tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228186382011-08-18T07:27:34.380-07:00Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.comBlogger1601100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-86251694423589970732010-11-19T13:31:00.000-08:002010-11-19T13:33:04.461-08:00

Wow -- I was taken by surprise this morning.  Holy smokes!  The Best Little Bead Box(es) showed up on my doorstep while I was indulging in my morning coffee.  And my day is full - I've had too much work to do on my tech job to dive into those boxes.  But this evening... oh, this evening is going to be glorious!  Stay tuned for a first-hand account of what's making its way around the country...

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-46158360674887331702010-11-18T16:00:00.000-08:002010-11-19T13:32:55.729-08:00

Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.  I took a much-needed break from the blogosphere, but I'm back - happy and, hopefully healthy! What a busy summer I had, making stuff for my Etsy shops, selling at shows, teaching classes, working and travelling for my high-tech job, and taking care of my declining mom who has Alzheimer's.  Phew! I signed up for the Bead Journal Project, and

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-38755828884388566262010-07-23T12:12:00.000-07:002010-07-23T12:12:22.945-07:00

Wow, I can't believe that I'm leaving for Rochester, NY in 3 days. I also can't believe that time has slipped by so quickly... AGAIN ... You'd think that after all this experience with that time thing, I'd be used to it by now. The International Society of Glass Beadmakers is having their annual conference, called "The Gathering", in Rochester this year, which is why I'll be on a plane at 6

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-51983241229483171982010-07-16T12:48:00.000-07:002010-07-16T12:48:09.553-07:00

Today, I'm asking all of you to please help the Beads Of Courage program.  This is a program that I've been supporting for several years - what it does to help out kids with serious illnesses is just wonderful!  You can read about Beads of Courage HERE. Beads of Courage is in the running to receive $25,000 of funding from the PepsiCo corporation.  You know, that company that makes Pepsi Cola.  

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-50273432677690448122010-07-15T15:08:00.000-07:002010-07-15T15:08:48.966-07:00

Do you like giveaways?  I've been lucky a couple of times with blog giveaways, and I just found out today that bird on wire is having one!  From now through July 25 at 5:00 p.m., leave a comment on that giveaway thread, and you will be entered in a drawing for the cutest little needle-felted barn owl this side of paradise! These days, I've been really taken with birds.  I have a vessel in my

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-87935119670088404862010-06-29T16:05:00.000-07:002010-06-29T16:05:57.592-07:00

Wow, I've been so busy in my tech job that the time has just flown away!  I haven't been on the torch since I came back from Milwaukee, but I have had a bit of time to work out in the wet lab.  In fact, I've completed a new vessel.  No "official" pix yet, just a few shots from my camera to give you an idea of what I've done. I built this vessel to go with that wonderful raku bead that I got at

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-67092054799076522422010-06-16T22:18:00.000-07:002010-06-16T22:18:40.723-07:00

Well, I'm back from Milwaukee - still a bit worn out from my trip.  Wow, I had such a lovely time at the Bead & Button Show!  It was absolutely wonderful to meet some of my fellow artists whose work I include in my own work, as well as connect with friends I only see once a year in Milwaukee. I had the pleasure of meeting Carol Dean Sharpe of Sand Fibers, whose work I admire greatly - and also

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-36993384300490465352010-06-07T16:59:00.000-07:002010-06-07T16:59:41.468-07:00

Well, this is it.  I'm leaving in the morning for Milwaukee - another year at the Bead & Button Show.  I am really looking forward to getting away for awhile, looking forward to seeing old friends, meeting new folks, putting faces and voices with many of my cyber-friends - this show is always such a pleasure for me! If you are planning on being at the show, please stop by and see me!  I'll be in

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-50688259493081892162010-06-03T23:23:00.000-07:002010-06-03T23:23:46.251-07:00

This has been a very trying week for me.  My 86-year-old mom, who lives with us and has Alzheimer's, is really sliding downhill.  It breaks my heart to see this.  She was always a very spunky lady, but she's just not with the program anymore.  She can still understand some of the things that we say to her, and she still recognizes us, but she's in a rather confused state most of the time. She

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-71287198763397516682010-05-23T12:00:00.000-07:002010-05-23T12:03:19.987-07:00

I've just finished another vessel - now that it's almost summer, I figured that I'd better get a spring project under way.  Awhile ago, I purchased these wonderful little clay bird beads from Heather Powers of Humble Beads. I knew that I would use them on some of my vessels, but I really didn't have anything specific in mind.  This vessel was not planned ahead of time - it evolved as I was making

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-55412649738378143942010-05-15T12:16:00.000-07:002010-05-15T12:16:00.921-07:00

I have a growing stash of clay beads, buttons, and cabochons - because I just love them!  I've been ruminating on what to do with them, and the ideas keep coming.  I finally had a bit of "free time" (precious these days), and I spent that time out in the wet lab and then in the bead lab.  Here are my latest pieces, both of which were made specifically for the button and bead that I used in each

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-19696947147313289102010-05-06T14:57:00.000-07:002010-05-06T14:57:00.925-07:00

So once again, I made a vessel for the star button that was supposed to go on my tall blue vessel but didn't.  After trying that combo, I absolutely knew the right colors for that star!  This time I made a smaller vessel so the star wouldn't get lost.  Lo and behold, that darn star STILL doesn't work!  And it was my bad, not the fault of the star.  I mean gee whiz, I LOVE that star!  But because

