DebiDeaux Visits Fire Mountain Gems

While in Grants Pass, Oregon this past week, Hubby and I got a chance to tour Fire Mountain Gems. Our tour guide, Jessica, took us all through the facility. I am quite impressed at the enormity of the operation. I did not realize that there is no actual store front. That is what we were looking for. It's mail order (phone and internet) only.
The highlight of the visit was meeting the acknowledged "Queen of Jewelry Design", Marlynn McNutt. Her compliments for beads in the bracelet I was wearing was enough to make me gush like a schoolgirl. I was walking on air the rest of the day.

From Bracelets 0308

Marlynn made me aware of Fire Mountain Gem's Circle of Hope Breast Cancer Awareness necklace, a way to raise money and awareness for the fight against breast cancer. Since she seemed to especially like my curly disc beads I will be making several of these to donate for the necklace for 2009.
I think that what has left the biggest impression of all is the fact that the employees at Fire Mountain Gems seemed to be content and enjoy their jobs. Everyone was open and friendly, glad to see us and not a single grump in the bunch. To me that is one of the best signs of a well run company that values people not just profit. That is where I like to see my money go.
Thank you FMG!
Till later - Flame On!
DebiDeaux

Algiers Point Home Tour and Art Walk Sat 10/18/08

Hey gang,
You can find me this Saturday, October 18, 9:30am to 3:30pm at the ArtinA Art Walk as part of the Algiers Point Home Tour. The Art Walk artists will be set up at the Mount Olivet Church yard on the corner of Olivier and Pelican St. I hope to see you there.
Flame On!

Gustav Breezed by New Orleans TG

I took the dogs for our walk this morning and other than having to climb over and around quite a lot of downed tree limbs and branches, Algiers Point seems to have escaped the worst of the wrath of Mother Nature once again.
The first block of Olivier off Opelousas was out of electricity. But just one block away in either direction porch lights were lit.
If you are reading this from out of town and would like me to go check on your house or a friend or relative's house please email me at debideauxATcoxDOTnet (replace the AT with @ and the DOT with a period). Be sure to give me the address and if you would like leave a phone number and I will call you back. You can also call me at fiveohfour threefourthree nineeight threeone.
AFAIK - There is still a curfew in effect for Orleans Parish but it is only from 8pm to 6am. Bob's been working around the westbank and sez there are several stores and gas stations open. But, he sez, the ones that are open are quite crowded.
Casey Jones Super Market is open. Home Depots in Gretna and Marrero are open. Sam's Club on Manhatten is open. The Walmart on Behrman Hwy expects to open Monday due to employees returning. The Rouse's on Behrman and Belle Chase is open and the parking lot is packed. The Winn Dixie on the WB Expwy in Marrero is open. I have heard that Wally's on Nunez stayed open the entire time.
This is a limited list of just the stores that Bob and I know are open. Just cuz I haven't mentioned other stores doesn't mean they are not open.
Here's a pic of Pooch, me and Boomer recovering in our motel room after evacuation. Actually, I'm blogging and emailing. Pooch is just napping as he usually does. But poor Boomer was very stressed out. I'm not sure he's still over it yet even though we are home. But I like to think he's happier than he would have been if we'd have stayed.

Till later - Stay High, Dry, Safe and Happy!
Flame On!

Home Again in New Orleans from Gustav Evacuation

Yea! We made it home! Safe and sound, high and dry! We still have electricity and cable. Some of our neighbors have lost cable but as far as we can tell most of the Point has electric.
The traffic on I59 to I10 was bumper to bumper but moving fast. A little scary but so good.
I'm beat so will post more later....
Stay High, Dry, Safe and Happy!
Flame On!

New Orleans Hurricane Info

I recently got off the phone with a very dear friend of mine that rode out Gustav at home in Algiers Point. All good news! They still have all utilities - electric, phone, cable, water. The storm didn't seem to her to be much more than a strong wind storm. Not much rain in the Point. The streets that she could see had no standing water.
More good news - My friend and her family tried to go out earlier to survey the area and check on homes of friends. They hardly got out their front door before they were stopped by patrols and warned to stay on their own property or they would be arrested. So we don't know how houses made it but we can rest assured, Algerines, the authorities are protecting our property from the two-legged hurricanes. Yea!

For anyone wanting to keep up with the latest info on NOLA and Gustav, I've found the best resource is the WWL talk radio. You can listen from your browser at http://den-a.plr.liquidcompass.cc/etm_plr/audio_player.php?id=WWL&playerType=wmp\
You need to have Windows Media Player but if you don't have it it's a quick download.
Our local TV stations are also doing a great job of keeping us informed online -
http://www.wwltv.com/video/?nvid=57429&live=yes
http://www.wdsu.com/video/17357480/index.html
http://www.fox8live.com/www/Video/NewStream.asp?v=%27high%27
I've been having trouble loading the fox8 stream. Maybe you'll have better luck.
I don't have a favorite but like to switch between all 3 and the Weather Channel.

Till later - Stay High Dry Safe and Happy!
Flame On!

Safe & Sound - High & Dry in GA

Bob and I decided to evacuate at the last minute. We emptied the frig, boarded the windows and loaded up the dogs and hightailed it for Georgia. We are currently in Carrollton, GA which is a bit outside of Atlanta. It was the nearest available room we could find.
We have our laptops and cellphones. You can email me at debideaux AT cox DOT net. Please be sure to replace the AT with an @ and the DOT with a . and remove spaces. (Sorry I hafta do it this way but spam is uncontrollable)
The last I heard we will be having our August market for the Art Market of New Orleans on Saturday, September 6, 2008. Please check back later to be sure this is still happening. I will try to announce it here either way.
Till later - Stay High, Dry and Happy! Flame On!

