Kelley's Bead Studio a real Etsy Treasure!

When I "shop" Kelley's Bead Studio, I love everything I see!!!  If I didn't make lampwork beads myself,

 I know 

where I'd be shopping!!!!  Wow!  I love Kelley's work!

I had the privilege to meet Kelley once in Atlanta.  Her smile will light up a room!  Her great talent warms the heart.  Look at some of the items from her Etsy shop, and see what I mean!!!

Look at these headpins that Kelley has featured in her store.  Aren't they fun?  Think of all the pieces of wearable art that you could make with them!  Wow!  The design possibilities are tremendous!  I love the colors and the look of the eyes in each headpin..

Before I forget, they are called

Try to Love Again.

Aren't they fun?

 These nuggets look delicious!!!!

They are called "Whispering Wind Nuggets."

I love what Kelley does with the swirls.

They look good enough to lick, and I might.

Love, love, love these!!!!

Perfect for your summer beading,

Green Swirls Lampwork Beads

in Kelley's store.

Aren't they pretty? I just love them.  My beading mind is racing with design possibilities.

You can't leave Kelley's store without looking at one of her fun focals.

Isn't this one gorgeous?

It's called

Desert Sunset Swirls Focal.

Nummy!

I wubs Kelley's beads!

Be sure to visit her Etsy store for more great beads!

You won't be sorry you did!!!

Featured Artist: Sue of Sue Beads on Etsy

Sue, a multi talented artist, is a seller on Etsy. She features lampwork beads, enameled beads, and silver pendants in her store. Let's take a quick tour of her store.

I'm not sure how Sue makes these pendants, but I love these pendants! Sue calls this one Flower Power Silver Heart Pendant.
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I love this pendant!









These are some of Sue's enameled Beads. I am so impressed! I love these beads
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Be sure to check out all over her enameled beads! They are really awesome!


Sue calls these beads
Garden Rondelles Enameled Beads.
Look at the details in these beads!
Wow!



Last, but not least, I want to showcase Sue's lampwork beads. Isn't this focal amazing?
This is called Lime and Aqua Focal.

Wow! Sue is such a multi talented artist!

Metals and Lampwork Beads

I love making lampwork beads! I love copper! I love wire!
So, what do you think of this pendant?
I learned to make the pod bead in Sally LaGrand's class at the Bead and Button Show last June!
The holder for the pod came out,
so I was able to add it to the
copper pendant
with small scrolls.
I'm keeping this one!
I have also been wanting a copper cuff.
What do you think of my new cuff?
I used a chalcedony lentil bead to the copper.
So,
do you like my new jewelry?

Making a Necklace

How do you make a necklace. Here's what I did. first I made the chain. It's a viking knit chain necklace. That was step one.














Step two: Lay out the beads the way you think they would look good on this necklace. I made all the beads, and I've very happy I made them.

















Sometimes, things happen and change, but the result is still wonderful!

















This is one I'm keeping! I love my new necklace!

Button, Button, Who's Got the Button?

I do! These are fun to make. I have this one in my 1000Markets store. I love the colors, and the brightness of the button!














These buttons are in my Etsy store.


















I call them Bahama Mama's Buttons because they remind me of an island in the tropics.


















I don't have a home for this button yet, but I am thinking, maybe my 1000Markets store?




















I love the colors in this button. It's the opposite of the first button. We'll see where I list this.



















I call this button, "Grape Sherbert." I'm getting hungry. Later there will be more buttons, and then, maybe we can play the game.
Button, button, who's got the button.

Some of my Beads Amaze Me!

When I work on the torch making a bead, I often have a specific idea in mind of what I would like to accomplish. Sometimes it's the use of specific colors for reactions. Most often, it's a technique I would like to practice. The beads that I have showcased here were beads that amazed me when they came out of the kiln. The final product was not what I had intended and had not been planned. I didn't see the result on one bead until I attempted to photograph it and held it in the light.

When I looked at this bead, I immediately saw a Christmas or pine tree. I had used a special glass called filigrana to see if I could achieve a different effect. The result was not what I expected. Can you see the tree?

I've shown this bead before. I used a combination of shards (thin pieces of hand blown glass that are broken into pieces) and fine silver wire. I melted in the shards to the molten glass that was already on the mandrel, then I added the wire which melted into droplets of silver. I pressed the bead, and put the bead in the kiln. I knew that both sides of the beads would be different after soaking. I didn't know how different they would be. What do you see on the second bead? I see a lady in the stars with the lights of sunset behind her.

