thank you!!

I've promised myself to surprise two hearters
of my shop, if it reached 1000 hearts. And it
happened today! Maybe it's kind of droll, but
my heart is on each piece, that's in my shop.
That's why it makes me really happy, to know,
that people like my shop. Thank you so much
for encouraging me!!!



So, I've just let a randomizer pick me 2 numbers
in 2 steps 1-500 and 501-1000 (it seems to me,
that it picks two quite narrow numbers otherwise):
18 and 647. And then I've browsed my hearts
using Juln's Heartomatic to find out the hearters:
#18: sockdogs
#647: bebesniklefritz
I'll send out convos, since I will send them a
surprise each :)

good thing going

Just wanna share The Tonics' performance,
which I've found on YouTube (uploaded by
BestArts). My choir has a gig in Mai, so I actually
have to practice our songs, but I only have
this song (from Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along)
in my head right now, since I just can't stop to
hear it again and again.



The song is arranged different than e.g. the one
from Frank Sinatra, but I really like it. It's more
alive - in good Manhattan Transfer style :)
Please look check the video on it's origin on
YouTube and read more about it.

edit 04.04.2008: I'm still digging for more
information about the group and found out,
that the song was arranged by Jason Robert
Brown and two names of the singers:
Brian Lane Green and Gene Reed.
edit 06.04.2008: Find out the names of the
other two singers: Cortés Alexander and
Lindy Robbins.

joe hisaishi

I've borrowed Spirited Away for the second
time from the library. I love the instrumental
music in that film, which was composed by
Joe Hisaishi. So, I wanted to know, either
there's any video of his music at YouTube.

This one is the song from Spirited Away, which
I could listen again and again (and I see the
pictures of the movie in my mind). If you haven't
seen the movie, I could only recommend it.
It is a great animated Japanese movie by
Hayao Miyazaki.

Oh, and I'm really impressed, how disciplined
the Japanese audience was, to wait with their
applause :)

This one is called Madness. I love it, because
it combine two of my favorite instruments
and it's simply the kind of instrumental music
I love - filled with surprises! Too bad the music
is not really synchronous to the picture.

maritime colors

The past days I've just hearted some new items
made by my fellow European sellers. It seems,
that Maritime colors are on the move :)
Just click on the items you're interested in.

edit 23.03.2008: I can't resist to add new fave,
so I have to inactive the Etsy Mini of my faves
here. But look at the items in their shops or
in my fave list! :)
2nd edit 23.03.2008: ok, it's boring without
picture. so I made a screen shot :)

left to right, top to bottom:
Gilbea, Vadjutka, Kreativlink,
lapomme, Ingermaaike, staroftheeast,
ZsBcreations, dindi, Artmind,
PamelaAngus, HeliS, XbyLeinaNeima

b-word #2: bead release

After talking about mandrel we're going to talk
about bead release.

Do you still remember, that there are different
materials use for mandrels? Depends on them,
there are also different ways to get the mandrel
out of the bead again. The cassava stalks would
be burned out during the fusing process in kiln.
Messing mandrels would be solved in acid
solutions. And stainless steel? So, now you
might already guess, why we need bead release.
It prevent the bead to stick on the mandrel
forever (well, most of the time at least ;)).


This one is stuck though - boohooo!!!
My own fault btw ;)

You've got to know the characteristics of your
bead release. Depends on what kind of bead
you want to make, you might need another
bead release (some of them is sturdier than
the other) and make thicker or thinner
coating. Normally if you take the mandrel out
of the solution quickly, it will make a thicker
coating and vice versa. I speak from my own
experience ;) The stuck bead should be made
on a mandrel with thicker, easy to loose coating,
but I didn't pay attention, as I was too excited
with my idea and wanted to try it right away.


My most used bead releases. As you can
see at the photo, it's a matter of point of
view, how you name it - do you want
to release the mandrel of the bead or
the bead of the mandrel? ;)

The main ingredient of most bead releases is
kaolin, as it has to be resistant to the high
temperature of the flame. You dip the mandrel
into the bead release, take it out and let it dry.
Another way is to flame-dry, but I don't like it,
since the coating is not as sturdy as the air-dried
ones. So, I always prepare them in forward and
only do the flame-dry, if I ran out of the
air-dried ones :)


My mandrel forest - waiting to be used :)

Stay tuned! The next B-word will come for
sure :)


Me with my double glasses on torch :)