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-8734308151013574282010-05-05T11:37:00.000-07:002010-05-11T00:07:07.031-07:00

I'm doing the happy dance because I finished beading my Bead Journal Project "page" for March - yay!  But that poses a dilemma - I have not made a vessel yet for April - or for May.  With so much work going on in my tech world and my Bead & Button Show prep, I have had much time to even think about what those vessels should be.  I do have a few very vague ideas floating around in my brain... I'd

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-75084134678807363362010-05-04T14:54:00.000-07:002010-05-04T14:54:11.801-07:00

As the Bead & Button Show approaches, and my deadlines in the high-tech world keep right up with it, I'm trying to figure out how I can split myself in two.  It would be marvelous if I could send my alter ego out to the glass lab, armed with my list of beads that I MUST make, those that I SHOULD make, and those that would be nice to have.  Then when I do get a chance to spend some creative time

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-74501037386178632342010-04-28T11:22:00.000-07:002010-04-28T11:23:16.459-07:00

I now have REAL photos of my first two Bead Journal Project vessels as well as the latest vessel that I completed.  And what a difference it makes!  I have about a half-hour's work left to do on the March vessel, and I will hand it over to my hubby for another professional photo. First, here's my latest completed project.  The pattern that I beaded on it looks almost like an aerial view of an

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-17589695593627540362010-04-18T21:58:00.000-07:002010-04-18T21:58:15.034-07:00

Wow - way too long since I've blogged!  But I've been really tied up with my tech job lately, so much work to be done in such a short period of time. So this weekend I've taken a few breaths and a few breaks.  I actually spent a good amount of time on the torch yesterday.  I'll show you the fruits of my labor a little later in this post.  But first, I want to show you my finished February BJP "

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-8349097978235912302010-04-05T12:51:00.000-07:002010-04-05T12:53:42.858-07:00

Just a quickie update today - not only have I been beading the reverse side of my February BJP vessel, I've also been working on the tall vessel that I originally made for my Lisa Peters star button.  Since the star color doesn't work with these vessel colors, I will be using a different Lisa Peters button on it.  And that calls for a completely different beading treatment on the vessel.  So

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-35057976598690844442010-04-04T17:09:00.000-07:002010-04-04T17:09:35.839-07:00

I'm back from another biz trip down to Los Angeles, and wow - I sure was tired when I got home Friday night!  We spent 3 days doing "think tank" sessions on software requirements and design.  I'm starting to think that I'm getting too old for that stuff! I hadn't been able to spend much time making stuff prior to my trip, and yesterday I decided that I desperately needed a torch day.  While I

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-81831913353148100622010-03-25T11:49:00.000-07:002010-03-25T11:49:02.160-07:00

Wow, I put so much beading onto this vessel that now it won't stand up!  So rather than call it finished, all I can say is that side 1 is complete. I didn't want to bead the other side, but it looks as though I will have to.  I didn't realize how heavy these little seedy beads could be - I guess there's quite a mass of them on my vessel.  But that's OK - it's been a very enjoyable process for

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-57802304623344962382010-03-21T12:38:00.000-07:002010-03-21T12:39:05.874-07:00

I'm usually quite good with color - sometimes I even amaze myself with my color memory.  There have been times when I've had to buy some yarn, fabric, or beads to match the color of something that I had at home.  In my mind, I conjured up the color of that something, and was able to purchase exactly the right color that I was looking for.  Ah, but then there are those occasions when I have some

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-52405304389665778202010-03-17T15:45:00.000-07:002010-03-17T15:45:48.870-07:00

More progress on the February vessel - the tree is starting to fill out.  I'll spend more time on it tonight for sure, I'm really ready to see this one complete! I've also got a few more projects in my head and hopefully I can get to at least one of them before next week.  First up will be a vessel in which I will incorporate a button by Lisa Peters Art.  Here's the button... And here's my

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-85078707371716508832010-03-14T15:21:00.000-07:002010-03-14T15:21:47.397-07:00

I've been doing a bit more beading on my BJP February and March vessels.  Here's a quick look at how I've started beading the tree on February.  These trees have a gray-brownish sort of bark, so I've chosen to have this side look a bit sunny.  As I move toward the right, the branches will get darker.  I'll also be putting more "blossoms" in the tree as I progress.  I'm going to have to make

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-51541255835321914182010-03-10T14:31:00.000-08:002010-03-10T15:45:48.629-08:00

Things have been a bit hectic this week.  My tech job is heating up, I've got a bunch of stuff that's overdue, we have a house guest coming tonight, etc. etc.  But I'm finding solace in the evening when I sit down in the family room, a.k.a. the "bead lab", and work on my BJP projects.  I've been beading my February tree scene and I also started beading around the cabochon for the March vessel.  

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-57657711557390156822010-03-07T15:48:00.000-08:002010-03-07T16:00:57.228-08:00

I had so much fun "painting" my February vessel yesterday that I spent today in the wet lab as well.  March's vessel will once again be different.  This Bead Journal Project has been really good for me - I get to experiment with new techniques in both fiber and beading.  Before I talk about my inspiration for March, I'm going to show you the teeny tiny vessel that February has turned out to be.  

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-48820652576130572492010-03-06T17:48:00.000-08:002010-03-06T17:48:08.376-08:00

I was nose-to-the-grindstone this week, working at my tech job.  And when I spend an entire week without creating something new, I get really antsy.  Well, I took care of THAT today!  After spending last Sunday at the knitting show immersed in all that fiber, I had to work on my latest vessel.  It was like therapy - and I got my February Bead Journal Project "page" all laid out and pre-felted.  

