Tease Beads - Theresa Ehlers

Moving Sale!!

2011-10-26T09:48:00.003-04:00

We're moving!! We're headed out of here! I'm thrilled! My whole family is very excited. We can hardly wait! But there is a down side, and you get to benefit.

I have tons of my handmade lampwork beads that I really don't want to pack up and bring with me. So instead of going through all that work, I decided to put my entire Artfire shop on sale - 25% off! Everything except my tutorials are on sale. Beads, jewelry, kumihimo, you name it! Plus, some of my older items were already marked down 25% off, so they are marked down even more now. Think of the savings!

The sale will continue until shortly before we leave - it's only a few weeks away, so if you want something, now is the time. It will be a while before I will be able to unpack everything that I do bring with me and reopen my shop.

http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/teasebeads

Hangin' Around

2011-02-08T11:29:00.006-05:00

I got a fun request for a custom order. A customer wanted a bat fan pull! She wanted the bat in shades of brown, and he should hang upside down. She also wanted some coordinating beads with him. This is what I came up with:

I think he's cute, and so does my customer! She's thrilled and he's now hangin' around in his new home. Some of my favorite elements are the ribbed rounds above him - I made those using my new tool from CG Beads. I'm going to have to make more of those, starting with some fan pulls for my own living room.

Improved Website and a DRAWING!!

2011-02-03T10:20:00.000-05:00

What seems like a million years ago I was in college. I met my darling husband there, and amazingly, I learned a little. One of the most valuable things I learned was not in the classroom - it was on my own. I learned how to design web sites.

I love to play around with different things on my site, http://www.teasebeads.com, and for that reason I spent the past couple days working away. I just added a Twitter widget on the right, along with a blog feed below it - you can always see my latest news now! In addition to that, all the pictures on my home page feed right from my current items. Every time you refresh my page you'll see a whole new set of pictures and they are always items that are available for sale right now! Even the pictures for my banner refresh, and those are clickable! If you see an item in my banner that you like, click on it to go right to the item!

Finally, I added another category called "Featured Items." You can always check here for items that are perfect for whatever is going on right now. For instance, right this minute that category is packed full of awesome stuff for Valentine's Day!

In honor of all these changes, I've added over 50 more items to my website. These items are beads, pendants, and jewelry, all handmade by yours truly.

Check it out and tell me what you think by leaving a comment below! I'll pick a random number from the comments below and that person will get a $10 CREDIT to spend on my website!

http://www.teasebeads.com

Love Pats

2011-01-19T12:03:00.002-05:00

I had the best time at the torch last weekend. I wanted to do something special for Valentine's day. I ordered this really awesome Puffy Heart press from Beadpress:

It's not going to be here for a while though, because it's coming from the Netherlands. So, I had to improvise! I knew I wanted to make hearts, so after some soul searching (get it? Heart and soul? Ok, ok, terrible...), I came up with this idea:

Love Pats 11 Bead Set

I made the center heart using a press that my friend and fellow Fire Diva Holly from Holly's Folly generously lent me.

I was thrilled with this set. The problem was, however, my husband and I both agreed that although it was good for Valentine's day, it was also good for Easter, and not quite what I had in mind. I set out again to make that absolutely breathtaking, jaw-dropping, heart-stopping, romantically perfect Valentine's Day bead set. I made this:

Love Pats 8 Bead Set

Now this was what I was aiming for! The little red hearts on ivory were the perfect combination. It really felt like "love" to me.

Somewhere along the way I realized these little beads looked remarkably like truffles to me. Therefore, the only natural thing to do was make a third set.

Chocolate Love Pats 8 Bead Set

If they were edible they'd be good enough to eat. Mmmm... chocolate. My biggest vice. I think I'll go have some and ponder over what I'm going to make this weekend.

Ah, I almost forgot (sidetracked by chocolate - happens every time!), all three sets are available on my website and in my Artfire and Etsy shops.

Back Where I Started

2011-01-11T15:56:00.009-05:00

I got into lampworking, like many other glass bead artists, by making jewelry first. In fact, I started making beaded jewelry nearly ten years ago. My first pieces were simple strung braclets and necklaces, and I really had no idea what I was doing. I was instantly addicted, though, and before long I was making detailed, complicated pieces, like my Reef design, which I won Bronze prize in the Pearls category of the Fire Mountain Beads and Gems Annual Beading Contest in 2008:

However, like many lampworkers, since I started making beads it has taken precedence over making jewelry. When you consider the fact that the reason I started making beads was to make my own beads jewelry, it is actually quite ironic! I really quite enjoy making jewelry, whether it is beadedwoven, strung, or wire worked.

Olive Twist (with matching bracelet)

For this reason, I've decided to spend more time during the week doing what I intended to do four years ago. I'm going to make more jewelry, like this bracelet and earrings set, just listed:

Passionate Affair

The set is now available on my website, my Artfire shop, and my Etsy shop, where you will also find other jewelry pieces featuring my very own lampwork beads. Look for more in the future!

Black Friday - Free Shipping!

2010-11-24T08:16:00.004-05:00

What are you thankful for? I'm thankful for my wonderful family, my incredible customers, and, of course, beads! I want to show my appreciation. After you've finished gobbling up your turkey Thanksgiving Day, you can head over to my Artfire shop and gobble up some beads for FREE SHIPPING! The free shipping offer will start on Wednesday 11/24 and will end on Monday 11/29 and will apply to items purchased in my Artfire shop.

Zeah

With 39 new sets, focals, and pendants just listed yesterday, you shouldn't have any trouble finding something for everyone on your shopping list - including yourself!

Tiatano

I've Gotten An Upgrade

2010-11-04T07:55:00.010-04:00

Look at what came in the mail today:

It's a lovely new Scorpion torch! The Scorpion is a 13 jet 4-stud surface mix torch designed to work quite effeciently on oxygen concentrators. It works boro and soft glass with ease. It has an inner and outer flame, which means I can use only the inner flame, or I can use the inner and outer flame together to work larger pieces. The inner flame has 5 jets and the outer has 8. This torch is a huge upgrade from my Bobcat which has only 7 jets. What all this means is that I can work hotter, bigger, and faster once I am hooked up!

I've been saving for this torch for a while now. It was being offered at the introductory price and I was about halfway there, but I got a call on Monday from Glass Torch Technologies. They wanted to know if I still wanted a Scorpion at introductory price because the price was going to go up to full retail. I reassured them that I did, and they told me they had them ready to ship out! How could I say no to this face:

So, now I just need to pay for it! I still have nearly one hundred items marked 25% off in my Artfire and Etsy shops! Plus, for a limited time, if you enter the coupon code Scorpion when purchasing from my Artfire shop, you will get FREE SHIPPING on your purchase of two or more items!

