eGlassplace

Snow!

2012-01-21T23:21:00.000-05:00

Today was the first significant snowfall of 2012 here in eastern PA. It was only the 2nd snowfall of this winter- the first one was Halloween weekend. We had around 4" of very light, dry snow so it was easy to shovel. Maybe the snow was because I just found my 3 snowmen!

Christmas is over

2012-01-20T23:44:00.000-05:00

Christmas is officially over at my house! Today I packed away all my santas and the tree decorations. The house looks so empty! Tomorrow I will finish putting the crates away and then dust and vacuum. Then it will be time to get on to other tasks! I have a schedule in my head- at least one day a week working on my new book and two days in my studio. Wonder if I can keep that up. It doesn't sound like much, only three days a week, but somehow other necessary tasks fill up my days and before I know it, the week is over. I must be more ruthless!

New year!

2012-01-02T01:03:00.000-05:00

Here it is, January 1, 2012 and in a way I hate it. As the year passes, I procrastinate many chores, thinking I will do them in January, when the craziness of the holidays is over and I have more time. Ha! My list is already so long there is no way I can finish them all this month. So I am starting the new year feeling like I am already behind- not a good way to start a new year! Maybe as I tackle projects, I will at least feel like I am accomplishing something. This year for Christmas, we got a new printer, telephone and stereo, and they are all finally up and working. That was a big accomplishment, although I had some help from my tech support, my son. Tomorrow on to something else. I think what I need is a day in my studio- that always makes me feel great!
I hope everyone has a great year ahead!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-27T00:00:00.000-05:00

It's over for another year- I love Christmas! My kids were home and one sister came too, so we had a full house. Great food and company! We spent most of the time either eating or playing games- Clue, Pictionary, card games, etc. They all left for their own homes this afternoon so the house feels empty, but it also feels good to be able to relax and nap.
This week is down time. I will relax and enjoy the tree and decorations, and try not to worry about the long list of things that must be tackled soon.

Father Christmas!

2011-12-16T22:57:00.000-05:00

The tree is up, the house is decorated and one of my favorite Santas is out! He looks like Father Christmas! He was made by friends so he has special meaning for me. I used to sit him on my tv since it was high, to discourage my cats from chewing on him. But this year I had to buy a new tv, and it isn't deep enough so I had to find a new location for him. So far he has been ignored, and I hope that continues! I will enjoy him until he has to say goodbye for another year.

Boutiques!

2011-11-17T01:32:00.000-05:00

This is the year of boutiques! I just finished my last show of 2011, but I am still working like crazy. Somehow, I got myself signed up for 3 boutiques in December! A local gallery decided to have a holiday boutique, so I thought why not and sent them my application! Then another group in the Poconos that I belong to decided to set one up at an arts council gallery and take only 15%. Wonderful! I could handle 2. But then a friend decided to have one in her home. She has talked about it for a long time, and decided to take the plunge this year. So here I am, trying to supply 3 boutiques. Maybe this will make up for my show that got snowed on!

Snowmen!

2011-11-05T01:06:00.000-04:00

Tis the season!

October snow

2011-10-31T23:48:00.000-04:00

What a weekend! The Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen Holiday show was Oct 29-30 at Kutztown University. The weather on Fri for setup was sunny and cool, but oh boy did that change. My drive to the show on Sat morning was in the rain, but by 10am it was snowing, huge big fluffy flakes! The forecast was for anywhere from 4" to 12". The real problem was the heavy snow. Leaves were still on the trees, and with the heavy snow, a lot of limbs couldn't hold the load. Roads became blocked from downed limbs and wires. Many people will be without power for many days. I planned on taking photos, but by Sunday, most of the snow was gone.
I was surprised by the number of loyal customers that came to the show in the snow! Around 3, the power went out and closed the show. Sunday was bright and sunny, but the damage was done. Who would have believed that an October snowstorm could happen?

Another colorful necklace

2011-10-07T23:23:00.000-04:00

I finished another necklace, using my new color wheel to choose the color scheme. The combination worked out great, but now I have another problem- the photography. Once again, the deep red beads don't photograph correctly, and the other colors look different too. I took both these photos exactly the same, one right after the other. The only difference is the background, and you can see how differently the colors photographed. I started with one of my blown boro beads and added stones beads in dark and light teal, and a pale transparent teal. Then I punched it up with small, really dark red beads and seed beads in a shiny, lime green. I love the necklace. Now I need to work on getting it to photograph correctly!

New color combinations

2011-10-01T22:33:00.000-04:00

After taking a color workshop a few weeks ago, I was anxious to put my new knowledge to work! I picked out this big hollow bead of mine and went to work choosing from my piles and drawers of stone, glass and seed beads. Choosing 2 colors is pretty easy for me, but adding a 3rd and/or 4th color can be a challenge! This necklace has 4 colors- blue (light and dark), purple, red-purple and lime green. I look for different shapes, sizes, and textures. For some reason, this particular necklace took 8 attempts, but I am finally happy with it.

