A View of Phoenix: The Story of the Trees

Saint Mary's Basilica Perimeter
Saturday, May 3 2008
Approximately 9:00 to 9:30 P.M.

The Story of the Trees



(Trees captured near the perimeter of the St. Mary's Basilica, on Saturday May 3, approximately 9:30 p.m. The trees are only lit by the Canon Powershot G9's flash)

For the Love of Trees

Twist this way, twist that way
Intertwined loveliness
The branches reach out
Calling me to come hither

In the darkness of night
Capturing the minute light
The evening draws late
As the city begins to sleep

Listening intently and quietly
I am the eager student of life
The trees are speaking to me
All at once, in unison

Each has a different perspective
It is overwhelming, their murmurs
To listen to their voices together
Of both happiness and sorrow

They cry out, a few in agony
Begging me to share their stories
For the love of trees
Please honor and hear us speak

Listen to our prayers and whispers
Open your eyes to truly SEE
What man is doing to us, trees
Think before you do, do as you speak

All trees are LIFE, many lives
Giving us the ability to survive
Breathe in their gift to mankind
Cherish them close to your heart

Repeat the telling of these stories
To ANY man, woman or child
Willing to listen or not
Make them STOP, THINK and HEAR!

For the love of trees.

*****
Peace,
Lisa

*****

Spooky but BEAUTIFUL huh?









*****

Marty Casey and the Lovehammers
(one of my favorite songs)

Trees

I don't wanna go through this life
Without you by my side
And I got it all worked out
In my head here's how it's got to be

It'll be you and me
Up in the trees
And the forest will give us the answer
It'll be you and I
Up in the sky
It's a combination for disaster

We, we make believe
In a world we rule together
We can build our dreams
With a knot tied tight to last forever

It'll be you and me
Up in the trees
And the forest will give us the answer
It'll be you and I
Up in the sky
It's a combination for disaster

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah
We got one shot
So let's use our imaginations
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah
You're all that I got
So where do we go from here

It'll be you and me
Up in the trees
And the forest will give us the answer
It'll be you and I
Up in the sky
It's a combination for disaster

I know there's more for us in this life
If we hold on, if we hold strong
I know there's more for us in this life
Can we hold on, can we hold on

*****

For the love of trees,
Take care of and cherish our trees

Lisa

Bead Expo Phoenix: The Booth

Bead Expo Phoenix Booth
Friday to Sunday, May 2 - 4 2008
Approximately 9:00 to 10:00 A.M.

I was representing my friend Ezel Findings at this venue, so had three tables to fill. Normally I have my corner booth and that's that. However, my friend Sun Young had to take a trip to Paris (lucky her) and asked me to help out, so I brought Tina along. Tina stayed until Saturday and then Nick flew in to help the rest of the time. We spent some time with Uncle Joe and Aunt Dee, my first time meeting Nick's family. I hope they had as good of a time as I did getting to know them/me.

(click on any of the photos below for an enlarged view)

Walk around my booth to see what goodies I've filled it with. It was challenging to fill THREE tables but I brought along ALL of the project samples from Bead Romantique to help me out.

Lots of Freshwater Pearls in exotic colors for just $5 a strand!

There's the book and Digital Frame frozen in time with the Medici Rhinestone Necklace shown

And as you walk around, you'll notice the BEAUTIFUL Japanese pliers. I only had two sets at the show so am taking pre-orders before the shipment arrives after Bead and Button

This table showcases my glass work, you will find Ginkgos, Mesa, Strata, Fusion, Sandstorm, Haiku, Le Fiore Vive, Luft and Serenity amongst the selection. I try to have a nice assortment at teach show but this was the third show back to back so I had very little time in the studio.

Another Bead Romantique book and the Quatrefoil Nouveau Festoon Necklace, V Scallop, Triple Spiral Lariat, alternate Medici Necklace with 1122 Rivolis and the Double Sided Garden Maiden Necklace. Ezel Findings business cards to the side too.

Closeups

A closeup of the lovely Digital Frame

There are those Japanese tools amongst my glasswork

This Mother of Pearl necklace was made for the Mother of the Bride in mind. It was the key necklace showcased on Sonoran Living LIVE

A closeup of how beautifully the festoon necklace would hang when worn.

The graduation project, as I'd would like to call it, the Triple Spiral Garden Lariat, is not difficult - it just takes a LONG time to finish. You will learn so many techniques from this project alone.

There is Jane of Jane's Fibers and Beads getting her booth ready. A view of my booth from a distance and right across all those seed beads. Jane tempts me at most shows with all those tiny beads!! If you ever seen Jane at a show, she carries signed copies of Bead Romantique.