Now if you'll excuse me, I have an arthropod to tame.

How Do You Create?

2010-10-29T11:18:00.002-04:00

Some time ago I came up with an idea for the Fire Divas called "Ask the Divas." Our fans can submit questions and we will answer them! We recently implemented it and we just received, and answered, a very good question: What is the creative process like? Here is my response to just a fantastic question:

With soft glass, I let the glass or special elements guide me. I usually think about a particular color of glass or element, like murrini, shards, etc, and end up with a general direction.

Next I sit in front of my glass and select colors that coordinate with my central element. For instance, I've been making a lot of rounds with shards lately, so I select a base color that compliments the color(s) in the shards.

Finally I end up at the torch and go with the flow; I have the idea in mind, and the rest is up to what feels right once the glass is melting in the flame. Even the simplest, most routine bead set changes every time.

Boro, however, is different. Sculptures I study and sketch out down to the last detail beforehand. Implosions I map out in my head before attempting. Boro is an entirely different beast! It's a stiffer glass and interestingly enough is much more structured creatively for me as well.

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=1789424

Read what some other Divas had to say about their process below!

Lara says:

I rarely can pinpoint where I get my ideas for beads, but my bunny bead is an exception. I started making these beads last year around Easter time. I think they are super cute.

My mom has a Terra Cotta pot with a large Lop Rabbit on the front. Neither of us can remember the artist, but she got the pot at an art's fair in the Seattle area. One day I was thinking about what to make next and I was looking at the pot and decided to try.

First I drew a pattern on paper to get the shapes down, then did some dots on the bead and pushed and pulled the dots into ears, a face, and legs. Tada..... bunny bead.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/36156861/lampwork-bird-glass-bead-in-aqua-and

From Holly:

For me, it depends on the bead. If the bead is sculptural, I will print out several images featuring different angles of the object I want to re-create. If I am working on a set, I might spend time pulling different color rods. No matter what I'm making, there is some kind of map in my head of where to go... what kind of glass to layer where in order to get the effect I want. Care has to be given to parts that need more heat or can take more heat vs. those that need fine detail and less heat. It's a constant balancing act. Sometimes it works; sometimes not.

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=960011

From Rosemarie:

Color and shape are very important elements of my work, so I usually decide right away what those are going to be. Sometimes the glass does not do what I want; then I end up with something new. Sometimes the new is good, sometimes not so good.

For this bead, I wanted to represent a dangerous river. I wanted a large surface to work on, so I decided to use the bicone shape.

How did I choose the colors? I wanted water and sky, so that was a pretty easy choice. My water colors were turquoise and cobalt and my sky was a light powder blue. I wanted some white for clouds. I have developed a way to make the webbing spread in a consistent manner, so I decided to use that to show white frothy water. I decided all of this in advance and then proceeded to make the bead.

When that was done, the bead did not look "angry" enough, so I added swirls - which happily looked like whirlpools in the water. I usually melt everything smooth, but once the swirls were on the bead and still raised, I really liked the effect so I decided that the bead was complete.

This happens often - I have a general plan on what something will be, but then modify it once the bead is in progress. Sometimes this happens once the first attempt at the bead is already cooled. Then I have to start the process from the start, modifying what it is that I don't like. http://www.etsy.com/listing/26160332/gray-ivory-and-black-glass-lampwork

Sonja's answer:

Honestly, for me, I usually start each session at the torch with certain colors in mind and maybe a vague idea of what direction I want to go in (shape, texture, or a certain style). I then decide how I want it to go together, but honestly, many times I will sit down with a certain idea in mind and midway through (or sooner) the bead goes off on a tangent and something else entirely ends up being made.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/59110489/green-and-white-handmade-spiral-lampwork

From Ema:

Each time I sit at the torch is different. Sometimes I have an idea of what I want to make; such as being inspired by a beautiful tree I have seen on a walk that I feel compelled to make into a bead. Other days I am inspired by color combinations. I will pull out all the rods in that color scheme and just let the colors take me where they may.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/57350713/kaliptico-wonders-lampwork-focal-bead

Kathleen says:

I rarely sit at my torch with a pre-conceived idea. Usually it'll be a mood that will hit me, like, I want to make flowers, or I feel like working in certain colors, or I just want to do easy stuff. Occasionally , I feel like challenging myself to step out of my box; using colors I generally don't use and techniques I want to become more familiar with. Ultimately it never plays out the way I think it will. The glass will take over, and like a dance partner, I just follow and let the glass and flame take the lead. Lately, I've been concentrating on flowers. http://www.etsy.com/listing/58878138/copper-canyon-focal-lampwork-bead-sra

Lea says:

Each session is different for me. Sometimes I start out with certain new color glass rods I want to play with or shards, new technique, etc. & basically just play & see where the session takes me. Lately, or at least the last couple of times I torched, I started out with a list of beads I wanted to make & then left myself some play time at the end. I found it to be a much more productive use of my time. Go figure!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/56968225/lampwork-glass-bead-set-fire-diamonds

And here's Laurie's answer:

Who knew there were so many different ways to come up with an amazing bead! I use a little of all of these techniques in my beads.

And I find that often one thing leads to another, as was the case with these Christmas Bird earrings. It all started with some basic twirling, a set of paisley earrings for a customer, a red and green fish, and finally these birds arrived on the scene.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/59521087/lampwork-glass-beads-pink-and-green

Fire Divas Monthly Challenges

2010-10-20T07:16:00.005-04:00

I am one of three co-managers for a group of lampworkers called the Fire Divas. I've posted stuff on my blog about our group before. Well, one of the jobs I have is the monthly bead challenges. I create themes, accept entries from our members, write up blog posts, set up the polls, and announce the results. To be perfectly honest, I hate entering. I only enter for exposure and to set an example to my fellow members. I almost always come in dead last. In fact, I even stopped voting for myself because I was often my only vote. It was depressing.

This month's challenge was Thanksgiving. I once again had to select an entry. I had a set I made with a unique glass; it's a glass that was only made once and will never be made again. It's one of my favorite colors and is a delicious looking translucent burnt caramel. I bought a few pounds of it as soon as I melted my first rod because I just loved it! This color was the base for my set. To this, I added some incredible Lori and Kim murrini, and to accent the murrini I had chosen three colors of glass and made one single dot of each color on both sides of the beads. I really like this set; I almost kept it for myself.

That was the set I chose to enter, and below is the blog post I typed up for the Fire Divas' blog this morning.

