Cold Worked Beads!

No I didn't fall off the face of the earth. Although it may have seemed like it. 

Every once in a while a passion or new technique will take hold of me. I immerse myself in it. I have to go with it until I feel it in every pore of my body. Here are some of my Cold Worked Glass Beads.

So coldworking had become my new obsession. I have traveled all over the country teaching my class and adding on coldworking. I even taught a week long class at Pittsburgh Glass, where their coldworking shop is a dream!

I use several different machines to make my beads. A belt sander, glass lathe, wet saw etc. I do not use a dremel. No coldworker would even consider a dremel a  coldworking tool! I wish it was that easy but alas it's not. These beads take me a long time, up to 3 hours! So here is some eye candy.

And more...

And more....

Thanks so much for stopping by!

SNOW DAY

Finally a snow day. I love snow and I prefer winter over summer. I would love summer if I lived on a lake or beach but I don't, I live in St Louis where last year we had over 100 degrees for over 20 days.
So how better to celebrate than to load up the Etsy store! I have all kinds of goodies like pods and some coldworked disks. 
 

 

Hey Look at my Butt!

Well here are the results! I totally need to work on perfecting it even more. So that means more time on the torch and thinner stringers of glass. 

 I adore the pattern on the end of the dome/pod. If I could figure out a way to make it and wear it like that, I would. Of course I will give that a try but so far I am stumped.

I love when a new obsession takes a hold of me. It's like I have no control over it. It is going to do what it needs even if I don't have time for it. It will invade my dreams, and make me antsy for the torch. I end up making excuses for unfinished projects just to get on the torch for a couple of hours to relieve the creative energy.

I am going to stock up the Etsy store soon. I promise!
 

 

Success!

I know I have written about this before. I also know I am not alone.
Obsession about how to accomplish a look, a finding, a style, or in my case these fricken Russian Onion Domes.

I of course obsess about the shapes, linear motifs, and the texture.
I have used these domes as a jumping off point for a lot of my work. I keep going back to them and to this one in particular.

See those lines. They are dreamy. Wrapping themselves around the dome like ribbons.  Guess how hard it is to do those with thin strings of glass with a flame and spaced just so. I got pretty good at it, but never to a level that I felt really good about.

Well today on the torch....I kind of figured it out. 
Going to post the finished product tomorrow!

 

NEW POST!!! Finally

Ok I admit it. I have been remiss is posting on my blog for a while
So first things first. 

I have a give away for the stinkin cute podlets! 

 It is on my blog home away from home Love My Art Jewelry .  I post over there two times a month. Please visit me there.
Anyway if you want a chance of winning these buggers go over there and read all the details.


Ok so second here is what the wonderful Kristi Bowman did with the podlets that we did the trade for. Genius. Cool huh?

And here is what I made with her one of her pieces.

 I had such a great time figuring out what I wanted to make. That is what's so nice about being able to make your own beads. You can get wonderful pieces or a cool outfit and make the beads to compliment them.

Ok so the finally here is why I have been MIA from the blog world. It's that dang coldworking....(process of cutting, grinding and polishing glass after it comes out of the kiln)
Yep I got the itch, and I HAVE to itch it. 
This area of soft glass ( the kind of glass I use to create my beads) has only a handful of people coldworking their pieces. Most of the coldworking is done with blown or boro (the other type of glass used for flameworking)
So because of this I feel like I have a whole world available to me and tons of applications. 
So I have plenty to blog about and I promise to update more and let you in on the process and journey I am traveling.

Anticipation

Well the other day I had a great Cyber Monday sale. It was wonderful and a big thank you to all who participated. 

Because of that sale I got a message from an artist that I have been poking around on her Etsy site. Her name is Kristi Bowman and I am sure many of you already know her great designs. 

Well she had been visiting my Etsy site too. So we decided to trade!
 Here are a few of the wonderful things I will be getting.

I have made several beads that I hope will compliment her designs so keep posted to see what goodies I make! 

Cyber Monday Sale!

I am a member of Love My Art Jewelry and we are having a great Cyber Monday sale with tons of great  artists. 
Here is the link to the blog Love My Art Jewelry.
Make sure you look at all the artist participating because they all have very unique and different things. 

