Glass Beads Daily + Holly Dare = AWESOME! Holly is My Guest Blogger Today! Thank you, Holly!

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   Glass Beads Daily
  by Holly Dare

  
  
       Glass Beads Daily is the culmination of several years of misadventures in blogging, studying SEO and selling beads! LOL!
  My background is in film production and advertising. But I loved crafting and have taught jewelry making during dry spells in my career. I found myself working for Carol Duvall,Queen of Crafts back when HGTV was good television. When I left that show, I started a business helping smaller craft companies with basic marketing. Making their websites function better always seemed to land in my lap.
      
       I got so good at that, I started freelancing for bigger companies. But I missed writing for television which led me to blogging. With the social media boom, I started taking classes or going to meetings just to learn more. I met people who actually make a living from blogging. And I tried a few of those...but knew that wasn't my ultimate goal. I just wanted to sell my beads!
      
  
       I was also one of the leaders of the Fire Divas (along with Lea Avroch and Theresa Ehlers) which was an off shoot of the original Lampwork Etc Etsy Street Team (LEST). That taught me so much about managing a group. There were a lot of rules and people would get upset because they were doing more than other people were. It was a lot of work but a great learning experience.
      
       I had set up the Fire Divas blog and realized that CONSTANT posting is a lot of what drives a blog. It's one of the reasons I post my own beads a bit differently than most artists I know. I prefer to list one or two beads a day (at different times) rather than ten all at once.
  But with all I had learned about search engine optimization (trying to get a good Google ranking) it suddenly hit me that no ONE bead maker is EVER going to get a high Google ranking. It's simply impossible for one person outdo some of those Chinese importers or "famous" bead makers. But a blog with consistent content using those good keywords over and over WOULD break that Google wall. We are four months old and we've made it to Page 2!
      
       A friend pointed out to me that I've essentially created another team of bead makers where I do the bulk of the work (creating the blog post and sharing widget we use every single day). But the artisans who share with us do have a job too! There is on one rule: if you have something glass bead related to share, please do so and then share the blog post on the social media venue of your choice. Without all their voices out there, we would have never made it this far!
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•      I ultimately knew I could help other bead makers and jewelry designers who were out there struggling. Others have told me that it is easier to promote someone else than to talk about yourself. My own best promotion has come from word of mouth. GBD gives us a venue to promote others and help ourselves too!

New Beads!

I just wanted to show you a few new beads in my 

Etsy store.

Rich, Organic Blue with a touch of sparkly goldstone!

Click

HERE

to see them.

If you want a good buy,

I've been cleaning things out!

These beads might be for you.

Click

HERE

to see them.

I call these 

Midnight Silver.

Click 

HERE 

to see these beads!

 Ready for spring?

These flowers will help you then!

Click
HERE

to see them.

I hope to get more listed today.

Stay tuned!

Another Exchange on Lampworketc

I decided to participate in the You Pick 9 lampwork bead exchange on Lampworketc.

Again, what we each must do is submit a photo to provide inspiration for our beads.

Each participant in our group has submitted a photo. 

I wanted to show you my favorite bead so far.

This is the photo that was submitted.

Isn't this cute?

Now, so far, this is my favorite bead.

I also think it will make a great bead for Beads of Courage.

Here's the bead.

I think this puppy is cute!!

Now, this one...

I love the photo, but I cannot make a bead I like to go with it.

This is my 5th attempt at a bead.

I still don't like it.

Any suggestions?

I don't know.

However,

the exchange is fun and does awaken even the groggiest muse!

The bead for this photo will come.

It might be the last one I make for the exchange, but it will come.

What I did today, so far!!!

It's been a busy day today.

I just thought I'd show you a bit of what I did today.

I did a bit of cleaning.

I'm not showing you that!!!

However, I am showing you that I have been having a bit of disc nirvana.

These beads are not yet cleaned, so that will happen as soon as this post is posted.

These are BIG discs!  I can hardly wait to put them to good use!

These are some of my funky, wonky discs!

Some small discs in fall colors.

Falling leaves?

Love this focal!!

Sea Shells anyone?

And then I cut a lot of copper jump rings.

What to do?

What to do?

Soon it will be polymer clay.

I have pieces to finish.

There are lots of new and improved word beads!!

Tomorrow,

I Heart Macro!

Let's Visit Another Wonderful Etsy Store - Elizabeth Creations aka sharlee 22

Isn't this gorgeous?

I found this I Elizabeth Creations on Etsy!

I love this bead!

You can click here to see it even closer!

 

 Isn't this set beautiful?

I love what Elizabeth does with glass!

