Progress, not Perfection!

These aren't too bad, they won't go in the "Oops!" box but are not quite ready for prime-time, either. So you're probably looking at 2 bracelet/earrings sets for me, only I don't wear bracelets....Oh, the problems I have!
Off to Houston tomorrow for a week, have to get some fusing done so I can re-stock the Glass by Gundula store shelves!
And, hopefully, I'll soon be able to offer some lampworked dichroic beads, reasonably priced, of course, like all my glass!

Well, I better pick some peaches before it gets dark, they are not much to look at, small and not very attractive, but they are ever so sweet and good-tasting!
This fall I need to devote some time to my fig and peach trees, they need pruning and staking to really produce.

What’s new with the glass?

My kilns are still in Houston, but I am playing with a torch here and finding out what all can go wrong when trying to lampwork dichroic beads. More for the reject pile!
But some are turning out ok, and I am encouraged. I have the cheap little Hothead/MAPP gas setup, not quite ready to spend mega dollars on propane, oxygen, major torch etc. This is good enough to learn on!
Here’s a scan of some that are almost acceptable:

Wow! Look at what Vampi Choy did with one of my cabs!

Vampi emailed me this image, she also posted this wonderful necklace on several forums, here's one of them: http://forums.delphiforums.com/wirejewelry/messages/?msg=13744.12

Of course I had to ask her if I could include her in my Gallery!

A little background…

OK, I jumped right into this blog thing with most readers not having a clue why I’m here. So here’s part of my story:
About 6 or 7 years ago, I discovered Ebay and, with a vengeance, started collection vintage glass beads. Those I made into new jewelry, necklaces, earrings, bracelets. And then I found dichroic pendant beads on Ebay and finally bought one, I still have it, it was from Ernie Phelps and quite expensive. So now I bought these beads, and re-sold them with earrings made from my bead stash. It didn’t take long for me to decide that I wanted more control over the colors and shapes, and 4 years ago I bought my first kiln, a Paragon Quick Fire that I still have and use almost daily. Dichroic glass cabochons were the next logical step, especially after I met a wire jewelry artist who liked my work. And so Glass By Gundula started.
I’ve never taken a class in fusing or wire-wrapping, but I have made extensive use of the information and tutorials that are available on the internet.

And then what happened?

Well, about 2 years ago I was going through some rough emotional times, and was diagnosed as being bi-polar. The medication made me so lethargic I decided I just as soon be depressed, I was used to that feeling after all. And I rather enjoyed my few manic episodes, at least I got some things done!
I took a good hard look at my life and decided that my job was no longer challenging and fulfilling, and I really did not feel like looking for a new one. I had no particular attachment to Houston, it was mainly a place where the jobs are.
Really the only joy came from my 2 dogs, and they were not all that happy, either. Sure, I took them to the Dog Park often, but on the rare occasions when they were visiting the countryside, they really perked up and exhausted themselves having fun. So I bought 4 wooded acres with a cabin and a shed in East Texas, first as a weekend getaway, but ultimately as a retirement retreat. I crunched the numbers, that’s what I’m good at, and it was doable. It took a leap of faith to hand in my resignation, I dragged my feet for months, waiting for this event or that.
May 4th 2006 was my last day at work.

So what is retired life, far from the Big City, like for you, my friends ask me.

Well, I’m not really retired, have no pension or retirement income, I’m self-employed with enough reserves to be able to spend time trying new things, to have fun with my dogs and to just take a break from the rat race.
That part is easy, the one thing that chaps me is the Health Insurance that costs me about $ 400 per month. I don’t dare go without it, maybe more out of superstition than necessity.
Now the remoteness of my location is something I don’t always have a handle on, I’m 2 miles from the nearest neighbor, 6 miles from a Post Office, 25 miles from any gas station or store, so I try to plan a little better than I used to. I not only make lists but actually take them with me when I go to town, what a concept!
To wean myself slowly from my old ways of shopping, I allow myself 1 or 2 trips to town a week, but I’m trying to keep it to a minimum. Sometimes these trips are my only opportunity to talk to other people in person, another thing I took for granted!
And I’m not yet completely at ease at night, I know it’s much safer here than in Houston, and the dogs alert me to anything ( and I mean really anything! ) out of the ordinary, and I have a phone handy, but I guess it takes time to adjust.
Without internet service this little adventure would not be feasible, it’s slow but it’s one way to stay connected.
After nearly 2 month here, with a few short trips back to Houston, I don’t regret my decision. In time this will become home for me, Daisy and Niki.

Daisy,guarding the front porch, and Niki, enjoying their favorite Big Sandy swimming hole

a few of my favorite cabs