*****

Smile for the Camera, will you?
Lisa

Show Stop: May 2-4, 2008: Bead Expo Phoenix

Bead Expo Phoenix

By day, the Bead Expo sign at the Phoenix Convention Center

By night, the Bead Expo sign at the Phoenix Convention Center

The Setup and Registration

This way to the show floor

The showguide and bags filled with goodies for shoppers.

Check in and last minute signups for classes.

Everything related to classes is managed and coordinated by the guy in blue. Well that's none other than Brian Stathopoulos, in action.

The Interweave Booth

A banner of the new Spring Books, see Bead Romantique?

Mardi Gras beads to make things fun next to the Bead Romantique display at the Interweave booth.

I only caught Laura Levaas at the Interweave booth as Leigh Trotter hadn't come to the show yet. I'll have to snap a photo of Leigh at the next show. These two gals really made the launching of book go smoothly. Laura also helped immensely by escorting me to Sonoran Living LIVE on Friday morning.

Some of My Friends on the Show Floor

Susan K. Nestor Studios

The BEAUTIFUL and vivacious Susan Nestor! A photo of this girl finally after missing out in Miami to show her off to all of you. My Canon did an excellent job!

Beyond Beads LLC.

Paul is striking the male model's pose while poor Rajeev is working hard getting the booth setup. These two crazy guys drove all the way from New York nonstop (about 42 hours). I respect their hard work, but guys don't work SO hard! I thought I was a hard worker until I met these two! They put me to SHAME! Deepak was in India and couldn't make it. I spoke to Deepak on Friday night to wish him well. Paul had to leave early Sunday so I hope all is well at home for him. Write back will you, either one of you? I give up ever hoping to receive an email from either Paul or Rajeev. (sigh) Some people are better talkers than writers. I write better than I talk! For sure!

Indus Valley

Zarif Khan striking his own male model's pose. This fellow is a funny guy. He and I have the same last name even though we spell it differently. Zarif has an energetic personality and I bet he's a lady's man too. Just look at Zarif posing. Just kidding Zarif.

One of Indus Valley's specialty is beautiful Roman Glass. I got my hands finally on some strands and am looking forward to designing with my collection. It was the ONLY item I bought in Phoenix. I was being VERY good. Thank you Zarif for the birthday present. I will design something beautiful with the Roman Glass.

Santa Me

Teresa Harkins, a new friend I met in Phoenix through Dee Perry. We all had breakfast together Saturday morning. Well, I sort of invited myself when I spotted Dee sitting by herself. We found out all of our birthdays were in consecutive days. Now how often does that happen? I think this is beyond coincidence and we were meant to celebrate Saturday morning, together! YAY to May babies! Teresa's birthday is May 2nd, Dee's is May 3rd and mine is May 4th. On Sunday I found out my friend Lala Fischer, who was also exhibiting at the show, was also having a birthday on May 5th. Woohoo for Taurus women!

Just look at all the beautiful creations on Teresa's booth. She definitely has a style her own. Lovely color sense too but what do you expect from a Taurus woman. haha.

Eager shoppers were perusing Teresa's booth while I snuck in a a few more photos to capture her lovely designs to share with you all.

Dee Perry of Clasp on Clasp Off, another Taurus! Dee's dragonfly clasp is used for the opening photo to my website. Dee has a nice selection of clasps that are not meant to be hidden. Show off your clasps! I hope to work with some of her new creations soon.

Antelope Beads

Laura Bittner of Antelope Beads is the retail seller of Vintaj Natural Brass components as well as Kazuri, Clay River, and Metalcraft lines of beads/pendants. If you see Laura at any show and want to make the three designs I have in Bead Romantique, utilizing Vintaj, she is the TO GO Girl. Drop by to see all the wonderful offerings in her booth.

Jane's Fibers and Beads

Jane Overman's booth is always huge full of wonderful goodies and I am sometimes lucky to be right across from Jane at Bead Expo/Bead Fest venues. Just look at all that temptation. All those colors teasing me but I restrained myself and held strong. I didn't buy anything THIS time. Can I restrain myself at Philly? If you see Jane at any show, she will have signed copies of Bead Romantique if I am out or not around. Have fun shopping at Jane's.

Softflex Company

Sara Hardin, my buddy and walking partner of Team Beadalicious in the Walk for the Cure, giving me a big hearty warm smile.

