Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I have listed a few new beads in the Etsy store. I have not torched since November 1st, as my ventilation needed some repairs and upgrading. It's all good now, and I'm looking forward to some torch time this weekend.

Thanks for looking!!

New Focals Fresh From The Kiln

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Yesterday was my birthday, and I had a wonderful day. I was able to do one of my favorite things....torch! Above are four of the beads fresh out of the kiln today. I have to tell you, I have never worked on or fussed over any beads more than I did the first three beads. How FUN they were to create! Look for them in the ole' ETSY store later this week.

As always, thanks for looking!

A Few New Focals With Sparkle

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Above are a few focals from today. Hopefully, I will find some time and energy to fire it up again tomorrow! I hope everone is enjoying the weekend!

Northern Lights and The Big Dipper Focals

Here is a Northern Lights Focal with the shimmery pinks, golds and a hint of teal when the light hits it just right. It is accented with raised, reflective, swirled dots, CZ's and an unique raised stringer that wraps down the bead on one side.

This is a Constellation bead, The Big Dipper (first attempt). I tried to get the fuzzy light effect around the CZ's to represent the glow of the stars. I still have some tweaking to do....

One more Northern Lights focal...this one has a very elegant feel to it.

As always, thanks so much for looking!!

A New Constellation Bead

I had a few hours to torch the other night, and here is a bead that I made. Steve came back in the studio and talked to me while I torched, and it was so enjoyable.

After revisiting what we learned in the Andrea G. class, I've really enjoyed working on the constellation beads. This one is heavily encased, and I'm really pleased with the depth that was achieved, which is not at all captured in the photograph. I so love working with the transparent colors!!

Have a great week!

Class With Kim Fields - Priceless!!

I was fortunate enought this weekend to take a class with Kim Fields. She is a such a talented bead artist, and an awesome and generous instructor. It was so great to meet her, and spend two days torching with her and many friends.

The class was held at Boca Loca Beads, and coordinated by Barb Collins of ISLAGA. Barb did a fantastic job...the class was perfect!

Many thanks to Kim for sharing her knowledge, Barb for all of her hard work, and to Jari for letting us take over the studio!

If you get the opportunity to study glass with Kim, jump on it! It was PRICELESS!!

Gemini Constellation

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Here is a bead that I made yesterday. I've named it Gemini, after the constellation. In each swirl, I have placed two bubbles, which represent the "twins". This bead has a lot of depth, and a lot to look at!

Have a great week, and thanks for looking!

A Few New Focals

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Here are a few new Hoosierland Leaf Focals. Have a great week!

The Moon Is Full

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Shown here is another Hoosierland Leaf Focal Bead. As I pulled the leaf beads out of the EF solution last night, dipped them in the patina and shined them up, there was a full moon glowing outside.

Fall is definately here!

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Samma Sells Seashells....on Etsy!!

My good friend and torch buddy, Samma Parcels, has opened her new, bright, sparklie Etsy Store.

Samma makes the most awesome blown boro shells! She also makes beautiful beads, marbles, pendants and much more!

Check out her past customer feedback, and her new store!!

Have a great week!

A Few New Focals

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Above are a few new focals. I have more leaf beads painted and ready to go be electroformed tomorrow. Tomorrow is torch day!! It's been too long since I've had a day to "just torch". We will see if it works out that way. I hope everyone is enjoying this fall weather, and having a wonderful weekend!

Take care, and thanks for checking in!

In Celebration of Autumn - New Hoosierland Leaf Focals

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I finally made it to the torch yesterday, after taking about three weeks off. During this time, however, I have been painting beads for electroforming, one of my favorite things next to torching. Above are three new leaf focals.

A little history on the leaf beads: A little over two years ago, I became very interested in electroforming, and since much of my work is nature inspired, I decided to try incorporating real leaves from the back yard into my bead designs. I played with the idea quite a while before I came up with something I was satisfied with.

Now, each spring I become impatient, waiting for the first signs of green. Fresh, new, tender leaves do not work as well, as they do not have the mature veining, so I have to wait...and wait... Once the leaves are ready, I pick a variety of leaves throughout the spring and summer, placing them in books to flatten and dry. Friends and family also "harvest" for me, and I now have a pretty good collection.

I hope you enjoy seeing them half as much as I enjoy making them. As always, thanks for looking!

New Southwest Focal

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About the Bead: (Front and Back) Blues and browns, silvered ivory, blue and brown ribbon cane swirled around both sides, CZ's and trailing dots.

The bead show was GREAT, and a lot of fun! I've only torched once in the past two weeks, so I don't have much to show...but above is one of the beads from last Friday.


Have a great weekend everyone, and thanks for looking!

New Winter White

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Here is a new Winter White...a little different. I left some of the fuming on the ends that give it a golden, frosted look. This one is done in shimmery golden pink.

I have emptied my Etsy shop as I am preparing for a small bead show at a local bead shop. It is Boca Loca's 20th anniversary, and Jari will be having an open house in celebration. She has invited the ISLAGA members to join in with a small bead bazaar.

If you are in the area, it would be great to see you!

Finally....Time To Torch!

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It seems like forever since I've had a full day at the torch! Here are the beads from yesterday, most of them in line to be electroformed.

I hope everyone has a great week!