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-88850249115737024252010-03-03T16:44:00.000-08:002010-03-03T16:44:21.991-08:00

Last night I finally finished my January "page" of my Bead Journal Project.  During a break in the clouds today I hauled the little vessel outside, plunked it down on a wrought iron plant stand, and snapped a few pix.  Of course, I'll have much better photos taken at some point, but I wanted to get this little guy out here for all the world to see.  There are so many things wrong with this one,

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-4237680749694833502010-03-01T21:11:00.000-08:002010-03-01T21:11:29.109-08:00

Here are more fibers that I brought home from the Stitches West Marketplace yesterday.  My first stop was a visit to Lisa Souza.  I had purchased some of her hand-dyed roving last year, from which I made my all-time favorite vessel.  I donated that vessel to BAGI, where I teach glass bead making, for their annual fundraiser - the Great Glass Auction.  And my student and friend Lisa C. got it in

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-78711176030558360652010-02-28T20:54:00.000-08:002010-02-28T20:54:33.453-08:00

I've been a vendor at the Stitches West Show for the last 2 years, but this year I decided I wasn't going to do that show.  Instead, I took a class at the show on Friday.  I've been felting for a couple of years now, but I had never taken a class.  I decided it was about time that I learn what I've been doing wrong as well as lots of new tips and tricks.  What a wonderful class it was!  Nuno

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-64073523400223892982010-02-24T12:22:00.000-08:002010-02-24T18:16:47.947-08:00

Being back in the world of software development has a down side.  I have so many artsy projects waiting for me that I don't know which way to turn when I have some free time.  I DO know that my January BJP vessel is on hold until I get a package in the mail.  Huh?  Well, I've learned another lesson - the hard way.  While working on the last part of this piece - the collar - I discovered that

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-49587087858049818542010-02-19T12:45:00.000-08:002010-02-19T12:45:08.452-08:00

Ah yes, Friday is here already. How did THAT happen? I've been wanting to get out to my glass lab to make beads, but my other commitments have kept me from doing so. Tomorrow I'll be at a glass studio in San Mateo, CA so I'm sure I'll get in some torch time there. It's the montly meeting of our Society of Glass Beadmakers of Northern California, where we gather for chit chat, sharing of our

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-603340026371513092010-02-17T21:01:00.000-08:002010-02-17T21:02:16.059-08:00

For those of you who won beads in my OWOH drawing, I put them into the mail yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon.  So you can look forward to getting your little prizes shortly! Fortunately I didn't wait until today to ship them out.  My 86-year-old mom, Yvette, lives with us and last night she took a fall in her bedroom.  I was working on my BJP vessel while I was watching the men's figure skating

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-48440202527366236042010-02-15T14:34:00.000-08:002010-02-15T14:35:55.364-08:00

I just went out to random.org to get the 3 random numbers for this year's One World One Heart event!  I've been trying to "roll out" the results one by one in this post, but the blog editor is giving me fits.  So I'm going to now post it all at once.  Drum roll......... First number is........................... 259 And the winner of the single green leaf bead is..................

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-77103105170531445402010-02-12T13:54:00.000-08:002010-02-12T13:54:36.748-08:00

I've been so busy - or out of town - that I've missed posting my Friday Favorites for the last 2 weeks. But I'm back, and here they are. If you're new here, it works like this. The little Google gizmo way down at the bottom of the page gives you a new color scheme every time you refresh or re-enter the page. I've decided to use it on Fridays to find Etsy items that catch my eye and match the

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-26229113560611456842010-02-10T11:57:00.000-08:002010-02-10T11:59:56.090-08:00

In case you're wondering, my OWOH post is HERE. OK, so sometimes the little things get me excited.  I spent a bit of time on my torch yesterday - for the first time in I can't remember how long.  I didn't make a lot of beads, just the beads that I wanted for my big felting project.  This morning when I fetched them out of the kiln, I was very pleased that my project can now move on to completion!

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-74169920593829588532010-02-09T13:41:00.000-08:002010-02-09T13:41:37.076-08:00

If you're looking for my OWOH post, it's HERE. I'm finally rested from my trip to LA.  I was supposed to return last Friday evening, but we were deep into the work session and neither of us wanted to stop.  So we worked until a bit after 9 pm, then again on Saturday.  I flew home late Saturday afternoon just in time to get off the plane, fetch my bag, and head straight to BAGI's Great Glass

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-26204589011330918782010-01-31T21:09:00.000-08:002010-01-31T21:12:17.470-08:00

If you're looking for my OWOH post, it's HERE.  And I've had so many comments on it that I've added a 3rd giveaway item - go check it out! Wow, this last week or so has been a strange one.  I was supposed to have been down in LA last week for a 3-day business meeting.  I did a bit of scrambling to get stuff done before I was to leave on Tuesday.  On Monday evening I got a phone call telling me

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-19860633508946002572010-01-25T00:24:00.000-08:002010-02-15T10:46:20.762-08:00

Comments Are Now Closed For This Event On My Blog      There may still be some blogs open for comments - click on the Magic Carpet logo to find out Thanks to all of you who participated - and thanks for all the new follows!  I'll be getting those random numbers shortly - stay tuned for the 3 winners! Welcome to my blog - today is the day!  Do you know about One World One Heart?  This is an