Kiln!

2011-09-03T00:10:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I drove a couple of hours to pick up a new kiln. Well, new to me. She said she had used it a few times, but it looks pristine. I have another one exactly like this one. It is over 12 years old and still works like a charm, but I worry about what to do when it stops. They are no longer being made, and it is the best bead kiln I have ever used. Now I have a plan! Today I tested it- my excuse for making beads!

Baby quilt

2011-08-13T23:39:00.000-04:00

I have 3 sisters, and we all like to sew and quilt (when we have the time!) Years ago, when the first niece became pregnant, all of us worked together on a baby quilt as a gift, and we have continued that tradition for each new baby. We decide on a pattern, one of us buys all the fabric and distributes it to the others. Each of us makes blocks that are then mailed to one sister to join and finish.

The technique for this quilt was a new one for me- pierced paper. According to the directions, I cut out the paper pattern pieces and sewed them to the fabric. All those pieces were joined, and after each block was finished, the paper was torn out. It was not an easy process, and thank goodness one of my sisters came for the weekend to help me. I can't say I liked it much. A lot of fabric was wasted, which to me runs counter to quilting! But the resulting quilt is beautiful!

Most craftsmen and artists have skills in so many different fields!

Jenna's beads

2011-07-18T23:45:00.000-04:00

Jenna demonstrated for 4 days at the Kutztown Folk Festival. She has done this for me for around 6 years, and it is the only time she gets to work on a torch. These are the beads she made on the last day. They were still in the kiln at the end of the day when she left. By the time I was packed, the kiln was cool enough to put in my car, and then this week I took them off the mandrels and mailed them to her. Jenna has done some sculptural beads before, so this year I loaned her my book about Sharon Peters. As you can see, she got lots of ideas! The lizard is on a big hole bead, ring sized. The lion and pig are amazing, and the ladybugs are probably destined to be earrings. She certainly has the knack of working with hot glass! I tell her I want credit when she is famous!

Kutztown 2011

2011-07-12T23:02:00.000-04:00

The Kutztown Folk Festival is over and I survived! The show was great, and the weather cooperated for the most part. I kept forgetting to take my camera to the show, but I finally remembered the last day. This is Jenna, who has demonstrated for me many years. (I didn't get a photo of my other demonstrator Carrie.) As soon as she lights the torch, a crowd forms to watch. The "steam engine" comes by once a day or so, and is fun to watch. I didn't get a photo of the calliope.

The food is legendary! Lunch on Sunday was a corn pie, one of my favorites!

There is Michael Mootz fudge, which I had to finish because I didn't want to bring it home. At least that is what I told myself. I also had an ice ream sandwich, which was made with fresh waffles. There were also funnel cakes, bratwurst, pork bbq.... I ate good! The PA Dutch are not known for being slim!

Wind is always a problem for me, so everything is clamped or tied down. I am careful what I store under the tables- any paper has to be placed where it won't get wet. I have been in the same spot for years, so I know what direction the wind and rain blows.

Many people bring their dogs to the show, but this is the first time I have seen a horse!

All in all, it was a very successful show! My dutchy clothes will be packed away for another year.

Spacer beads

2011-06-21T00:10:00.000-04:00

It is June, and I am working overtime getting ready for the Kutztown Folk Festival. This year it starts on July 2 and runs until the following Sunday, July 10. Every day I make beads, and every evening I put those beads into jewelry. My supply of simple spacer beads has been depleted so I decided I needed to make more, in many colors. They are not very exciting to make, but it can be very meditative. I worked my way through 8 colors, and after an hour or so I veered off and made some other beads. But it occurred to me that I would rather make spacer beads all day than work at a "real" job!

Bench chair

2011-06-09T01:05:00.000-04:00

Here is my workbench chair, where I should be spending a lot of time this month. I need to make tons of beads so I can put jewelry together for the Kutztown Folk Festival, which runs July 2-11 this year. Getting ready for a major show like this is a huge commitment, and is very stressful. I call it my Kutztown panic mode.

Notice the mat under the chair. The floors slants away from my bench and the chair tends to roll backwards- a real problem when making beads. I solved that by putting a heavy mat under the chair. Oh, the problems beadmakers must deal with (with which beadmakers must deal?)

Bead show treasures

2011-05-27T23:54:00.000-04:00

It seems like every bead show where I exhibit, I find some stones, pearls or other treasure that I "need". Every year I participate in a few craft shows where I sell jewelry, so I do need to put jewelry together. At least, that is my excuse for buying more treasures! I try to buy stones that will coordinate with my glass beads, but once in a while I buy something just because! These slabs of agate have been on my mind since I bought them in February. I finally took some time to see if I could use them with my beads. The smooth texture of the slabs is a nice contract to the rough texture of my frit beads, and I was happy with the resulting necklace.

