Once In A Blue Moon

sold

nfs

Once in a Blue Moon, I find a few hours to torch after work. I made the above two beads last night, one a Constellation Bead. My good buddy Samma just told me that this is a very special month....December 2009 had two full moons....which only happens once in a blue moon.

I have a four day weekend, and hope to spend much of it at the torch.

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone. Have a safe and happy holiday!!

Glasscraft Emerging Artist Award and Women in Glass Gallery

I hope everyone had a Very Merry Christmas!

sold

Looking outside and seeing the snow fly made me look forward to spring....here is a focal from yesterday done in warm, spring-like colors. I added a few blooms for good measure!

A lot has happened since my last post....

Glasscraft Emerging Artist Award

I am very honored and excited to have been selected to receive the Glasscraft Emerging Artist award. I submitted my information to be included in The Flow 5th Annual Gallery of Women in Glass. Imagine my surprise when they sent me a layout proof for the Emerging Artist award!

After receiving my magazine yesterday, and seeing the incredible glasswork done by so many fabulous artists, it reinforced my first reaction of "Why Me?" There are so many lampwork artists deserving of this award, it truly surprises and very much honors me to have been considered.

The Flow - Gallery of Women in Glass

Congratluations to all the fabulous women featured in the Women in Glass Gallery!! You all blow me away with your works of art. It is so exciting to be included in the gallery with so many of my glass friends....Samma Parcels, Julie Markwood Nordine, Sheila Falk Papaioannou, Vickie Hallmark, Kerri Fuhr and many more...all so derserving!! Thanks for sharing your work and inspiring us all!

sold

Here is another warm floral focal from yesterday ~ Have a great week everyone, and thanks for looking!!

Love Ekho!

sold
I LOVE these colors....Olive and Eggplant Purple. This focal is made with Dark Ivory and Ekho...only. All these colors from Ekho. It's my new favorite glass!

Sparkles, sparkles and more sparkles! The Ekho dots are shiney and metallic.

Above are a new focals from the kiln this morning.

The new ventilation system is complete, and working great! It feels WAY GOOD to torch again. Steve and I spent yesterday morning enclosing the work station. Both side panels are removable so the second torch can be used for classes....or torch buddies :) The side panels are made out of cement board that I painted to match the walls, and new marble tiles on the work bench.

New Winter White Focal

sold
Here is a new Winter White focal from this weekend. It shimmers like freshly fallen snow...listed tonight on Etsy.

Have a great week everyone!

A Little Inspiration

We are so fortunate to have the Garfield Park Conservatory close to home. I grew up in the Garfield Park area, and visiting the conservatory is like taking a stroll down memory lane. Me, Steve and Brittney met Karen there this morning to take a few family photos.

The conservatory is beautiful, and a must see if you are in the area. One area is decked out for Christmas, but the inner room with the waterfalls is as always....full of exotic plants in full bloom! Here are a few photos that I snapped. I hope they bring you some inspiration, and a little warmth on this cold and wintery day!

Steve and I are working on enclosing my torch station to ensure that all fumes are captured by the new ventilation system. Hopefully, I will have some new beadie pictures soon.

Take care all, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, and as always, thanks for looking!

A Few New Focals

sold

sold

I torched a bit yesterday, and above are a few of the beads out of the kiln this morning.

Have a great weekend everyone, and thanks for looking!

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

sold

sold sold

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

sold
sold
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

sold

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....

sold

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

sold

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!!