7/ 5/07  Temps is close to 100' today! Did a women's outdoor adventure workshop last week. What a blast!

We played with horses, did trap shooting, kayaking (I missed that day), hiked using map and compass,

and did rope climbing. WOW!! If anyone is interested get in touch with me and I'll put you in touch

with the women who are doing this.

Just had my first dressage lesson and I loved it! How very different it is from riding western. I'm now

looking for a dressage saddle.

I DO hope to be making glass next week. The last two weeks have been a bit chaotic but things are getting

back to normal and I will be in the studio again soon.

6/16/07  What a beautiful day for making glass beads! It's not toooo hot, and I have an air conditioner

if I need it. Back to the Double Helix, and some Character beads.

6/9/07 I just listed some auctions, so please do check them out! I'm having fun with the Double Helix

and just ordered more! If some is good then more must be better! Right?!

Yesterday we went to Western States Horse Expo. What fun! I bought some things I needed, and proceeded

to leave my new bridle halter combo at the dealers booth. argh%$#@ They're going to ship it to me next

week. Whew! I didn't relish the idea of heading back to Sacramento and paying to park and to get in,

and let's not forget the gas!

6/2/07  oh boy, I've been playing with a new glass, Double Helix NYX and it's beautiful! It shimmers

as if I had applied luminescent spray (which is highly toxic). I'll get some pics up today. It's interesting

stuff that requires that it be heated and shaped, then cooled and then it goes back into a propane

rich (reducing) flame. Then the magic takes place!

Kiska is much better, thank you all who asked about her.

5/26/07 There will be an artist profile on me in our local paper in June. Jim took a couple shots

for the article, one of which I added to the bottom of the home page.

Our Borzoi , Kiska, is very sick and in the hospital. We are so hoping she will be coming home soon.

I've been making loads of beads, but they're all sold. Keep checking back, as my order has been filled

and I can get some new beads up next week.

5/20/07 Most of the character beads (face beads) have now sold. I am making more beginning tomorrow as I

have a very large order for a lovely family member in Germany who makes jewelry. I'll add the rest to

my website so you can purchase away!

5/10/07  I've got a number of new face beads available now. Made some gorgeous bridle rosettes

for my horse's bridle, using dichroic cabachons I fused, and then I set them in sterling settings

to attach to the bridle. I'll get some pics of those!

I've added some pictures of our new family addition, Kiska. She's a lovely and gently Borzoi girl.

4/ 21/06  I'm busy making face beads and loving it! I'll be in the studio all next week making some

fun new stuff, so stay tuned. Tomorrow I pick up our new Borzoi girl. Thank you to Kris Brolen

for letting me have this very nice girl to add to our family.

3/18/07 I hope you are all enjoying the same fabulous weather we've been having. It's been spring

cleaning time here. Also have gotten some work done in the studio. Just made some jelly beads.

those are already spoken for, but I'll get some new ones made and ready for auction this week.

3/5/07 We've been having some uncommonly nice weather after having snow last week! It's in the

60s and the doors are open. Just enough time to clean out some of the plant debris around the

pond, and think about all the new plants I need soon. But I haven't forgotten that March is often

filled with surprises, so I'll wait a month or so before putting new plants out.

In the meantime I'll  explore glass while the horses wander around the studio munching down

the tender new shoots.

2/25/07  I have some very fun beads I'll be listing tomorrow on ebay. Ivory fossil beads! Stay

tuned.

Check out this cool youtube link if you like horses!

2/19/07  Well, had a big kidney stone yesterday. Took all darn day to pass the thing. It's soooo

painful. Have some cool new beads to get online. I'll put a couple on ebay too. My new website

is up. McKenzie Bookworks so go check it out if you have a minute.

Chance is happy in his new home. So are the goats. It was way past time to find them a good home

without horses to push around. They live in a large herd of weed-eaters now.

1/3/07  How odd it all seems to be into the 21st Century this far. It was so recent that the hulabaloo

about the year 2000 was all we could talk about.

I just picked up a couple tanks of O2 today and the price has gone up a lot. May be time to get an

oxy concentrator.

Brought Ashly Rose home to live with me for awhile, as we try to sell Chance. I love having her

here and working on our relationship. She's actually running up the pasture to me when I go out

now, and that's after just a few days. Janie, the mini mare, and Ashly Rose aren't hitting it off,

but I'm hopeful that they will get used to each other soon. I'll get some new pics up shortly.

12/29/06  A new year dawns shortly. I'll be glad to leave this one behind. It had many challanges

that I don't care to think about or repeat. But that is the way we learn, I suppose.

I trailered Chance out to Blue Fountain Farm yesterday to meet with a prospective buyer. She

was afraid to ride him. I was glad because I don't want to sell him, but I love my Ashly Rose, and

she's such a good horse and confidence builder. It was the first time I've driven a truck and trailer

AND with a horse to boot!