One of the fun things about bead shows for me is finding stones or pearls that will combine well with my beads. Sometimes I know exactly what will work, and sometimes the ideas need to percolate.

Furry family members

2011-05-14T23:15:00.001-04:00

I visited one of my sisters last weekend and I remembered to take my camera. This is Thomas. She rescued him from a shelter a while ago, and he is a real sweetheart. Big orange cats are so mellow! He shares his love freely with anyone, and is pretty vocal about it.

My sister bought a folding laundry basket and he has claimed it- guess she will have to buy another one.

Of course I have to add a photo of my furry family member. She is over 15 now but you would never know it. She came from a shelter too. I wish more people would adopt from shelters- there are so many kittens and puppies (and cats and dogs) that need a good home, and they make the best pets!

Donations

2011-04-23T23:52:00.000-04:00

Every year I donate to 3 shows and organizations, and to make it easier for me, I usually make the same piece for each donation. This year it will be my amber eye pendant in a cone shape. The color combination is one of my favorites, and I often shade the dots from light to dark. The design is based on the historical eye bead- each dot represents an eye, which helps to protect the wearer.

The donations this year will go to the Earth Center for the Arts (Tyler Craft Center) for their auction on June 3, BCTV Octoberfest for their televised fund raising auction on Oct 17-22, 2011, and the Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen Holiday Show on Oct 29-30, 2011 at the Kutztown University Fieldhouse.

Kiln repair

2011-04-15T23:34:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I was in my studio preparing to make beads, but unfortunately when I turned my kiln on, nothing happened! I was not in the mood for dealing with it, so I turned on my back up kiln and spent the day making beads. Today I decided to deal with it! I seemed to remember ordering elements years ago and receiving more than one set, so off I went on the hunt. In a dusty box, I found 2 sets of elements and the directions for changing them. After locating screw drivers, wire cutters and needle nose pliers, I tackled removing the old elements, which was definitely in distress, and installing the new ones. My kiln now works again, and I have the elements for one more repair. I read some place that they are supposed to work for 10 years, and I haven't come close to that yet. I am so happy to have my favorite kiln working again!

New butterfly bead

2011-03-29T23:22:00.000-04:00

After much experimenting, I think I have finally settled on the colors for this new bead. I call it a butterfly bead, since the inspiration was a butterfly. The raised dots actually have a flash of color- I couldn't capture that in a photo. The background is ivory glass and the rest is various colors of Double Helix silver glass. I am having loads of fun experimenting with all the new silver glass colors. I developed the first butterfly bead for my new book, which probably won't be out until early next year. It is so much fun to work on new designs!

Out of the kiln

2011-03-10T23:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I came down with some kind of crud, sore throat, etc, but today I felt well enough to work on my torch for a while. These are what I took out of the kiln tonight. The large one is a blown bead, and it doesn't have any cracks! That has been a problem for me, and I am not sure if it is my annealing schedule or if they are going into the kiln too cool. The bottom left three are my new butterfly beads. I was experimenting with silver glass stringers, and it really made a difference. The left one fumed too much and looks dirty, the middle one didn't fume much at all, and the right one fumed enough to turn the ivory glass darker. I like it! The gold ones on the right are experiments with a new silver glass. It was a pretty good day, especially considering how I felt!

March!

2011-03-03T00:07:00.000-05:00

Signs of spring are happening! We have had a lot of rain, not ice or snow! I thought when Feb was over, I would be able to slow down a little, but that isn't happening. I have to do all the things I put off! Plus tax season is coming- not my favorite thing. But with all this, I made myself a promise that I would get into my studio more. My new beads were the ones that sold at the Berks Bead Bazaar, a sure sign I need to keep creating new beads.

Berks Bead Bazaar 2011

2011-02-28T22:35:00.000-05:00

The 10th annual Berks Bead Bazaar was last weekend and it was great seeing my beady friends. My friend Joan Miller and I started this show mainly because there weren't any bead shows close to us 10 years ago. Patti Cahill came with her bright, happy colors and new crocheted collars. Leslie Pope of Twisted Sistah was there with her seed beads. Laura Drosner Schreiber had her bright, almost retro lampworked glass beads.

Marti Brown had her tools, jewelry and beading supplies set up.

Jennifer McGinithen had her wonderful borosilicate beads there. There were lots of great stone beads, pearls, silver, polymer clay, and any other kinds of beads you can think of!

And we couldn't have the show without the help of two friends, Charlene Keller and Judy Conard, who always help with the admission table. They are both jewelers who love to buy supplies at the show.

