Calla Lilly Blooms
Calla Lillies are one of my favorite flowers. Watch this bead “bloom” with Calla Lillies. It is a fun and simple tutorial.
Posts Tagged ‘creative’
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Big Savings Saturday
I’m going to do something I’ve never done before, so here goes:
Saturday, December 18th, I will be doing my last vendor event before Christmas at the Baldwin Patterson American Legion, 2211 E. 42nd St, DSM, 5031 from 9-2pm.
Wait . . . it’s coming . . .
Anyone who wants to come shop from me at this event will receive a 20% discount on their total purchase. Here’s your opportunity to get your last minute shopping done and have change enough to get a little something for your self too. Make sure you mention that you saw this post on the website.
I’ve never done this before and may never do it again, so make plans to come over and do some shopping. Tweet this to your friends and share it on Facebook so more people can partake in this one day discount.
(offer only applies to in person sales at the American Legion, no web sales and no custom orders apply)
Can’t wait to see who takes advantage of this big sale!
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Just Beadiful Girlz Launch with “Noel”
Just Beadiful Girlz first doll - Noel
I am so excited to announce the launch of Just Beadiful Girlz, a limited edition collection of darling little girl dolls. They are each handmade from imported Italain glass, wire, and small glass beads and designed by me. They stand about 2 1/2″ tall and can be ordered in either a pendant style or pin.
The first Just Beadiful Girlz doll is “Noel” and she is a cutie. Noel has a lime green dress with candy cane trim. She’s wearing red and green stockings and has red curly hair. Each doll comes with a certificate of authenticity, signed and numbered by the artist. If you’re a collector of all things cute, then you won’t want to miss the opportunity to own Noel, who is the first in the series.
Visit the shop and order your Just Beadiful Girlz Noel doll before they are all gone.
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Murrini Cane Makes a Beautiful Addition
Murrini cane, what is it? I had the opportunity to take a class in which we made our own cane. They were faces and each component of the face, the eye, nose, lips had to be made first, then combined to complete the face and pulled to make cane. It is very labor intensive to make just one small piece of cane.
I want to share a video with you that I saw in which Murrini cane is incorporated into a beautiful blown glass piece. As you watch the video, watch the guy’s face and the intensity and sweat involved in creating just one piece. Enjoy!
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Display – Simple and Effective
be creative with your displays
When selling at an art show or vending event, there are many cool and unique ways to display lampwork beads and glass art. I’ve tried several different ways of displaying my beads in the past, but the beads would always do their own thing and roll off the display tray.
Out of necessity to stabilize my wandering beads, I purchased long grain, white rice. I spread a thin layer of rice on my display tray, then lay out the beads where I want them. They stay there perfectly still, no rolling around. White rice works rather well to allow the true colors of the beads to show nicely on the display tray.
Another display choice can be lentils. Lentils come in a variety of colors and are fun to add color to your vending display. One thing I’ve learned from using lentils though is that the colored ones can distract from your bead work. So, choose your colored lentils wisely or your jewelry won’t pop on display.
What cool display props do you use? Do tell.
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My Lampworking “Desk”
my glass torch desk
Last week, Michael C. Wagner wanted to see fellow serial entrepreneur’s desks. I have multiple desks and I wondered, hey Mike, would you like to see an artist’s desk? Well here it is. It is where I go deep with my creative juices. Look close and see if you find anything significant. Happy hunting!
What does your desk look like? What place inspires you to go deep with your creative side?
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Sunday Funday
Happy Sunday Everyone! I just want to share a couple of pictures of some of the projects I completed this week. Special orders are pouring in for the holidays so make sure you get your requests in early. I love a challenge and love collaborating ideas with clients so get creative and challenge me!
turquoise and glass bracelet
Here is a turquoise and Italian glass bracelet accented with sterling silver and an Indian head replicated coin. It is a great piece and compliments the necklace and earrings that go with it nicely.
black. white and clear dance well together on this bracelet.
I had such a good time creating this great piece. I love how the black and white contrast but compliment each other and the swarovski crystals are the disco ball at the dance and make everything sparkle.
Hope you enjoy your weekend and create something that makes you smile.
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Brake Line Tube Used in Lampwork
Brake Line Tube used to blow glass
Yesterday we talked about mandrels and how you can cut costs by making your own from stainless steel welding rod. But what is that odd ended thing in the photo on the right? It is a piece of brake line tubing. This is a little trick that another lampworker taught me years ago. You use it to blow smaller glass balls and ornaments. I got mine at the local automotive supply store. They were also kind enough to cut it in two for me. (got that with a smile)
I’ve had fun playing with my brake line tube. I practice blowing small ornaments every now and then but could probably use more practice, or maybe a glass blowing class would be fun.
What’s your favorite glass blowing tip?
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Trim $$ With Homemade Mandrels
mandrels come in many sizes
You hear the word “mandrel”, what is it? A mandrel is the rod that you use to make lampwork beads. The mandrel is dipped in a separating solution called sludge before it is heated by the torch and melted glass is swirled around it. If you’re a lampworker already, then you know what a mandrel is. But, did you know that there are alternatives to the standard mandrels that you buy from your glass supplier?
It is great to purchase a package of mandrels from a glass supply store because they come in a neat little package, each one is the same size as the next and all ends are rounded, not sharp or jagged. I especially like the larger mandrels from the supplier because they are lighter in weight.
But here is an affordable alternative to buying every mandrel, because we all know how quickly you can use up a thin mandrel and need to replace it. Buy Stainless Steel Welding Rod from your local welding store. It comes in bulk packages that are three feet long and costs a lot less than mandrels purchased from the glass supply store. You need to make sure you ask for “stainless steel” rod. My favorite sizes are 1/16″ and 3/32″ because they are easier to cut with heavy cutters.
I have become extremely lazy about cutting welding rod too. buying it in bulk gives you tons of mandrels because you can cut each rod into 1/3rds. As you cut the rod, don’t cut it in one swift cut, but rather “dent” the rod with the cutters, then rotate the rod slightly, dent it again, rotate, dent again . . . until the rod is cut and has rounded ends, not jagged. I can accomplish this in about 4 squeezes of the cutters. Anything larger than 3/32″ is almost too difficult for a person to hand cut, but you can use a cutting saw to cut through larger mandrels if you like. Just remember to smooth and taper the ends so that the beads you make don’t get hung up when you try to take them off. Also remember that larger homemade mandrels will weigh more than purchased ones. (you can see in the photo above that the large hole mandrels on the left were purchased and have easily managed thin handles which takes away the extra weight)
Do you have ways to trim $$ in your lampwork? Please tell me.
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“Marverlous” Tool
two graphite paddles on left and a brass shaper on right with beads that were shaped with a marver
A couple of posts ago, We talked about the essential tools you need to get started in lampworking.
So, let’s take a look at one of the basic tools you will need, a marver.
A marver is a shaping tool used when working with molten glass. They are usually made of graphite so that molten glass doesn’t stick to them. You can purchase marvers at your glass supply store where you can choose many different sizes and shapes. I think for your first marver you would really enjoy something like the one in the picture on the left. It has a beveled edge, a rounded edge, a square edge, and a large flat surface. A very handy first marver. You can purchase something similar from Arrow Springs.
The marver in the picture on the right is a brass marver. A brass marver is a little different than a graphite marver in that it will “push” and “pull” molten glass easier, making sculpting quicker. Brass and graphite paddles have a different feel when working with them, so it comes down to personal preference.
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