Christmas Countdown

Things have just been so busy here lately. A few weeks ago I thought I was way ahead of the game...but lately I feel like I'm scrambling. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and we have the house and yard are fairly well decorated for Christmas. I have a few decorating projects I'm hoping to get to with my daughter once her winter break starts.

On the health end: So far I am still doing well keeping my sugar levels under control without medication. The weight loss has stalled some and I have only lost 3 Lbs. the last few months...but at least I'm not gaining any back. This time I plan to make it a life change...no more up and down like a yo-yo.

On the glass end...I am so grateful to have a local fan base that keeps me hopping with custom orders this time of year. I have reached my cut-off date for custom orders. So now I am using some of that time to experiment and work on some of the idea's that have been rolling around my head the last couple months. I got to play a little the other day with some mica powders.

Top Treasury 24 Hour Sale!

‎24 HOUR SALE !!! Take25% off all items Today Only! Code: TTTEAM

I’m so proud and happy to announce that I was chosen as
Etsys Top Treasury Team Featured Seller of The Day!!!
In honor of this special day I am having a 24 hour sale at
... Both my Etsy and Artfire shops.

Please check out my shops…and don’t forget the sale code: TTTEAM

My Artfire: http://www.artfire.com/users/PatriciaLJohnsonGlassArt
My Etsy: http://www.PLJohnsonGlassArt.Etsy.com/

Follow and friend me…
My Blog: http://patricialjohnsonglassart.blogspot.com/
My Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/#!/PLJohnsonGlass

You can check out the team .. http://www.etsy.com/teams/10548/top-treasury?ref=pr_teams

First Friday Artwalk Sale Collections and Coupon Codes

Check out these gorgeous collections....and just in time for christmas...great gift ideas with special sales offered by team members.

This is also the last Sale of the season for me.

Save 25% off + Free Shipping on orders over $50.00 Thru Dec 5th.

Items available at my Etsy and Artfire Shops...links on the right.

Code: ARTWALKETSY    at checkout to save 25%
Code: FREESHIPPING    at checkout to get Free Shipping on orders over $50.00

http://aweteam.blogspot.com/2011/11/december-2-first-friday-art-walk.html

Report: Milwaukee image not recognized nationally, internationally

Report: Milwaukee image not recognized nationally, internationally

Cyber Monday Sale 25% off with Free Shipping Code Blk2011

SALE!!! Black Friday & Cyber Monday Sale Take 25% off + Free Shipping.

Use Coupon Code Blk2011 at checkout.

Nov 25th thru Nov 30th. At my Etsy and Artfire shops.

Check my shops for great deals on special jewelry gifts. Or deals on fused dichroic cabochons and lampworked glass beads to make your own gift for that someone special.

First Friday Art Walk on Etsy

Please check out these team treasuries.

I am a team member of First Friday Artwalk Team on Etsy. This event runs this whole weekend.
I have been having a great time making treasuries for the November Artwalk. Some wonderful items that would make great gifts.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTg0MDE1NHwxMDA2MTQwNTI5/favorites-from-etsy-first-friday-artwalk?ref=pr_treasury

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTg0MDE1NHwxMDI0ODMwNTE2/winters-dream?ref=pr_treasury

The Bad Blogger Returns

Wow! time has just been flying by. It has been way to long since my last post.
I was never very good at trying to keep a journal or diary either....gotta work on that.

I have been keeping very busy though....parties, festivals, family and friends...all the usual stuff summer has to offer.
On the home front....
I tried gardening in containers this year.... Very different for me, and I didn't have much luck. I usually have a fairly large garden and mulch heavily. I have always had great success doing this and highly recommend that you give it a try. My plants are always extremely large and very healthy. I have little trouble with bugs, get to recycle my yard waste and kitchen scraps. I don't have to weed or barely need to water. I also save space and can put plants much closer together....since their not fighting against weeds for water, the moisture is kept in, and the rotting mulch feeds them. Plus I also think it might help attract beneficial bugs...I seem to notice more lady bugs and bees.

I also had a major accomplishment with my diabetes. I have been working hard on eating healthy and getting more exercise. I have been having a great time trying new recipes and have been converting family favorites to a healthier version of themselves...there is a couple recipes in older posts.  Because of these changes I have now lost 60 lbs and have been taken off my medication....YIPPY!!!!!

