MAN Jewelry

I was so excited to get a commission for an anniversary piece for a friend of mine. She wanted a necklace for her husband with their children's names and the number 11, as it's their 11th anniversary. Needless to say, I don't do a lot of jewelry for men, and so this was a challenge! I am so glad that I was able to complete the piece and stretch my creative thinking. Getting out of the box so to speak!

The post office loves me

I LOVE getting packages! Today I got my new Stringing mag, 2 strands of pearls, 1 strand of Lapis Lazuli, copper bead caps, and top drilled Swarovski crystal... not to mention a 1/2 lb of Aurae glass rods... I am in heaven and this isn't even the BIG order!

Blue Daisies

These are new for me, and I love them! Lots of my beady friends make these beads, so I thought I'd try some too! WOW...they are really FUN to make! This set is on Etsy now!

Spring Cleaning... a little late!

Today I am going to do a deep clean and re-organize session in my Studio! Since having it built this past winter, I have been so busy that I've let it get a little messy in there! Now some will say that creative chaos is a natural state for an artist, but I have to admit, I have a tipping point. I don't mind a little mess, but the disarray that a studio can get into after a really busy season is stifling to me. SO, that leads me to today. After traveling for what seems like the entire month of June, I am finally home for the forseeable future and have lots of new projects that need to get a good start in an organized space!

I also just ordered a couple of back issues of Studios magazine and wow! will that ever inspire you to organize your space.... some beautiful spaces are out there. I may be a little late, but Spring Cleaning day is here!

Masters: Glass Beads

Masters: Glass Beads

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New Shop!

I have added another online venue for my work... an Artfire Studio. Lots of cool new items listed including my great "Special Day" Necklace- totally personalized. I hope that you will visit me there.

I will also be a featured artist on Artfire's Blog- www.handmadenews.org! Please check it out!

Oh man... I'm in trouble....

I just spent an amazing weekend gathered together with beadmakers from all over the country. Of course, I learned so much and in particular, how to make these gorgeous knobs. I am in trouble. I made these two, and now EVERYWHERE I look in my house I see mundane, factory made knobs. No. I am now on a mission to re-knob everything...

Inspiration Photo

I love watching the Koi in my parents' pond. Their movements are the essence of fluidity. It's always an inspiration to me. Hope that these photos inspire you to create something fluid.

Lesson Learned

it's a sad, hard way to learn a lesson, but a lesson it surely is. I recently had a fatal directory flaw occur in my laptop. Oh, the drama! Bless their hearts, the Mac store Genius Bar tried their best to save her... but in the end I got the dreaded "erase and reinstall" diagnosis. Now, had I backed up on discs or flash drives, I'd be fine. Alas, I did not. My own laziness... I knew better and now you do too! Back up everyday! You won't regret it!

The STUDIO is finished!!!

Great new pix of my studio are here!!! I am so excited to be moved in (mostly!) and working from my new space! You can see more pix at my flickr.... www.flickr.com/melaniehazen

Color!!!

Most of the siding is done and the tinted primer is up!!! Swiss Blue!

New Studio Pics!

Well, the siding is going up and we are getting closer and closer everyday! Can't wait to get in the new space!

More Studio Pics!

So we are making progress everyday! The door and windows are in, the roof is on and I have keys! We have the electrician coming on Tuesday and then it should move pretty fast! I'll be getting some indoor pics today... it's just a concrete floor at the moment, but I will post them too, so that all the progress is documented!

My NEW Studio Space!

I am super excited to post pictures of my new studio in the progress of being built! It's going to be a 14 by 14 space, with heating and air, great ventilation, propane piped in through the wall.... oh the possibilities! I will be posting as we get further along, I am guessing we'll be ready to move in another week to 10 days! YAY! I think I will have a little open house this spring so that my friends and customers can come and see the space as well... Still planning that.

Thanks for checking out the new space and come back over the weeks and I'll keep you posted!