Thanksgiving Challenge Results

We have a winner for the Thanksgiving Challenge! We tallied the votes and the entry you were most thankful for was:

Entry 5 - http://www.teasebeads.artfire.com

Congratulations to our winner!! Now let's take a look at all the other fantastic entries!

Entry 1 - http://ahouston.etsy.com

Entry 2 - http://www.artfire.com/users/LAJewelryDesigns

Entry 3 - http://www.etsy.com/shop/Lutrick

Entry 4 - http://www.artfire.com/users/HollysFollyGlass

Thanks for voting!

----------------------------

I think I earned the right to brag just a bit. :)

Looking Ahead

2010-08-18T16:29:00.003-04:00

It is so hot. A few days ago it was 100 degrees, and on another day our heat index was 110. August is the hottest month of the year here in North Carolina. We're all stuck in the house because we have no desire to melt into sweaty blobs outside. It is definitely summertime - no doubting that!

However, as an artist, I have to look ahead to the upcoming seasons when I decide what to make. The Fire Divas are holding another Quarterly Jewelry Challenge, and this time I chose "The Holiday Season" as the theme. That means I need to make some holiday beads, pronto!

Why so early? It's only August! Well, the challenge deadline is October 15. That means jewelry designers have to have their creation submitted by that date. The designers need plenty of time to shop for beads, have them shipped, and materialize that work of art.

It's hard to switch gears. I've been doing sets lately (not that I've gotten anything listed). Recently, I made 3 large sets (up to 12 beads) - one set each of pink, gray, and mint green tabs with dots & murrini accents. I also made a cool 14 bead set of clear rounds with icy colored shards. I made some boro seahorses and flower implosions. All my work has been completely summer themed!

I finally sat down and did some brainstorming, though. I now have a list of holiday-themed sets that I plan to start creating just as soon as I can get out to my torch. I'm covering three holidays - Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I still find it so strange to generate Christmas ideas in the summer heat!

Of course, the next challenge will be getting this all listed. In addition to what I plan to make, I have a plastic container full of things I need to list. I haven't listed anything all summer! I've marked down all my existing pieces by 25% to help make room for the new items, and school starts soon so that means a quieter house. Quieter house = easier picture taking. I'm getting there!

For info about the Fire Divas Quarterly Jewelry Challenge, please visit:
http://firedivas.blogspot.com/2010/08/fire-divas-quarterly-jewelry-challenge.html

Etsy Felt Left Out

2010-07-23T11:27:00.003-04:00

My Etsy shop was feeling pretty left out since the BOGO 33% off sale only included Artfire Items. It kept looking at me woefully, saying, "Why not meeee? Why not meeee?" To which I responded, "Because your too hard to ediiiiit! Because your too hard to ediiiiit!"

My Etsy shop didn't seem to care.

It can be very persistent.

So, finally, I sat down and edited my items, one by one, until they were all done. My Etsy shop is now officially included in my BOGO 33% off sale ("Thank yooooou!" "You're welcooooome!").

BOGO 33% off all items (except tutorials). Discount given as a refund on the item of lesser or equal value after payment is received. There is no limit per order, the sale can end at any time, and the weirdness is sprinkled on for free.

Soda/lime vs Borosilicate

2010-07-14T08:53:00.005-04:00

Back when I first started lampworking, I had no idea there were different types of glass. In fact, I didn't even know there were different glass manufacturers. All I knew was that I needed something called "Effetre." No one ever told me about COE.

Now I own glass from many different manufacturers - Effetre, Vetrofond, Creation is Messy, Lauscha, Reichenbach, Devardi, Gaffer, and Double Helix (I may be forgetting some!). This doesn't even include all the frit, shards, or murrini makers I've purchased from. It is amazing how far I've come!

Soon after the start of my lampworking career I learned about COE. COE is the coefficient of expansion; glasses have to be the same COE to be compatible. All the glass I was using was COE 104, and it was called soda/lime glass. There are exceptions; for instance, glass with a COE of 96 (such as Reichenbach and Gaffer) can be used sparingly in 104. However, there was another type of glass I learned about, too. It had a COE of 33! It needed a lot of heat, and the pieces were generally bigger; most of what I saw were detailed, complex sculptures, and pendants where the design moved up and into the glass....how did they do that?? This glass was called borosilicate. I was in awe and I looked up to boro workers with revere. I knew that was something I would never do. I couldn't get a torch that big, or have enough heat. I couldn't create things that incredible, or that difficult. After all, I was making tiny 1/2" beads on my starter torch - a hot head.

Things change. I upgraded my torch to a bobcat and learned that on my 5lmp oxycon I could do small boro. That was kind of cool to know...you know, just in case. But it wasn't like I would really do boro. Then, some boro shorts were put up for sale.; I thought I would just get them to try later. Finally I succumbed to my curiosity and sprung for the eyewear - shade 5 Boroscope fit-overs - and dove head-in.

The difference is amazing! The glass takes much more heat, for one thing. I knew this but nonetheless I was very surprised. The glass gets so hot that I can feel the heat on my face; something that never happens with 104. Also, the glass is very stiff. It is harder to get the fluid, liquid-like shape that is so easy (sometimes frustatingly easy!) with 104. There is an advantage, though - that stiffness makes it easier to heat and shape tiny parts without melting down your entire piece. The stiffness also makes implosions a piece of cake.

Borosilicate doesn't shock nearly as easily, making large sculptures possible. Even with my limited oxygen supply I was able to create a 68mm seahorse sculpture with ease. You can put the rods right in the flame with no shattering, and you can make components of your piece then set them aside to use later without the risk of them cracking into bits. The first few times I heated a boro rod, I held my breath, leaned back and turned my face a bit, shoved the tip in the flame and flinched. If I did that with soda/lime, I would have frit all over the floor. It took some getting used to!

So with all these benifits to boro, why use soft glass? There are several reasons. First, the borosolicate pallete is seriously limited. There are a few manufacturers, but none of them have the extensive color lines that the soda/lime manufacturers do. Along those same lines, the soda/lime glasses are, generally, much brighter colors.

Second, soda/lime glass is much cheaper. Sales aside, you can get a pound of standard soda/lime color for $13-15 per pound. Silver glass is expensive (up to $100/lb), but it is not, by any means, a necessity when working 104. Add sales into the mix, and you can buy 104 glass for as little as $2/lb. Borosilicate, on the other hand, is quite expensive. Generally you can expect to pay $10 or so for a quarter pound of glass; a large percentage of boro colors are $50 or more per pound.