On the glass end... I have been busy working on my lampworking and sharing a good portion of that time with my daughters...which I love!! I've been playing a lot with frits and foils and some of the reactions to the metals....WOW!
I've also been working on jewery designs using my lampwork beads, alternative metals, and those wonderful computer parts I snag from my hubby's e-cycling.

Check out all the gorgeous color in my latest glass order...

One of my bracelets using recycled aluminium computer parts, blackened steel wire and cool snake skin beads I made using a tutorial from artist Lauri Copeland....please check her out... http://wildfire-designs.com/

Crap Crap Craparoo

The last couple weeks have been so exciting and so busy. I did have a bummer of a Monday though...I told you I would keep you all up to date on the news about being contacted by a style and fashion editor of a worldwide magazine. Well the magazine is Time Out http://www.timeout.com/ I was contacted by their New York office. They were working on an article about brooches for a future issue and were interested in my fused dichroic brooches. Unfortunately they didn't realize my pieces were "one of a kinds" and wanted multiples to be available for their readers to purchase...so I will not be included in the article :-( However, I can't tell you what it did for my self-esteem to have such a incredibly large publication want to write about me and my work!

The other bummer news I got on that same Monday was from my doctor....It seems I can now add Diabetes to my list of health problems....but this disease can also be managed with a change in lifestyle and diet....I hope for the day when I hear cure for all...instead of the term "manage".

I was already working on healthier living..and have been doing really well .but now I have another reason to really stick to it..and make this a permanent change.

Spring has finally arrived although the weather here has been a little cold. I have been putting off planting my garden and would you believe we had frost warnings last night. Hopefully we will get it planted this weekend. I am also going to put in a nice herb garden for my soaps and new cooking ways.

Me and my husband have been hitting estate and garage sales....we found some great vintage pieces. And I'm still following along on the electronic scraping and grabbing what goodies I can....here are my latest finds.

My Happy Birthday

It's been an extremely busy and wonderful week. Had my daughter stay last weekend for Easter and to celebrate my birthday.

Saturday night my husband made me a wonderful birthday dinner of grilled steaks, mushrooms, fresh asparagus w/holondaise sauce, and a classic cheesecake factory sampler. We all sat around and talked while I opened presents. My husband and youngest daughter gave me sort of an IOU for a new camera ( now I just need to decide which one I want ) and my oldest daughter gave me a mp3 player ...the size of a matchbook that holds over 150 hrs. of music....just amazing! I will think of them and thank them every time I use them....especially when I'm taking photo's for my web sites and listening to music while I'm working.... instead of sitting in a quiet room :-)

Easter morning we hung out and talked while the girls opened their baskets. We all worked on putting our meal together. Dinner turned out great, my ham came out perfectly...just like the day and weekend. Then my daughter had to go back to her house :-( ....I wish she was closer...I miss her a lot.

I also got a very exciting letter from the fashion editor of a international magazine....I don't want to say any more than that right now ...cause I'm still not entirely sure what is all going to happen...cross your fingers and wish me luck!!..... I will keep you posted.

Thursday was my actual birthday and what luck UPS came that day with the metal working tools (minus my doming resin on back order ) I had ordered... also I was so pleasantly surprised by how many friends took the time to contact me to wish me a Happy Birthday.....everyone made it a great day!!

Was A Good "Good Friday"

Had a pretty nice week as well. My daughter was here all week for spring break...was nice to have her here and it makes me look forward to spending summer vacation with her. Although I think we watched 20 episodes of Zena The Warrior Princes ;-) ...one of her and my hubby's new favorites on Netflix.

I also placed a nice order for some metalsmithing tools, resin, and a gross of much needed practice blades for my hand saw...for my upcoming B-Day. I'm especially excited to be getting a draw plate....now I can keep my wire gauge inventory to a minimum...and draw down some of all the 12 gauge copper I have. Check out the link if you would like to see how this is done.

