Rain, Rain, GO AWAY!

Feels like a page right out of Winnie the Pooh here today, very blustery! The rain really needs to stop, as we have no gutters or down spouts on the house right now! Our new roof is on, but they still need to take off the siding. Hopefully the snow holds off!

Finished up my last show of the year last weekend. I still have galleries to stock, and a trunk show or two, so we are working away in the studio as usual! Have a great weekend!

Snow...really?!

Yupp, we have snow this morning in MN! The sun is out so I'm sure it won't last long, and hopefully won't come again for a couple of weeks, as we are about to get a new roof and siding...thanks Mr. Hail!
As usual we are swamped here in the studio. After a show last weekend in Milwaukee, and then an appointment with Urban Laundry my stash is low again. If you ever get to Wauwatosa, WI. it is well worth a stop into the shop, Jeni does a great job of finding very unique and funky clothing, not to mention jewelry! Their site is: http://www.urban-laundry.com/ Then head next door to Le Reve Patissere & Cafe, their crepes are to die for, as are their desserts!
Now I am gearing up to head back to Wisconsin on Monday for a wholesale apparel show in the Dells, and then a trunk show at Meant to Bead for the weekend of the 17th-18th! Stop in if you get a chance, we will be giving demos on various techniques on Saturday, plus the artists will have our wares for sale! For more info, check out: http://www.meant-to-bead.com/

Fall??!!

Wow, where has the summer gone, I can't believe it's fall already, well officially not until Tuesday, but seriously?! It has been a crazy few weeks in the CB&CO studio, getting ready for shows, working on orders after shows, etc.! I will be in St. Cloud at Northern Brights tonight from 5-9 for their downtown Art Crawl, then to Marine on St Croix on Saturday and Sunday for their Art Festival. It is going to be a long weekend, bless my hubby's heart for going out to Marine tonight after work to set up the tent, one less thing for the morning! Stop in if you get a chance and say 'hi', and have a wonderful weekend!

Finishing touches!

Well I am putting the finishing touches on pieces that I will be bringing to the Fall Wholesale Market on Tuesday and Wednesday in Onalaska, WI at the OmniCenter! Getting everything together, going over inventory, and packing the truck later tonight. Hope to post another photo later of my new little bird houses...

It's here!

52 Bracelets has hit the news stands! I got my copy at Barnes & Noble yesterday, and I am on page 16, with my copper etched pieces and sweet little bird! Also check out page 11 for an awesome bracelet using enameled copper from C-Koop! Speaking of Sara from C-Koop, I received a little package in the mail yesterday from her...she worked her magic on my new mini bird houses. I will get them finished up today and post a picture hopefully by tomorrow...they are too cute!

To the lake...

Well we are headed out tomorrow to the family cabin for a few days. K starts soccer tryouts on Monday, so after this weekend, our summer break is pretty much over. We are taking the dog with, hopefully we don't regret that move LOL! I would feel too guilty boarding him when we are sitting at the lake and he could be swimming all day with K!! I have spent the week stock piling earrings to make so that I can still feel like I am getting work done. We have SO many shows coming up soon, plus a few orders left to get out the door. I also got to have a fun lunch today with Sara from C-Koop and Shelley, the owner of the Beadniks store at MOA! I hope everyone has a great weekend! I will post some pictures after we get back!

Rain rain go away....

Change of plans for the day...sorry but we won't be in Forest lake after all. We got there about 7 this morning, and sat in the truck while it POURED for over an hour! There were ablolutely no signs of it clearing up, not even a break in the clouds, so we came back home to spend the day working in the studio! Have a great weekend!

~ FLY ~

Here is a sampling of what we have been up to in the studio! These aren't new for me, but this is the first time I have been able to get them stockpiled enough to offer them! They have a green patina roof, with a green faceted czech glass drop to match. The main portion of the house is etched with font. The piece comes on a 28" copper ball chain and is $60. You can order it here: http://www.coliebugbeads.com/cb&co%20page.htm

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Hockey Weekend!