The third advantage is the cheaper start-up. If you want to start with 104, you just need a hot head torch ($40). To do boro, though, you'll have to have a surface mix torch (starting at about $200), and an oxycon (starting at about $250).

Finally, another 104 advantage is the fluid motion of the glass. It makes it easier to shape small pieces, wind onto a mandrel, and make smaller details on your work.

I love 104. I've been working it for 3 years and have a very nice collection of glass and "fun stuff" to use. I love having that extensive color pallette and putting details on my beads. There is so much I can do with soda/lime glass! However, I now love borosilicate as well. It fills a gap for me; I can do implosions and sculptures, which are things I tried repeatedly to do with soda/lime and failed. I now feel like I have the best of both worlds, and I have an array of possibilities ahead of me.

Boro Seahorse Sculpture

Boro Flower Implosion

Soda/lime Copper Mesh Focal

Sale!

2010-07-06T10:57:00.002-04:00

I want another oxycon - I need more power!! To get the funds I need, I'm having a BOGO 33% off sale on all Artfire items (excluding tutorials). The sale could end at any time!

SHOP NOW!

33% off discount given as a refund on item of equal or lesser value after payment is received.

Fun in the Sun

2010-06-30T15:08:00.002-04:00

Spring used to be my favorite season. Lately, however, summer is taking its place. One of the main reasons for this is the fact that my oldest daughter is out of school. Come fall, I'll have a kid in first grade and another beginning his educational career in preschool - a nearly empty house! For now, though, I have all thee babies home with me every day.

We've been doing lots to stay busy. They love the little kiddie pool, and we sectioned of a part of our back yard that we now call "The Playground." In addition to our pool and playground days, we have "Craft Day" which is my favorite part of the week. We went to A.C. Moore's, Michael's, Dollar Tree, and Wal-Mart and stocked up on all those fun things kids like to create with, like foam stickers, color-by-number, perler beads, and more. Every Wednesday they get to pick one craft project and we spend the morning creating works of art to show Daddy when he gets home. My oldest daughter is turning six in August, and she is at that fun girly age, so once a week we do our nails; of course, my son and youngest daughter have to join in and get their fingernails and toenails filed too! Then we have doctor appointments, eye exams, hearing tests, and best of all, mini vacations to keep us going all summer long.

I'm having a great time, and cherishing the days I get to spend with my kids at this young and innocent age. What does this mean for my shops, though? Well, I'm getting in torch time whenever I can, so I have a growing collection of new beauties to list. When the school season begins again and I have that interesting new quiet time, I'll be able to photograph and list my sparkly creations. Don't worry, though, I still have many beads for sale in my shops!

To leave you all with a little teaser, I'll just say that right now I am having tons of fun with fine silver, cubic zironias, and antique keys, and I have many ideas in mind for beads to come.

My Studio - Part 6

2010-06-21T06:14:00.000-04:00

This post is the conclusion of a series of blog postings beginning here. At the end of the last post, I had nearly completed my studio.

After I moved all my things over, we hooked up my gas line and checked it for leaks. Then we tested my ventilation. Everything was working perfectly. The only thing left to do inside the studio was set up my glass storage. Sorting and organizing 175lbs of glass seemed like quite an obstacle.

I searched the indispensable lampworketc.com for storage ideas. Finally, inspiration struck. A couple years ago we had purchased a closet organizer from Lowe's. It was 31" high by 12" wide by 12" deep - the perfect size! We went there and bought four of the units, brought them home, and assembled them. Then we stacked 5" lengths of pvc into the units. It worked wonderfully. I spent an entire day sorting and organizing my glass into the pvc, and spread out my frit on top.

The next day I got to try it out. I spent 3.5 hours at the torch - my longest session ever! The glass storage worked perfectly and I had a wonderful time. Being in my studio was amazing. The ventilation meant no painful bulky respirator on my face. All my tools were at my fingertips. I didn't feel all gross, dusty, and dirty like I did in the garage. Here are some of the beads I made:

We still have to paint the exterior of the studio, so it isn't technically finished. However, it is totally torchable and I know that I will spend countless happy hours inside the clean, creativity inducing environment. I couldn't be happier.

My Studio - Part 5

2010-06-17T05:44:00.000-04:00

Click here to go back to part 1. When I ended, the panels had just gone up over the insulation in my studio. See more construction pictures below!

My 8' tandem four-bulb cold-start light:

My husband and I were finally able to get in there and do some work. First, we tiled the work table and the wall around it (the butterflies I stenciled didn't survive the grouting later). We got the white tiles on clearance at Lowe's for only $0.08 each!

The floor was next (tiles on sale for only $0.57 each at Lowe's):

Then came the paint on the walls, piping in the gas through the wall, the grout around all the tiles, and duct work. We're not so sure about the ducting yet. We still have to test it. After all that, of course, I couldn't wait to start moving stuff over:

Next I moved over the rest of my stuff and got it organized enough for the time being:

Read the conclusion of my studio next time.

BOGO Artfire Sale!

2010-06-08T20:29:00.001-04:00

We're going on vacation! We are leaving for a week to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. I want you to celebrate, too! Instead of closing my shop, I decided to offer a BOGO 33% off* sale in my Artfire shop! This is ONLY available at my Artfire shop and will start 6-9 and end 6-16. The catch? You'll have to wait until I get back from vacation for me to ship your purchase on 6-17.

You can find these and more in my shop:

Warm My Heart

Flame

Infinity

Smoke in the Window

*Second item of equal or lesser value. Excludes tutorials. Discount will be given as refund after payment is received.

My Studio - Part 4

2010-06-07T05:27:00.005-04:00

If you haven't read parts 1, 2, or 3, you're going to be pretty lost. You can go back and start with part 1 here. At the end of part 3, I just tucked myself in for a long winter's nap. You can read what happened next by reading on below.

I did a lot of reading that winter. The more I read about ventilation and safety the more I realized I was not in a safe torch environment. We bought three box fans to help circulate the air, and I bought a respirator. It wasn't a solution, but it helped. We talked about setting up a studio. We would have to buy a building and customize it to meet my needs. The problem was, we were trying to sell our house. It didn't make sense to spend all that money on a studio when we were going to be moving. We put the house on the market before our third was born, but it didn't sell, so we took it off right before she was born. After a few months we put the house back on the market, and then off again because school had started, and then on again, and off again... You get the idea.

The winters were getting to me. Last winter I had to stop lampworking in November and couldn't start again until mid-April because it was so cold. I'd had enough. I decided there was no point in waiting. We haven't sold the house and had no idea if we ever would. I was working in unsafe conditions, I couldn't see the frit, shards, or other fun things I had to use in my beads because it was all stacked in piles, and I couldn't use any of my 175lbs of glass because it was piled into plastic storage containers. I was working with shorts, and that was on the few occasions I could even work at all. I gave my every hour to my family. I took care of everything when my husband went out of town every week. I couldn't even go to the bathroom alone. I had no time for me. It had to stop.

