Big Changes!!

Over the last few months I have made a lot of big changes.  I moved to Flagstaff....whoo hoo!  I had been agonizing over why I didn't live here for such a long time that I decided if I didn't give it a shot I would always wonder....so, here I am.  So far, so great. 

 I am getting ready for an installation at The Artist Gallery here in Flagstaff on Saturday and am excited to get back to work.  Being in the middle of boxes and not having my studio together is a drag, but I had buckets of beads I had made in December that are keeping me busy making some exquisite jewelry.  For those of you in town, you are invited to First Friday.  It would be great to see you all and catch up.  Artist Gallery, San Francisco Street under the Wine Loft.

Heading to Florida the end of February for some R and R then into the studio to get ready for my crazy show season.  I will keep you up to date on where I will be this summer and when.

Have a wonderful weekend.

B

 

Greetings From Bend, OR

Bend is Beautiful......the hotel, not so much. I guess that is the price you pay being on the road as much as I am....win some, lose some.  

I won Best of Jury at the show here in Bend.  They wrote a nice article about my work and I will try to figure out how to post it here.....It was really neat to get the award though, it validated me as an artist and, being recognized for doing something that I love was wonderful.

OK.....I am having a funny thing happen to me at the shows when someone asks me where I live....I am on the road for the next six or eight weeks, staying where I can with whomever will have me, at hotels, on couches of friends etc.  Most of my life is spent in my Subaru in the summer and I am living a fairly nomadic lifestyle.  I don't know how to answer the question of where I live.  It is a strange place to be.  I put all my 'things' in a storage unit in February and quite honestly, with the exception a few pieces of art, I don't miss any of it.  As an adult I have accumulated the things that I am supposed to, couches, tables, lamps, bedroom sets, dishes. hutches, all the "stuff" and I am getting along without them just fine.  I have to admit, I travel with my fly-fishing gear, just in cases.

Heading to Logan tomorrow to stay at my Moms for a while.  I have all my studio equipment there and will get to work replenishing my inventory.  Next show, Sundance Resort July 19-20.

Thoughts from Flagstaff

When I pulled into Flagstaff yesterday it was raining and 62 degrees....quite a change from the 107 I was dealing with in Ivins.  It is beautiful here.  Have you ever known a place that, when you drive around, feels like home?  That is how Flagstaff is for me.  I am very lucky to have such great friends here....Chris and Von treat me like I am the crazy little sister and have graciously put me up (and put up with me) many, many times over the years.  

Today I am in the studio getting ready for the Flagstaff Art in the Park show that is happening over the weekend of the 4th.  Von has given me free reign of the place and I have taken advantage by setting something bead-related on every flat surface of the studio/apartment.  She and I have a ball together though, so I don't really think that she minds all that much.  

I pack up Tuesday and head for Bend, OR via Oakland to see my sis, B-I-L and nephew for a day...whew.

I am off to burn stuff......

New Work

I am very excited about what came out of the studio this week......New sterling silver pendants and sterling pendants with pyrex cabochons....yummy!!  I am having a blast working with silver.  There are so many bead artists out there that I wanted/needed to make something uniquely Bonny, something that is more interesting than "just beads"...not that I will ever get away from making glass beads, that is my passion... I am very lucky to be able to combine the two mediums into what I think is a stunning combination.

I am working hard in the studio getting ready for the show season to get underway.  I am heading to Northern Utah for Summerfest in Logan....the first show of the season is always nuts...trying to figure out where everything goes, how many tables to set up...all that jazz.  Excited to make the trip.  I get to catch up with a couple friends, see my mom and sit in the sun...can't beat that! 

Happy weekend.

Home again, home again....

I have just returned to So. Utah from a whirlwind trip to Idaho and Salt Lake City.  I left here on Thursday morning and headed up to Pocatello, Idaho to pick up the last of my things and to visit a few friends.  Saw my nephew, Kyle and had a little pre-birthday celebration with him.  On Saturday I went to Rupert, Idaho and had a private home show with some girlfriends. It was great to reconnect with them and we had a great time.....there is nothing quite like a room full of women playing with jewelry to put a smile on my face...

On Monday I drove to Logan, had lunch with Brain and Heather then continued on down to Salt Lake City where Amy and Sam were visiting Molly.  Molly and I took turns taking care of Sam while his Momma was in meetings.  He is adorable. 

I got home late last night.  Today I have been in the studio making beads, getting ready for the season that officially kicks off for me June 12th in Logan, UT.   

Holy Cow...

So it seems that I have a blog....My sister is a computer whiz kid who set it up for me and I think she may have told me about it....in one ear, out the other.  

It has been a crazy Spring.  I had been living in Idaho but I had to find somewhere else to go.  It was a hard Idaho Winter and I NEVER want to shovel snow again, so I am in the desert, South West Utah, about 35  miles from Zion National Park.  It is beautiful here, the weather is perfect....we'll see how it is in August.  

I went to Flagstaff to visit with Chris and Von for a couple weeks in May.  Von is the lady that taught me to make beads and is one of my very best friends in the whole world.  I was staying in her studio with a totally bright, new color palette in front of me and I came up with some great new stuff....fun and festive.  As soon as I can, I will get the new jewelry on the website!  

I have just finished getting the studio put together down here.  Today I was on the torch making/catching up with my orders.  There is something therapeutic about melting glass, mixing the colors and playing with the shapes and sizes.  I am really lucky to be able to do this full time.

My show schedule is posted on the website and I realize that I have A LOT of work to do between now and June!!!

I will try to be better about posting here.  I won't let seven months go by again without at least saying hi!!  

Happy Spring!!!

Welcome

Welcome to my blog! This is where I will keep you up to date on the day-to-day workings of my lampwork jewelry business. I will update you on new techniques I'm learning, give advice on pertinent lampwork topics, and generally give updates about my life!

Thanks for stopping by!

--Bonny