Saturday, March 31, 2012

I want a time machine.

Around this time of year I used to go to a place called Meadow Creek with a bunch of beady friends. This is the place where I learned most, if not all of my glass beadmaking knowledge. It was were Tom and Sage Holland lived and taught workshops.  


We would arrive on Wed. and classes ran Thurs though Monday. We would spend all day in the studio with breaks for walking in the woods or eating Sages beautiful food. At nights we would sit around a fire, or go back to the studio and work on the torch. At least one night during the class Tom would give us a slide show on the history of beads. This is were I learned to respect and admire those ancient beadmakers. 

Usually you only went to the workshops once or twice, but we formed such a strong family we went 5 and 6 times with just our group. The creative energy just flowed from one person to the next. 
It was beadmaking heaven. 
We still all talk and see each other. Some have had babies, others have moved on to other careers but we will always have Meadow Creek.
 
 

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

So pleased and happy.

I am in a good place. I have new inspiration and bead I am so happy with. I showed you some a couple of weeks ago but they are changing and will continue to change as my head spins with ideas.

I love when I find something new and this is even more special because I am using our cold shop at work. It is such a joy to be finally using something that I took for granted before and I know other would kill to use. 

I will probably be posting about this technique for a while so I apologize  for it up front.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Glass is so fickle!

What you might not know is that the glass rods we use for making glass beads etc is actually hand made and then once the formula for the color is set they can be machine made, so the colors are pretty much set. However just like fabric dyes or wall paper when it is printed again their can be slight variations. This causes glass beadmakers to tear their ever loven hair out!!!!!

Whats worse is the much sought after "silver glass" is all hand mixed and it's hard to get the same color out of different batches, then there is even more hair pulling and temper tantrums. Not that I would do that.....
 So long story short, remember those cute little greeny, bluey melon beads? Well if you see them on my Etsy site grab them cause I don't think I can get that silver color again. 
I don't have any now, cause I am hording the glass but I will let you know when they are put up on my store. BIG sigh.
Glass can be an evil mistress.
 

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Seriously?

Yesterday I went to our computer at work and there was a screen full of pictures of wall paper designs from William Morris. 
Look at this! My mind just spins. 
Google it!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

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....

Monday, March 12, 2012

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!

Friday, March 9, 2012

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!

Sunday, March 4, 2012

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!

Saturday, March 3, 2012

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 StudioIt 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