This bead is the bead that amazed me only after I tried to photograph it with the light behind it. What do you see? I see a side portrait of a man in the transparent blue.

The last bead is one I have named Tornado. I added different glass colors to this bead, including silvered ivory stringer (SIS). I just wanted to rake the layers to mix the colors. When this bead came out of the kiln, I saw it! Tornado!

Let me know. Do you see what I see or do you see other things? I'd really like to hear your ideas!

I'm Shopping Till I'm Dropping on Etsy!

I hate to say this, but I am stuck on glass artists! I will try to find other types of artists to feature as I shop Etsy, but, dang it all, I love glass!

We're off to visit Bead Towne owned and operated by Maggie Towne. Maggie is the queen of discs! Take a look at these yummy Crocus Discs. OMG! Aren't they beautiful! Maggie used a glass called crocus. These just look so warm and spring like. I think it's something we need to remind us that we are headed towards spring even as winter decends on us. Love that color, and Maggie's discs are great. What fun to use in jewelry!



Didn't I say that this would be a wonderful trip?

Here's something that all of us can use--Zero Calorie Chocolates!

















That's my kind of chocolate! Nummy! These pieces of candy look good enough to eat!

Now, don't think that this is all that is in Maggie's store. Take a look at this shell. Maggie makes wonderful sea shells. This one is no exception!
It's made with precious River Rock Glass, and it's stunning! Didn't I tell you she could make great shells?
















On a more whimsical note, check out this set of discs and "ladies." Who would not want one of these? Think of the possibilities. Wow!















Before I forget, Maggie also has a blog. Check it out! All right, I am now officially tired. I might take a break from shopping for a couple of days, but I'm not sure. It's so easy and convenient to shop from home. We'll see. We shall see.

I'm Shopping Etsy Again!

All right, I have to admit, I am playing favorites again. Today, we are going to shop the store of a dear Kiwi friend of mine, Deb Batten. Her store's name on etsy is: Firebird Flamework. Deb also has a website where you can visit and find her wares, but I want to concentrate on her Etsy store today. Oh, and before I forget, Deb also has a wonderful blog that I'm sure you'll enjoy. She's one busy lady!








Isn't this bead awesome! She has named it Aneirin. Isn't is stunning? Can you imagine wearing it on a chain around your neck? It is amazing!














This bead is called Aquium. It does remind me of the flow of water on a river bed. Amazing, isn't it? Oh, there's more to come. Stay tuned.



















This bead is called Malta! What an amazing bead full of twists and turns and reactions in the glass. Wow! That's all I can say!















If glass isn't enough for you, how about chain maille? Deb has some gorgeous bracelets featured in her store! This one is called Byzantine. It is also amazing!

Now, don't you agree, shopping from home and shopping etsy is really the way to go? If you like Deb's work as much as I do, be sure to order soon. Deb is a Kiwi. She lives in New Zealand. You want to give the shipping process time to work for you. Order early so that you will have one of these stunning pieces of art under your tree in time for Christmas.

I'm Shopping Etsy Again!

Today, I'd like to take you to visit Susan Jones Designs on Etsy. Susan is one of those artist that when you look at their work you sigh and say, "If only I could do that!" I was fortunate to meet Susan at the Bead and Button show last year and at Civic Fest in Minneapolis this past summer. Susan is a talented artist, and an amazing person. I don't think I've ever met anyone as calm and collected as she is!







Take a look at this bead which is located in Susan's Etsy store. Isn't this bead amazing? I love Susan's use of color and design. Think of the possibilities when using this bead. It would look stunning on a chain. You'd truly be the center of attention.


















This bead, called Solar Winds, is also in Susan's store. What an outstanding example of stunning wearable art! Make sure you check this out.


















This bead is great, too! I love the name that Susan chose for it: Sonny and Shard. Susan uses shards, murrini, and dots to make this bead another masterpiece of wearable art.

















The title of this bead is Zoo Plankton. Amazing, isn't it? Each piece of Susan's art demonstrates skill and control over the glass media. Her colors are bright and colorful, yet, they are controlled to maximize the beauty of the bead. Take a good, long look at her store. You won't be disappointed.

I'm Shopping Etsy! And Today It's

Desert Treasure Beads, a shop whose store name comes from where Bruna Cordova lives. Check out her profile, and you'll learn some interesting things about Bruna! She's a love!
Here are some of the items from Bruna's store.












I love this angel! Isn't she a beauty? Wouldn't she look nice being worn as a pendant or hung on your tree? She would also look great as part of a nativity scene for Christmas. Let's look at some of Bruna's other items.
















