No more pop-ups

I just added code to my website so that pop-ups are no more. To view larger images of my jewelry, you will get a nice overlay image instead. View an example at the Bamboo Knitted Choker page - or any page in the Boutique.

New web design venture

So what's been happening in the last nearly-one-year? A lot, but it doesn't include having unpacked all my glass beadmaking stuff, which stubbornly remains the last box still packed. On the plus side, I haven't had to make any more break-up beads, having handled the last few breakups without molten glass involved.

Finances continue to be tight, which has encouraged me to strike out for new ventures. In addition to my teaching, I spent time editing photos this summer at Sky Studios. The photo presentation on the front page was my way of dressing up the interim website there. Working there was fun, but talk about wedding photo overload! My Photoshop skills increased accordingly, I made new connections (including a photographer who did a photo shoot with me - more on that later), and referrals brought me back into the world of website design.

Which brings me to the main topic of the post: I am now offering freelance web design services. My portfolio is growing; in addition to the sites shown in my website portfolio, I am working on a couple of others currently under construction. If you like what you see and would like to talk to me about helping you and/or your business out, please drop me a line!

Big Birthday Tomorrow

Tomorrow (September 12) is my birthday - the big Four-Oh. Wow. Feel free to wish me happy birthday - or even better, support a great cause by donating to The Garden Road School by donating to my fundraising campaign! Just click below.

The Garden Road School is a non-profit organization. The 501c(3) application is in progress; it should be finalized in the next few months, so you can keep the receipt emailed to you and deduct your donation from your taxes either this coming year or the next retroactively.

Thanks to all who contributed!

The Story of My Life, In Recent Times

This past August, I moved my entire life to Peekskill, NY after living in the Boston area for 18 years - the longest I'd ever lived in one area in my life. This was a huge and significant move for me, one I'd been working toward for 18 years. The reason?

The reason is because I want to change the world. Literally. Through education, a little at a time, making the world a better place. And the best way I think there is is through the education system offered by the school I came to join, The Garden Road School. Please click the link to learn more about the school; I just finished the website, and I'm adding content every day, but there's a lot there already.

I've been involved with the school for years, working as its volunteer webmaster and joining in fundraising events. Finally, though, they were ready to hire me, and I was ready for a move.

However, things rarely work out perfectly, and the school hit some hard times this year, losing about half of its enrollment. It's growing again, but not enough to compensate for a large expected deficit.

So the teachers, passionate about wanting to see this education system in the world and the vision of what could be, volunteered to donate over $50,000 in salaries and hours to help reduce the deficit. This is very significant, especially since most were already working only part time and making, well, almost nothing. It's truly a labor of love.

At this point, to make this extraordinary, special school have a secure future, we need to raise funds. Every little bit helps, so don't be shy about donating even a small amount. Thank you so much!

Oh, and my lampwork stuff is still in boxes. I hope to be able to unpack it soon. :-)

Beads and the Single Lampworker

Since I've entered the single life back in August, I haven't had much time or inclination to make beads, or for that matter, jewelry. There's just been too much going on - including romance of various kinds.

Being a creative soul, I have found various outlets for the need for closure when a period of dating someone ends, and I need to sever the connection. So for a while, I wrote a poem about each person.

For some reason, facing the need for yet another termination, this time from someone I thought would be a good match (for the first time), I was drawn back to the torch. I chose colors for a bead that reflect his character, as far as I know it. When I finished this bead, I was compelled to make another that I thought would reflect my own character. This process was very interesting and revealing; I recommend it! Now, when I say goodbye, I can hand him "himself" as a closing gift - and let go of him in more ways than one. I can also keep myself. And I can remake myself as many times as necessary.

Pretty new beads

I just love this color combination, so I've made several of these beads. They are transparent purple, with a turquoise stripe and an overlay of dichroic gold, melted together so the colors flow and form an organic shape. So pretty! This bead is available in the boutique, with more to come as I have time to photograph the beads.

Writing Is Also Fun!

November is coming, and that is an important and crazy time for me, a time in which I participate with my students in National Novel Writing Month. Last year we were featured in the Boston Globe twice.

I was thrilled to find out that Chris Baty, founder of NaNoWriMo, would be speaking in the Boston area this weekend. I went to see him at the Peabody Borders bookstore, and it was so much fun! He's a great speaker, has super enthusiasm and energy, and is cute to boot. He was promoting his really cool writers' kit. Something you may not know about NaNoWriMo is that half the proceeds go to build libraries in southeast Asia. I highly recommend it!

Susan with Chris Baty on October 6, 2006 in Peabody

Watch a video clip of Chris talking about NaNoWriMo.

New year, new place, new beads

Just after the Jewish new year, I unpacked my lampwork stuff and made beads in my new place. I had been worried that there wouldn't be enough room to put all the stuff, but it actually fits quite well. The kiln is also doing fine on the wiring here; it's great that it's such a low-power kiln. The ventilation isn't as great as I'd want, so that's one thing that will have to be addressed soon.

My Minor torch is going to have to stay in storage for a while, until I can find a place where I can use more than a Hothead. There is no place to safely put a propane tank here (though I did pick a new one up cheap last week). So now I have the torch and the tank. Now I just need a place, the hoses, and an oxygen concentrator. Minor needs (pun intended)!

If the beads come out from the kiln and look pretty, I'll post pics.