My Etsy site has 20% off. There are some great things to see and buy. Great deals!
 

And the Winner Is!

Ali McCarthy of Northwoods Creative Studios. ! 

This has been such a great idea and I can't thank Lori enough for including me in not only the book but this Contributor's Hop.

I got to look at all the wonderful things that were offered and all I can say is WOW. 

I would love to see what everyone makes with their goodies so make sure you post and let us see.

Bead Soup Book Give Away!

Once upon a time a very talented artist named Lori Anderson asked me and 24 other wonderful artist to participate in a wonderful book called the Bead Soup Book.

That was at least a 1 1/2 years ago and finally its going to be released! So to celebrate Lori is organizing some wonderful give aways from the participating artists and today I am one of the artist! Soooo leave a comment and I will pick a winner from the comments and announce who won either Oct. 8th or 9th.

Here is a picture of the Bead that is similar to the one in the book. It is just waiting to be grabbed up and made into something wonderful! ALSO I plan on adding some other goodies to go with the bead but they are a surprise!

So want to have a sneak peek at the book! First I was matched up with Lori and got a wonderful soup! 

When I first received it I was blown away by the wonderful clasp and the colors. You will have to wait to see the step by step.

 But here is a peek!

 I got to send beads to the wonderful Cassie Donlen. Cassie lives in the same town as me and I have known her for several years.  I was super excited to find out that she would be creating with my soup. She is so creative and talented. 

Here is the soup I sent her but you will need to go to her blog to get a peek at what she made.

All in all let me just say the book is wonderful. It is brimming with ideas and will get your creative juices flowing. I think it will be the book that will set the bar!

Tomorrow Teaser

Make sure you stop by tomorrow!
There will be give aways and lot's of fun sneak peeks looks into the Bead Soup Book!

Just got back from the Dentist. Have I mentioned I don't like the Dentist.
After 2 hours in the chair I am back home and resting.

It's getting close...the release of the Bead Soup book by my buddy Lori Anderson. I was so honored to be asked to participate in this creative endeavor and had such a wonderful time creating my soup. More details will be coming and I have promised to keep things under wraps until the books release. 

You will want this book. It is filled with inspiration  from wonderful and talented artists. You get to see into their creative process and see how they work. Then take that inspiration and add your own twist with using things from your own bead stash. I can't wait to see the book and am sitting on pins and needles waiting!

You can pre-order the book on Lori's blog Pretty Things
It's a great deal check it out.

It's a beautiful day here in my world. Cool, windy and we have friends coming over and spending every moment out on our new patio! 

Took some time off, but I am back!

Whew that was a long time off. I needed it bad. My dad is getting older and needs more attention. It is strange to have to start caring for your parents. So many of my peers are going though this that I have a lot of support, but it is still hard.

But I did have a lot of fun the last couple of months. I went to Bellevue WA to attend the Glass Beadmakers Conference. Got to see a cool Dale Chihuly ceiling and lots of good friends.

I am in the process of getting my Etsy site back up and running so go take a look!

 

More inspiration!

I am at it again. Finding new inspirations. I googled Moroccan Pottery and got tons of cool images and designs to work into my beads.
I am still working on colors, masking techniques, and patterns. Some have worked out and others, not so much.
I will post some pictures tomorrow. 
At least I hope so. It was 109 today in St. Louis. It's hard to open the blinds to get good light and then suffer the heat, so we will see.
 

Back at it!

It's been such a long time since I blogged last that I doubt anyone is even reading anymore! 
I hope so!

 My classes were wonderful with great students! Each and everyone of them were fantastic. I am so lucky to have such talented artists to teach.
I had a blast at the show and picked up some cool new stuff. 
I got to go out to dinner with good friends and generally had a blast.
So whats next? Well I am going right outside of Seattle for the ISGB Gathering in about a month. I am so excited because I am leaving a couple of days early to just hang out and go the Olympic State Park to do some hiking and then hanging out. Hope to see Pikes Market etc.

