Thank You & Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!

Like most people I am trying to figure out where 2011 went!! It was a whirlwind. A fun and exciting one though! Thank you to everyone who reads my blog, buys my creations, supports me at my shows, and encourages me along the way.

You have been with me through my new vegan journey and at my first vegan Christmas dinner last year!  This year was the second!

You cheered me on to finish UFO's, and there are some that still aren't done and some new ones for 2012!

I shared recipes with you from my vegan journey and I hope they were helpful to you. You encouraged me when I came up with new ideas and had art shows to attend.

You read my posts in February as I did a Creative Everyday Challenge. That was a great challenge and one I need to do again!

You have listened to my dog stories and looked at my agility trial pictures.

Watched me struggle and enjoy swaps. The last part of 2011 I didn't do any swaps but will be getting involved again in 2012....i missed some of those gals (and guys!)

In May I thought my life was slowing down, but that wasn't so, things got really busy around the house, and I really slacked off from my blogging. But during that time my husband and I have been working on a classroom for me to start teaching quilting again, we built a guest cottage and a storage shed and dealt with Hurricane Irene.

You also cheered me on with my Paint Party Fridays, which I also miss and want to start doing again. Bead Table Wednesdays were fun and kept me motivated.

You listened to my stories about my online classes and encouraged me with my new lampworking skills.

So thank you, thank you, thank you!  Thank you for your ear (or your eyes since you are reading!), and I hope you will continue to follow my creative journey into 2012.

In 2012 I want to keep creating and get all these new ideas out of my head!

Of course finish some more UFO's; do more pottery {i have a potter's wheel again ~ woohoo!}, continue to improve my lampworking skills, make more jewelry components from ceramic clay and do lots more work with Precious Metal Clay. I just love that stuff and when I work with it I always ask myself why I don't work with it more!

Here are a few new pieces that I finished today.....

The textured circles on these earrings were made from Precious Metal Clay, and have my glass headpins hanging from them.


Potcake Necklace.......

Potcakes are our local mixed breed and there are many strays.  When I make these pendants I give $20 to help the animals of Abaco.


Have a happy, healthy, exciting and creative 2012!

The Journey of an Owl

Today has flown by! Probably because I have been on the torch most of the day.  It has been the perfect day for it.....it is 71 here with a brisk breeze, so having the toasty kiln on & sitting by a torch feels good for a change!
(Yes in the Bahamas we consider 71 cool!)

I told you in my last post that I had the pleasure of having Cassie, from Glass Beadle, here to help me with my bead making.

When she came I had a list of beads I wanted to learn how to make. An owl was on that list, but the three days went by so quickly that we never got to it.

I wasn't worried, since she had taught me some great skills with sculpting so I figured I could figure it out on my own.

That little owl took several tries.....four to be exact....

Just for fun I thought I would share the photos with you.
The very first one broke - after the annealing, while I was cleaning him!! I was devastated!

It took me a few weeks to try again.....so here are Mr Two & Mr Three....
They were better, but still needed some work to get rid of the wonkiness!

And then success today!!! WOOHOO!!
I am pretty proud of this little guy!

Sorry for the terrible photo, but I couldn't wait to share him with you!
Tomorrow he will become a pendant.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful week!

Busy, Busy Christmas

I am not sure where the first two weeks of December went, in fact, I am trying to figure out where 2011 went! I sure have stayed busy!

Wanted to do a quick post to show you some new things I have been working on.

I also, finally, created a Facebook for Bahama Dawn. If you scroll down this page you will see the button on the right. Click on it & *like* it please. Right after Christmas I am going to be running a discount special specifically through that page.

Back in November the awesome Cassie Donlen, from Glass Beadle came to Abaco and spent three days helping me with my glass bead making. I can't thank her enough! She was awesome and I learned TONS of great tips and tricks. It was my first real class in lampworking! Before that I had fumbled along, taught myself, and made a lot of mistakes.

Thanks again Cassie!!!

So here are some of my new creations......
These are just a few of the beads Cassie and I made together.  Some are hers and some are mine in this photo.

I learned how to make these hearts which have been very popular and I LOVE making them!

I am also having a blast stamping on metal, especially creating little scenes.  Will have lots more pieces with these stamped pieces as I get a chance to put together and finish pieces.

Also having fun making these puppy pendants!! Need to work on a kitty pendant also!  I am selling these for $20, and all the money goes to help the animals of Abaco.

Tree of Life Pendants are another new creation which have been popular also.

My final little show and tell are these sea glassy beads.  I make the bead, then etch it and it looks like sea glass!

Thanks for stopping by to see my new goodies!!
Have a great week!