I tried a couple new recipes, low fat Chicken Cordon-blue and Malaysian Mango Chicken Curry (pictured). The Curry dish was especially good sort of like Sweet and Sour with a hint of Licorish and a kick. You can find the recipe at.... Allrecipes.com

Hubby Keeps Me Happy

My wonderful hubby Know's what it takes to make me happy...flowers..no. Tool's hell yeah!!

He surprized me with a wonderful heavy duty pair of metal shears...they are huge about 13" in length. Now I won't have to wrestle with that well loved but really old pair I have been using. They will cut up to a 16 gauge ...tried them on 24 gauge ..they cut like butta!!!

Spring is finally here although we have a bit of a cold snap going on now. My flowers are all comming up and I'm curious to see what's all there.

I have been busy with custom orders and getting the shops and galleries stocked for Mothers Day.

I'm still playing with glass powders and inclusions. And been working on designs made with heavy gauge wire. Also been working on jewelry made from recycled computer parts and plan to post some soon.

Spring....I want you now!!

This winter has been extremly cold and snowy. We had a few warm day's that took care of a majority of the snow that had built up....and made me even more anxious for Spring. We are in our second day of a winter storm lot's of cold winds and ice coating everything. I have been dreaming of Spring and planning my gardens and working on some things to decorate them.

Thought I would share a picture of concrete and stained glass stepping stones I made....maybe they will help some of you dream of warmer weather.

Now I'm off to fire some parts for some fused glass wind chimes....I will be sitting next to my kiln enjoying the extra heat and patiently waiting for Spring!!

January in Wisconsin

It's been a little cold and snowy...great weather for staying in and working on projects. Although a did get a few pictures of the snow the other day.

My thoughts have been on spring and warmer weather. I am starting to think bird baths and wind chimes.

I continue to play with powders and inclusions after a trip to the Science and Surplus store. I found different sheets of mica and a textured one I really like...creates lot's of bubbles though.

My husband is really getting into e-cycling and I am finding all sorts of neat little do dad's for jewelry, stuff for great tools, and stainless steel rods for making large hole beads. I think I am going to take them to a shop, get them cut into small sections and welded on regular bead mandrels. They are rather heavy as they are now. Also to buy them it's about $10.00 a piece, so hopefully I will save myself some money.

I am still working on healthier living and my healthier version of my favorite enchillada casserole was a hit :) Thought I would share the recipe...very easy and inexpensive.

ENCHILLADA CASSEROLE-LITE

1 lb. ground turkey

1 Lg. onion

1/2 c. chopped green pepper or mix of chilli peppers.

2 - 15 oz cans tomato sauce.

1 cup shredded reduced fat sharp cheddar.

2- 15 oz can black beans, or other pinto and kidney work well.

1 -15 oz. can whole corn

1 sm. can sliced black olives.

1-2 Tbl. chilli powder

1- 2 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. garlic powder.

med size pkg. corn tortillas

2 tsp. olive oil... or any light oil

salt/ pepper

In a large skillet over medium high heat brown turkey with onion, salt, and pepper. Add spices, tomato sauce, corn, beans, and black olives. Cook on medium low heat till heated through, set aside. * mixture should be the consistency of chilli .

Spray a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray then layer a thin layer of sauce mixture, 3 layers of tortillas another layer of sauce, then a thin layer of cheese, another layer of tortillas, repeat layers. Cover with tin foil.

Bake at 350 degrees 45 min to 1 hr.

Great served with lettuce, tomato, avacado slices, and reduced fat sour cream.

The kids and hubby are good.. and so is the dog...life goes on...as I patiently wait for spring!

Into the New Year

Well here we are well into the New Year. The holidays and my daughters birthday were really nice. Just us, no big hub bub...Although I did do alot of baking and cooking, we just hung around in comfy clothes, had a great meal, some game playing, and we watched a couple movies together. Very relaxing.

On the glass side: I have finally been doing a little fusing in my new, fairly well organised studio!

I made a bunch of different ornaments for gifts.....think I might put some out for sale next year.

I have also been playing with mica's and inclusions....and worked up a bunch of ideas for tiles...sorry not the greatest picture.

Tonight I am making my favorite enchillada casserole. I adjusted it to be lighter and healthier...we will see what the family thinks. I am also trying to prepare myself mentally for my 15 yr old's sleep over this weekend ;-) and patiently waiting for spring.