Next week will be time spent in the studio. I wish you all a new year filled with joy and challenges

that help you grow.

12/24/06 Well, it's Christmas Eve and all is restful here at Sweethaven. Wishing you all a wonderful

and magical Holiday, and a joy-filled 2007!

12/11/06 Just got back from the MOST fabulous workshop with Andrea Guarino! She's a generous

woman and shared so much knowledge. I can't wait to get in the studio today!

12/5/06 A pretty day such as this demands a walk with the dogs, so we're off to enjoy

the weather while it holds. There are some beads on ebay, which you can access by taking

the link on the home page.  Have a load of ebay packages to get in the mail today too.

Are you following WetCanvas? Lots of good conversations and examples of gorgeous

beadwork on there. The link is on the Favorite Links page.

Oh yes, and the Pit pup has his new home, NOT with us. We found another dog the following week

and matched him back up with his Mom the next day. I wanted to keep him.

11/19/06 It's a bit overcast today as fall wraps her arms closer around us in a holiday hug.

 We'll go out and add ointment to Ashly Rose's spots, then head over to the Nevada County

Graft Fair. It's a good place to get inspiration for working in my studio. I keep trying to get

out to work in glass, but there's always something else. Last week, it was a three week old

pit bull puppy that needed care. This week we'll be rushing right into THanksgiving. I

MUST find time for glass, I must find time for glass, I must....

11/15/06   It's been raining here, Ashly Rose has Oak Mites, I've been caring for an orphaned

pit-bull baby (about 3 weeks old!), someone hit my car Monday, then I had a call that someone

was using my credit card and was going to have a $2000 game shipped to Brazil, then I learned

the IRS never received my taxes and check last year!

Today I received a gorgeous ring engraved by master engraver, jeweler Adone Pozzobon. You can take the

link on the Favorite Links page to learn about him. He made my Masonic ring, and it is

the most beautiful Masonic ring I have ever seen.

11/7/06-

I had the farrier out yesterday to trim our donkeys and mini horses hooves. I had to shoo  them out

of the pasture without getting them harnessed because the goats were coming! (The goats ram into

horses and donkeys, the horses then charge and ROLL the goats, and the donkeys start kicking in

all directions like Xena Princess Warrier.)

The donkeys and horses thought this running free thing was pretty cool and just headed off in all

directions. And, NATURALLY, no one was too keen on getting caught. After a half hour I finally had

everyone haltered and tied just in time for the farrier. <whew!> He'll charge more if they misbehave or

he has to waste time. I don't blame him either. So aside from some half-hearted attempts at kicking his

hand off their feet, they all did quite well.

Later, when donkeys and horses were back in their pasture, the dogs were thrilled to discover  f

abulous 'apples' left behind.  And then they want to kiss us with those mouths. Sheesh. Good thing

I love my critters.

Do you have an animal story to share today?

11/4/06 -

What a gorgeous day. I'm off to the studio today. Been busy with work and critters, but

today is glass and such. Yippeee!

I've also just created a webpage for my business MCKENZIE BOOKWORKS Writing and

Editing Services.

 10/29/06 -

 Today we ride! There is a Halloween party out at the farm where the horses are boarding.

What fun! This coming week will be all about glass and such. Have I said that before?

Well, this time I mean it!

The gaffer glass from Val Cox arrived and I can't wait to explore. Lots of new colors to play

with!

I'll also be offering some personalized charms, so keep checking back on that! (Hint - dig out

your old family snaps or a pic of your favorite friend. If you want to wear them around

your neck or wrist, you'll want to try this!)

My sister, Kim, and I just got back from doing the labyrinth at Grace Cathedral in

San Francisco. We also stayed over-night and slept in sleeping bags. It was an

amazing experience! If you want to learn more about this Women's Dreamquest follow

this link - Veriditas.

10/25/06  

Well blogs are everywhere and it seems like folks are writing in a manner quite similar to

thinking out loud. Now that can be a good thing, but often it's just a lot of noise-doodles.

Nevertheless here I go!

I'm working on some new glass, and have ordered some gaffer glass from Val Cox. I don't

EVEN know what to expect of it, but I'm really curious. Especially as it's the most expensive

glass I've ever ordered, at $40 a lb.  I'll add some pics of it when it arrives. No new beads

to add to ebay this week. but I hope to get in the studio Friday.

  7/01/06 

I recently sold a number of my pieces to the San Jose Museum of Art which they're selling

in their museum shop! They;re favorites are the face beads, and they bought a Jellybead

as well.

Tricia Webster continues to create fabulous workshops and uses my beads for her Storybead

Workshops. 

       Member of the International Society of Glass Beadmakers

      Member of Self-Representing Artists

          (#M40)