We forgot it was our 10th year, so maybe we will have a special something for our 11th year!

Busy Feb

2011-02-23T01:17:00.000-05:00

I just realized I haven't written a blog this month! It has been a very, very busy month, and I will be glad when it is over. My new book was due this month (more on that later) and I have 2 shows. The IBE Clarksville MD show was last weekend, and the Berks Bead Bazaar is coming up this weekend (http://www.berksbeadbazaar.com) so my friend Joan Miller and I have been working hard to get ready for that. I am looking forward to seeing friends and some amazing beads! There is always the usual stuff- bills, paperwork, cleaning (?), laundry...the stove needed repaired. And on top of everything, there was snow, more snow, ice, sleet and freezing rain. Some trees didn't handle the ice too well. I need spring!

Bigger blown bead

2011-01-31T00:06:00.001-05:00

After 2 days of shoveling snow, I took a day off yesterday and made beads. I have been anxious to practice blowing more huge beads, and this is the result of yesterday in the studio. It is even bigger than the first one I made! I am not sure why I am so intrigued with these huge beads, but I love them. Thank you, Patti Cahill!

Huge hollow beads

2011-01-27T00:41:00.000-05:00

I just got back from a fabulous one day workshop with my friend Patti Cahill, and among other things, she demonstrated how she makes her huge hollow beads. I had talked to her about it before, but there is nothing like actually seeing it! Today, while the snow came down, I finally got to try it at home, and took this bead out of the kiln tonight. Unfortunately, there is a crack in it, so this one will be mine. I think I need to tweak the colors a little, but all in all, I was not unhappy (except for the crack!) It is the largest bead I have made, close to 2" diameter.

Paperwork

2011-01-08T22:57:00.000-05:00

This weekend I tackled a huge pile of paperwork. I filed sales tax for 3 states and 3 local business privilege taxes, plus sorted and filed a lot of papers. At some point I will have to start on federal, state and local income taxes, but that can wait for another day. I usually don't mind the paperwork too much, unless it takes too much time. Then I resent it; being in my studio is a much better use of my time!

I still need to hem 2 new pairs of jeans so I can wear them. I can seldom buy any pants that don't need hemmed, and even ones for short people usually need a little hemming. If I can get them done tomorrow, then on Monday I can start working in my studio with a clear conscience. I need to melt some glass!

New Year!

2011-01-01T21:44:00.000-05:00

It is a brand new year, and I have a brand new purse. It took several trips to several stores but I finally found one I think will work. Red wouldn't have been my first choice, but I really liked everything else about it, so I decided I liked the red after all. Choosing a new purse is a big commitment, and leads to many possibilities for the new year. There are lots of pockets, inside and out, zippered or not. Who knows what will end up in them by the end of the year.

Creche

2010-12-21T00:08:00.000-05:00

Years ago, more than I care to remember, some special friends (Phil and Gail Sellers at riverhillpottery.com) made this creche and gave it to me. We lived in northeast Ohio then, and now we both live in other states. They are still potters, although I don't think they make these anymore. Every year when I set it up, it reminds me of a different place and time, a very happy time.

My Santas

2010-12-19T23:05:00.000-05:00

My Santas are finally out! This collection grew on its own, with no planning by me. They were all made by friends so they are very precious to me, although I do see 2 M&M's in there, two vintage santas, and one lonely angel. This is not all of them- there are more scattered around the house. I love decorating for Christmas! Every year I say I am going to eliminate some decorations, but I can't seem to actually do it.

shower doors

2010-12-12T23:58:00.000-05:00

The things I have learned to do over the years. Two weeks ago my husband managed to pull one of our shower doors off its rollers, and it was so corroded that it couldn't be fixed. So I have spent the last week shopping for new doors, cleaning and re-caulking the tile, getting the frame for the old doors off and cleaning that tile, and finally, installing the new doors. Tonight I finished the job, and our shower is usable again. I am pretty good at caulking!

Years ago when we lived in Ohio, we bought an old house and I spent the next 7 years learning to strip woodwork, smooth rough plaster walls, tile, fix window screens, repair windows, paint, more paint, etc, etc, etc. I loved it all, and even thought about fixing old houses as a business. This was all before glass took over my life.

I think creative people are pretty good at just about anything they do.

Christmas is coming!

2010-11-28T22:31:00.000-05:00

My last show is done for the year, we arrived home from our Thanksgiving weekend, and I have a list a mile long of things that must be done NOW! I skipped it all today and set up the tree. I have added a new ornament every year for a long time, and have tried to stop it before they pull the tree down, but I couldn't resist this little fairy! She was made by Connie Brooks, a fellow member of the Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen. All ornaments on the tree are handmade, and it is like a trip down memory lane, since most of them were made by friends. Some friends are from long ago, and some have passed away, which makes them all the more special.

