you that have signed my guest book and I hope you like the new look. I was not liking the white back ground and so I had to change it all,,, I like this much better,,  And I found a funky picture of our moon... I will have to make a bead that looks like that moon..... sweet..

March,07,06   Well the rain has not stopped coming down for a few days now, so I am not feeling guilty about being in my workshop .    Thanks to all who have signed my guest book. It has been a good 3 days of replies....   Only 2 more days and it will be spring break for me yeah!! 1 week off. . I might just get the things I want to make for the 'Molten Obsessions' done having the time off.     I would rather be in Mexico ahh but not able to get both of us away.. too bad.. darn Canucks...   Next week I hope to change all the pictures to the same back ground.. should make for a better looking site...    Still can't figure out how to delete an entry in the guest book, Danita signed the same thing twice lol,, oh well .. smiles Kerry

March 4th 2006   Well here it is my first site. I know it needs a lot of work, but hey who wants to spend time working on here when we can be on the torch. So many ideas running around in my head...and not enough time to get in the shop.   Right now I am working on a feathering series, if all goes well it just might be what I put into Molten Obsessions.. we will see. Taking pictures has been a challenge for  Steve but he is working hard at getting them right. smiles Kerry