Barb's Weblog

Its been a really full work 7 days since I had a chance to write in...
We just shipped a 1600 pc hair wrap order to the anodizers, and I pretty much had to start from scratch. Ralph was off in Idaho giving his daughter his old van when the order came, so I got started myself, and many thanks are owed to Jesse who came late thursday evening and made coils for me to cut and finish, so I didn't lose any work time. ( I have not learned to run the coiling machine Ralph built last year, so I was just lucky Jesse was on the next island north of us and could drive down for a few hours...somebody gotta teach me the 'code' scrawled on the machine...we make 2 different style and 2 different diameters). Since I have other companies to anodize the wraps, I need an extra week or so just for coloring.
Finally Ralph got home and gave me a good solid 3 days work and we shipped the last part today. Its more that twice as fast a job with 2 people, and with Jesse rolling wire thru the mill it becomes a really busy fun workshop when summer production begins. Hope to get a backlog of flattened wire built up, lengths cut and stockpiled soon. I was really foolish to ignore the spring's orders, I just didn't want to quit making really pretty things, and its been a really good work time! I have a really wonderful necklace almost done, the one with the amethyst briolettes. The gems should be here tomorrow! Can't wait to see Steve the surly UPS guy that we enjoy so much. I need to order a beautiful box for it. Its very heavy and wondeful and will be expensive! Gotta have a pretty box! And Margaret in Hawaii and Heather, the bride in Seattle, I promise to do your orders right away this week!

Ralph had his birthday yesterday, we worked all day after dog walks and got take out chinese food for dinner and ate it up the hill at Mom's house. He was a good sport about working so long on a 'holiday', but at our ages, whats another birthday! Skipped the cake and ice cream part.
My birthdays are usually spent at art shows by some lucky chance. This year will be the Best of the NW's summer show, outdoors at Magnussen Park. Many margaritas will be consumed saturday nite, so likely the darkest sunglasses will be in use on sunday. I will probably be laughed at by the younger, stronger, harder partying staff people at the show, but I think they secretly enjoy it when I am a tiny bit hungover at a show. Its VERY VERY rare, but, you know, things just HAPPEN sometimes! Now that I'm old, its pretty seldom that I can stay awake late enough to have more than a glass of chardonay. Its embarrassing, but sadly true. What happened to youth and beauty!

The NWCA's publication with our special new ads will be out very soon, they are being printed now. Don't forget to send a note to me if you want a free copy! They are really special and beautiful, and usually get snapped up fast. Its a great way to learn about regional crafts and shows and artists, and have the addresses of a couple hundred crafters' workshops so you can get in touch for custom work and orders. Trust me, you WANT one of these!
I think that right before the spring Best of the NW the ads will be on the Shadowfax website. I want to make everybody wait to see them til they are actually in print! Everybody, come to the show and see all the new work! A lot of us will not be in the area for a month or more after that one, so the best new work will be at this show! All the season's fresh ideas, colors, best new styles and the fun of a quality crafts market. Free parking! You can go to the website www.bestnwcrafts.com to print a discount coupon for admission!

Well I am gonna call it a night and have a go at the giant pile of clean laundry waiting to be folded. Haole is vacuuming the grit out of the workshop, so by the time I get out here in the morning, it'll be a whole new place!
G'night!

8:16 PM — e-mail me your comments