Click here to check out this set.

I love this matching set from Elizabeth's store!

I love the combination of colors.

Click here to check this set out.

Last in this sampler of Elizabeth's beads is this set of silver glass enriched beads!

Elizabeth knows how to make the silver glass turn into magic!!

Aren't they gorgeous?

Click here to see them closer.

Now, that you've had a quick tour of Sharlee22's Etsy store,

just remember

she has a website, too.

Here's the link for her web site.

Be sure to check that out, too.

Click here to make the tour of her website.

Got crabs? What? I mean, isn't that an awfully personal question?

Well, I did it again!  I joined another charm exchange on Lampworketc!

And, yes, it's another charm exchange.

This time, we have a theme, and that theme is the beach.

It was really hard to narrow down my choices since the beach is so full of interesting life.

A surfer was a possibility, but that didn't work.

I thought of shells, too, but there is usually an abundance of shells when the beach is the theme,

so,

no, not this time.

So, here are the crabs.

Stay tuned for the finished charm.

I think we have until after the holidays to send in our finished charms.

I better check the date!

I'll show the finished charms before I send them in, that is,

if I don't forget.

However, I have to admit, I sort of like these little guys.

Some of them might find their way into my Etsy store in the future.

We'll see!

Stay tuned!

My Etsy Store Has Lampwork Beads in it AGAIN plus a couple of new items!

Things are going on in my Etsy store again!

Now that I'm home!!!!! I can access my lampwork beads!

I've also added a couple of FORJENNY items.

Her medical bills are starting to come in from the stem cell transplant!

Yikes!

Let me introduce you to Hope.  She's a new addition to the FORJENNY section in my Etsy store. 

Now, if you've been reading this blog for a bit, you might remember that my mantra this year is

Hope.

This is another personification of the word Hope.

Hope is inexpensively priced at $5.

All the proceeds from the FORJENNY section go to Jenny.

I'd like to introduce you to JOY!  Joy is an off shoot of HOPE, and she is full of Joy!

Joy is also located in the FORJENNY section.

Take a peek.

She is also inexpensively priced at $5.

Again, the proceeds from any sale in the FORJENNY section will go to Jenny.

I hope to be adding more to that section soon.

 

 

Glass Headpins are back, too!  I hope to be adding more to that section in the next few days.

These headpins are named Spork.

I don't know why.  They just needed a name.

 

These discs  remind me of a t.Tropical Sunset.  They really are pretty, too!

I hope to be adding more to the Discs section soon.

These silvered cobalt accent beads are some of my favorites!  I love them, and I think they can be used in so many ways!  They were developed as the result of a suggestion from a client who loved the combination of cobalt blue and silver!

Well, there's a lot more in the store now.  If you want to see anything else, you're going to have to take a peek!  I'm off now.

Shark week is on!  Whoever thought they could fly out of the water?

Wow!

 

Cheat Sheets

This is my homemade cheat sheet.
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One of the biggest challenges I face when I make beads is the challenge of combining colors. It's really a challenge at times, for me, to put together colors that blend and please the eye. I have been working on ways to do this. Yes, I do have a color wheel, and I use that a lot!!!!!

This cheat sheet came about one day as I was looking at earthen, organic colors in my glass. As it often happens, I opened a magazine advertising clothing in beautiful earth tones. Immediately I tore out the two pages and began to cut the sheets up. The colors blend well together. Graphic artists are much more experienced than I am in the area of combining colors. It was a no brainer. I made my first cheat sheet, and it has helped. Now, I do a little bit of planning, and soon, I am making beads with colors that coordinate and contrast as they should.






These beads were inspired by the the second tab on the left hand side of my cheat sheet. I think it's beginning to work. You can find Pathways here. They remind me of trails and paths in the sands of life.

Now, my goal is to develop a cheat sheet for the brighter colors that I love! I'll show that later!

Let me know if you use this idea! I'd be interested in the results. Until tomorrow, then....

What's Going On With All These Beads

Here's a picture of some lampwork beads I made. Now, I'll show you what I'm going to do with them.

Wait! I haven't done anything with them. I'll be sure to show you later.

Clue: The Bead and Button Show is coming up. Hmmmmm! What do you think?

They're Getting More Popular EveryDay!

You know what this is! It's a key finder/holder, and these little beauties are growing in popularity.
I have two of the listed in my Etsy shop.











I love this one! ----------------------->






I love this one, too!
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This is the Ultimate Purse Key Finder! Ask yourself this, how many times have you ever lost a spoon?


I even drilled the holes myself! What a fun accessory to add to your wardrobe, and it's practical, too!





