so where did November go?

I just realized that I have not posted on my blog for over a month. I'm beginning to feel it is hard keeping up with facebook, blogs, website updates, life in general. It hardly leaves time to make beads.Last night I did a trunk show at the 1 Stop Bead Shop in Dublin, OH. It was a special event for the store with instructor demos and a few artists selling their wares. It was the first time I had been in Lisa's shop since she moved it to a larger location. And it is a spectacular place. They were also doing a photo with all of her staff and I grabbed my iphone. It was a great night - met some new people and had a blast!

Historic Bear's Mill Greenville OH

Bear's Mill was built in 1849 in Greenville, OH
It's been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1977
I's a real place and is still used to grind cormeal, whole wheat and rye flour
It's an inspirational place and is host to a store on it's first floor where each month artists are invited to show their work. And I was asked to be one of those artist's for the month on November.

So if you live near Greenville OH come take a look at the beautiful mill ...................

and my beads and jewelry.

Hollow Beads

In between shows, vacation, and a back problem, I have tried to sit down and make some beads. At the ISGB Gathering this year I was smitten with some beautiful hollow beads by Jeri Sheese. So I have been creating some in my desert colors. I learned to make hollow beads years ago from Pam Dugger. And recently I purchased a "puffy mandrel" from Jeri Warhaftig. I like both ways of making hollows, but I probably use Pam's technique more than the mandrel. But I would definitely recommend the mandrel if you are just learning hollow beads. I have also been playing with some of Double Helix's specialty glass. And these hollows are decorated with that. When worked in a reducing flame the silver settles on the surface of the glass and a beautiful sheen is created. Just made an all hollow bead necklace.

It's in my etsy shop.

NEW - Desert Orb Beads with Electroforming

I love these beads. And they were a hit at Bead and Button too. Lots of layers of colors with sparkling dichroic glass in the center. The bead is made on a large mandrel to get a nice big hole. Then the bead is electroformed. Copper is deposited on the glass. In this instance the hole is lined with copper and then the copper forms its own "bead caps".

I like to use them as pendants, but here is a finished bracelet I just made. Three strands of woven seed beads and the desert orb bead is used like a button for the closure.

Marketing Materials

I have been applying to several venues that require that I put my images on a CD. Lately I have been creating CD labels with pictures of my artwork and all of my contact information. Things I used to write with a sharpie pen. Anyway, I think it looks very professional and is quite easy to do in Word. I buy the Avery clear acetate labels and print them out on my hp inkjet printer. Speaking of printers I just purchased a new all in one wireless printer and absolutely love it. The ink is so improved now it is "almost" permanent and looks better than some laser printers that I have used.

Desert Bloom Bead a la technique by Michael Barley

This is a desert bloom bead made using some of the techniques learned in my class with Michael Barley - although I am really not happy with the bloom. But I did apply what I learned at the Michael Barley class. The base colors are ivory and medium amber. I applied the silver leaf to the amber and dotted it with rubino. The ivory fumes just a little from the silver. Then the mistake - I made a bloom with one of those highly silvered glass. And it sorta sank into the ivory. Well there's always next time. But I love the effect of the rubino and silver.

Michael Barley's Class at Bead & Button

The last class I took at the Bead & Button Show was with Michael Barley. What a wonderful teacher! And such a nice guy!

The bead on the left is Michael's bead and the one on the right is my attempt. This is a great technique using rubino glass. I haven't quite nailed it, but am off to try it again. This time on a "desert bloom" bead.