I'm in Tucson

I'm at my home in Tucson. The weather here is wonderful. I'm moving my Mom here now and our move will be this summer. I'm taking inspiration photos for new beads which I hope to make when I return home to Dayton.


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My Cover Bead - The Gatherer

I was away at the Synergy 2 conference in Baltimore, MD when my Winter 2010 issue of the Glass Bead arrived. Last year I entered the call for entries from the ISGB - International Society of Glass Beadmakers for a bead that would grace the cover of the ISGB's annual meeting publication. The theme was "Beyond Boundaries" and I entered a mixed media bead (lampworked bead with metal clay) called the Gatherer. I had just returned home from a vacation in Palm Springs where I went on a great hike. The guide showed us examples of rock art. There was one cave like area with a large rock that overhang the area like a roof. All of the petroglyphs there were of images with large hands. The guide explained that this area was for gatherings, and the large handed pictoglyphs represented protection of the people who gathered there. So I made my bead complete with a metal clay gatherer and it was chosen for the cover. The annual meeting of the ISGB is called "The Gathering" and it will be held in Rochester, NY this year.

I have decided to display my bead at home; and I purchased this great suspension gift box from Rio Grande for my bead. Now I need to make some more.

Donuts

So I haven't been at the torch in awhile (a wrist thing going on). But have been able to do some beady things. At the Bead and Button show last year I bought a kit from Tapestry Beads for a very cool bangle bracelet. And I have made -- oh about 6 to date. You just have to have one to match everything!

Anyway, wanted a necklace version but didn't want to make the same ole thing just bigger. So I made a 2 inch donut. Then I made a 2 inch silver clay donut. And...I'm about ready to connect them with another beaded donut. Will this necklace work? Stay tuned!

One World One Heart has Started

Thanks for visiting!

I've decided to join an international event for the blogging community. It's a way for bloggers to meet and get to know new people. Want more information? Click the One World One Heart logo.

I will be giving away two items for this event. The first is one of my classic Desert Bloom lampworked beads. It's 37mm by 24mm and the bloom is in one of the hot colors for spring - violet.

The second giveaway is for a pair of fine silver shield earrings. The shields measure about 3/8" and the earrings dangle just about 3/4". They are hung on lever back Sterling silver earrings and are perfect for everyday.

So in order to win one of these, leave a comment on this post with a way to get in touch with you - an email address or a link to a blog or website will work. On February 15th I will be doing a random drawing from all of the comments left on this post. To be eligible for the give away all you have to do is leave a comment by noon Eastern time of February 15th.

I will announce the winners on my blog on February 15th.

Good luck. It's a magic carpet ride!

Matching Bracelet

So the bracelet to match the necklace that I posted a few day ago is done. I had originally thought I would connect the links with jumprings. But didn't like that look. So back to the drawing board. Ended up doing seed bead work yesterday (I'm making my daughter a bracelet)instead of finishing the metal clay bracelet as planned. Then last night on my nightstand was the current copy of metalclay Artist Magazine and on the cover is a bracelet made by artist Vickie Hallmark. She connected her bracelet with balled wire. So today I tried that technique. Not as easy as it looks, but I really love the finished bracelet now. Of course I am planning another - with original texture and some small improvements to the design. But for my next project I want to try some rings or maybe a brooch.

A New Year, A New Direction

I follow a few blogs and have read about many people's new year resolutions. I have been trying to organize my thoughts and plans for this year and one thing I need to improve upon is focusing and documenting.
This blog will be a tool that I will use to help me with that.

One of my goals is to explore more with metal clay. I'm even considering signing up for the Master's Registery. Last year I sketched a necklace that I wanted to make in metal clay. It took several attempts and reworks but I am now very happy with the finished piece.

The texture on the abstract links is a texture that I purchased from Victoria James. She makes all of her texture molds and for this one she used a goldback fern. I wanted to use a purchased texture so I could concentrate on the metal clay piece. I've made tear away textures and photo polymer plates, but these silicone molds are fantastic and I have a few ideas of my own that will have to wait until I get back to Tucson to implement.

So my first thought since returning to Dayton from the holiday vacation was to make a few more pieces in this "bloom" theme. I am trying to sketch all of my ideas now. And I finally have a sketch book I like that I can carry around too. So I decided to make a bracelet. The pieces of the bracelet are in the tumbler now and I can't wait to put it together. So stay tuned for pictures later this week.

Woman in Glass - the Flow Magazine

The holidays were hectic, but loads of fun. Spent a week at our home in Tucson with our two grown up daughters. And came back to Dayton refreshed and energized. 2010 holds lots of changes for me. But more about those changes in future posts.

Right now I am excited because awaiting me in the stack of mail was my Winter issue of the Flow Magazine. This issue showcases a "Gallery of Woman in Glass" and three of my beads were showcased. To be included and surrounded by such talented glass bead artists is truly an honor.

I highly recommend this publication. The tutorials are fantastic. And all that eye candy will have you rushing to your torch.