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com451tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-46572782176848920592010-01-20T13:09:00.000-08:002010-01-20T13:14:52.612-08:00

Today is the 3rd day of our winter storm week.  We actually had some thunder and lightning, which is rare in the San Francisco Bay Area.  I love thunderstorms - when I lived back in Connecticut, I would often stop whatever I was doing when a thunderstorm arrived just so I could watch the lightning. Ah yes, winter in this area is our rainy season - and some of the trees are just loving it!  Don't

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-16317176056860846832010-01-18T20:47:00.000-08:002010-01-18T20:50:35.745-08:00

Wow, we started the "work week" on a very rainy note!  I was out in the wet lab this morning, and between the rain and the wind, it was very noisy in there.  I actually like those sounds - it brings back some nice memories of college camping trips in New Hampshire and vacation camping trips in Oregon.  When you're sitting in a small tent, the sound of the rain can be almost overwhelming!

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-84570793805087701702010-01-15T10:39:00.000-08:002010-02-12T14:22:32.168-08:00

Ah yes, it's Friday again - already!!  I did manage to make a bit of progress on my January journal page for the Bead Journal Project.  These are the colors I've chosen for the vessel.  I mean, hey, it's January.  And rumor has it that we're going to get smacked with 4 major storms over the next several days .  These colors look pretty stormy to me. And here's the first layer of fiber. As

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-45445660191585590572010-01-10T23:37:00.000-08:002010-01-10T23:41:47.371-08:00

Whenever I have a project to do but no specific design in mind, thoughts come into my head at the strangest times.  I usually keep some sort of writing material with me so I can jot down notes or sketches.  Awhile ago I decided that my format for the Bead Journal Project would be a small felted vessel but I wasn't sure if I'd have a specific theme or if I would just play it by ear each month.  

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-24008378885285768752010-01-08T14:30:00.000-08:002010-02-12T14:22:32.169-08:00

See that little gizmo down at the bottom of the page?  The one that says "Random Color Scheme".  I've decided to use it in several different ways.  I enjoy looking at folks' Etsy treasuries, I often find new favorite artisans.  Today I used the random color scheme gadget to find some Etsy items that caught my eye.  This is the color scheme that was on my blog when I first came out here today,

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-33344615786925907632010-01-07T15:31:00.000-08:002010-01-07T15:32:28.230-08:00

Quite some time ago I went on a "girls' day out" trip with a couple of my friends.  We ended up in San Francisco at a fascinating place where you can drop off "stuff" that you no longer want that could be used for artsy kinds of projects.  You can also fill up a shopping bag with "stuff" that catches your eye for some of your own projects, and when you check out you'll be amazed at how little

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-79701795367559945512010-01-05T20:59:00.000-08:002010-01-05T21:04:29.624-08:00

Do you blog? Would you like to get to know other bloggers? Perhaps find kindred spirits? Do you know about One World One Heart? Gosh, all these questions I have. If you've answered "yes" to more than one of these questions, check out the big event coming soon.I'll be participating in this event this year, so come on back. It starts on January 25, so stay tuned!In the meantime, go have

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-86800735293169352292010-01-03T20:00:00.000-08:002010-01-03T20:58:34.922-08:00

My friend Carol of Sand Fibers is about to achieve a major milestone. She's on the brink of having 1000 sales in her Etsy shop - woohoo!! She might even be there by the time you read this blog post.To celebrate this event, she's having a major giveaway. Yep, a bona fide freebie! Well, almost free. You have to visit her blog and "do stuff" in order to participate. But hey, how can you

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-64120575012152148822010-01-02T14:00:00.000-08:002010-01-02T15:14:14.009-08:00

Well, I've taken on a big project for 2010 - a small vessel a month for the Bead Journal Project. At first I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with the idea of committing to one beaded vessel a month, but then I took a look at the fiber work that I did in 2009 and realized that yes, I can do this! Here's a wrap-up of my 2009 fiber work - not too bad for having done 4 bead shows and a gallery show

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-27298298053223536292009-12-31T21:05:00.001-08:002009-12-31T21:09:16.402-08:00

Wishing all of you a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2010!

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-85028662317235960692009-12-25T11:20:00.000-08:002009-12-25T12:07:22.816-08:00

To those of you who celebrate, Merry Christmas! To those of you who don't, may the spirit of the season brighten your day! And to all of you, Have a Happy and Creative Day!

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-68600459628120959712009-12-14T20:45:00.000-08:002009-12-14T21:06:14.332-08:00

Well, I did it. I just sent in my registration for the 2010 Bead Journal Project. If you don't know what that is, click on the link and check it out! I'll be creating 12 beaded "journal pages". They don't have to be actual "pages", but they all have to be the same shape and size and must include beads. I'm thinking of creating small vessels, since I love the vessel form so much. And if I

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-8886722385746955662009-12-13T18:22:00.000-08:002009-12-13T18:53:57.228-08:00

We've been having quite some weather all week - this weekend it was rainy. Yesterday was kind of a kick, it reminded me of the weather I was familiar with back in New England. It would pour down rain, then stop, then the sun would come out for a bit - next thing you know it was pouring again. Toward the end of the afternoon I finally went out my back door to see what was going on outside. I wish

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-36368091668963125152009-12-08T13:37:00.001-08:002009-12-08T14:34:58.476-08:00