Two weeks later we started building my studio.

We bought a building kit from Home Depot and my dad put it together with his helper. They did a lot of extra reinforcing to make it super sturdy.

The floor framing:

Back wall is up:

Sides are up, and roof framing is done:
Shingled!

My ventilation system in the works. It's a furnace fan given to me for free by my Heating & Air neighbor:

Outside view:

The fan boxed in to create stronger suction:

The walls are insulted and paneled to keep me toasty in the winter. Panels going up:

The studio construction continues in part 5!

Fabulous Friday Weekly Promo Sale!

2010-06-04T06:00:00.000-04:00

This week's item is only going to be on sale until Wednesday evening. That's because my wonderful husband and I are leaving Thursday for a week-long celebration of our 10th anniversary!! We're going to be spending some time on the beach, so in honor of our trip, I've chosen this bead for the Weekly Promo Sale:

Beach's Bounty in Green

You can buy this incredible sculpted shell at Artfire or Etsy for 15% off - only $12.75. Don't forget to type FFWPS in the comments box to get your refund!

My Studio - Part 3

2010-06-03T05:25:00.004-04:00

If you haven't read parts 1 & 2, please start by reading part 1 here. When I left off, I'd just had our first child and had turned to beading to help keep busy. The story continues below.

Almost exactly two and a half years after our daughter, we had a son.

Johnathan

He was tiring! He didn't want to sleep through the night for the longest time. I'm not a "lack of sleep" person - I need my rest! I decided, although I rarely spent the money, that I deserved to treat myself to some beads from my local bead shop. I was looking around and stopped dead in my tracks when I saws a sign for an introduction to lampworking class! I immediately asked the price and then I signed up. She didn't know when they would hold the class; apparently I was the only one interested and the teacher couldn't hold a class for one student. They needed three. She told me to keep checking in.

I called every week. No one signed up. Finally, she told me she had someone else interested in the class, and they set a date. Then the date was postponed. Ahh!! When the day finally arrived I was beyond myself with nerves and excitement. The bead shop owner introduced me to the other student - it was her daughter. She explained that she knew how badly I wanted to take the class, so she signed her daughter up and asked the teacher to hold the class for the two of us. I'm still thankful.

With a flick of the hand the hot head roared to life. The moment I put the glass in the flame, everything in my life came together. I knew why I had struggled. I knew why nothing seemed to fit. I knew why my life had taken the course that it had. I knew what I was meant to do, and I walked out of that half-day class with a hot head kit and a feeling of completion.

Now to set up a work area! We had no idea what we were doing! It's amazing how many times my husband and I have just flown by the seat of our pants yet everything turned out ok. We bought a card table and cut some plywood to fit. Then we screwed a clamp onto it and attached my hot head to the plywood. I ordered a bulk propane hose and we stole the bbq tank off our rusted grill and hooked it up. We set this all up in the doorway of the garage, and I had a fiber blanket beside me. I splurged and spent $100 on single rods of glass in basic colors. I promised my husband that it was just that much money at first, and after that I could just replace what I used, which would be very little. Ahhh, how blissful ignorance really is (she says, thousands of dollars later!).

My first beads were so tiny! The first "focal" I made was a whopping 1/2". We couldn't believe how big it was! My spacers were about 2-3mm on average. I would lampwork on Saturday and Sunday for an hour and a half (I still had to nurse my son every two hours!). Once I had about 30 beads I took them to be annealed.

I had about two months of lampwork time before I got pregnant with our third child. It was difficult not being able to lampwork. In the meantime I was saving every penny of my birthday and holiday money to buy my own kiln, and I achieved that goal. Then I upgraded my torch to a bobcat, and bought an oxygen concentrator. Then I started buying other things. I bought tools, frit, and all kinds of things to help me expand my ability. If my husband said anything to me, I would remind him that I was very pregnant and unable to lampwork, or even breathe in peace. Buying glassy stuff was the only way for me to feel connected to the torch at a time when I couldn't fire it up. He didn't say much. He's a pretty smart guy!

Jasmine

By the time our third beautiful child, a girl, was born, I had gathered quite a bit of yummy glassy goodness! I was, however, still working in the doorway of the garage. I had about two months of lampwork time after I had recovered from my third c-section before it got too cold. The garage was freezing and I'm cold-natured. I had to wait three long months before I would lampwork again.

Part 4 is here.

My Studio - Part 2

2010-05-31T06:23:00.005-04:00

If you haven't read part one, please do so here. Where we left off, I had just met my husband. I continue below.

My husband knew my chosen career path was hopeless. I'd have to take both my beginning chemistry classes over again to raise the grade to even have a chance at graduating. We both knew that even students with a 4.0 gpa were rejected from vet school. There was also the little issue that I'd grown to hate the idea of it.

He knew I loved computers, and I was very good at it. I'd taught myself enough HTML to put together a dinky little web page in a time when all you had to work with was basic HTML and notepad. He suggested I change my major and I was thrilled with the idea. I did just that and loved the classes.

I didn't continue with it, though. I was a great programmer. My teachers were thrilled with my work and reassured me I would have an excellent career in programming. But we had changed schools and planned to get married, and to graduate with a computer science degree meant postponing our wedding two years. Instead I got what was called an Interdisciplinary degree. It was called a "waste basket" degree because it catches the credits that would be trash. It finds places for all your classes to count for something, and you have two concentrations. My major concentration was business (my father was thrilled!), and my minor concentration computer science. Even then I knew in the back of my mind that the entire degree belonged in the waste basket.

After graduation I stayed home while my husband went off to work and I had no idea what to do with myself. I'd made a mistake and didn't know how to fix it. My degree couldn't even get me temp jobs and I was miserable. We both decided I would go back to school. I enrolled in Winthrop and two years later graduated with an MBA with accounting emphasis, an excellent GPA, an incredible job offer at the third largest accounting firm in the world (at the time), and once again hating the choice I'd made. I liked bookkeeping and auditing but hated all the philosophies of accounting. I couldn't sit still longer than ten minutes when trying to read the books that promised to prepare me for the CPA exam. That was when I learned that being good at something didn't mean you liked it. I'd been raised to strive for excellence and I was smart, successful, desirable, and unhappy.