What didn't belong at Bead Expo
(Just my Point of View)

Hmmm, if I wanted to be a model or actor/actress, would I go to a BEAD show? Just some thoughts on what really didn't belong at Bead Expo. I know sometimes shows give out booth space to local businesses to promote the show but I'm really not sure why this booth was there?

Perhaps worse than the acting/modeling booth was the above. Uhmmm, I'm just speaking my mind out loud here but why are there belly dancers (at least that is what they called themselves) at a bead show? I'm just wondering you know. And also why did they have to perform twice RIGHT behind my booth. I started getting a headache with the music so loud and I couldn't hear myself nor the customers speak while I was conducting a demo. I hope the Bead Expo folks realize that this was a distraction more than an attraction. Thank you for letting me speak out loud.

Just Jiggle then Wiggle,
Follow the Rhythm
I suppose

Peace,
Lisa

Sonoran Living Live Behind the Scenes

Sonoran Living LIVE
Friday, May 2 2008
Approximately 7:45 - 9:00 A.M.

If you haven't noticed from reading this blog, I like telling stories... I hope you enjoy reading them.

So there I was on Monday April 28 checking emails in the office before I started my day in the studio. I may have been sipping my standard one cup of coffee too. The phone rings and it is Jaime Guthals, THE Interweave Press publicist.

We said our hello's and in her bubbly way, Jaime tells me next "Lisa, you're going to be on TV in Phoenix" (paraphrasing). My heart started racing and although I knew Jaime was working hard on getting me on TV to promote Bead Romantique and Bead Expo Phoenix, I had thought I was off the hook since we were so close to the show. That was Monday and then I was leaving Wednesday morning. In between, I had to magically figure out what I would wear and what I would talk about for the interview.

Jaime prepared me with some talking points and what not to do/what to do; what to wear and what not to wear. So I had some tips from the pros. I didn't want to sound practiced so didn't even want to write down what I would say in the interview. Not only was I going to be interviewed on the morning show, ABC 15 Sonoran Living, but it was going to be LIVE. Like the good student that I was, I went to the Sonoran Living website and viewed a number of clips from the show. Aaaah okay I made a mental note how other guests dressed and behaved. Basically just be myself and talk about what I know: Pearls, and I should be "fine." Really? Was it that EASY?

I decided to keep the interview to myself and to my immediate family. I'm like that. I like to keep things hush-hush until it happens. Who knows, shows can cancel on guests and I didn't want to burst any bubbles. So I didn't even announce it on my blog here. I figured the good news will come in due time and I never like to jinx myself by being overly anxious. I also enjoy keeping the mystery up of what I am doing, so you'll never know what I am up to. Don't you feel that it is more exciting that way? I can keep a secret for over a year (for instance, not telling people that I was working on Bead Romantique, hahah. I am bad that way but now you know if you tell me a secret, it is safe with me!)

I had thought I was going to do a demo on the Pearl Mesh Bracelet and Jaime said to be prepared for it, just in case. So I did. I also brought ALL the exotic pearls in my personal stash to show off in the interview. We were going to show the audience that pearls could be used in innovative ways for design and that they are not just the standard looking pearls anymore. Then everyone could come to shop for pearls at Bead Expo Phoenix. That was the theme and my book utilized many different pearls for design.

While in Phoenix, I figured I better manicure my nails if they were going to focus on my hands. Geez, I have never been one for that fru-fru girlie stuff. I'm a tomboy at heart you know. I used to climb trees, play basketball and hang out with the boys in school. I was just "one of the guys" and enjoy getting dirty! Anyhow, I'm also frugal so Tina and I went to CVS and bought a bottle of Sally Hansen nail polish. I thought that it was good enough. Somehow I thought the opalescent "opal sand" (I think is what they called the fancy color) would be pretty on camera. Uhmmmm.. think again.

Thursday night, Tina helped me paint my nails. I went to sleep and woke up around 4:30 a.m. Friday morning nervous about the impending interview. I looked at my nails and UGH they were all scuffed up. I can't go on camera like this. So I proceeded to remove all the nail polish WITHOUT nail polish remover. There is a trick to doing this you know. Even though I'm not all that girlie, I knew how since I am a closet chemist, of sorts. What you do is paint on MORE nail polish and then rub off within a few seconds with a towel. The wet nail polish acts as a "loosening" agent to the already dried nail polish. So that took about 1/2 hour and my nails were again naked, just the way I like them.

