spring jewelry shoot

A few weeks ago i hauled a bevy of beauties into the studio to photoshoot some of the new jewelry products being created. As you can imagine, we had a lot of fun.

Here are some shots from the shoot. A round of thanks and applause for these 15 ladies who came and put their best face forward. Also an incredibly huge thank you to Amanda Evernden who did a fabulous hair and makeup job. And to my bud Kel who didnt get a shot in but was on call to help. And now, let me introduce you to my ladies: jen christie

diane

rebecca

lonnie

aniko

katie

randee

anne

amanda

meghan

elena & aniko

sandra

sacha

moi

& laura

See the album on flickr

Or view the products on our website: Just up today!!

http://www.floglassblowing.ca

winter cottage weekends are simply heaven

I'd been meaning to post these for sometime, but here are some of the shots from the friends weekend we had at the cottage. More photos on flickr

studio update

Well its been a long overhaul, one i thought would come sooner than it has but we officially are in the last stage of getting the furnace up and running could be weeks could be more (please please let it come sooner than later) but we await the final safety inspection to allow us to fire up and get to work.

I am in my last month at the law firm i've been holding down to keep the money coming in, and i am oh so very excited to finally be in the shop and being doing all this full time.

No the website is not yet up but its close, ohh so close and its fabulous and im excited to share it.

Studio courses have finalized. My flameworking set up is complete for production to begin. Its time to finally get to making stuff and i cant wait!!

I'll be holding a photoshoot at the shop this sunday to take pictures of some beautiful ladies modling the newest wares.

I have admitedly let the daily creativity challenge drop. Its a busy time and one of my worst attributes is over commiting myself and running myself ragged. The challenge was meant to be fun and keep creativity flowing during this down period... and though it has been fun, i will continue to take a breather because it still can't be put as a priority.

Im feeling sentimental today. Feeling gratitude for all my loved ones and I'm hopeful that in the very near future great things will be taking shape.

i hope all are well

whats wrong with the handmade challenge

Lets take this moment to touch base and get re-orientated shall we?

The handmade challenge has had its high moments but mainly its been a lot of me going 'what on earth am i thinking? I'm the last person in the world with time to complete this challenge'.

Everyday? Am I setting myself up for failure? Some have voiced as much... and stubborn me is torn between wanting to catch up and wanting to let the weight drop, after all, there are a lot more important tasks at hand, such as getting this business off the ground.

I like my little challenges. They go in hand with my personal lists... you know the ones that are meant to make me feel more balanced? But I worry now that as soon as I actually concretely make that wish and note it on my checklist that it in fact causes me to avoid it like the plague because it appears - I AM A PROCRASTINATOR and the mile long wish list, well that's a good distraction from my irritating MUST do items. I can't pile up more MUST do items and attempt to balance them by creating more 'meant to be fun but will end up feeling like work' challenges. As a result. I admit a change of course, and a full revision of this handmade project of mine.

Despite the fact that i really truly long to do one thing daily... perhaps now is NOT so ideal a time to take on more personal challenges. Keep making work. Keep posting work, but the deadlines on fun stuff... maybe a bad idea JUST for the moment.

New suggested handmade challenge date? April 22nd 2011.
I can't say now how I'd like to run the challenge but this date is picked because it is the first day of our official studio opening. And in two months time, I WILL be working full time in my studio space vs the law firm I'm spending my days in now... The furnace WILL be up, and the task of making something will be not just easier but mandatory for work reasons too... consequently making this personal challenge and my efforts for an improved personal quality of life easier, not another item on my checklist.

Prioritizing is not my favourite task, but hard as it is to admit defeat, I don't want to loose focus on where i need to be putting most of my energy right now.

NOTE: I will be updating hand made things still.. just not daily. And I will continue to write my daily's and even start trying to upload a photo a day as the studio work gets more interesting.

Studio update for those who are interested:
WEBSITE is getting close, cannot wait for that one to be off the checklist. Goal launch date - end of the weekend
FURNACE - hurts to say it, but we wont be up till march at least... as soon as we've got the safeties approved I'll be singing from the rooftops, but in the meantime, I'm taking the time to get all the other small studio projects completed
SPACE is looking good. remember we're open days now 12-5 tues-fri and saturdays 10-5. Come see how we're looking... shes going to be a grand play place, I can't wait for the classes to begin.

Our House

Such a sweet and touching song. Between web work.. a break to play my handmade for day 29 a cover of Our House - By Crosby Stills Nash and Young.
Handmade #29

Y function

January 27th flo photography shoots for the YMCA for the reveal of their big announcement.
The Taggart family donates 2 million dollars, the largest in their history.

Citizen ran their story here.

Today's handmade: Event shoot. A little less creative a task but i still found some interesting shots within the mix.

relief is coming soon

Live your life each day as you would climb a mountain.
An occasional glance toward the summit keeps the goal
in mind, but many beautiful scenes are to be observed
from each new vantage point.
Climb slowly, steadily, enjoying each passing moment;
and the view from the summit will serve as a fitting
climax for the journey.

-- Harold V. Melchert

animal kingdom

I promise I'm not getting the baby buzz but sometimes I lack the cleverness to find another use for something so simple... all's i have to say is - I love me my animals. I dont just love one, I love all, and I love drawing them and building up a whole fleet... so heres what I've decided to do.

1. Cut up or pre buy some cardboard stock in small note sizes (mine are 2.5x4inches)
2. Lots of options for this but the easiest is to find an online kids colouring page site where they will list countless line drawings of every animal imaginable (example site here).
3. draw out your desired animals making one per small square.
4. Eventual goal: a handmade animal kingdom set for a kids gift or maybe for saving for the future (this gives me a lot of time to create a whole collection)

Here are six animal cards I created for my January 20th handmade

day 19 - sketchbook entry

In the months of waiting we prep. We prep and get excited for things to come.

Here are some of the idea sketchs that have been building....

a little update

January 18th, the day AFTER 'blue monday' statistically the most depressing day of the year, congratulations, we made it!

So a brief apology for my delay in posting. I have NOT given up, at least not this early in. I have been continuing to do my creative tasks for my everyday handmade challenge even though I seem to be experiencing technical difficulties loading some of the items i was hoping to show.

I decided instead of waiting to post the more current handmades, I would post the ones I do have ready while I try to overcome loading issues and camera cord disappearances. Undoubtedly the most challenging part about this challenge wont be making something different every day but the ability to get it up here in a timely manor.

Flo studio work is progressing. One piece of the business puzzle that we've been working on as of late has been the website. The talented Bri guy is creating us a multifuncional website, one for which there will be a lot of thumbnail images.
After a couple hours of resizing detail shots for the gallery section, this little postcard template came to light. Melody's handmade for january 18th - more flo marketing materials.