Kitchen Done...

Until the day when we can afford to remodel our kitchen, we needed to do something with our backsplash.


Tiles would be one of my first choices because I immediately think: I can make them... But I know that will be a more permanent install.


So for now - a heavy vinyl wallpaper (from Shinns paints here in Wilmington, DE) that I have since this last summer, that looks like stone...


And below, all the clutter moved back in...


I can't believe how much more I actually like our kitchen now. I mean, I almost love it...


Stuff just looks good up against it! I can't wait to see what it looks like in the morning...


And below - my dad's first dog, in front of the fireplace in my Grandma Neal's old farmhouse that inspired my Random Boxes texture for my porcelain pendants...


I guess I've been raised by masons... Can't get enough of that stone!

-- Pictures Taken With & Posted From My iPhone

Zentangle Gift

I love the way Dave feeds my creativity and listens to what I really would like to use...



I have a hand me down Nikon digital SLR and now have a micro lens (AF Micro Nikkor 60mm 1:2:8 D) to use for photos of my beads (still have to work on lighting) and for my nature inspired photos...
Also happened across Zentangle on a blog not too long ago. Funny because it gives some terms and descriptions to my manner of drawing... Since I have been drawing like this since I was young - I wonder where I picked it up from...
Here are some of my first Zentangles from tonight...








And Chloe wanted to give it a try...




She even signed it...




-- Pictures Taken With & Posted From My iPhone

My To Do List For 2011

There are so many things that I am getting to "deadlines" with. Some are past due, some I've just added, some I have been considering for a while.

So for my 2011 "To Do"

1. Apply to the DE Master Gardener Program (apply like now - due 1/11/11)
*COMPLETED AND IN THE MAIL!!! 12/22/10*

2. Donations out the door and uploaded to my "Specials Blog" (to be done ASAP!)

3. Get ready for the Drawing Lab 2011 (Starts next week!)

4. Marsha Neal Studio Website Updates (Will I ever really get to this?)

5. Have new clay cutters made (I should be able to get to this fast - just need to find that file on my computer somewhere…)

6. Jewelry Making area studio makeover - need to just get my brain around that!

7. Um - new work for Marsha Neal Studio? Well, maybe inspiration will hit me as I am working on learning some drawing skills and hopefully taking classes on becoming a master gardener…

8. Get through the 90+ emails sitting in my email inbox… (sorry if you have not heard back from me!)

I think the alignment last night of the heavens put me back on track to get myself going again…

Got kids from school, had dinner with a surprise visit from Santa at Jakes Wayback Burger in Kennett Square, Christmas lights and flowers at Longwood Gardens, and super happy kids…

Back in alignment indeed…

Merry Christmas Everyone!

A Quick Update

Just a couple weeks ago, we were about to depart on Southwest Airlines to FL…

And guess who we ran into in their concourse?

The big man in red himself...

 Southwest and Microsoft 7 are hosting him in select airports around the country this month…

A quick survey and we got a bunch of photos to use with their new program online (this picture was taken by me on the sidelines with my iPhone). I just adored this moment…

I had received a shipment of silks the day before I left, so they sat in their boxes until I got home.

And a good thing too because I had a colorful order to pull as soon as I arrived home.

Which I am SO happy to say was pulled, labeled and shipped in record time (thankful kids are healthy and in school this week!)…

Marsha & Riley at Halloween...

I really want to update my current website with the new silk colors.

But these cute kids keep me from doing anything until Super Late at night...

Dang! I know Dave wants me to work on the new one, but I just have not had a moment to even catch up with my Quickbooks yet alone the website. At least the pictures are taken (hence me wanting to just update what I have up there right now just to have them available…)

Lots to do… lots to do…

Hope you are all having a great Holiday Season so far!

Want to see some funny Jib-Jab Videos of the Minutella's?
Click HERE for Feliz Navidad
Click HERE for A Christmas Story (with my good friend Natalie)

Stop back soon…

I am going to be getting some giveaways ready for January on my "Specials Blog"

December Second Saturday State of Your Studio (Beads of Clay)...

Welcome to the December Second Saturday State of Your Studio blog post,

Hosted through the Beads-of-Clay Blog...

My dining room table has served as my jewelry making area…

I have been super busy making jewelry for December Home Shows (Today is the last day 11am-7pm, In Wilmington, DE - email me for address: Marsha {at} MarshaNealStudio.com).

Here is one of my display bins with some pendants made up as necklaces on cards, in baggies...

And I finally broke out some of the paper I have been collecting, thinking it would be great for backgrounds for photos… 

The office area is a complete mess…

Things have been cleared from the dining room and put down here.

I did not have time to put things aways where they should…

Maybe this next week.