Here's a beautiful set of scrolled beads Aren't they stunning? Wow! Bruna makes beautiful beads. You really need to check out her store on etsy. You won't be disappointed.

Now this is great! Take a look at the picture.
Now, you're right if you say that these aren't beads. They are Chinese necklaces. Bruna will give you one free when you buy an item in her store! Wow! Buy a bead, and you will have a necklace to wear it with. Wow! Now that's a deal!


















Now, here's my favorite item in her shop. She calls her Lupita. She's beautiful!


















I hope you enjoyed this little tour of Bruna's shop. Take your own tour of her store. You will enjoy.

The Crystaline Tree

I just listed this tree in my etsy store. It's supposed to be my entry for the Creative Glass Guild of Etsy's December challenge. Oooops. It's only November. I can't post this until December! Oh, well, if it's not in the store by then, I'll make something else. Enjoy until then. It's absolutely gorgeous in person! I wish I could take decent photos.

Exchange Beads? Who Me?

I belong to two lampworking forums. One is called Lampworketc. and the other is called Wet Canvas. Although there are subgroups on both forums, the ones I participate in are the ones that involve making glass beads aka lampworking. Each forum posts challenges and exchanges in which you can choose to participate in or not. I try to participate in as many challenges as I can because I feel that these help to improve my lampworking skills. I also like to participate in exchanges for the same reason + you receive many wonderful beads in exchange for the ones you sent in. When you participate in an exchange, there are certain rules or guidlines. A theme is chosen for the exchange. Then the participants get to work on their beads, send them in to the host/ess who sorts them, and returns different beads to each participant. Although not required, most of the participants include a small hostess gift in their package.

Today, when I went to my mailbox, I found 2 envelopes waiting for me. I rushed in and opened them. Wooo Hoooo! Returns on my exchanges. I opened them with great anticipation, and, I was not disappointed. I received the beads from the Lampworketc Halloween Exchange and from the Wet Canvas Big Hole Bead Exchange. Wow! Talk about fabulous items from talented artists! I was truly blessed.














I received a vessel with hands, a frog bead, a candy corn bead, an eyeball, and a scarecrow! Awesome. Now how fun is that? When you see the skill involved in making each bead, you come to realize what treasures these beads really are. I feel that they are absolutely awesome!


I also participated in an exchange on Wet Canvas in which we exchanged big hole beads. Look at the awesome beads I received in exchange for the ones I sent!















Each bead is unique. Each bead was made by an extremely talented artist. Take a look and drool! Talk about being blessed! Wow! I am lucky! Not only did I receive some wonderful beads from these exchanges, I became a better bead maker. Now, how can you beat that? I make better beads, and, now I own beautiful beads from other fabulous glass artists. Awesome!

Another Glassy Friend--Deb Batten aka FireBird FlameWork aka da Batt

I have to admit, I was absolutely thrilled when my Kiwi friend, Deb Batten, agreed to an interview in this Glassy Friends series! Deb, a native of New Zealand, and I met, online, through the forums on Lampwork Etc. She is an absolutely fabulous glass artist! So, I sent her some questions, and here are her photos, and her answers. First of all, a self portrait.

) Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m me… anyone that knows me will know I don’t do short! Lol! I’m well seasoned Mum of 4 with a love for nature, colour, texture, warmth & light. Without them I am nothing. I don’t recall ever not having love art in some form or another – I grew up surrounded by music & colour, a Maternal Grandfather from the Mediterranean saw to that & as a result all of my life has been spent dabbling & working in one form of the arts or another.

2) If you could be anyone, past or present, who would you be and why?

If I could be anyone I’d be anyone, past or present, I’d be Cleopatra VII – Queen of Egypt.

Oh yeah – I know that in reality she was far from beautiful, of mixed heritage, had to fight to regain her throne & died a not too pleasant death. But hey – she was determined, lived somewhere warm & had GREAT jewelry!

Then again I wouldn’t mind being Xena….. all of that wonderful decorated armour…


3) Outside of the glass world, who is your favorite artist?
Yep throw me a toughy! A single favorite artist? Now that could vary from day to day. I adore colour – it rocks my world & I am hugely affected by it. I love the colours of Africa, warm earthy ochres, umbers, rich sienna’s. I love the way that light is different there & shows things in more depth.