K was asked to play in a hockey tournament this weekend, so we have spent the last 2 days in the arena instead of the studio...sure do miss watching her play, can't wait for hockey season to start up again! One game early tomorrow morning, then hopefully 2 on Sunday!

Still waiting for '52 Bracelets' to hit the news stand...can't wait to see it! I will have to check again tomorrow and see if B&N has it in yet!

Have a great weekend!

New Dog Tags!

I just love these new tags! They can be personalized on the front or back, and come with a brass insert around the hole, and a 26" copper ball chain. The connecting ring is Sterling. They look great in pairs! You can order them here: http://www.coliebugbeads.com/cb&co%20page.htm Thanks! I will be offering other pieces here as well until my new site is up and running!

Beadniks

Well we had a pretty productive day in the studio today! It is amazing what the two of us can get done when Brad is now my full-time employee....hopefully just for the time being! Just a quick note to let you know that I just dropped off new pieces at the Beadniks shop in the Mall of America! Shelley, the awesome owner of the shop, just posted this photo in her newsletter! Thanks Shelley!! Stop by if you get a chance, the store is pretty new, opened up last November, and it is awesome! They have a lot of really unique beads and components! Have a great night!

Lake Superior

Here is an awesome photo from our trip to Wisconsin last weekend of Lake Superior!

52 Bracelets

BeadStyle is coming out with a special issue titled '52 Bracelets' at the beginning of August, and they are featuring my copper rings and this sweet little bird in a project! You can purchase them on my website as a set at http://www.coliebugbeads.com/

Bayfield Festival of Arts

We just returned home from a wonderful and much needed 4 days in Bayfield Wisconsin! The weather was beautiful, and the town is just magical....we love it there! The Festival was awesome again this year, with great artists, both new and returning. We met the gals from Francis Metal Works this year, they are located here in Brooklyn Park, MN and are the creators of these wonderful sculptures of ducks, pelicans, and water birds! Check them out at http://www.francismetalworks.com/ Needless to say we brought home a new little family of our own! Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth in Bayfield! We hope to be back up for Apple Fest this fall! Have a great week!

Happy 4th!

Wishing everyone a wonderful and safe 4th of July. We are headed up to my Cousin's house for the afternoon to hang out and grill, along with my Aunt and Uncle, then it is back to the studio to get orders completed. Thanks for the invite guys! Have a great weekend!

Art on the Lake

You can now find me on most Tuesday nights in Forest Lake in the park! Unless it is raining out we will be there from about 5-9. It is a really nice little venue, music, art, food, and a small farmer's market! Stop by and say 'HI'!

I'm here!

I am finally back in the land of the living! After a round of skin cancer and surgery, plus getting ready for 2 shows on the same weekend, things are finally back to their normal insanity! I am here in the studio getting new pieces ready for my Rep, and things out to a few of my neglected galleries. I will post a few new things later this week...stay tuned!

Happy Easter!

Just one thing to say this morning:

Uughh...more snow!!

home again, home again.....

Yes, I am finally home again! I have had shows the past two weekends and just got home late last night from Madison, WI.! Hope to be home working for the whole month of April, we'll see if that plan works out! The shows went well, it was hard to tell that there is a problem with the economy because people were out and about, but most importantly they were spending money! So hopefully things keep looking up for everyone! We had about 2-4 inches of snow there, and now hear that Minnesota is going to get more as well...I am SO ready for SPRING!

Off to UPS!

Whew! Sorry for my lack of communication, but I have had a deadline hanging over me that created a complete standstill from life for a couple of weeks! But I am finally done creating pieces, tagging, detailing, taking inventory, creating boards, packing, and shipping! Now it is back to my increasing stack of custom orders that have been put off due to the deadline for my Rep! So a big huge 'sorry' to those of you who have been patiently waiting, but your orders are coming soon to a mail box near you! I'm off to UPS!

Eggrolls.....continued!