Well, last night was calm. No rain or wind. But holy smokes, we woke up in a frost-laden deep freeze! OK, OK, so you folks who live like Nanook of the North are laughing at me for being such a wuss. I can't help it, my blood has thinned out since I left Connecticut ages ago. And after just having looked at the weather that they're having in my former home town of Newington, CT, there's

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-1493017869845359132009-12-07T14:36:00.000-08:002009-12-07T15:01:50.613-08:00

It was cold last night. I mean, I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and we're not used to temperatures going down below freezing. And since I've become an "old fart", I've been sleeping with socks on when it gets cold. I forgot 'em last night - not good, since it was a very cold rainy night. Some time in the wee hours I was dreaming that it was freezing rain and when I looked outside the entire

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-353122529042843592009-12-04T12:21:00.000-08:002009-12-04T12:40:01.088-08:00

Now THERE'S a title for you, eh? I've been back in the world of high-tech, revisiting a subject area that I was intimately familiar with many years ago. In order to be most productive I've been doing research into what has been added to the tax laws since I left that product. But that's not why you're here...Whiskers on kittens being among my favorite things - well actually, whiskers on

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-44482250603209514692009-11-30T12:14:00.000-08:002009-11-30T12:46:38.997-08:00

Holy smokes - where did the time go? I was very happy to have had a 4-day Thanksgiving weekend to work on all the items that I will be delivering to the Olive Hyde Gallery for their annual holiday show/sale. But here it is, Monday, and I still have a ton of work to do before my scheduled delivery time tomorrow morning.I finished embellishing 3 vessels, made another vessel and embellished it,

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-73374620471897318652009-11-24T13:04:00.000-08:002009-11-24T13:34:18.830-08:00

I'm in crunch mode now, getting several creations ready to be placed in shows and galleries. This past weekend I spent Saturday making a few more vessels. Here's an in-progress picture of my wine country vessel. I have to embellish this one, but I haven't made the bead yet. It will be a small leaf bead (of course...), this vessel isn't large. It's going to the Olive Hyde Gallery in my home

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-9918389939829160332009-11-18T13:54:00.000-08:002009-11-18T15:51:35.970-08:00

In my prior post, I showed you a picture of the latest vessel that I made with a promise of better pix of it to come. I never had a chance to get anymore pictures - I sold the vessel over the weekend. But I just about finished embellishing another one and I have plans for a new one roaming around in my brain.The weekend before this last one, I taught a bead making class on Saturday at BAGI.

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-36347953084008569972009-11-06T12:22:00.000-08:002009-11-06T14:55:12.797-08:00

This has been an extremely busy week for me in the teaching department! I taught a class on Tuesday evening, provided a "bead making experience" for a group of about 40 women on Wednesday morning and afternoon, taught a class that same evening, then taught a class again last night. During my "down time" between those classes, I managed to finish this vessel. It's a small one - I don't make

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-88792003009957886942009-11-01T15:34:00.000-08:002009-11-01T15:46:45.334-08:00

Today I finished a sample piece for a "Join in and Make Challenge" that's part of the online felting community to which I belong. It was interesting and fun, and I learned quite a bit about this technique. I'll be incorporating my sample into a larger felted piece. I wanted to use it on a vessel but it's just too heavy. I may try this again with some refinements. Here's a lousy picture (my

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-47112590094019112992009-10-31T13:49:00.000-07:002009-10-31T14:01:32.623-07:00

When I make felted vessels, I'm so tempted to deck them out with all sorts of embellishments. But sometimes less is a good thing. This is one of my recent vessels that I planned on embellishing. I even had the seed beads all picked out for the rim. After I added my lampwork disk beads to the vessel I decided to stop. It took a bit to hold me back - the seed beads were the perfect color for

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-79580920198086110392009-10-30T12:50:00.000-07:002009-10-30T14:29:07.908-07:00

Continuing on in my exploration of work with fiber, I created another mixed media piece. I still haven't decided how I will complete these pieces - pin, necklace, or attachment to some other felted work. This piece has a split personality. The face is a raku bead that has two sides - one side is glazed, the other black. Day and Night? Happy and Sad? You decide! I've assembled this piece so

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-25531040779059119492009-10-27T14:18:00.000-07:002009-10-30T14:29:20.333-07:00

Not too long ago I blogged that I had "Made Something On a Whim". I got a bit wild with that piece of felt and it's now a cuff that I call Sprout. I adorned it with a button by Lisa Peters, then added some organic-feeling froufrou. Here are a few pix of the almost-finished piece. I say "almost" because I still have to put a lining on it and then add the closure. I planned on waiting until

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-14199689123549526062009-10-21T14:11:00.000-07:002009-10-21T15:53:51.197-07:00

I've been busy in the wet lab lately, preparing for the upcoming holiday show/sale at Olive Hyde Art Gallery in Fremont, CA. Here's the latest vessel that I finished - I just put the collar and faceted lemon quartz on it the night before last. The collar is a spiral rope, and the vessel is also adorned with peridot chips.I have three more vessels that are ready for embellishments - all I need is

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-10073098036501880372009-10-14T19:55:00.000-07:002009-10-14T20:21:12.145-07:00

Last night I finished embellishing one of my vessels, and I decided to keep it simple. I adorned the vessel with one of my leaf beads and not much else. I used two different colors of pineapple fiber to attach the leaf to the vessel. Here's my "Valley" vessel - both the "A" side and the "B" side.When I was up in Chinook, Washington over Labor Day weekend I conducted 2 felting workshops in