That said, for today at least, I’d have to go with a South African artist Salomi Prinsloo. Her use of colour & light is amazing - & her paintings have a depth & flow that are mesmerizing.
www.salomiprinsloo.co.za


4. A place to live is always important. Choose one location. Where would be the ideal place for you to live? Why?
If I was given the chance to relocate myself at this point in my life – I would have to be honest & say that without having visited them, there is no one location that I could definitively choose.
It’s tempting to say that I would set up a home base in Santa Fe, New Mexico – while I explored the rest of the world, primarily North Africa & the surrounding countries. I choose Santa Fe because the architecture & geography appeals to me, greatly….but then again perhaps the winter temperatures would not be to my heat seeking tastes. History holds a huge fascination for me – so it would have to be somewhere relatively old….& warm, very warm. Yep travel sounds grand – enjoy the summers & escape the winters ;o)

4) What is your greatest accomplishment?

Actually that’s an easy one – bringing up my kids to become relatively normal, happy adults…of course only two of them are at that point so far. Can I get back to you on this in another 8 years?



5) If you could change one thing about the world, what would you change and why?
The base line….I’d love to be able to change peoples perception of others & somehow make everyone more tolerant of the differences between cultures & beliefs. I think if that was achieved then everything else would just fall into place. Sneaking in a second one - I’d love for people to realise that this planet is not an endless supply of everything, & the need to replant , restock & put back into the earth is imperative for it’s future existence.

6) What is your favorite piece of art in your collection or outside of it?

OK another toughy – my tastes change day to day & according to my environment. Right now I would have to say that IN my collection is my “Huli Warrior” painting. Outside of it is a fabulous piece by the Artist I spoke of earlier – it is in fact the artwork that made me realise the importance of acting in the moment when you fall in love with an original piece of art. I missed this piece through hesitation &, even though part of me knows that it was never meant to be mine, I will always regret that it isn’t.









7) Choose 1: Fiber Arts, glass, wire work. Which is your favorite? Why?
Ok this one is easy – Fiber Arts, simply because it is so adaptable. I adore glass – but in my heart I know there will always be fiber. Fibers keep us warm, give us privacy & have so many practical applications – yet in it’s various forms can be used to created items of great beauty, be totally frivolous, completely impractical, wonderfully ornate & elegantly plain. It can be embellished & manipulated beyond anything else, used with almost unlimited other materials & in more applications than one person could possible explore in a lifetime. It is the base for so many items & the springboard for so many designs in other mediums. It’s is a fabulous teacher of history also. Yep, I adore glass – but will always be passionate about fiber.

Oh & something that you may not know about me….I name everything. Even my torch has a name, her real name is Venus, but I call her Mischief – that makes me the Mistress of Mischief ;o)

Editor's note: As I have gotten to know Deb over the internet, I have found her to be a wonderful, funny woman with a great heart full of compassion. I hope you get to know her, too. Check out her website. There's a link in the sidebar. Check out her ETSY store. There's a link in the sidebar for that. Now, I want to show you a couple of photos that I asked Deb to send.

When Deb was talking about fiber arts and her love of fiber, she wasn't kidding. Here's a photo of some silk ribbons that she sewed and dyed. I am fortunate to have some of these wonderful ribbons! Take a look!













Aren't these absolutely gorgeous? You should feel them in your hands and on your skin. They feel marvelous! These were hand sewn and hand dyed by Deb!

Now, here's a bead I love that Deb made. It shows her love of nature and texture. I think you should check out her website for more beads! Awesome!
















Isn't that bead stunning? Organic, silvered, textured, warm, cool, natural. Deb, you are a most fabulous bead maker!

Thanks, Deb, for doing this interview!

I love these pillows!

No, I'm not talking about a pillow for your bed or a decorative pillow for your couch, I'm talking about some beads I made. Since this blog is about the love of beads, I have to show you some new ones that I really do love. For me, melting glass is only a small part of the bead making process. The rest of it is shaping the beads, decorating the beads, and just relaxing and enjoying what I am doing. Some beads are very stressful for me to make. When I try out a new technique or a new press, I find myself rather agitated if the bead does not turn out as I expected. The sense of play and fun just disappears. When I bought this new press, I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know if I would enjoy using the press or if it would be a "learning experience for me." In this case, it was just plain fun! I am really enjoying this Cattwalk Ribbed Pillow press. For me, it's been one of the easiest presses that I have ever used. I love it! No stress, just make a big, fat barrel bead and press. Wow! How easy is that? So one day, when I was craving chocolate, I pulled out a rod of dark brown glass and started to melt it. Next I added some silver glass for decoration. I don't know which one because I didn't mark it. I made a big, fat barrel bead. I put that bead in the press, and look what happened. I made a rippled pillow. I absolutely love this set! It has all the elements I love! The beads have texture and a great shape. They are also calorie free images, at least in my mind, of chocolate and cinnamon. Now, who wouldn't like that?