Reading-Berks Guild show set up

2010-11-06T22:00:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I set up for the Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen Holiday Show at Kutztown University. It always amazes me to see a facility before anything is set up, and then after when everything looks so good. This is all my stuff- I had just loaded it in from my car and was taking a break before I started setting up. There are not very many other craftsmen there yet.

About 4 hours later, this is my booth with dust covers and ready to go on Saturday morning. You can see more craftsmen have been working on their booths. I should have taken a photo without the dust covers, but I didn't think of it at the time. You can see my purple table coverings peeking out. Tomorrow I will be packing it all down after the show is over at 5, probably the hardest part of this job. I had good sales, saw a lot of friends, and even managed to do a little gift shopping!

Lampworked glass bead II class

2010-10-30T00:16:00.000-04:00

Last weekend I taught an intermediate 2 day glass bead class, and it was great! We had a really nice group, with no one way over their head. First we made goldstone stringers, then a vine cane and stamen cane, and then finally we made a bead with flowers, goldstone, vines and tiny black stamens, and finished it off with pixie dust. I took my ice tongs so they could use them- I love that shape, a gentle lentil. (That rhymes!) These are some of the beads the class made. I really enjoy teaching when the students are excited about learning new techniques.

After a show

2010-10-21T00:01:00.000-04:00

After a weekend show, I usually take Monday sort of easy. That means unpacking the car, getting it re-organized in my studio, doing paperwork from the show, catching up on laundry, and usually taking a nap with my lap warmer. After all that, I am ready and eager to get to work again!

Lizzie is getting older, and I can see her slowing down and napping more. Just like me.

Eye beads

2010-10-09T22:06:00.000-04:00

Sometimes the best ideas come from customers! At a recent show, a woman picked up my large (over 1 1/4") round, hollow eye bead and asked if I could make it in cone shape. The round hollow eye bead is the one furthest to the left, and the rest of the beads are the result of her request. Two of these are wired as a pendant, ready to add a chain. I like them so much I will continue to make them. This is one of my favorite color combinations, and I love to make the color gradation.

The design is an ancient one. The more eyes (dots) there are, the more protection the bead gives the wearer, although the nature of the protection varied in different cultures. One of the most interesting to me was the idea that a person did not want a god to look at them- that caused bad things to happen. When wearing an eye bead, the eyes confused the god, who sent the bad karma to the bead which reflected it back and away from the wearer. There are cultures today who continue the tradition.

Mini-vacation

2010-10-01T00:35:00.000-04:00

This weekend I am taking off and visiting one of my sisters in upstate NY. No work (although I may check my email and facebook!) This will probably be the last few days I can just enjoy with no work related activities. When I get back, I will be into teaching and shows until the end of the year.

My son is riding along with me, and I am wondering if I will subject him to an audio book. It's got to be better than listening to his music!

Little beads

2010-09-23T00:02:00.000-04:00

I make these little beads for several reasons. First, they are a good way to test new color combinations- I make small ones before I make the commitment of a big bead. Secondly, I love to layer colors, and the results are not always predictable. Sometimes there are good surprises and sometimes not, and the difference is not always instantly apparent. Sometimes I have to "live with" a new color combination for a while.

This size is also very good for earrings, so I try to have a tray full of them in many different colors. When I am working on making earrings for a show, I like to have lots of choices! Since I mostly use them in pairs, and people mostly buy them in pairs, I end up with lots of orphans. One of these days I will have to design a necklace with them!

Fringe bracelet

2010-09-18T23:16:00.000-04:00

I haven't made these bracelets for a few years, but I am inspired again! The beads are in color ranges, and this one is amber and green. (I also make a purple and blue set.) After I have a set of my beads, I go through my stash of stones, pearls, silver, crystals and anything else I have that looks like the color and size will work. That can take a while, since I have a considerable stash. A friend told me when I buy more stones, pearls, etc, I am assembling my palette, and I like that thought. Any excuse for more!

That all goes in a pile, and then I have the fun of deciding which 6 items will work. I look for items that will pick up all the colors of my beads, and I want different sizes and shapes. Each of these 6 is then wired onto a jump ring to make a fringe (the jingle jangle between my beads.) When I have 7 fringes made, I wire wrap the beads, with a fringe between each one, into a bracelet. There is so much movement it makes you feel special!

Glass ornaments

2010-08-31T23:38:00.000-04:00

For the third year in a row, I am making glass ornaments. Last year and this year, the Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen was asked to decorate the PA governor's tree. Each time, I tried to come up with something new, and this year had me stumped. I finally made some spirals on large mandrels, and I liked them, but couldn't come up with any way to hang them so they hung straight. After thinking about it, I made more spirals and at the end, pulled the glass into the center. When I tied ribbon on that end, they hung straight! They seem much more delicate that they really are.

