Taking Time to Smell the Roses....

yes, I know they're not really roses....but they ARE flowers, or at least that's what they're supposed to be! :-)

I was stressing about a show that is coming up soon....so I decided to take some time to just play with glass and practice some of the techniques that I learned in the John Kobuki class. Yup, took the time to just enjoy the glass. When I signed up for the class, I really wanted to learn how to make those gorgeous flowers....but not marbles. After the class, I have decided that marble makers don't have to worry about me being competition for them....every time I make one I have this irrational fear that it is going to let go, or I'm going to drop it on the way to the kiln....can you imagine a ball of extremely HOT glass rolling around the studio? Anyway, I tried to adapt what I learned to pendants. Here's a few of the results....some of them complete with "dewdrops." :-)

At this moment, these are packed away to take up to my friend's (Venbead) house for an in person critique :-) Then I'm taking them with me to that show. Speaking of which, if you're in the Nashua, NH area this weekend, drop by the Bead Fiesta show at the Mariott and say Hi!

What a Week It's Been!!

Last Friday DH and I headed up to Maine so I could take a class with John Kobuki at the Playing With Fire studio. The ride up started off a bit slowly. Almost as soon as we got on the highway, traffic slowed down. There was a horse and donkey loose in the median. Traffic was actually stopped in the other direction. Yes, I do live in the country! :-)

Saturday and Sunday were spent melting glass into round globes, aka marbles. John is a fantastic teacher! Even I, who never ever claimed to be a marble maker, was able to create something passable!! I took the class in hopes that I'd be able to translate the techniques learned into pendants. I was able to play a little bit with it yesterday, but I still need to work on them as time allows. But first I have a show coming up in a couple of weeks that I need to make beads for. I'll be at Bead Fiesta in Nashua, NH July 19 and 20th.

I was on the Front Page of Etsy this week....3 times!! I'm still a little bit in shock :-) I was able to get some screenshots, which I hope to post here....tomorrow. My thanks to the curators of the chosen treasuries!!

I also found out that a friend who has an article published in the newest Beads Etc. magazine, is going to also have one in the next issue. I can't wait to see what she has created for them!! Leanne creates some great necklaces! Check out her Etsy shop!

See, it's been a great week!!!

Summer Sale!!

Everybody loves a sale, right? Well, the Lampwork Etc. Street Team (aka LEST) is having a Summer Sale. From June 21st (yeah, I should have written this yesterday :-)) until June 28th, participating stores are offering 10-20% on selected items in their shop. I am offering discounts on most of my keys and electroforming. I don't often put these on sale, so if you're interested in any of them, now is the time to save a little bit of money.

The Other Thing...

The other day I mentioned two things that I wanted to chat about. Thought I shouldn't leave you hanging as to what the second one was. :-) Here's what I have written about it in my Etsy shop:

"Brad Pearson is the driving force behind the annual publication, Bead Review. (He's also a fellow Etsian....check out his work! His shop name is PearsonGlass) This year I was honored to be included!! I'm still in shock that I was selected....especially when one looks at the incredible talent on display in the book! The bead that I submitted was the catalyst for my Antiquities series. Due to the extremely lengthy process involved in creating those beads, they will be offered here occasionally. If you're interested in what I have in process, send me a convo :-) This listing is for the book, Bead Review 3 A Year of Exceptional Art Glass Beads. Whether you purchase from me or from Brad, have your drool bib handy.....you'll need it! :-)"

The processes that I use to create the type of bead in Bead Review are very time-consuming. Therefore, while I'll have some for sale, they will be limited in their availability. I do currently have one in my shop....Antiquities Series. Which brings me to another "announcement"..... I, or rather this bead, made the Front Page of Etsy!!! First time ever I've been on the FP! It was an exciting Monday night :-) :-) That's mine in the upper left corner!!!

Beads of Courage Challenge

I actually have two things that I wanted to chat about. One pertains to me professionally, the other is of more importance in my mind, so I'll talk about that one today.

An Etsy team that I'm a member of, Lampwork Etc Street Team...aka, LEST, is having a purple heart challenge. We were challenged to create purple hearts for the public to vote on. Why purple hearts? All of the beads posted,plus others that we created, are being sent to Beads of Courage. BOC gives beads to children that are undergoing cancer treatment. Purple hearts are given at a celebration at the end of their treatment, so they are very special to the kids...and their parents. Anyway, ifyou'd like to head on over and check them out, there's some fantastichearts there. Annnndddd, if you feel like voting, I DO have one youcould consider. BTW, my camera decided that it hated purple that dayso it looks blue. It really is purple, honest :) I would have redone the pic, but my beads are already in the postal system :-)

Here's the link in case you are interested http://www.webjam.com/lest/purple_heart_beads_of_courage_challenge

After a hiatus...

I've been a bit absent from here lately. Maybe bit off more than I could chew when I agreed to do multiple shows in a short period of time :-) I was chained to the torch creating new things for my table (like that was hard to take :-)) and when I wasn't on the torch, I was doing all those other things that need to be done for shows :-) But I'm back!! There, you've been forewarned :-)

I thought long and hard about what to chat about today. I know, I could have posted some of the glass that has come out of the torch lately (I took some days to just play with the torch!!!) but decided that I wanted to share this with you instead. It was created by one of the members of my Arts In RI group and I just LOVE it! Every time I look at it I giggle. Memories of my childhood trips to the beach for the day...complete with all the fixins for a great "on the beach" BBQ, playing in the sand bulding sandcastles, running along the water and jumping in and out of the foam....long ago memeories when life was so carefree. Anyway, enough from me...check out Diana's awesome work in her Etsy shop, D. S. Brennan photography

Diana also has some incredible photographs from the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center in Mystic, CT. My favortite of those is Chickadee Eggs. Maybe it's because I can relate to these. I took a couple of classes there on field trips. We even got to seine their pond. It is amazing what lives in a pond that you don't really see!! Ohh, and disecting and discussing owl pellets! The students definitely learned tons!!!

LEST Team Sale

Starting April 1st and running until April 7th, some of the LEST Team members will be participating in a teamwide sale. Search for LESTSALE to see what gorgeous glass goodies (no way am I trying to say that three times fast in my half awake state....heck, I'm not even sure I could do it when I AM awake :-)) are being offered. Personally, I have a few in mind to include that I hope you'll really like! Meanwhile, off to warm up the kiln!!