It has been a year dedicated to regrouping, re-evaluating and slowing down to a managing level. I would say I have had some success and getting closer to that vision of how I see the next years of my life. I have a very clear vision....1. spending as much quality time with my children as the become young adults and moving forward with their own lives...it is bitter sweet but I am looking forward to seeing their own lives take shape and being there as much as possible with out becoming a "stalker" parent. 2. Taking inventory on friends and family and investing my energy in those invested in me. 3. Although I have been blessed to use my creative side through the years...it is time to get back to the artistic pursuit I miss the most...Painting, Oils, Encaustic and Mix Media (through jewelry design at times). 4. Slowing down and allowing myself the luxury to just relax.

Next I will put together the list of steps to accomplish these things. 1st on the list, don't add to the list, just do, if you can complete the task in under ten minutes. One thing I don't do I keep transferring it to the next list...keep you posted on my progress...below Inspiration!!!

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Happy Holidays

As we are closing up one year and heading into a new year it is always a great time to refelect on the past and look forward to the future. I am sure if your year was like mine you had many moments that bring a smile and many that have been hard. All footprints of who we are.

As I look ahead I am encouraged about the possibilities but yet saddened by the tragedies that are now part of countries history. I hope in 2013 all the people and communities effected are able to start to heal, that others who have hardships can also heal and find hope. I hope we are all able to find the strength we need and are able to find joy some times in the simplist things around us. Till 2013

Nunn Designs just put up the nicest blog post about my art...Thank You!

Artisan Spotlight: Debbi Simon
How Debbi Simon finds the time to do all that she does, I just don’t know. Besides being my ad rep for InterweavePublications, she always seems to show up somewhere teaching a class, being featured in a magazine, or offering video classes at Craftsy or Beaducation. 
Read more in today's blog post:http://www.nunndesign.com/blog/artisan-spotlight-debbi-simon/

As CREATE YOUR STYLE with SWAROVSKI Ambassador me newest online class for Craftsy is now available and features epoxy clay and of course crystals. Follow this link for a discount to my class. http://www.craftsy.com/ext/epoxyclay

   

Get away for a retreat - everyone needs some regrouping some time.

Looking to get away and be creative...I know I am! Join me at Bead Fest Santa Fe. Santa Fe couldn't be more inspirational. Although it is feeling like spring in Milwaukee it will still be great to get away and clear my head a little. I am teaching classes in resin and epoxy clay of course with crystals...take a look.

The year has started out FULL

I thought it time to show off some of the projects I have been working on since the first of the year which has included new jewelry work, mixed media and painting. (If you remember one of my goals for 2012 was to be working all directions of my art, as last year it was a little one sided.) I have been enjoying painting and playing with mixed media a little more over the last couple of months.

Plus, the following close up of a project I can't reveal, just yet...all I can say is wax and crystals...sshh!!!

2012 - A fresh start!!!

I am taking a hard look at what lies ahead for me in 2012, as I am sure everyone else is doing, including my goals both personal and work related. Looking at how I can balance both my personal and professional life...hopefully a little better! Regrouping and reorganizing so that I can be more efficient and more creative...as I recently found out there is no magic drug or formula for that...like anything it will require hard work, dedication and discipline.  It is a new year, I am ready...bring it on.

I have made progress...I have cleaned out the studio, enlisted the help of my ipad to try some new sketchbook task apps and made my list of goals. First on the list is to blog more and update facebook and twitter more often. It is only the 3rd and I am getting to the blog and once I post this it will push to my face book and twitter account...so I am covered, for at least today.

I also thought it a good time to post and update everyone on my teaching schedule so far for 2012. My schedule is filling up with some of my favorite places to teach like Bead Fest and a few new shows I am excited to be part of Create Your Style - Tucson, Jewelry Tools - Tucson Electric Park and Art Unraveled. See class schedule to the right and check back for additions through the year.

A few of my other goals are to paint more (I promise to post work as it is progressing through it's stages), do more mixed media work (both larger works and new jewelry pieces) in encaustic, resin, epoxy and metal clays and take my work to a new level.

As I do all of this I hope to be better at keeping my blog, face book and twitter up-to-date so that you can follow me on my 2012 journey. Wishing everyone all the best and success in 2012!!!!!

Bead Fest Texas

I just returned from Bead Fest Texas. It was a great event and all the students were very active in their local Jewelry and Bead groups. I was amazed how advanced and dedicated everyone was. I had two students all the way from Costa Rica. It is always fun to see where people come from to attend. All my students were great and I learned a lot and enjoyed the energy in my classes. I look forward to going back next year.

Apoxie Demo Post

Fire Mountain newsletter post about all the great demo's at the Bead&Button Show, including my Apoxie demos. It was a lot of fun.