While thinking about the glass spirals, I wondered if I could make narrower ones and use a heavy gauge wire coiled into a spiral to hold them. Aha, that worked too, so now I have extra ornaments!

These will not be for sale. Cleaning the bead release was a real pain! I do love a good challenge.

Bead crochet

2010-08-28T22:40:00.000-04:00

Years ago, I was set up at a bead show beside a woman who was an expert at bead crocheting. She graciously tried to teach me and my friend Alice St Germain. We both went home and worked hard, and Alice got it before I did. (My excuse is I am left handed.) After a lot of frustrating tries, I finally got it, and now every once in a while I get the itch to make another necklace or bracelet. This one took me 2 years to finish, since I only work at it when I feel like it. Leslie Pope,of Twisted Sistah, is an expert at matching colors, so I showed her my big hole bead and asked her to choose the appropriate seed beads. I thought she did a great job! This will be mine, not for sale.

Beadfest 2010

2010-08-14T22:03:00.000-04:00

This week I have been busy making beads for Beadfest Philadelphia, Aug 20-22. I stumbled on a new color combination that I love, and I can't stop making them in different sizes. When I am getting ready for a big show is not a good time to be experimenting, but sometimes I have to go with the flow. The base color is dark turquoise, a color I hardly ever use, so imagine my surprise when it worked so well. Sometimes the raised dots reduce, but not always, and I haven't figured out why. Ahhh, the mysteries of reduction!

Weeds

2010-08-07T22:00:00.000-04:00

Yesterday the weather was a little cooler so I spent several hours pulling weeds, and found these hanging on a huge weed. I have no idea what the name of the weed is, but these remind me of Chinese lanterns. I wonder if they will keep their shape while they dry. The color is wonderful, and the shape would make interesting beads. Hmmm, start with a hollow bead, etc. etc. etc. I also wonder if I could cast them in glass. They might be too fragile to make a mold, but I could try when I have a little time to experiment. Not sure when that will be.

New book cover

2010-07-30T23:23:00.000-04:00

I just heard from my publisher that my book is being printed again. This time it will be in paperback (this makes the price a little lower) with a new cover. For the first printing, it was part of a heritage series of books, and this time it will stand alone. The news of another printing is good! That means the book is selling well and they need more! Yay!

My second book is taking form slowly. I have been working on it in the evenings, but have a long way to go. I can't say much about it yet, unfortunately, but I think it takes a little different slant on glass bead making. My photographer Kevin Brett Soul Imagery is coming next week to start photographing for the book. I must clean up my studio before then!

Hot hot hot

2010-07-22T23:25:00.000-04:00

Here in eastern PA it has been hot, hot, hot this summer! I remember last winter, when we were all tired of the endless snow! This photo was taken in Feb, early in the day, with lots more snow coming. Now I am tired of being hot any time I go out. Thank goodness our house is air conditioned! It has been running almost nonstop, and I am dreading the electric bill when it comes. We have been making some changes to reduce the bill, like putting the tv and computer on power strips and turning them off that way. We had already changed all the light bulbs to more efficient ones and try to be more aware of turning lights off. All this has helped, particularly since our electric company was deregulated last winter and the rates went up something like 30%.

Stay cool, everyone!

Kuztown Folk Festival 2010

2010-07-12T23:48:00.000-04:00

What a week! There were 3 days over 100 degrees and one day of rain. I drank lots of water, used my neck coolers constantly, had fans running, and managed to survive. In my 15 years at the festival, this was the toughest. (Well, the year of the tornado and storms was tough too!) The funnel cake stand was right across the street from me, and I only had 2 all week.

My friend Carrie spent 5 days demonstrating for me. She made lots of beads and explained the process to lots of people. Notice the purple neck cooler, and the bandana on her forehead to stop the sweat from rolling into her eyes. The kiln is behind her, so she got the heat from all sides.

My other demonstrator was Jenna, who was there for 4 days. She started making beads when she was 11, but only gets to torch once a year when she demo's for me. She managed to miss the really hot days, but still needed a neck cooler. Both of them are really dedicated and I had to remind them to take a break once in a while.

The old fashioned birch beer wagon is just down the street, but I have never tried it. Our big treat this year was smoothies- so cold on a hot day! I also bought a big bag of roasted almonds to munch on all week. This was not a week to diet- I had an ox roast sandwich, bratwurst, bbq pork, corn pie, funnel cake- you get the picture. Now to launder my long dresses and pack them away for another year.

Window beads- after

2010-06-29T00:29:00.000-04:00

I finally finished grinding and polishing the windows in these beads! Two days ago I started them, but before I finished, the bolt that holds the wheels flew off the grinder and I couldn't find it. That caused a trip to Lowe's and Home Depot. I ended up buying 3 different kinds of bolts and tried them out today. Only one worked, so I was glad I had bought a selection. All six beads look good. I never know how the inside will look until I polish the windows, and sometimes I scrap a bead.

