January 30, 2008
As I mailed packages the other morning, I started thinking about where the beads are going and what they will become. I may have to get a map and some pushpins. I had to do the mailing myself on Monday since Jeff hasn't had to do the custom forms yet. It seems strange to think of beads going to Australia.
Now some of them I may never know what happens once they reach their destinations, but there are others that I am fortunate enough to see become "something".
I got an email from Anne, who has bought beads to create her lovely, amazing rosaries and chaplets, that had these pictures...
You can see more of her beautiful work herehttp://www.atelier-beads.com/
I enjoy working with Anne very much. She gives me an idea of what she would like or needs, but also understands that no two beads will ever be exactly alike and each set of beads I make is a reflection of who I am when I sit down at the torch. I feel very honored to have the beads I make become a part of these pieces.
Check back...I know that I have some pictures of other finished pieces made by Gladys and Sueze. I just have to figure out where I filed them.
January 25, 2008
I did some slumping and draping with some stained glass. Glass is one of those funny things. You have to have glass that goes together if you want to join it using high heat, and the glass companies have done all the work. But I have these sheets of stained glass that are most likely not compatible with each other, so I've been doing some single sheet stuff with them. Gives me a rough idea of how the kiln will work, and since the stuff is already here, why not?
So here is what has come out of the kiln the last couple of days....
Of course , I have still been making beads as well.
I've been trying to get more things listed on Etsy, but I am a procrastinator. I've got the pictures taken which for me is always the "hard" part, so this weekend I will get some more done. Go check it out at www.derondadesign.etsy.com
I have so much fun blowing shards. Now I have this big pile of baggies with all kinds of experimental shard balls. Some of them just don't work...they make really ugly shards on beads. I mark all the baggies, so when I find something I really like, I will know what it is.
I got some fusing things in the swap shop, and now I just have to figure out how all that works. Another glass journey that might be fun. I have some sheets of stained glass, that although aren't good for fusing, should work for doing some single sheet slumping or draping projects. I think they might make cool little candle holders.
It's been so cold, and I've had a bad cold. Makes it hard to do anything. The torch flame really jumps around when you are coughing on it. Needless to say, that means that I haven't been playing with glass nearly as much as usual. But I've done some much needed listing on Etsy and put together a couple of pieces. Today, I've done nothing but sleep.
But here are a couple of things that I have done recently...
January 10, 2008
Here are the first vessels made with some of my first shards.
And here is the latest pendant...it's a bit wonky and I will continue to practice, practice, practice, I still think it's kind of pretty.
January 9, 2008
I decided this year I would get out of my comfort zone and do things with glass that I have never done before and see where it takes me. I showed you some vessels, but this is the rest of the story. I joined a vessel exchange because I've never made vessels before. Did some research and decided to see if I could make blown vessels, So two new things at one time. And I have to say, it is so much fun. They are hollow and are blown off the end of a hollow mandrel. Here are a few of them....
Then I had so much fun blowing vessels that I decided to blow shards. Shards come from a blown globe that you smack with a hammer and put the shards on another bead. It's interesting, but you will have to wait for bead pictures. Here is a globe before I smacked it with the hammer....
And so the learning continues. Still working on imploded pendants and off mandrel hearts, and wondering what will come next.
It's the beginning of a new year, and I am so looking forward to it. There are so many things I want to explore with glass, and maybe try my hand at some silversmithing as well.
I was asked to do some octopus beads as a very special request. I can now say the octopi have left the building, and from what I hear, she liked them. I'm still not sure which ones she chose, but here were the choices...
Now I am working on hearts and vessels. The hearts are being done off mandrel and the vessels are blown at the end of a hollow mandrel. The vessels are quite addicting, but then so are the hearts. The first hearts were strange looking, but they have been getting better all the time. I will be doing some wire wrapping on the vessels, so keep an eye open...oh, and some tiny little pendants.