 I put my Etsy store on Vacation mode and just took it off and put some new goodies back.
Yep the loved Podlets and Dew Drops are back. I will be adding more so make sure if you are looking for something to let me know.

 So good to be back.

Making a list and checking it twice, plus cool beads!

It's been ages since I last posted! Work has been super busy which is good. On the horizon is Bead and Button and preparing for classes and Meet the Teachers night. Make sure you come and see if you are going to be there. 


But what would a post be without eye candy. Here are some of MY favorite beadmakers that everyone should know. 

First is Kate Fowle. One of our historic beadmakers who blazed the trail for all of us. She is also drawn to nature, and many of her beads are pod like, and she was a major influence in my interpretation of pods. 

Barbara Becker Simon has always pushed the envelope for me. She has something new at her booth each year I see her. Not only are her beads killer but her jewelry design is spot on.

Harold Williams Cooney or Happy Harold is a beadmaking stud. He puts out an amazing amount of work and each piece is baller.
Since I am a cold working fool and love me a belt sander his cold working is drool worthy. My sister collected his work and when she bought a special piece Harold would write a note to  thank her for supporting him in his passion to create.

 Jim Jones is my hero. Probably one of my favorite bead artist ever
(and I tell him that every year, plus his wife Lani is not to shabby either!). He is another one of our historic beadmakers, at it for over 23 years. I would love to say he influences my work but my work doesn't even come close. Lately he has been doing Steampunk beads. They are beyond!

I have tons of others and have left out several, but I will get to them, so stay tuned.

Happy Mothers Day Mom

 We (I) are at that age where many of us have said goodbye to our Mom's. I lost mine 10 years ago and miss her terribly. She instilled in me an passion to create. I am always thinking about the next project and plotting it out.

It doesn't have to be glass, she also gave me a love of cooking, gardening, and decorating. Her house was a thing of beauty. Each color and fabric carefully chosen. The furniture was well placed and the flow of the room carefully planned out.

And if her house was a thing of beauty her garden was spectacular.
That lady knew how to grow. Each plant was chosen with the knowledge of when it would bloom, how far it would creep, or how tall it would get. She taught me to add a touch of white so the garden could be seen at night. Growing up we always had cut flowers or roses in random vases around the house. 

Her herb garden was a cooks delight. We learned early on to go out and pick a sprig of this or a cut of that and add it to our dishes.  Vinegars where made with rosemary hints or lemon basil. I still to this day have my herb garden and every time I use it I think of her.


She was a pistol and sometime drove my sisters and I crazy, but I would give anything to have her here with me.

Happy Mothers Day Dottie.

Busy, busy, busy....

Thought I would post some pictures of some new work.
I am having a blast with this new pod style. 
Still working hard on preparing for Bead and Button. 
I have spots left in all my classes so sign up!

Eye Candy!

Whew. I have shipped all my stuff to PISMO and am now getting ready for Bead & Button. 

I am going though all my beads and making a list of things that I want to bring, new display ideas, and BEADS. I have to also prepare class handouts, order glass, make more lists and generally prepare my butt off.  So here are some of the things I sent to PISMO.

And here are some beads.

 

Finally New Posting!

These are before I begin coldworking.

Sorry it's been such a long time since I posted last but we have been pretty busy lately. We got a new patio and need to start landscaping. I also am getting ready for Bead and Button and sending stuff to 
PISMO Fine Art Gallery for their 2012 Invitational. Pretty big honor for glass peeps.

Ohhh Ahhh my beautiful belt sander!

 I also have been working hard on more of my cold worked disks.

Coldworked disk

 So if I don't post for awhile you will know I am last minute getting things mailed out! 

Coldworked disk

Hopefully I will have one or two of these disk on my Etsy! 

It's that time of year!

So it is that time of year. Getting ready for Bead and Button takes a long time. I need to prepare for my classes and for Meet the Teachers. I have two extra classes this year (still lots of openings!).

The weather has finally turned back to normal, which is much cooler and more early spring like. I detest summer. St. Louis is humid and hot, so I was very angry that this Monday is was 93! So not right.
So we had a cool front come in and the temps are back to normal for now.

I want to wear a sweater and feel a nice cool breeze. Not to much to ask.