Well, it looks like we had this ref after all for Saturday's game! We ended up losing ( but not really ) 2 - 3 in overtime. We have watched the replay on tv over and over again, and the puck never crossed the goal line! So, our bid to make it to State has ended for this season, and I guess life goes on. All I can say is that I wouldn't be so thrilled to get to State by means of a huge blunder!

So, on to life as normal...I got back from Milwaukee last night, and am now on to unpacking, inventory, and getting orders done and shipped. I had a great meeting with a store there, Urban Laundry, and they are now carrying my work. Thanks Jeni! They are in the village of Wauwatosa on Harwood Ave, amongst a whole bundle of other awesome little shops! After the appointment, before heading out for the 5 hour drive home, I stopped next door for lunch at Le Reve Patissere & Cafe. This is a photo of my Chicken Forestiere Crepe and I can honestly say that is ranks in the Top 10 meals that I have ever eaten! If you are ever in the area, I recommended you stop in to BOTH shops! Off to work!

Eggrolls?

Glad we won't have this ref for Saturday's game! Just a quick photo tonight, then I am off to finish a big batch of new earrings! Etched copper and brass! I will try to post a photo of them after I get back from Milwaukee...if there are any left! : )

Too close for comfort!

Well our girls won again last night, 2 - 1 over White Bear Lake! It was a close one though, they waited to get the winning goal until there were only 19 secondes left! Kendal took a slapshot from the point, and Bethany tipped it in! Very exciting! Now we play for the Section Championship on Saturday against Stillwater.

I am off to the studio to continue making pieces for my Rep. Here is a photos of one of them!

Happy Valentine's day!

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! Looks like I get to spend it with my sweetie in an ice arena...we are so romantic! : ) Wow, the weeks go by SO fast! Our girls won 9 - 0 last night, so it is on to the next game on Tuesday! We are in full work mode here today in the CB&CO studio! It has gotten down into the 20's again here is Minnesota, so it will be nice to be working away in a warm place!

Game Day!

It's game day here, and we are so excited! I finished up the necklaces for the team last night and handed them out at practice, I forgot to take a picture, but will get one posted when Kendal gets home from school! GO RAIDERS!!

So it is back to the studio to continue making samples for my line, 7 pieces ready to go, about 43 left! I have made them all before, and do have more completed, I just need to pull them from my inventory. I am hoping to come up with a few totally new designs as well. Oh, and getting stock ready for my Milwaukee show next weekend! Better get to work, have a great day!

Wow, it's Thursday!

Where does the week go? One more day 'till game day, it is our first section game here tomorrow, and the girls are really excited! Last night they made t-shirts to wear for Friday, and tonight will be a carbo load to get them ready for tomorrow!

I'm off to the studio to finish up a big batch of necklaces I made to give the girls, and then onto making samples for my Rep! March 10th is going to come all too quickly, that is when everything needs to be in the mail for her!

If you are in the Milwaukee area on the 22nd, stop by the Wyndham Hotel from 10 - 4 for the Milwaukee Bead Show, hosted by Knot Just Beads!

Have a great day!

I have a Rep!

Mixed emotions this morning, after I was taken on by a Rep yesterday! I am really excited, but panicked at the same time. I have a lot to do in a small amount of time, getting my line ready, creating display boards, plus keeping up on orders and getting ready for shows!

Hockey season is winding it's way towards the finale, we are getting ready to start section playoffs this Friday and are excited to see how the team does. It's a bit scary being ranked #1 in the state going into playoffs, as it does tend to put a bigger target on your back, but the girls are playing great!

Off to the studio!

It's a sad day...

Brad's Grandma died yesterday afternoon. Vera was a wonderful lady, and the last surviving Grandparent that Brad or I had. She is the reason for many, many happy childhood memories for Brad.
Vera, you will be missed. xoxo

Welcome!

Well I am finally entering the world of blogging! Check back for updates from the studio and other happenings here at CB&CO!