They are BACKKKKK.

I had to post these Melon beads that I have had numerous requests for since they sold. They are cute little buggers and so much fun to make.
You never know how they are going to turn out until you open up the kiln. 
The Step by Step Wire Jewelry April/May issue is out and features some of my beads. Might be a good idea to go get a copy....not you me. Still haven't seen it. Of course you can go get a copy too!

Head down and focus!

So many good things are happening. It's hard to believe that all the hard work is finally paying off. I am in another book, teaching at some great studios, in a magazine, and finally I have been invited to show at PISMO, which in the glass world is a huge honor.


I am not sure if it is because of my efforts or because I just kept my head down and kept working. At some point you have to go back to the art, to the passion and just create. You have to forget about others and focus on your work. Try new things that scare you, make stuff and throw it away, work with your head down. Oh and be honest with yourself. If you want something to happen you have to put yourself out there and be rejected or hopefully accepted at some point. 

You might remember these beauty's. They were on my Etsy site for a long time with tons of views but never sold. Then they did and now everyone is asking for them again, so here they are. On my Etsy site. Grab em quick or not....

Won't you join me?

 

I was so excited to be asked to become a member of Love My Art Jewelry blog.  It is such a welcoming and creative group of artist who promote handmade jewelry.
I will be posting on every other Tue of each month starting this Tue. 
My goal is to introduce and educate others about the world of Handmade Glass Beads and the world of glass in general. 
I hope you will join me there!

LOOK!!

A little birdie (thank you Cindy Wimmer!)  spotted my Pod bead on the cover of Step by Step Wire! See it up in the corner! I had sent some beads in hopes that they might  use them in a new artist spot...AND THEY DID. 
This is my first magazine evah, so to say I am a little excited is and understatement.
Got to jam pack my Etsy site!

Loading it up!

The Bead Soup blog hop was so much fun. I was super busy this weekend so I only got around to about 30. I am still working on it but also had to restock my Etsy store with some fun new stuff. 
How about some pictures! 
The ever popular Podlets are back in da house!

 A fun new pod with a twist!

BEAD SOUP REVEAL!!!

Here it is! I had so much fun and really wanted to show off my beautiful soup from my partner Melanie of Earthenwood Studio.  It was really fun designing with the wonderful collection of goodies that I got. The clasp was so beautiful I couldn't bear to have it not seen so I changed it around a bit and made it the focal!
Never one to want things to be symmetrical I made it non-symmetrical! Beads on one side and chain on the other. I am happy with how it turned out!
I had so much to play with I made a cool necklace out of the focal. HEHEH.

Then I finally made a pair of earrings out of impossibly cute leaves. These little guys are so easy to work with. The have little metal loops that make it so you can just slip them on a pair of earwires and bam your done. I added my beads to them and am really happy with the results.
 

Ok so thank you for stopping by and on to the next blog. Here is the link to Bead Soup Blog Hop

 

Cold Working Rocks! New Work

Oooh Laaa Laaa

Sometime the ideas (ok obsessions) just keep coming. It's blessing and a curse. This time I think it's a blessing.

Some of you know I work at a glass playground. We have something called a cold shop. I have shown you A day at a glass studio, where I showed you some to the things I work with like a lap wheel, belt sander, and wet saw.

The thing is I never used all this equipment for my beads. I was trying to figure out a way that spoke to how I work and wanted to get my creative juices flowing. 

When Sara Sally LeGrand came to teach I got the cold working bug  but I didn't want to just repeat what I learned from her. I wanted something different. So I just kept working at it and I have found it.I just can't keep away from it. Cold working is my new obsession, and I think it's here to stay for a while.

Belt Sander like mine at work.

So with these new beads I am making the murrinis which take a while, then build the disk. When building the disk the murrinis collapse and distort. By grinding away the glass it opens up the murrini again and really gives a very cool effect. It takes quite a bit of time grinding away on the belt sander. From 60 grit to 120 grit to 270 grit to 600 grit to cork to felt and cerium for the final polish. Takes about 45 mins. per disk.

The whole process for one bead is about 2-2 1/2 hours. Long time but so much fun.

When I get something new in my head I get nervous that I love it and others just won't get it. It's scary to put something out there and have it fall flat, BUT this time I don't care. I really love these and see so many possibilities. My mind spins with ideas. I hope you love these as much as I do!