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-86886856267395492932009-10-13T19:41:00.000-07:002009-10-13T20:43:40.348-07:00

Here we are, sliding into the holiday season ever so quickly, and I'm involved in more activities than I have been for quite some time. I'm still teaching bead making classes at the Bay Area Glass Institute (BAGI), and I'm also teaching them at the Art Glass Center of San Jose. Classes keep me busy 3 nights a week and a couple of Saturdays a month. Along with my association with the Art Glass

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-76815391711668054582009-09-18T11:41:00.000-07:002009-09-18T11:48:40.766-07:00

Come one, come all!! We're having a 2-day event in San Mateo at Aanraku Studio in San Mateo, CA to benefit the Beads of Courage program!SGB Norcal members, hospital staff, children undergoing treatment, and their parents have all been invited to attend this big two day hot glass fest, and yours truly will be there with didymiums, Plays With Fire baseball cap, tools, and a helping hand. Here's

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-5354408087029148702009-09-14T14:20:00.000-07:002009-12-25T12:04:29.800-08:00

I got back from Portland almost a week ago, and now that I'm unpacked and a routine medical procedure is behind me, I can get back to work in the wet lab. And that's where I spent last evening and this morning - trying to meet a challenge given to me by the wonderful and talented Kimberly Affleck while I was in Washington. Kimberly commissioned me to make a vessel for her. She's going to

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-35247270251713487632009-08-29T06:06:00.000-07:002009-08-29T06:10:50.275-07:00

Well, I'm off to Portland, OR this morning. I'll be spending 5 days with my stepson and his lovely wife, then I'm off to Washington to play with several of my glassy friends. It's a "knowledge exchange" get together, and I'll be heading up a felting workshop. How fun is that?! I'll also be coming home with some new skills under my belt. Hmmm... I don't know how skillful I'll be right off the

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-1472343314443712142009-08-24T22:17:00.000-07:002009-08-24T22:26:38.692-07:00

So today I was going to start a third wall hanging so that I could have an abstract design as a sample. Instead, I went in a completely different direction. I have some ceramic buttons by Lisa Peters that I purchased at the Bead & Button Show, and one of them was staring at me in the wet lab. So I decided to make a felt cuff. I really didn't know what I was doing, and I'm not very happy with

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-37092407021440574412009-08-23T14:12:00.000-07:002009-08-23T16:06:10.683-07:00

My weekends have been a bit busy since I took my glass coldworking class. Our Society of Glass Beadmakers Northern California group had a monthly meeting at BAGI (Bay Area Glass Institute) where I teach glass beadmaking. That was great fun - folks had opportunities to make a blown glass object and/or a fused glass tile, and also participate in the "bead toss". I want to thank the folks at BAGI

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-54412653317352399172009-08-12T21:32:00.000-07:002009-08-12T22:02:24.155-07:00

"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...." Actually, it was December of 2002 in the galaxy of Connecticut. I was visiting my mom - she still lived back there at the time - and I decided that I needed to get out by myself for a bit. I went into a West Hartford shop that was part boutique, part glass art gallery, and of course I headed straight for the glass. The gallery was arranged rather

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-68294510745979262332009-08-10T21:58:00.000-07:002009-08-23T16:05:57.184-07:00

This past weekend I had the pleasure - and pain - of taking a glass coldworking class with Johnathon Schmuck. Coldworking, as Johnathon describes it, is "... the manipulation and alteration of glass without the addition of heat -- the changing of form and surface via some sort of mechanical or hand-manipulated method.". Here's Johnathon doing me a favor - showing me how to remove some glass

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-30258622397118270982009-08-06T23:40:00.000-07:002009-08-06T23:59:10.620-07:00

I've had birds on my mind for quite awhile now. Maybe it's because our neighborhood has changed over the last few years. The crows moved in, and I don't hear as many other birds as I used to. The mocking birds are now rather scarce, and I miss them! When I first noticed the preponderance of crows I started taking pictures of them in my back yard. One day I took my camera through the neighborhood

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-18509516220739300502009-08-04T16:38:00.000-07:002009-08-04T16:43:34.686-07:00

I'm just about to head out the door to teach my bead making class. But I want to show you the finished vessel before I leave - I got it done last night! I had originally planned on using one more item on it but it was too heavy and pulled the vessel over. I didn't want to add a counterweight on the other side of the vessel, so I decided to simplify. And sometimes simple is better - I've very

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-58742392531069732482009-08-02T23:38:00.000-07:002009-08-02T23:56:55.473-07:00

I spent the day working on my "earthy" vessel on which I will use one of the crackle white raku donuts that I acquired from MAKUstudio. It's all fulled and is on the rack drying - yay! What a job it was... mainly because I made a mistake. I pulled out the wrong template and was part way through building it when I realized that the template was way too big. OMGosh, it was challenging fulling

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-25860021963563469742009-07-29T14:51:00.000-07:002009-08-02T23:37:25.763-07:00

Phew! I am SO not used to high humidity anymore. Not that I ever liked it when I lived in Connecticut, but since I've lived in a dry climate for most of my years I really have a struggle with humidity. So most of the time I spent at the annual Gathering of the International Society of Glass Beadmakers was in the hotel. And what a lovely time I had! Now that I've FINALLY gotten over my

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-47567477428671903212009-07-20T21:58:00.001-07:002009-07-20T23:30:43.673-07:00