This is my grinder/polisher. It is an odd conglomeration of things I already had except for the wheels, which I had to buy. There are six of them, I think, from coarse to super fine. There is no splash guard, so I hold a plastic strip in front of me, but I still get soaked by the time I am done.

These are the beads after using 3 wheels on them, with 3 more to go. The final polish makes the glass so clear you can read the writing on a light bulb in the reflection on the window. I really like the contrast between the rough reduction frit and the smooth window.

Window beads before

2010-06-24T00:14:00.000-04:00

I am getting tired! There are only 1 1/2 weeks until Kutztown Folk Festival and I am working hard. My fingers are getting sore from all that wire wrapping putting jewelry together.

These are some window beads waiting for me to grind and polish the windows- a before photo. I keep forgetting to work on them, and I really do need to finish them up this week. That is a nice job on a hot day, since I get soaking wet grinding them. Maybe tomorrow.

My friend Alice St Germain just got her website Succulent Glass up and running again. She still needs to add content, but the bones are there and look good. She even started a blog! Congratulations on getting that far!

Open torch!

2010-06-16T01:07:00.000-04:00

I am lucky enough to have a glass tribe. Years ago we met mostly in workshops, became friends and started getting together to torch, fuse, cast and any other glass activity we could think of. A while ago we lost the location we used, and we really missed it. Recently a friend moved into a house with a large garage, and she set up the garage as a glass studio. Last weekend, we converged on her garage and spent the weekend working together again, at long last. We had 6 torches and 3 bead kilns set up, along with space for fusing and casting, and a kiln or two for that too. It was so much fun spending two days working and talking glass with friends who are as fascinated by it as I am!

Because I am getting ready for a huge show (Kutztown Folk Festival), I spent the time making beads, experimenting with new colors. I learned some new combinations that work, and some that don't! It is all good!

Work work work

2010-06-08T00:24:00.002-04:00

I worked all day and don't feel like I accomplished anything. That is probably because I didn't get any beads or jewelry made. I unpacked the car, did my books, paid some bills, did some laundry, unpacked the bead case, and worked on a list of what I need to make in the next 3 weeks. It is a really, really long list! My friend Joan Miller wrote about not having to do the push for a big show this year in East Coast-West Coast Bead Blog, and right now that sounds pretty good. But I would miss not being at the Kutztown Folk Festival so I will work overtime this month. I have my list, and will try to follow it, although sometimes the glass has a way of doing what it wants. Off to torch!

Panic mode

2010-06-01T00:55:00.000-04:00

Today I loafed. It will probably be the last day I can loaf for 6 weeks or so. Tomorrow I start working overtime to have enough beads and jewelry for the Kutztown Folk Festival. The festival runs 9 days, this year starting July 3 and running until July 11. This will be my 15th year exhibiting there- hard to believe. It is a tough show to do, sort of like running a marathon, but it is also a ton of fun. My neighbors at the show have become family- one of them started bringing their 3 grandchildren to the show years ago and I have seen them grow up. They still come by and say hello, and see if I need any help. The photo is Johnny Claypoole, who painted hex signs. He has passed away and his son Eric has picked up the paint brushes to continue the family tradition at the festival.

The food is wonderful- the PA Dutch know how to cook, so I eat good all week. My favorite is strawberry shortcake with vanilla ice cream! Down the street from me is an ox roast, and the meat is so tender it melts in your mouth. There are also sausage sandwiches, funnel cakes, soft pretzels, pork and sauerkraut- I could so on and on but you get the idea.

There is music everywhere with strolling bands and musicians, and clog dancing, and wonderful traditional crafts, and of course quilts! Hundreds of quilts! It is a great way to spend the day, or even several days. I will try to take lots of photos this year!

So off to bed for me. Tomorrow I work!

Audio books

2010-05-25T23:09:00.002-04:00

Today I made the same bead, over and over. Most of them will be made into jewelry, so I needed a big pile. Usually I get 4 or 5 of these beads done, get bored and start making other beads. I get bored easily, one of the hazards of a creative mind. (That is a nice way to say I sometimes have trouble staying on task.) Today was different though. My ipod has a very, very long audio book that I got for a long car trip, but I didn't even get halfway through it on the trip. So for the first time, I tried making beads while listening to a good story, and it worked great. The time flew and before I knew it, I had a kiln full of these beads. I will have to find more good audio books! By the way, the book is Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet. I highly recommend it for listening or reading!

In my previous glass career making stained glass windows, I couldn't cut glass while listening to a book- I would miss some dialog and have to rewind the tape (this was in the dark ages when they were all "books on tape".) Guess my mind had to concentrate too much on cutting, although grinding and soldering were fine. So I wondered if I could make beads listening to a story. For more complicated beads, it might not work so well, but for production work, it was great!

