Fiona Prentis a Kiwi Glass Artist

I first "met" Fiona Prentice on Facebook. She's got bright red hair and a fabulous smile! Then I started to see her beads on a thread on Lampworketc. forums called the Gaffer Chalcedony 109 thread. (I'm not sure, but you might have to join lampworketc to view the thread, but if you do, you won't be disappointed.)







This is one of those beads that you look at an gasp! It is beautiful!


















Fiona has been lampworking for 6 years with one year off. In the beginning she used the traditional Hot Head, which is what most of use used when we first started out. It's a torch that uses propane as it's fuel. Fiona has since upgraded to a Nortel Minor which is a dual fuel torch (oxygen and propane). Look at the results she's getting using Gaffer Chalcedony glass.
(The first bead is chalcedony glass, too.)






















If you visit Fiona's website, you can see more of her amazing beads. Those beads in the gallery were made on her Hot Head torch.





















Fiona works as a psychiatric nurse in the forensic unit of her hospital in her non glass life. She felt that she had lost her muse at one point in time, and that's why she took a year off. Now, thanks to Gaffer Chalcedony glass and Deb Batten, another Kiwi glass artist, she feels that she is able to develop her style and skills in glass.





















See what I mean, she only gets better!

The Art of Dale Chihuly

Dale Chihuly - a Modern Artist

This is very interesting! I've never researched his life before.

My Glass Friends - Sharon Driscoll - First in the Series

The first time I met Sharon was at this year's Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee. I had seen her store on ETSY, and I thought that it was a great store! Be sure to check it out! I have it linked on the side bar of this blog. I asked Sharon if she would be willing to be interviewed for my blog, and if she was to please send me a photo of herself for the blog. This is what she sent. ------------------------>
Now, as I have gotten to know Sharon, I have found that she has a wonderful sense of humor! Yes, I do believe that this photo is of Sharon. I really, really do. Yes, I do. Anyway, I asked Sharon what I thought were some different questions. She answered them, but she didn't send me back the questions. Luckily, I did find them. Here's what Sharon had to say about life!



1. Tell us a little bit about your life--a short bio.

Married, a mother of three grown children, grandmother of one. I work with substance abusing male delinquents for the State of Michigan as a Youth Specialist (behavioral specialist), and have for twenty years. You’d be surprised at how much an artistic bend helps with that. In college I took up metalsmithing, although I worked primarily as a printmaker. It was frustrating back then to find beads to compliment what I was designing. Enough so I decided that if I could metal I could melt glass and searched out a stained glass shop (over an hour away) that would teach me how to make beads. That was in ? and many years and torches later I still love it.

2. If you couldn't be in a creative line of work, what would you be doing?

No creativity…okay then I want to be Emperor, King, President, or the Pope. Or maybe something where I could influence the outcome of the world – like a teacher!

3. Which person, outside of the glass world, has influenced you the most?

Influential people – My initial knee jerk reaction to that question today would of have family but as I thought about it they were immigrants or first generation of immigrants. They thought globally and taught historically. I was a lucky kid and given a pretty broad view of the world so I’d say Gandhi and Mother Theresa. That strength of conviction and compassion is awe inspiring to me.

4. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be an Indian Chief! You know, “Doctor, Lawyer, and Indian Chief.” My grandfather would play it with me and try to get me to like the doctor/ lawyer concept. But, Indian Chief it was! As I grew up he had to buy me American Indian related books and we collected feathers. It’s funny how it threads around through my life too. My grade school was Seminole. My husband’s relatives are Cherokee, my day job – I work at Nokomis (Hiawatha’s grandmother’s name). And one of my favorite places to go – Casinos (kidding!!!!) I actually do like Pow Wows and one of my favorite bead shops is Nawbin (Indian owned). They’ve got so many interesting things usually not in the bead stores.

5. If you could be a fairy princess, a pirate, or a dolphin, which would you be and why?

Pirate, Captain Jack all the way. Growing up I was ill and had pneumonia several times. Consequently I got to watch a lot of television. Errol Flynn and anything that swash buckled blew me away. When Captain Jack took that classic Errol Flynn pose with the Octopus I got goose bumps. Pirates, they’re the Robin Hood’s of the sea. But, consider this – I’ve been watching “Shark Week” and there is no way on this beautiful green earth you are getting me into or on the ocean! I guess it’s the Jolly Roger bath tub float for me.

6. What is your all time favorite book to read?

I wish I had some profound book title to pass to everyone. I’m a freak when it comes to art books. I think I have over 300+ at this point, and that’s after a library donation. Since I have a “heavy” job I do a lot of light reading – Patterson, Evanovich, and Deaver. If there’s a book I’m never without (it’s always next to where I’m sitting) it’s The Dictionary.

7. Name your greatest accomplishment.

Greatest accomplishments to date!! Let’s see, I was kicked out of career class in high school because in my final report I stated I thought that if I could raise children to be happy and productively contributing members of society I would think I had done a pretty good job no matter what career I chose. Off with her head!! Well, been there/done that, and they’re doing great. I’ve answered the accomplishment question this way because you never know what’s around the corner and what new artistic boundaries you get to push. Do I see myself competing again artistically in the future? You bet your sweet bippie I do! But Gandhi would be happier if I could be less competitive.

Now, do you see why I liked Sharon IMMEDIATELY? She is an awesome person, and, incidentally, a very talented glass artist. Sharon, thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. Oh, I knew I forgot something. There was another picture that Sharon sent. I'm really not sure who it is, but she said it should go in the interview.

I think I like the first one better!