During the summer before I was to begin my job, I began having health problems. I was told there was a good chance I couldn't have kids. We'd had some issues in the past with this and we both got scared. We decided children were more important than my career. I have never regretted that decision. I got pregnant after a few months and we had a beautiful baby girl! The moment they put her in my arms I felt at peace.

Zayda

Of course, as most stay-at-home moms do, I got bored. When I'd been at Winthrop getting my MBA, my husband's aunt had sent me a bracelet for my birthday. She left the tag on and the price was $15 for beads and base metals. I thought, "This is pretty, but I can make it myself for way cheaper!" I had started beading to alleviate the boredom. Beading was what I turned to again. It turned out, as it usually does, that I was good at it...and I liked it.

I would sit with my daughter, bead necklaces, and watch "That's Clever" on tv. One day they had a woman who had a torch and melted some glass to make these adorable little beads. She made her own beads!! Oh my gosh!! You can make your own beads?? Wow, that would be way cheaper than buying them! That's so cool! But it was something I could never do. Yes, I was very hands-on, and crafty, and I rode horses and bailed hay and chased cows and tossed 50lb hay bails around when I was a teenager, but a torch was just too dangerous; it was out of my league. Oh well. Sigh.

Part 3 here.

My Studio - Part 1

2010-05-27T08:04:00.007-04:00

My blog posts have been few and far between. I was thinking about that the other night. It occurred to me that it might be nice to post about the studio we're working on. The problem is, for it to be significant, it would have to be clear what it means to me. Everyone would have to understand what lampworking means to me.

In order for that to happen, I have to go farther back than 3 years ago, when I first started lampworking. I have to go back much, much farther. So, here goes. It may take more than one post...hopefully those posts will actually be written.

My childhood sucked. There's no other way to put it. It was a blessing to graduate from high school a year early and go off to college. I went to Clemson as a pre-vet major. All my life I wanted to be a vet.

Some classes I had no problems acing, like biology and english, others I struggled with. For some classes, like chemistry, it was that I was thrown in with 100 other students in an auditorium and taught things that I had never seen before, while the two guys a few seats away complained about the material; apparently they had already learned it in high school. I'd taken the most advanced classes offered in my high school and the hardest thing we did was memorize the periodic table. Oddly enough, though, I had no problems in organic chemistry, where most students failed.

The other classes I struggled with were my animal science classes. They were easy enough. In fact, after growing up on a farm, I found them almost too easy. I just despised what we were required to do. I seemed to be the only one who had a problem with doing things like cutting a baby pig's stomach open to castrate him while he squealed with pain and tried desperately to free himself from between my knees, or giving daily bottle-feedings to a calf until he was ready for slaughter. When I questioned why we had to do things that way, why we couldn't anesthetize, I was told it was because that was how the farmers did it. Just because they do it that way doesn't mean it's right.

Like I said, I was struggling. I was, like I had been for most of my life, lost. Then halfway through my sophomore year, as fate would have it, I met my husband. He was a business major (which my dad always told me was a joke). He was cute, sweet, sensitive, and considerate. We were friends first, and we are friends still. For the first time in my life, I was found.

Continue with part 2 here.

Fabulous Friday Weekly Promo Sale!

2010-05-21T12:09:00.002-04:00

Today's Fabulous Friday Weekly Promo Sale item is:

Twisted Opals

Normally $13, if you type FFWPS in the comments box upon check-out you'll get this fantastic focal bead for only $11.05!* Find it at Artfire or Etsy.

* Price difference will be refunded after payment

Fabulous Friday Weekly Promo Sale and New Rule!

2010-05-14T11:45:00.003-04:00

Here is the new rule - to get 15% off, you MUST put "FFWPS" in the comments section upon check-out! The 15% will be refunded to your Paypal account.

This week's item is:

Rocky Mountain

Find it at Artfire or Etsy! Normally $13, if you enter the code above you'll receive a refund of $1.95 making it only $11.05!

Fabulous Friday Weekly Promo Sale!

2010-04-16T10:56:00.001-04:00

Today's sale item is:

Caramel Candy Lampwork Heart Pendant

It's normally $14, but for one week it is on sale for 15% off, making it only $11.90! Find it at Artfire or Etsy.

Fabulous Friday Weekly Promo Sale!

2010-03-26T10:26:00.003-04:00

Last week's Fabulous Friday item sold! Yeah! This week's item is:

Mossy Mesh - Copper Mesh Focal

Normally $11, it is on sale for only $9.35 - that's 15% off! Find it on Artfire or Etsy.

Shorty WearBot

2010-03-20T17:15:00.001-04:00

So there I was, calmly working a pendant on the end of a clean mandrel, when suddenly - POP! In a split second I came to two realizations; one, my mandrel was short a pendant, and two, the leg of my jeans was getting very warm. Still calm (probably due to shock), I looked down at my left thigh. There sat the top half of my pendant. It looked quite at home, to be honest.

"Gah!" My shriek was muffled by my respirator. I quickly flicked the pendant off my leg onto my glass-chip covered garage floor...but I was not letting it get away that easily! I reheated the tip of my mandrel in the flame and then stretched around my table with a pair of tweezers to grab my pendant. Once I had it in the tweezers I gave it a quick heat bath, then melted the bottom (where it had broken off) and shoved my warm mandrel tip back into it.

I looked around briefly for the bottom half of the pendant, determined to salvage that half, too. I couldn't find it anywhere. Still determined, I decided to melt and shape the now mangled bottom of the pendant on the mandrel. Somehow I succeeded to achieve an actually quite nice shape! I added some definition and a top loop, pulled it off the mandrel, and popped it into the kiln.

I still have no idea where the rest of the pendant is.

The result:

Meet Shorty WearBot! He is one of five, and they all currently reside in my Artfire and Etsy shops, waiting for someone (else?) to rescue them.

Fabulous Friday Weekly Promo Sales!

2010-03-19T10:32:00.006-04:00

I just love Fridays - don't you? It's the last day of the week and the door to a weekend of possibilities. It's the last day of work and the last day of school; a day of excitement. It is usually the first day of the week that I can torch. Plus, we can't forget it is the first day of the Frantz Art Glass weekly sale! All around, Friday is a fabulous day!

In honor of my favorite day of the week, I have decided to do Fabulous Friday Weekly Promo Sales! Every Friday I will pick an item from my shop and put it on sale - 15% off! It will remain on sale until it is sold, or the following Friday, when I will pick a new sale item (whichever comes first).

This Friday's item is a focal tube bead, Shades of Amber:

Buy it on Artfire or Etsy for only $10.20 - 15% off its regular price of $12!

