I am sure many of you have kids going back to school. Such an exciting time of year. My classes start tomorrow. A fresh batch of students to introduce to the wonders of glass.
It's so much fun to see how excited they get as I make a simple bead. Such a everyday thing for me that I forget how cool it is to see glass melting and being shaped into a round bead.
I really need to figure out how many times or students I have taught glass bead making to. It's got to be getting close to over 500. Wow that's a lot!
Be working on my metal and will make sure I get some pictures up soon.
Hate it when I don't post for a long time, but my Dad was in the hospital, and I was really nervous and too unfocused to do a good blog post. Dad is fine but when you have only one parent left it can get kind of scary.
Ok on to matters of epic proportions...etching metal. Ok so a fellow blogger Judith posted some pictures of her super cool etchings that she had done. She got some really good deep etches and we exchanged emails about how sometimes you get good etchings, and sometimes you don't.
Recently I had a friend tell me to try Red permanent markers, saying it worked better than black. Well I tried it and I am thinking I got better results with black. So I tried a little experiment and it does seem the black is better. In the photo the two smaller ones I used black permanent marker, and the larger I used red.
Anybody else have any results they might like to share for deeper etchings? Longer soaking, red or black markers? Humm the mystery's of etching.
Dang and double dang. Why oh why did I have to start loving this felting thing? I have always adored the wonderful and talented Gail Moore who felts beautifully and teaches! I never felt the pull until lately.
On the other hand do very simple beginning type stuff, but I am starting to expand and my head is spinning with ideas.
I guess its the feel of the fibers, the rich colors, and the endless possibilities that are pulling me in.
Of course I always have loved fibers, and now the goal is to combine the glass, metal, and fibers altogether. It will take time cause I just don't want to slap stuff together, but take my time to really discover what feels good to my aesthetic.
Patience grasshopper...
Yep back from the ISGB Gathering 2010. I had a blast.
We had a wonderful opening reception at the Eastman House in the Gardens. We were able to wander in the home of Mr. Eastman. It was a beautiful night.
I reconnected with tons of my friends and then back to open torch.
Next up demos on Friday and then while I was in the Tech Vendors area who do I see but my buddy and author of Totally Twisted Kerry Bogart!
The Bead Bazaar was on Sat. and was so much fun. I was next to my friend Nolly. My friend from work (Denise) was my roommate and she worked my booth so I could look around and see everyone's work.
I talked to several studio owners (who hopefully I will be teaching for next year), and tons of people asking where I teach. So if you are interested in me teaching in your area the best thing for you to do is contact your local studio and let the owner know!
They love to know they can fill a class if they feel there is an interest in an artist.
I went out to dinner with some really fun people on Sat. night and we literally laughed the whole time. Some pretty witty people in the ISGB.
Got to spend time with tons of old friends and made lots of new ones. Can't wait till next year!
So much to do, so little time. I have two more days before I leave for the Gathering!
Really it is one of the highlights of my year. It's a mini vacation with like minded people, who all want to talk about glass and beads all the time. I have so many good friend that will be there that I can't wait to see them. Demonstrations, buying, talking, bar, and great dinners with great people. Ahhhh.
Oh and something cool is happening. Unexpected. I am beginning to feel part of a blog family. Those blogs who I follow I am feeling a kinship with. A glimpse into their art lives and how they think. It's fun. I feel I am getting to know them. I know it's hard to catch up with everyone's blog that I follow, but I am trying.
I leave you with my obsession...those fricken dang beads. You know I am going to have a butt load of them at the Gathering and sell zippo, nada, the big "0". Oh well more for me, HA.
Well I decided to stop being a whiny bit#$ and get over it..although sometimes I still might be a big baby and whine and cry that nobody likes me...but for now I am pulling up my big girl panties and moving forward. Doing what makes me super happy.
So here is a glimpse into my head. Love the unexpected in glass. Taking simple techniques and turning them around so they become something new and different.
Ok so I complain about silver glass but I do love what happens to it, just want to incorporate it into something that pleases me.
So this technique is super old. Used thousands of years ago to decorate the surface of beads. Tom Holland showed me how to do this and also gave me the background of the history of the raked bead. Super simple technique, very elegant and used by tons of beadmakers. So I added a twist and did a really cool color shift on the base bead and used Psyche silver glass and racked it. Super simple but I LOVE how they turned out.
So now of course I am obsessed and will make tons of them for the Gathering and people will think "what the hell" BUT I am lovin it and that's all that counts.
Ahhh glass its so flippin cool.
I have been battling self doubt lately (like so many artist do).
Should I post about it or not. Feelings of being the last kid picked for kickball. Posting pictures on forums and being passed over (not using a lot of silver glass can be a bitch).Trying to set up teaching gigs and getting no responses or even worse "we will keep you in mind" arrrggg, (I teach a bitchn class, dudes...really!) People just not being very nice, and letting them take advantage of me.
Even worse doubting my work and wondering if I should keep going or change paths (Starbucks is hiring...) But a tiny little thing happened.
A couple of posts by some nice people and some praise from unexpected places have given me a much needed boost.
I guess we all go though this, but this self doubt is a drag. It brings up shitty emotions like anger, and jealousy. So I am going to light the torch and make things I like. Things that feed my soul. Because their are people out there who I have touched with my art and those are the people who matter to me.
As my buddy Sage says "Peace, Love, Beads".