The clay and glazing area - unused for the most part except for a few orders here that needed to be glazed here and there...

And my 4 cup little coffee pot died…

Dave had gotten it for me years ago when he wanted me to cut back a bit on my caffeine intake.

My friend Joan once told me that I reminded her of her Jack Russell Terrier (one of my favorite dog breeds by the way - I think I could handle the energy…).

The 12 cup pot was just too much coffee for one person to drink and the other (non-coffee drinker) to deal with.

So now, being Christmas time, I wonder what it's replacement will be…

Make sure to share your creative area (your "studio") through the Beads of Clay Blog!

Thanks for stopping by!

Chloe Enjoying Hot Chocolate...

I just love this series of pictures of Chloe having some "warm chocolate" (does not like it too hot) with Great Grandma Neal...








-- Pictures Taken With & Posted From My iPhone

An Artist Break

There are times when you just need to step away from all the duties of work just for a wee break…

I'll be back into the swing of things & business stuff on the 15th of December...

Rough Gulf of Mexico water (and very cold & windy too).

My break has been worked in around my sister April's graduation from USF and Chloe's third birthday…

Chloe and Aunt April...

Spending time with family and enjoying just being with each other is such a wonderful break from all the craziness and stress of working from home (means we work ALL the time)...

Riley and Dave...

Not like being with a 1 year old and a 3 year old 24/7 is relaxing really, but it sure is a lot of fun if you just remind yourself to laugh at it and make things ok instead of getting mad at it…

I think I may try to incorporate some kind of meditation into my daily routine. I find that my patience and temper are wearing thin and I am getting to that point I was at when I was burnt out from doing 30+ shows a year and coming home to make more beads…

And Dave and I will be seeing the chiropractor from carrying and sharing beds with these little ones (Riley refuses to sleep in a pack and play & arrangements have been that we each get one kid).

Why is it that kids sleep sideways???

I love the middle of the night sitting up, seeing you there, then thump, head fall forward right onto you…

It is actually kinda cute except when they head butt you...

Anyway… I love to blog and since I have a moment (Riley is napping & Dave and Chloe are running a quick errand), I figured why not…

Cinderella's Castle lit with magical icy looking Christmas lights.

And some of the best things to come out of Chloe's mouth so far:

After watching a night time parade on main street in Disney: 

"Mom, let's go over there… I want to see MORE magic!!!"

At mom-mom and pop-pop's house taking about getting some ice cream after seeing some Christmas lights on special display (driving in the car to see them). She pointed to the lights right out the front window and said: "There are christmas lights! Now can we have ice cream?"

Tomorrow is Chloe's 3rd Birthday already!

Where has the time gone?

Hope you are all keeping busy and enjoying the time you have with friends & family!

Last Day of Etsy Shop Sale

At some point tomorrow morning I will be changing back all the prices to regular price in my Etsy shop, then taking off until December 15th…

New Lentil Beads in the Etsy Shop!

Right now everything is 25% off retail prices. And if you are one of my FaceBook fans (and you use the coupon code before paying via Etsy), there is an extra code that you can use listed on my Marsha Neal Studio FaceBook Page that you can use in addition to this 25% off to get an even better deal (just become a fan to use it).

Over the next two weekends, I will have finished jewelry at two different home shows. Email me (Marsha at MarshaNealStudio.com) for the addresses if you will be in Wilmington, DE and want to get some items for gifts (or to treat yourself!).

Riley Insists On A Sale Extension...

Riley just turned 11 months old yesterday - and just like the rest of his teething, his one year molars are arriving a little early...



And if you have ever had to deal with this, you will totally understand how I have gotten absolutely nothing done since Saturday. No new silk knots or shards listed into my Etsy shop as promised...

So I am going to extend the 25% off my Etsy shop through Wednesday midnight (may not have a chance to change pricing until Thursday morning, can't promise though).

I am hoping to snap some pics tomorrow and list them soon after.

Thanks for understanding!



But comforting this little darling has been my priority... I wish those big teeth would just be through already. Top and bottom on one side...

-- Pictures Taken With & Posted From My iPhone

25% off Etsy Shop Sale This Weekend!

Right now everything in my Etsy shop is marked down 25% off retail pricing.

This sale goes on until Monday, November 29, 2010.

It will be the last one I'm running this year - so have fun shopping!

I'm hoping to get a few new shard pieces up in the shop by Monday…

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

Jewelry For Artist Home Shows...

I feel like I dropped off the social media network in the last couple of weeks...


I have been preparing to send off a bunch of my work - as finished jewelry - to some friends that are hosting an Artist Open House sale of all kinds of handmade items.