Since I'm taking a quick break from packing for my trip to Miami, I'm going to give you a sneak peek at some of the projects that I'll be starting when I return in a week. I'm not leaving until Wednesday but I have to teach a class tomorrow night, so I thought I'd get a jump start on trying to figure out how many suitcases I need to take. I've made some purchases in the last few weeks with the

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-78040448214901600672009-07-14T20:31:00.000-07:002009-08-02T23:38:18.098-07:00

Well Monday has come and gone, and rather than look for new inspiration I started to panic a bit. I'm leaving for Miami in a week and I still have so many things I have to make before I go. Then I realized that Miami will probably provide lots of inspiration for future projects.I haven't been to Miami since 1973 - yikes! But when I think of Miami, I think of turquoise water and white sandy

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-5388281796414997732009-07-10T11:53:00.000-07:002009-07-10T13:49:18.865-07:00

... as Pete Seeger wrote all those years ago... "I'd hammer in the morning, I'd hammer in the evening all over this land."Well, I DO have a hammer, much to my surprise and delight! Cindy Wimmer of Sweet Bead Studio had a blog giveaway that I blogged about a short while ago. I was completely blown away when I discovered that I had won the embossing hammer that was part of the giveaway. A great

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-90594238163543821612009-07-06T15:21:00.000-07:002009-07-06T15:46:04.310-07:00

With so many projects in progress, I won't be able to get to all my inspiration pix for awhile. But this morning I took my camera with me while I was out walking before breakfast. I've walked by these trees many many times, and last week I took a closer look. So today I took some pictures for my inspiration file. Now I can't decide if this should be inspiration for a vessel - I think it fits

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-28307109840890487022009-07-05T22:38:00.000-07:002009-07-05T22:47:53.218-07:00

I wanted to show you the finished "Raku" vessel. This is the vessel that I made to go with the lovely raku beads that I purchased from MAKUstudio. I ended up using only one of the beads. I kept going back and forth about whether or not I should use either of the other beads and finally decided that less is more. I already have a plan for the other two beads!This vessel as well as my "Zen"

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-37087770147038496542009-07-04T18:04:00.000-07:002009-07-05T22:47:59.400-07:00

... the tramping of feet, I love every beat I hear of a drum."Here's to a happy Independence Day weekend to all my fellow US citizens - and a happy July 4th weekend to everyone!I spent my July 4th in a parade. Yep, that's right - my friend Sharon, her step daughter and I got all "duded up" and rode in the Mayor's Fourth of July Parade in Alameda, CA.Here we are just getting underway... can you

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-60981283399819957822009-07-01T16:16:00.000-07:002009-07-01T16:35:23.425-07:00

I'm just about ready to head out the door to go teach my bead making class - but I wanted to post a preview of the stash I'm gathering to work on my ocean project. These are some of the fibers I've selected. I have some other goodies up my sleeve, but those will have to wait for a later post - I don't want to ruin the surprise! :-)There's such a variation here from dark to light that the

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-9068168204362915662009-06-29T19:58:00.000-07:002009-06-29T20:25:12.284-07:00

I'm sure I've mentioned before that I have a love/hate relationship with the internet. Actually, I think it's my ISP that causes me all the grief. For several days now, it's been hit or miss whether or not I'll be able to access the WWW. I'm hoping that I can at least get this post out before it's Tuesday here!We've had some wicked hot weather here lately, and on days like this I can't bring

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-67093472395111359002009-06-27T21:42:00.000-07:002009-07-10T13:49:42.008-07:00

I've gone through my lampwork beads and I've picked through my purchased bead stash - which is rather extensive, considering the fact that I've been accumulating it since 1996 - and I've narrowed down my choices for embellishing my "Dale" vessel.Here are the lampwork beads I'm considering as well as the accessory "stuff" - Czech firepolish, fiber optic beads, Czech pressed glass, black coral,

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-24759421916284441412009-06-27T13:50:00.000-07:002009-06-27T14:52:22.515-07:00

It seems that it was just "Inspiration Monday" - and now it's Saturday. Some weeks are like that, where time seems to be running on turbo power.I did have an opportunity to let Mr. Chihuly guide my work with fiber this week, and I'm very pleased with the outcome so far. I still have to embellish this vessel and I'm going to do that with some glass pieces that I haven't made yet. I haven't

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-61460314280063982572009-06-22T13:37:00.000-07:002009-12-25T12:04:18.600-08:00

It occurred to me once again that I tend to get caught up in my "have to do's" and "should do's" (hmmm, should there be an apostrophe in there or not?), and my opportunities to just let go and have some creative play time are rather limited. Right now I have 3 fiber art commissions to work on as well as 3 in-progress projects. I'm thinking that if I pick a few things as inspiration for the week

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-53007707421327239312009-06-19T12:03:00.001-07:002009-06-19T12:08:48.829-07:00

I've been working like crazy on my felt project inspired by the raku tube beads that I purchased from MAKUstudio. These are some pix that I took during the work in progress. The lighting was lousy - when you're married to a professional photographer, you get rather spoiled - and Len wasn't around with his fancy lighting setup. But you'll get the idea here. I can't wait until I finish

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-69799807833489948112009-06-18T12:15:00.000-07:002009-12-25T12:04:41.621-08:00

Here's an update to the story of the animal shelter in Las Cruces, NM. - looks like it's an ending that's not so bad.Doña Ana County won't transfer evidence dogs to shelterNow back to our regularly-scheduled programming. I was so busy preparing for the Bead & Button Show that I got way behind on posting Etsy Treasuries in which my work was featured. Here are the treasuries along with some