Fresh From the Flames

From Fresh From th...

It's been a while since I've posted a FFF. It's not that I haven't been torching. It's just that I haven't had anything real inspiring to post. Till now!
I love these rings. I worked extra hard with the polisher to clean up the bead release and as a result these two are the best so far.
The upper left came out darker than I'd planned but still looks impressive. I modeled it after the "flower berry" pendants I made last fall, with the rows of colors overlapping the row before it. But since it came out so dark a lot of the detail is lost.
Upper left is a clear base with pea green topped with pale rose gold domed with more clear and surrounded with raised dots of plum silver. This one is my favorite so if you want it you might hafta pry it off my finger. LOL
And now we come to the saga of the Goddesses! If you've been reading my blog for while you know that I've been trying for a while now to plump up my Goddesses and they keep refusing to be plump. Well I found a tutorial from a great glass sculptor, Teresa Laliberte. You can find her tutorial on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5146440
I followed her tut mostly except I used Raku frit, rose gold for the nipples and instead of wrapping the silver wire around her body I wound the silver in a spiral and laid it on her belly. I won't be selling this Goddess since She is not truly my own design. But I will be using what I learned here to incorporate in my own Goddesses.
My next market is The Arts Market of New Orleans, Saturday, August 30, 2008, 10 am to 4 pm, Palmer Park, S. Carrollton and S. Claiborne Aves Uptown. Till later- Flame On!

Fresh From the Flames

From Fresh From th...

Hearts, flowers and seashells - does that show where my brain has been lately? The barrel in the upper left has a few dichro chips in it. There's a nice glow that doesn't show in the photo. I don't know where I'm going with the flower. I've got quite a little pile of them now. I think I'm working up to something a bit more complex. I saw a step by step somewhere once where they made all the petals first then attached them to a bead. She made some very beautiful roses this way. I think I'll give it a try.
Till later - Flame On!

Fresh From the Flames & Yard Sale

From Fresh From th...

Oops, I'm a day late on this one. I took the pics and forgot to upload them. I can't say I'm terribly impressed with any of them anyway. Maybe it was a Freudian thing.
I played around with flowers and ladybugs. All on 1/16 mandrels. The yellow flower came out nice except for one of the stamens popped off. All the ladybugs came out nice but none turned out the same.
I will be hosting a yard sale this Saturday. So, anyone in the neighborhood, stop on by. I plan on putting on a spread and chilling some beers. So, even if we don't sell much at least we'll enjoy it. C'mon down.
Till later and Flame On!

Thanks for a great Fest! & New Class

Old Algiers Riverfest was a great success! Thanks to all the friends and neighbors that helped to make it so.
My oxygen concentrator died on me and I'm waiting on a new one to be delivered. I'm missing the flame so much, I'm seriously considering digging out the old hot head. I should anyway so I can remember how to describe the difference to my class.
This Thursday is the last class for this group. I'm looking forward to starting a new class soon. If you've been thinking about it, think no longer - Give Jenny a call - 504.482.6003. For more info see the link in the sidebar or click http://www.debideaux.com/classes.html
Till later - Flame On!

Old Algiers Riverfest

I'm getting ready for the Old Algiers Riverfest.
It will be both Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6 from 12 noon to 6 pm. The fest is held in the street across from the Old Courthouse on Patterson (river road). It's just a stone's throw from the Algiers Ferry Landing.
I'm hoping to see lotsa old friends and new. The music lineup sounds fantastic. The weather sounds like it will be great. Be there!
Flame On!

Fresh From the Flames

From Fresh From th...

From the top left - Pale emerald heart, 2 Cross My Happy Heart beads, Ocean Swirls focal and 2 spacers (can be found on sale at Etsy), pale emerald bead cap with roses and irises, lotsa spacers in lemon yellow and pale amethyst and a Fleur di Lis lentil bead.
I think I might have come to the end of this "Happy Heart" series. I wasn't real happy with the last several attempts. Someone else saw them and loved them, so maybe it's just me being too critical. Or maybe just bored with these colors. I am really liking that pale emerald and pale amethyst. The aqua and uranium yellow of the Ocean Swirls series makes me feel good, too.
Happy Spring and Flame On!

New Etsy Shop!

Yay! I finally got my Etsy shop started. I only have one item in it so far but will try to add something new every few days. I am more than willing to take requests, too. So if you've seen something in my Picasa Gallery that you like, please leave a comment with a description of the item and I will be sure to put it in my Etsy store. This was fun but I think I'll rather - Flame On!

Fresh From The Flame

From Fresh From th...

I'm still stuck on the Happy Hearts series. But I think it may be winding down. I'm not too happy with the lentils. I put a swirl under the heart but neither came out well. One you can't see under the heart and the other is too thick and started to melt into one blob. I do like the way the beadcap came out - green dots and red hearts. The large heart is turquoise with green dots topped with red.
The knobs are raku frit on transparent pale emerald. They have a nice glow.
I'm getting ready to start my shop on Etsy. I will start with just a few finished pieces of jewelry but hope to eventually include loose beads. Stay tuned for the news.
Till later - Flame On!

Arts Auction for Old Algiers Riverfest

I've agreed to donate one of my pieces to the charity auction for the Old Algiers Riverfest. I'm having a difficult time deciding what to donate. So I've decided to ask the blog reading world. If any out there intend to bid at the auction and you know of something I have that you would like to bid on, please leave a comment and let me know. I would like to make my decision by next Monday, March 17.
Thanks in advance for any considering this.