By 5 a.m. I was getting prepared by ironing my clothes and applying my makeup. Thanks to MAC Cosmetics, they hooked me up earlier with some fantastic colors. However, I read that if you are on camera, you have to lay your makeup THICK like stage makeup. So there is where Tina came to the rescue with some waterproof eyeliner. I dislike that stuff as it is a pain to take off. (Note to self, never again will I use the waterproof eyeliner as it makes me look like a racoon!) Tina also helped with my hair. Thank goodness for my little sister or else I would be a big huge mess and not camera ready. I have always been camera shy. That is why you don't see more pictures of me on this blog or elsewhere. I need a lot of professional help to be presentable.

The beautiful Laura Levaas, my Interweave Marketing Manager, got up early too and escorted me to the studios. We got side-tracked on the way thanks to my misdirection but we found our way thanks to the GPS system (Btw, GPS is great but the voice is annoying to me!) We got to ABC 15 studios at 7:40 a.m. or so. So early that no one was in the parking lot. We drove around a bit thinking we were at the wrong building. We spotted a security guard in plain clothes and he let us in.

Laura Levaas at the Interweave Booth

I was still in disbelief that in an hour or so I would be on TV LIVE! So they put us in a staging room because the Green Room was locked. WELL, you know me and the color RED. Just look at the signs in this photo. With all this RED, I was sure to have a good interview. It DID help to think this way. So definitely all the RED was a positive sign to me.

After about 10 minutes or so, the assistant producer came in to introduce herself. I'm sorry but I was still very nervous so can't recall her name. My apologies. She mentioned that we would be able to setup our display shortly. Also, she welcomed us to go into the Green Room so that we could enjoy some coffee and refreshments. I figured, let's go check out this Green Room so Laura and I moved over.

The GREEN Room which is not GREEN at all


A trick of the camera with my new Canon. Now the GREEN Room is GREEN

Inside the GREEN Room, there's animal print furniture everywhere. I always wondered why they called this room a GREEN Room. I figured the room had to be GREEN inside but obvious no. The things you learn.

I freshened up a bit and I looked in the restroom mirror. I thought to myself "hey didn't I iron this shirt?" What is one to do. I made the most of the situation. I paced about the GREEN room and then Andi Barness walks in. Andi is the co-host of Sonoran Living as well as the traffic reporter for ABC 15 (KNVX). You can read more about Andi here! Andi has an interesting story of her claim to fame. She met her husband, Dean on Love Connection! How cool is that!! Back to Sonoran Living LIVE.

So below are some photos of the set to show you the behind the scenes look at Sonoran Living LIVE. As you can see again, SO MUCH RED, it's blowing my mind. YES! I thought to myself. This interview is going to go like clockwork. Mentally, my mind and heartbeat began to race. So close to the interview I was due to be on screen at 9:15 a.m. right before the first commercial break. And listen to this, it is VERY rare to have a LIVE audience too. And yes, today was one of those rare moments. But with all this RED going on, I'll be okay.

My table setup showcasing key projects from Bead Romantique, the book, and the impressive pearl stash.

The camera man is taking shots for the preview to the show.

And yes, here is the LIVE audience for the Shoe and Handbag special. The producer is Eva Bowen prepping the audience. But the backdrop is a RED set. Woohoo. I couldn't ask for more, even though I was super nervous still.

The other part of the set had these beautiful RED couches. I was in RED overdose but not complaining at all. This is all simply beautiful to me. RED. RED. RED. Give me RED.

Last but not least, here is the beautiful Andi Barness. Hey, she's wearing a pearl mesh necklace (without the mesh added yet) and a WHITE Victorian Diamond Cuff. Now how did I manage to create a bracelet cuff that PERFECTLY fit Andi's wrist. Hmmm... Magic. I say it's pure MAGIC.

BTW, the interview went as well as it could with just a few fumbles on pronunciation but that was due to nervousness not that I wanted to butcher the English language. Haha. Did you notice my well-manicured hands while I was flipping through the pages of Bead Romantique for the camera? I thought so. It didn't make a big difference after all. And, I had NO idea what Andi was going to say or ask me. I just spoke, as if I was speaking to anyone of you, at a show. I was just being ME and that's all I needed to be! I think it worked out and I spoke naturally that way. I mentally knew what I had to discuss but none of it was practiced speech. Hooray, I survived! haha.

I hope you enjoy seeing and reading what went through in the making of my TV debut, behind the scenes. I want to thank Interweave, Jaime Guthals and Laura Levaas, especially. But of course, all this could not have happened without Steve Koenig's belief that I could pull it off. Team Interweave simply ROCKS. I love working with everyone there. Thanks guys! I hope I made you proud and represented Interweave/Bead Expo with flying colors.

Here's Smiling at all of YOU

Lisa