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-26026142361683934402009-06-17T11:27:00.000-07:002009-06-17T11:53:15.674-07:00

... I just change my plans and go with what feels right. And today, I will NOT be going out to find myself a new pair of shoes.This morning, my little package arrived from MAKUstudio. I purchased these wonderful raku tube beads, and when I opened the package I immediately ran out into my wet lab. I recalled one of the purchases that I made when I was a vendor at Stitches West in February, and

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-49130124255019804162009-06-16T10:09:00.000-07:002009-12-25T12:04:50.579-08:00

Not having a booth helper this year at the Bead & Button Show severely limited my "out and about" time, but I did manage to snap a few pix of some of my neighbors. Here's one of my "across the street" neighbors - the wonderfully talented Kimberly Affleck of seahorse fame - in a moment of humor at her booth. Kimberly was a new B&B neighbor of mine this year, but definitely not new as far as

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-62552903651506980542009-06-14T21:25:00.000-07:002009-06-14T22:23:26.209-07:00

After I returned from Bead & Button, I thought that teaching 3 classes during the week would be enough torch time for me for awhile. After all, I just about wore myself out getting ready for and doing the show. But toward the end of the week I just had to get back into my studio to make something. I started out with what was most familiar to me - yes, a leaf bead. A lovely deep olive green

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-36230255158886527792009-06-12T13:25:00.000-07:002009-06-12T15:30:39.564-07:00

I returned from the Bead & Button Show Monday at about 10:40 p.m. after an uneventful flight. I was rather grateful because shortly after I arrived at the airport in Milwaukee to begin my trek home there was a tornado warning and the sky was very dark. The "officials" said that the warning would be in effect until 4:30 p.m. Sure enough, at 4:30 the clouds broke and the sun came through. Wow!

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-14408879455432015442009-06-02T23:39:00.000-07:002009-06-03T00:58:03.919-07:00

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go...It's just about 1 a.m. here, and in what will seem like a few hours I'm heading out to Milwaukee to the Bead & Button Show.  I'll be exhausted, but I change planes in Denver so there really won't be any time for me to catch a nap.  The show floor opens on Thursday afternoon, and I'll be bright-eyed again by then.  I always get excited about this show!I've

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-87286188006856230562009-05-26T15:47:00.001-07:002009-05-26T15:52:39.353-07:00

This week is my last big push before I head out to Milwaukee.  I'm trying to "make stuff" while I get everything organized, and I'm also teaching 2 classes this week.  I sure hope I can get everything done!  I'm also working on putting some new kits together - I plan on having them at the show, but they aren't ready for prime time yet.  That's my biggest project for this week, so wish me luck!

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-72509567154249920332009-05-23T15:35:00.000-07:002009-05-23T16:22:24.577-07:00

Today I'm having a break from the torch and thinking about my next wet felted vessel.  But I haven't given in to my elbow tendonitis - my torch has been working overtime, and I'll probably give it another workout tomorrow.  I've been making more of my bead "classics" as well as adding to my inventory of leaves.  Here are some leaves that I've produced over the last few days.  For whatever reason,

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-40318931414226125652009-05-21T12:24:00.000-07:002009-05-21T12:59:40.523-07:00

I always get excited when I get a new batch of fibers, and this time I'm playing around with variegated colors.  How cool is that?!  I also played on the torch with some colors I had never used before, and today I will continue to raid my untouched glass stash.  Such a dilemma - play with glass or play with fibers?  Since I'm not teaching this evening, maybe I'll have time to do both.Here are

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-43939107096500049382009-05-19T14:30:00.000-07:002009-05-19T15:14:13.312-07:00

This week I'm focusing on the assortment of beads that I will be bringing to the Bead & Button Show.  Yes, I'm making more leaves as well as some other types of beads.  I have a floral focal bead in the kiln that I'm just dying to see when it's back to room temperature.  And I'm going back to the glass lab in a few minutes to make a couple of small beads for a bracelet that's in

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-54026136799964494452009-05-15T11:40:00.000-07:002009-05-15T13:10:49.539-07:00

So here is the last bunch of leaves that will be heading up to Sacramento to be put into Poppy Passion Slider kits.  At least the last batch for this week, that is.  It would be so nice to take a leaf break for awhile but I have to make many more leaf beads for sale in my booth at the Bead & Button Show.  That's OK, though, because now I can focus on other types of leaves before I get back into

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-69333466923774188612009-05-14T18:08:00.000-07:002009-05-14T18:24:10.048-07:00

Yep, more leaves.  I'll be making leaves every day until it's time for me to head out to Milwaukee.  All of you are probably looking forward to that day so that you can finally see something other than leaves out here.  Well, before I take to the friendly skies I'll be sure to create a surprise or two for you - and for me, just so I can maintain my sanity!  LOL!But for now, I'll leave you (pun

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22818638.post-62906614576509669882009-05-10T14:34:00.000-07:002009-05-10T15:16:43.240-07:00

... would you like leaves with that?Today I'm going to spend a bit of time away from the glass lab, the wet lab, the bead lab and the computer (as soon as I'm done here...) and take mom out for a bit of a stroll.  Poor dear gets cabin fever and I have some ideas how to fix that problem on this beautiful sunny day.  She loves flowers (yes, and leaves too...), so we're going to go where there are

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08026220287892386166noreply@blogger.com0