Fun with Hearts

2010-03-16T08:47:00.006-04:00

I love making hearts. They are fun to make, and I can play with lots of different combinations and elements. I can swirl colors:

I can alternate opaques and transparents:

I can embed copper cut-outs:

I can add frit and mica powder:

I can "crunch" them (transparent wrap followed by encasement):

I can wrap them in shards:

I can play with my favorite glass, raku:

I can even add flowers to them:

In addition to all that, I can combine any of these techniques to for a new look! I like experimenting and seeing what I can create. That is where most of the fun is.

The other night in bed inspiration struck! I could not wait to get out to the torch and see if I could make my idea a reality. I knew it would be beyond anything I had done up to this point, whether on- or off-mandrel, but I felt confident I could pull it off. I was so excited to find out I was right! I could hardly wait until the kiln cooled in the morning.

Meet my newest creations, mommy hearts and lovers:

I am thrilled with these! They are fun to make, and I can combine all the other elements that I have used in the past with these new styles. I can coordinate colors and inclusions and on and on. It is so exciting for me! I feel like I have opened a new door in my work, both off- and on-mandrel. I can't wait to expand on this at my next torch session!

Fire Divas Quarterly Jewelry Challenge

2010-03-12T12:00:00.001-05:00

It's time for the Fire Divas Quarterly Jewelry Challenge! The theme for this challenge is Spring! Show us your beautiful Spring themed jewelry creations featuring Fire Divas' lampwork. Head over to the Flickr site to see many beautiful jewelry pieces made with Fire Divas' lampwork to inspire you! You have the chance to win these incredible prizes from the Fire Divas:

$50 Gift Certificate to http://www.hollysfolly.com

$25 Gift Certificate to http://www.lajewelrydesigns.artfire.com or
http://www.LAJewelryDesigns.etsy.com

$20 Gift Certificate to http://www.teasebeads.artfire.com or
http://www.teasebeads.etsy.com

Bentley the Blue dog from Lauren of Maybeads

$25 Gift Certificate to http://www.arensea.artfire.com

$25 Gift Certificate to http://www.beadygirlbeads.etsy.com

$20 Gift Certificate to http://www.lutrick.artfire.com

$20 Gift Certificate to http://www.BabsBeadsandDesign.artfire.com

$20 Gift Certificate to http://www.JanelDudleyBeads.etsy.com

Now for the details:

All submissions must feature Fire Divas' lampwork. We require the name of the Fire Diva who made the beads used in the submitted piece, so if you submit something, please be ready to provide that information.

We will allow one submission per person per contest, and a maximum of two photos per submission. Entries may be submitted here (http://www.flickr.com/groups/firedivachallenge/) for approval, no later than April 15, 2010. Please include, in the comments section, the following:
Information about the beads:
Description of the piece:
Inspiration for the piece:
Submissions will not be approved without all of this information.

Fire Divas reserve the right to approve or reject any submissions.

Fire Divas reserve the right to modify or cancel the challenge at any time.

The winners will be determined by an open poll which does not allow multiple votes.

Ok, go have fun creating, and good luck to all who enter!

Fire Divas Easter/Passover Challenge

2010-03-11T11:21:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Fire Divas Easter/Passover Challenge! We've allowed plenty of time to shop for those Easter and Passover beads. Below are the entries; take a good look at all that eye candy and then vote for your favorite on the right side of the Fire Divas Blog!

Entry 1:

Entry 2:

Entry 3:

Entry 4:

Entry 5:

Entry 6:

Entry 7:

Entry 8:

Entry 9:

Defrosting!

2010-02-22T12:46:00.002-05:00

The weather is starting to warm up a bit. Everything is defrosting. That means soon I'll be able to get back to that torch! I can't wait - it has been so long. I just want to go out there and create for hours!

Unfortunately that means I need room for my new creations, and around here space is scarce. Because of that, I am having a "Cleaning Out My Closet" event. All my items (except tutorials) are permanently marked down to help make some room. This applies to both my Etsy and Artfire shops.

As far as my new creations...well, you can believe that when I get to that torch again, I'll be letting everyone know!

Fire Divas January Blues Challenge

2010-02-02T17:16:00.001-05:00

In honor of the blue moons this month, The Fire Divas are holding a January Blues Challenge! You can see big pictures of the entries below, then vote for your favorite on the Fire Diva Blog! The voting will be open for one week, and will end on February 7. Please go vote!

Entry #1

Entry #2

Entry #3

Entry #4

Entry #5

Entry #6

It's Official...

2010-01-29T18:28:00.002-05:00

...I hate fusing! I tried, I really did, but I just don't like it. I don't mind doing little things; I was successful at making a few dichroic pendants and some barrettes (all of which sit in a bowl in dire need of finishing). Nonetheless, behind the torch is where I belong. Unfortunately it is still so cold here! That means no torching - I am going through withdrawal. Once it warms up I'll be out there as often as I can! I am counting down the days!

In the meantime, I am building my glass inventory. I've branched out into Double Helix and Devardi glass. Double Helix Ekho is devine, and I bought it at my favorite vender, Frantz Art Glass, for 35% off! I bought a couple other colors so we will see how those are once I can try them out. Believe it or not, I finally made a list of the colors I don't have yet, and I am working on stocking my studio with those.

I was fortunate enough a couple weeks ago to get some work done; I had enough time to make two beads. I have a large bag of shorts (about 10lbs) and I just went out there and played for a while. Eventually I will get around to listing them, so keep a lookout for two multi-color focals!

Fire Divas Thanksgiving Challenge

2009-11-22T17:38:00.001-05:00

To celebrate the season of giving, the Fire Divas are having a Thanksgiving Challenge! Some of our members have made wonderful pieces for YOU to vote on. First, enjoy viewing these wonderful treasures. When you're done, please vote for the bead you are thankful for on right side of the Fire Divas' blog. The voting will stay open for one week - then the winner will receive a really cool prize!

2009-10-29T11:40:00.001-04:00

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Fire Divas are having a Breast Cancer Awareness Challenge! Several of our members have made wonderful pieces for YOU to vote on. First, you can feast your eyes on these beauties in big, clear pictures. When you're done savoring them, please vote for your favorite in bite-sized images on the right side of the Fire Divas' blog. The voting will stay open for one week - then the winner will receive a really cool prize!

Go vote on the Fire Divas Blog.

Let the fusing begin...