FREE 40-minute online class!

Learn the basics of filling bezels with two-part resin. From mixing to adding inclusions, this class covers it all. Instructor Debbi Simon takes the mystery out of the process and shares many tips and tricks to make working with resin simple and fun. Get started with this popular technique today! 

My Top TEN resin Tips

1. To ensure curing success make sure you have a drop or two extra hardener in batch.
2. Remember TOO much extra hardener your piece will yellow (there is a delicate balance).
3. Baby wipes are the best studio wipe to have on hand.
4. Parchment makes a nice non-stick surface to cure resined paper.
5. Mold everything you come across (two-part silicone putty)
6. Color - if you thought of it...try it! (remember, if liquid color add extra hardener if powder just mix in.)
7. Layer objects and art in multiple pours for extra depth.
8. Look in the kids toy box....so many treasures to mold and cast.
9. Pearl Ex mica powders create great effects.
10. To learn more of my tips link to http://www.beaducation.com/vids/detail/99 and download my FREE Bezel, Bezel resin class. 40 minutes of tips and techniques for free...it's easy.

Taught wonderful classes in Madison

This past weekend I was able to teach a few classes at the Madison Art Glass and Bead Show www.beadshowmadison.com/...what a great weekend. Not only was able to teach for the first time me CREATE YOUR STYLE - SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Pave' class I was able to teach for the first time a joint class with Brenda Schweder. Both were awesome. Not only does Chris Mode put on a great show she is great to work with. Hopefully, I will be able to post soon some class photo's. In the mean time Jess from Vintaj posted a few http://vintaj.com/wpblog/ and as always she and her family is always great to see.

Upcoming Classes in March

I have had a busy week and finalizing my plans for Bead Fest Santa Fe. I am excited to be teaching one of my new classes Cold Casting with Resin and Bronze Powder.

Cold Casting with Bronze Powder and Resin:  Students will learn to make molds and cold cast with bronze powder/resin. Much like metal clay the bronze, in powder state, is added to a binder. In cold casting the binder is resin. All though the casted piece will not be sinister by a kiln, the resin becomes its binder, and the final piece looks and feels much like traditional metal.

As soon as I get back I will be getting ready to teach at the Art Glass and Bead Show in Madison, March  26 and 27th, 2011. I will be teaching a variety of classes including the above Cold Casting Class and another new class Pave'.

Create the look of Pave’ with CREATE YOUR STYLE - SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS and two-part epoxy clay. Epoxy Clay can be molded, colored and adorned with Swarovski Elements to emulate the look of pave. With the range of bezels and channel settings on the market now is a great time to add this technique to your mix to enhance and customize all your jewelry pieces.

I will also be teaching a joint class I am excited to share with Brenda Schweder, author of Steel Wire Jewelry (just released through Lark Books). Brenda will be sharing some of her secrets to creating wire forms out of steel wire that we will then be finishing and filling with resin. Make sure to join us both for Arrested Flight Butterfly.

debbisimon.com: Tucson

debbisimon.com: Tucson: "It is another late night creating. I have been playing a lot with new techniques, preparing new class proposals and getting some new pieces ..."

Another test...this time thru email.

Testing blogging from my phone.

Tucson

It is another late night creating. I have been playing a lot with new techniques, preparing new class proposals and getting some new pieces ready for Tucson. I leave for Tucson on Monday for the 8th year in a row and always very excited to see all the great new things, see everyone and catch up on the latest trends. I have been lucky that I have been able to experience Tucson...but spoiled to have access to it yearly. As I am packing up and finalizing and checking things off my list I thought it was a great time to check in and blog. I will for sure be tweeting and sending posts through tweeter and facebook, keep a watch during the week to get a peek at all the great finds I come across. Including the people, parties and events.

As an Ambassador for SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS I get a sneak peek at all their new trends including new colors and products they preview and release every year in Tucson. Wednesday morning 10:30 - 11:30 I will be demoing a pave technique and on Friday, as the ending highlight to a great week, I get to attend their very sparkly party. It is always the highlight. I will keep you posted.

Artbeads.com giving away $10 gift certificates!

Thought I would share this. Artbeads is trying to give away 10,000 $10 gift certificates. To claim yours go to this link....feel free to pass on to your friends and family... 

Success!!!

Now I can finally do some designing...what my intention was all weekend.

Test Again

Hopefully my last...not trying to annoy anyone! But, this has been two days of work and I feel like I have only taken baby steps. Now for the test will tweetfeed post this blog on facebook and twitter...Let's hope so!!!!

Testing Again!!!! OMG

The baby ducks have been relocated and doing well.