Bead News – Jill’s Journal

Do you know how happy I was tonight to open up my Curly-Q kit supplies drawer, and discover 10 kits, already made up – simply missing the Fireline that goes in them? Which I’d already spooled off the other night? It was like finding a $20 bill in your coat pocket that you’d forgotten was there!… Read More

I voted today. Even though I have a terrible cold and only want to huddle miserably in bed until it goes away. Even though I live in a state that I know will make my vote useless in our current Electoral College system.… Read More

Wow. I managed to dodge Mom’s flu bugs a few weeks ago. I was strong and fought off Mick & Laura’s germy bugs that stole their voices. But Little Miss Alexis? That adorable niece of mine? She’s the culprit! I babysat for her just two hours on Friday while she had a cold, and now I woke up in full-blown cold mode this morning.… Read More

Oh, my goodness. Panic has set in. This may actually be the most heinous act of Jillcrastination of all time. Why did it take until today for me to wake up to the fact that one of my biggest shows of the year starts in 6 days??… Read More

Oh, the Swarovskis are here! They are so gorgeous and tiny and fabulous and I want to keep them all for myself! Thousands of little crystal goodness! Alas, that’s not the plan. I will share. I’m nice that way.

Entertainment should abound later this morning when I try to capture their brilliant sparkle in photos to post them on Etsy.… Read More

We’re having a boy! Okay, not ME. And not Mom. But Becky is! A nephew to torment my niece, just the way my little brother tormented me. But that’s okay – I can give Alexis tips on how to deal with this intruder into her perfect world.… Read More

What a sweet, low-key-but-fun kind of weekend this turned out to be here at Casa Wiseman. The cooling of the weather makes the dogs extra frisky and mornings find Winston and Maggie racing breakneck through the house, chasing each other. We call it “Thunder Paws” time, named for the distinctive thudding noise as they hit the carpet.… Read More

You know how you take your car to the mechanic because it’s been making this crazy noise for weeks now, and the moment you turn the car on to let the mechanic listen to it, the noise is gone? Turns out that computer fall into the same category of instant fool makers.… Read More

Two of the excellent bead retreats I attend and teach at each year are both open for new registrants right now. They sell out every year, and those folks who attended the previous year get dibs on signing up for the following year, so having some openings for new folks is big news.… Read More

Oh, how lucky we are in Central Texas today. Rain. Actual rain is falling from the sky, and it’s a good, soaking rain. Not too hard so it all runs off and causes flooding. Not so sparse that the ground never gets penetrated.… Read More

One class down (Friday night’s sweet Foxy Mama group did me proud!) and four more to go. At least this weekend, they’re all in Austin, and only one a day! Tonight we get to play with Piazza Perline. How I love that bracelet.… Read More

People – PEOPLE! The Dow dropped another 600 points today? What in the world is going on?

Know what I’m going to do? I’m not pulling my money out of my bank (Washington Mutual/Chase) and I’m not selling stocks. I’m going to BUY stocks.… Read More

A rather large pile of packages got mailed out for all corners of the US today. I love the Automated Postal Kiosk at the Post Office…no longer do I have to wait in lines to work with a clerk. And honestly, I can wiz through those screens faster than they do.… Read More

The WildFire is here! Yippee! I have listed it in my new Etsy store, and have set up the 2mm Swarovski crystals in Crystal AB there too.

One of the nice things about the 125 yard spools of WildFire that I hadn’t anticipated is that they come on the same size spools as the 50 yard – there’s simply more wound on the spool.… Read More

Sigh. It’s this time of year that I most miss living in Wisconsin. I was born there, and lived mostly in La Crosse until I was 14 and the family moved to Texas. Fall leaves turning colors in the most radiant and spectacular display.… Read More

This weekend will prove to be a challenge – teaching four classes in three days in two cities that are 170 miles apart! Tonight is Austin, Sat and Sun morning is Ft. Worth, and Sun. night is Austin again.

Gail L.… Read More

Oh goodie, goodie! I’ve got a stash of WildFire on the way to me, and it will arrive early next week. I’ll let you know when it gets here, and I’ll be selling it on my website. Kelly R. tried it yesterday at Bead Brunch, and she really liked it too!… Read More