2009-10-20T08:43:00.002-04:00

It looks like we are having an early winter this year. Unfortunately for me, that means no more lampworking!! I work in my garage and with the kiln, oxycon, and fans, there is no power left for the heaters I need to keep warm. I've packed up my glass and put it in the closet to remain untouched for the cold months.
Now what? We considered having the garage rewired to handle the extra power requirements of the 3-4 heaters I would need to stay warm enough with the garage door open or ventilation. We also considered buying a small building and setting it up as my studio. We finally settled on something entirely different.
I am going to start fusing glass! It doesn't take any modification to the garage or a new building. It just takes tools and sheet glass, both of which are on their way to me. I'll still need to run the kiln, but without the oxycon and fans going I'll be able to run the heaters. Plus I won't need the garage door open so that means less heaters to stay warm.
I plan to make funtional pieces as well as jewelry...stay tuned to see what comes out of the kiln!

Copper Shapes

2009-09-30T21:23:00.006-04:00

Copper, as well as other metals, can be used in glass to achieve an artistic affect. I have used copper mesh in the past; I love the change in color when it is encased in glass. I've tried using copper sheet as well, but the sheet I bought was a little thick and because of that it was hard to form to the shape of the bead. I liked the idea, though!

A couple of weeks ago I saw a fellow lampworker offering copper shapes. The shapes were punched out of a very thin gauge of copper sheet. I had to buy some. This weekend I was able to make good use of them. Since I have been on a heart kick lately (they are just so fun to make!), I decided to use the copper shapes to accent the hearts. I tried out a butterfly, a tiny heart, and a snowflake and I am very pleased with the results! They added a very nice touch. Copper shapes are definitely going to be a recurrence in my work now.

Trying Something New

2009-09-17T11:15:00.003-04:00

Inspiration comes in many ways. I recently saw a beadable bookmark with a heart design, and I thought, "A dangly heart would look so pretty on the end of that!" So, naturally, I next wondered if I could make one. At my first opportunity on my torch, that is exaclty what I tried to do. There is a way of making glass art called "off-mandrel." This means the artist does not wind the glass on a release-covered glass rod, and instead does everthing on the end of a glass rod (called a punty), removes the piece from the punty, and places it in the kiln. I've had poor luck at off-mandrel work in the past; I usually end up dropping my piece on my table (I have the burn marks to prove it!). However I recently began using a new method to make twisties; I learned about adding the glass to the end of a clean mandrel, and pulling the twistie that way. I decided to try to actually make the entire heart on the end of a clean mandrel. I don't know if this has been done before (it probably has), but that is how I decided to try it. I added my glass, shaped my heart, formed the loop, then heated and pulled the heart of the clean mandrel and popped it into my kiln. I made two attempts, and then waited quite impatiently until the next morning when the kiln had cooled.

I was very pleased with the result! In my humble opinion, they came out fabulous! I was so excited that I spent the entire torch session that afternoon on making hearts, and I made a nice raku pendant in that same manner. I think this technique is a valuable one with lots of potential, and I can't wait to see what else I can do with it...after I make some more hearts, that is!

All Grown Up

2009-08-17T20:20:00.002-04:00

My little girl is 5. Ok, I know, she isn't actually grown up...but it sure feels that way. This month she starts Kindergarten and it is horrifying. I know she'll do great - she is very social and incredibly smart. The thought of her going there all day, every day, by herself, is so scary to me though! Will other kids make fun of her because she is small? Will the teachers be mean to her because she likes to socialize? Will they, like her preschool teacher, enjoy the fact that she can tell time, or will it annoy them instead? Will she have a hard time being the youngest in the class? Most importantly, will she be safe? I just tell myself to have faith that everything will be ok. It is a nice elementary school, and they only have four Kindergarten classes. When I toured it, I was quite happy with the set-up.

It is exciting to think that she will be expanding her abilities. She is already reading, but I look forward to her reading larger, harder words, and doing math, and seeing what else they teach her. A week from tomorrow is her testing day, and she starts going every day a week after that. We have a pretty busy schedule the next two weeks, so it will go by entirely too quickly. In a flash she will begin a long, and hopefully very successful, educational experience, and our lives will change dramatically forever. I just hope I don't cry.

TGI...Thursday?

2009-08-06T10:54:00.003-04:00

Yup, sometimes Thursdays can be good! I think of Thursday as the door to the weekend. On this particular Thursday, I have a lot to look forward to. Tomorrow marks the end of our last free week. Saturday begins a slew of t-ball practices, doctors' appointments, kindergarten responsibilities, and much more, including two very important birthdays. One will be reaching kindergarten age, and one will be celebrating a first birthday. The best part is, birthdays at my house means presents for every kid, so no one is left out.

Today, however, I get to enjoy the quiet. I will get to lampwork this afternoon, which allows me to express myself creatively, jam to my music, and have some time to myself. It is, for me, an incredible release. Tomorrow I can list the fruits of this afternoon's labor. In addition, I have the incredibly exciting anticipation of a huge 20lb box of glass making its way to me and scheduled to arrive tomorrow. Afterward, I can handle the landslide.

Yes, thank goodness it's Thursday.

Well, I Created a Blog!

2009-07-29T16:46:00.002-04:00

Blogs here, blogs there, blogs everywhere. I finally decided I should have my own. But where to begin?
I guess I'll share what a glassy week I had. Monday I received a 7.5lb order of glass from the Frantz 35% off/free shipping sale. I had a great time unwrapping that! I just love a new glass order. There is so much melty goodness in every box! I was thrilled with my order - I got lots of new messy colors that I have been waiting to get on sale for a long time now. I have about 50 messy colors now, and I hope to get more. I finally bought some EDP too - I am not sure if I am more excited or more frightened by it!
I also have about 17lbs of glass on hold at Frantz that I will have shipped this week, probably Friday. I am really looking forward to that becuase I got tons of stuff half-off that I have not been able to try yet, and I also bought enough clear, black, white, and ivory to replenish my diminishing stock. My only complaint is that it takes a full week to get my order because they are on the opposite coast - I am so darn impatient!
On top of all that glass, today I got a mix of marked/unmarked rods (two pounds) from a fellow LE member and it was fantastic! There are all kinds of rod in there, including some old coral and lauscha. I also got five new murrini blends from Lori and Kim on etsy. Their blends are beautiful and I am totally addicted to them.
We have been working on my new glass storage for almost a week now and it is turning out great. We used an old China cabinet that we had and filled it with pvc. It looks great and I'll be sure to post a picture once I get all my glass into it.
On a different note, I am almost done with all the red in the cross stitch I am working on. This is actually quite a feat when you are working on a 16" Christmas stocking that is fully stitched! It will be my first fully-stitched piece. I hope to have it done by Thanksgiving so we can hang it with the other two - all three kids will have a beautiful Gold Collection Cross Stitch stocking...and Mommy and Daddy are next. :D