Studio photos

2010-05-18T23:54:00.000-04:00

Keeping my studio somewhat organized is challenging! One of my biggest problems is how to store all the rods of glass I use to make beads. Love, love, love the colors! I need to be able to find the colors I want, and also see when a color is getting low so I can re-order. I re-purposed the wood cubes- they were toy storage for my kids, who have been out on their own for quite a while. Then I bought plastic downspouts, cut it into 14" lengths, and stacked it in the cubes. I tried to keep the transparent colors in one section, opaque colors in another section, etc, but as I keep adding new colors, I am running out of room! There is a section with mystery glass- I don't know the manufacturer or the color name. It sure makes it challenging sometimes!

Every day when I am done torching, I put the glass rods and tools away and sweep all the chips off. I like to start the day with a clean workbench. It doesn't stay that way for long, but if I start out that way, I seem to be able to concentrate on the beads and not the mess. Wow, my water dish is really dirty! Instead of didymium eyeglasses, I use a shield, which I love. My original thought was that if the prescription for my eyeglasses changes, I would have to get new didymiums, which can be quite expensive. With the shield, I can wear my own eyeglasses. A side benefit- it shields a lot of the heat from hitting my face, so in the summer, it is much cooler!

I keep tools in cups and glass rods in pots, all within reach. The table behind me holds lots of other goodies, like silver foil and leaf, enamels, frits and wire. They all have proper homes, but they never seem to get there. This is all the stuff I use on a regular basis, and it seems like too much work to put it all away, and then get it out the next day.

My studio is my favorite place in the world!

New book!

2010-05-11T21:24:00.001-04:00

Big news today! I just signed a contract for writing another glass beadmaking book with Stackpoole Publishing. There goes any free time for the rest of the year!

I enjoyed writing my first book, Glass Beads: Tips, Tools and Techniques for Learning the Craft, which was aimed for beginners. This one will be a little different, with some advanced techniques among other things. The same photographer, Kevin Brett of Soul Imagery will be working with me, which makes me very happy. He takes amazing photographs!

The rest of this year will be spent either making beads, putting jewelry together, or writing my book- and also a few necessary activities like paying bills and doing shows to pay those bills. That leaves no time for cleaning the house or cooking. Oh well.

No power!

2010-05-09T23:11:00.000-04:00

What a weekend! Our power went off yesterday evening and didn't come back on until late this morning. With no power, I couldn't make beads, read, put jewelry together, work on the computer, etc, etc, etc. I finally played solitaire on my little netbook for a while, and went to bed early- not an easy thing for me, being such a night owl. This morning I decided to do some shopping, something I seldom do, and before I got out of the house, the power was back on. I went shopping anyway since I wanted speakers for my ipod for my studio- I really don't like the ear plugs, and I had a coupon so away I went. Found a great little set I think. I plan on listening to an audio book while making beads. Last weekend, on a long trip to upstate NY, I started listening to Pillars of the Earth. After at least 10 hours, I didn't put much of a dent in it. I didn't realize it was so long when I bought it!

Next week I promise more photos!

3 goals for 2009

2010-05-06T23:50:00.000-04:00

Last year I had 3 goals to accomplish:

1. Redesign my website, which I did.
2. Get beads up on etsy to sell. I sort of did this. At one point I had 6 beads up for sale, but I never added more, and the listings expired. I have finally realized that I really don't want to do this! There is always something else to work on and it keeps getting pushed to the bottom of the pile, so for now, I will concentrate on selling my beads in other ways.
3. Make a blog. So I am only 5 months late on this one, but I finally got it done. There are still a lot of things that need tweaked, but it is up and I am posting, so that counts.

So far this year, I don't have any specific goals other than the usual- lose weight, make lots of beads, have more patience, solve the world's problems. One thing at a time....

2010-05-06T00:26:00.001-04:00

I finally created a blog- I think! There are lots of things I want to customize, but I can work on that a little at a time. So now I need to think about what I want to say. My life is similar to many other artists, and to other glass bead makers, but to anyone else, it probably looks pretty bizarre! I am a night owl, and work on my computer late at night. If I get on during the day, the hours slip away and before I know it, I haven't finished anything else. As it is, I often go to bed around 2 or 3am- way too late, which makes mornings difficult. My friends know to not call before 11am or so!

For the last several years, this bead has been my signature bead. I call it my window bead. I create the windows by grinding and polishing them (on the front and back) after I make the bead, using lapidary equipment. It is time consuming, but worth the effort.

Tomorrow I plan to spend the day running errands. Maybe on Friday I can get on my torch again to make beads, my favorite way to spend the day!