The above pic is my dining room table (see, that jewelry making area in the basement studio needs to get done ASAP)...


I am SO thrilled at how these are coming out. I will be sending out a newsletter with the information for the open houses (4 of them in three weekends - starting this weekend)! Middletown and Wilmington, DE will be the towns they will be in. I will send out a coupon in the newsletter as well for the open houses - so make sure you are signed up (see side bar to the right or my website).

-- Pictures Taken With & Posted From My iPhone

Something New for Marsha Neal Studio in 2011

I am going to try something for a year. A Marsha Neal Studio "Specials" blog dedicated to a whole bunch of giveaways of my porcelain pieces (and whatever else I feel like throwing in there - silk, leather, jewelry findings, beads, scarves, gift certificates, etc) for 2011.

I decided to do this on it's own blog because of my general overstimulated and overworked brain that cannot seem to keep up with all the different things going on in the world of blogging.

I wanted to make it easy for you to grab one of my pieces, make something with it, post a picture & link back to my blog, and have a chance at winning a fantastic gift from me (trust me - they will be fantastic!).

There are 3 or 4 ideas for monthly giveaways already listed there. Then there are a bunch of "at the end of the year" giveaways too. And I'm open for more suggestions...

All this comes about from an idea I had today while doing a MASSIVE cleaning & organization of my "new office studio space". I have way too many beads & jewelry making supplies (yes you read that right!) That and I really get something out of making people happy, and seeing how my pieces make people happy - I just want to give it all away! And I would - except I need to actually start to pay off some of this business debt that I have gotten myself into and show a profit from my business - like soon!

So I'm thinking - if you can help me to promote my business for 2011 by making stuff with my work, selling stuff with my work, buying stuff with my work, share links to my website (which is really starting to come together - it will premier in January if no major setbacks are found) or blog, Etsy shop, etc - I will give you a ton of chances to win more of my stuff…

It should be like a virtual beading night with friends… One that happens every month - all of next year!

So go ahead and break out the good food, the wine and the chocolate and have at it! Let's see what you have (oh - that's another good idea for a giveaway post - what does your MNS clay pieces stash look like?). See the brain just never stops!

I'll be updating the Marsha Neal Studio Specials Blog with more details and photos of giveaways.

Oh, and of course - something extra special for the end of 2010 too...

Second Saturday State of The Studio

Welcome to the Marsha Neal Studio version of the Beads of Clay Blog: Second Saturday State of Your Studio Post...

Pshew - that was a lot to type!



Right now my clay area & glaze area has been serving as my jewelry making area. Mainly wire work & hammering...



The slab roller is the perfect height for working while standing and banging out some wire...



The back of the studio is still a mess... It's been one of the catch all areas for all kinds of jewelry making & craft supplies. I have every intention of making this the place where I can keep jewelry making projects in the works.



You can see all the storage bins that I have things stored in. That is part of the problem - they are stored... Not in a usable organized setup at all.



A friend of mine (Kim) was nice enough to bring this point to my attention and then proceeded to start to collect these bead bins for me (we traded for beads :). Needless to say - it is awesome to have beads & findings at my fingertips by just grabbing a case and having everything right there!



I have all these pieces pulled for jewelry making - the top basket is full of pieces ready for ear wires & oxidation... I am SO proud of myself for finally getting something done that I have been wanting to do for years...



Then this afternoon I finally got to glazing some more shards (have been trying to get here all week!).



And I have been using these trays from my bead show days to keep various shapes & sizes of shards separated for easier pairing for glazing...



And since it is technically Friday as I am writing this post, here is an image for self portrait Friday (Ornamental Blog). Trying out my new earrings & wearing a stressed face from this week. Not happy with where my studio organization is. But not upset about it either. Just annoyed...

I am down a size in pants just this last week and about 20 pounds since pregnancy (pre & post was about the same for me).
Go Weight Watchers!!!

Wonder if I'll get any more studio organization done before next month's post... Or just more jewelry making???

Thanks for stopping by!

-- Pictures Taken With & Posted From My iPhone

Earring Experimentation...

I have FINALLY got my butt in gear and banged out a pair of earrings for myself...


I have had this idea in my head for a while... I now think it was from 3.5 years ago when I took a class with Susan Lenart Kazmer at Bead & Button.


Cause when I sat down and looked through some books for inspiration, I pulled her book on "Making Connections", paged through and lit up when I saw her "Trapeze Attachment"


That's it!!! That is what I had in mind when I started making the shards... Eureka!

So after banging out a few tries with variations, I think I am going to try this pair out tonight & see how they feel with my hair down & around them (will they tangle, pull - we'll see!)

-- Pictures Taken With & Posted From My iPhone