Sunshine and smiles

Defi helping out

 Yesterday was such a gorgeous sunny day and I was supposed to be helping the hubby take photos of the treasure he was finding in the garage tidy up, ready for Ebay...I got sidetracked!  Just a few pictures of some of my motley crew in the spring sunshine.  Above, Defi was told to not touch the stack of rubbish, which is going to be burn't today, his little face says it all...'what?'  and did he listen?...

Nope! 

First job this morning will be to collect the burning items from all around the garden!  At least its another sunny day.

It was lovely to see our old cat Megan outside in the sunshine fast asleep, now in her 20s Meg doesn't often leave the house but the signs of the spring sunshine brought her out, she followed the sun all around the garden and didn't come in until after 4pm.

Megan in the untidy flower bed

And finally, a couple of the girls enjoying the sun.  Iz and Claude were paying too much attention to the garage sort out and so they didn't get photos taken, if I had shown my face there snapping away I might have been in trouble with the hubby!!

Frankie

Ever Ready

Hope the sun shines as bright today, looks promising so far!

Laneyx

Shed magic.

My work space

My inspirations

The snow came, and I made it to Kempton Bead fair, which was the first for me this year.  It was quiet because of the snow and bad weather, but nice to be getting back to doing fairs and meeting people, it can be a lonely life in the shed over winter.  Last weekend I was in Poole and it was much better, the sun was shining and the people were plenty, lots of beads found new homes and I met some forum friends in the flesh. 

Thought I would start my blog tonight with a picture, or two of my work space.  Its not too untidy, its usually much worse!!  Above my torch I have pinned lots of pictures to the walls, the joy of plasterboard, including my drawings for my dragons.  The bottom dragon I can re-create in glass now, but the top one...she is a work in progress!

I had some exciting news this year and was asked to showcase some of my flowers in the Soda Lime Times, a monthly e-magazine that comes out from America.  I was chuffed to bits to have my beads pictured amongst some of the great lampworking names in America.  What a treat for the start of 2012.

Available in my Etsy shop
Izzybeads Etsy Shop

Just lately my beads have definately been of the whimsy design and I have loved every minute of making not only myself giggle and smile but I never have a miserable face at my bead stall at the fairs.  The mermaid is just the most recent of this whimsy collection, based on my Modest Goddess designs, my take on the Goddess beads that are popular with glass artists, my mermaid is blessed with a rounded tum, ample bosoms, covered with a sea weed bikini for modesty and a smile.

As well as lampworking, over the winter months I have been experimenting with fusing glass and have had some nice results, just a couple of photos of a couple  of my favourite pieces.

Fused glass dichroic pendant available in my Etsy shop

Fused glass coasters available in my Etsy shop

Laney x