The Internet Finally Came Back

I honestly think the trouble started last night. I was chatting with my kiwi friend, Deb, when I disappeared from her screen on Skype. I noticed my messages weren't going through, so I waited and tried again. It worked. As we chatted a bit more, the same thing happened. It seemed like everything went down on my side of the world, and I just assumed I was tired, and shut the computer down. When I woke up this morning, I turned on the computer and tried to download my email. What? No email today? I thought it was my side of the world again, so I plugged and unplugged and did what I was supposed to do before I called my cable company. When I finally got through to them, I heard a recording say, "We are aware of a power outage in your area. We have dispatched technicians to repair it. Would you like a phone call when your internet connection is repaired?" At that point I hung up. Knowing past history, when I have requested a call, I never received one. I went downstairs and lit up my torch. (I have to get beads into this blog somehow!) After torching, I came back upstairs. Still NOTHING! This time I called the company and when the "robot" came on, I kept pressing zero until I was able to speak with a HUMAN technician. He asked me where I was located. I told him. He looked on his map and kept saying, "I don't see any activity in this area at all. There is really nothing there." I asked if he was talking about my house, and he said, "No, I mean the entire area." Wow! That was quite a shutdown for the cable company! He looked up the alerts. He said, "They don't eveh have an estimated time for completion." He sounded amazed at that news.
I thanked him, and ran to the library for a quick hit on the internet. Of course, there, the computers are very slow, and your time is extremely limited because the library was full and clients were waiting for their turn. I checked my email. I tried to send one to Deb in NZ to tell her my internet was down, and I'm not sure it went because the message was only in the subject line, and after some glares from other library patrons, I left. I came home, and I, OMG, have been cleaning! That's what happens when you have nothing else to do. The inbred gene in our bodies for cleanliness, which has been recessive, kicks in. I did allow myself a few breaks to come and check my computer for service. Then, at 1:47, it happened! It was like a welcome friend whom I had dearly missed! My internet service had returned! The recessive gene kicked out, but now my sense of obligation has kicked back in. When I finish this post, I have to go and finish my cleaning. Now, it's duty. Before, it was no internet! Oh, well, things happen like that to the best of us. I guess, I'm not exempt!

Haiku - Seascape

Seascape horizon
Slips beyond the pounding sea
To the Ocean's door.

Beads! Beads! and more beads!

Beads! Beads! and more beads! There are beads all over my house. I find them in the chair. I find them everywhere! Beads! Beads! and more beads!
Okay, so that's a silly little poem, but it's true. There are beads all over my house. Storage is quite a problem at times. If I leave my beads to close to the edge of something, my dog tries to eat them. If I move them to another area, I have to find room to house them. If I fill up an area, I have to find a new one. I have beads in plastic containers. I have beads in medicine bottles. I have beads on towels in the bathroom. I have beads on paper on my desks. Yes, I said, desks. I have beads on my television. I have beads on the floor. I have beads in my closet. I have beads all over.
Now, you are probably thinking, she doesn't clean up often, does she? I do, but those beads just keep reproducing and reproducing. I love them dearly, but I think I need a bigger house. I clean up my beads by sending the vast majority to the childrens' hospitals in the Twin Cities. I also send them to Beads of Courage. I take part in exchanges with people around the world. I love these exchanges! These clean me out, but when I am not looking, like little rabbits, these beads continue to reproduce. I just need more room.
The beads I'll show you today are beads that I have made. In future posts, but I'm not sure when, I will be featuring other wonderful artists that I know. So, here's the first of my beads that you'll see. They will be back from time to time.


This is one of my favorite hearts. I made it using a transparent pink with rose frit. It is so pretty in person. Right now, I have it featured in my etsy store. I love it!

I've been on a heart kick lately. This heart, though not one of my favorites, is a favorite of a lot of people. It is also featured in my etsy store.

These are some of my favorites, too. They are made with mandrels that are 3/16". That means they will fit a bigger chain or bracelet such as the Pandora style or even a kumihimo braid. They are meant for immediate use. The base color is cobalt blue. I've accented these beads with white and clear. Love them. These are featured this week on ebay.
I do realize that I have to resize my photos. I thought I had done that enough. I guess not. They need to be smaller. I'll keep working on this, so, until next time. Look for beads around your house. I'd write more, but it's almost time for Dr. Phil.