I need to make one for me!

Lydia Muell Artist Extraordinaire!

A visit to Lydia Muell's website is a trip to the extraordinary. As I perused her website, my jaw continued to drop. I drooled over her beads and jewelry. It is amazing! Now, I invite you to take this walk yourself. You will NOT be disappointed.










Here's a little of what Lydia has to say about herself.

When I began playing with glass in 2005, it was not with the idea that I would become a career lampworker. Rather, it was to be a stepping stone to larger work. Glassblowing was my mission back in those days and I thought lampworking would be the gateway obsession that would eventually deliver me into the moderate sized hot shop that I so desired. I wanted to make functional art glass pieces like candle holders, huge glass beads that could be used as drapery finials, blown glass spice jars for Tuscan style kitchens. . .I had to crawl before I could walk and somehow I found myself on an unexpected path.

Today, I am a career lampwork beadmaker who takes each day as it comes, rarely questioning tomorrow. Today provides the same challenge as yesterday and tomorrow will provide the same challenge as today. . .Evolving my skill at the torch, searching my soul for the inspiration that always seems to be communicated with strong classical influence.


Timing, rhythm, and repetition are the elements that move me most in a piece of visual art, just as they move me when I listen to beautifully arranged symphonic piece. As cliche as this may sound, if I can SEE the music playing within one of my beads, I know I've achieved something soulful.

These days I don't look to tomorrow. I'm enjoying the journey too much to worry about where my path is taking me or how and when I'll get there. I have found a sense of satisfaction and self worth within those little beads that I create each day. For now, these tiny wearable treasures are my destiny.




Now, it's time for you to make a visit to Lydia's website! You will be amazed!

Once in a While, I do make jewelry!

Just thought I'd show you a few pieces I've made. I do make jewelry once in a while!

















I actually made this bracelet a little while ago. I love it! It's a very dressy piece!





















This necklace is a mixture of so many different beads. It's part of my random nature!





















I made this necklace using lampwork beads that I made from Chalcedony glass. The headpin is one I made, too. Fun!

That's all for now!

What do You buy when You Buy a Lampwork Bead

Let's talk about lampwork beads and their cost.
This is a set of spacer beads that I currently have listed in my Artfire store. I call them Outrageous Orange Spacers. I priced these spacers at $18.
There are 12 beads in this set. All of these beads are handmade.











Where does the cost come from. What are you buying when you buy this set of beads?

Cost:
1. My first class cost me $110 for two hours. I have since learned that there are better beginner classes for less money.

2. I have taken 2 other classes taught by professional bead makers at $200 and $400 each. I am scheduled to take two more classes in 3 weeks at $285 each.

3. My first torch was a Hot Head, which I loved, but I have since upgraded to a mini cc which had been used in a class. The Hot Head cost me $40 and the mini cost me $225.

















In order to run my mini cc, I need, not only propane, but a source for oxygen. When I bought my mini I also bought an oxygen concentrator. I have since added a second one because I mini does work better with 2 oxycons than with one.

I got a good deal on the oxycons. I paid around $280 for each one. That did include the shipping costs.














I also had to buy the hoses and the regulator for my propane and oxygen. That cost was an additional $70.

A small, but good addition, is my holding tank. I paid about $25 for that. I should actually upgrade to a bigger holding tank because of the extra oxycon, but I haven't done that yet.


















I also bought a used kiln. That cost me $450. I love my digital kiln, and it's clearly needed, but it's an additional cost.

















Whew! All right, what else do you need?


















Now, you need mandrels and bead release. I save money on mandrels by purchasing tig rods from the welding store. If I could make my own bead release, I would. I do buy the bead release in bulk, so that saves on expense. Without bead release, a person would never be able to take their beads off of the mandrels.


















Lastly, you need tools and glass. Glass can cost as little as $3.75 for a quarter pound to $22 for a quarter pound. Depending on which tools you need, they can range in price from $7 to $80 per tool. And don't forget the electricity you need for the oxycons, the light switch, the kiln, and the IPod. (I do need to listen to music when I work.) There are also books and tutorials that help a beadmaker develop new skills and techniques.

I'm afraid to add all of this up, and, please remember, I didn't buy all of these items all at once. I bought them over time. That helps with the cost. So, when you buy a lampwork bead or a glass sculpture, think of what you are buying. It's a lot more than the cost of the beads.

Information Shared - Tutorials

A new trend has developed in the lampwork community,
and that is the sharing of information
via
tutorials
that are sold to members of the lampworking community.
Personally,
I LOVE THEM!
I've bought my fair share of these tutorials!
I feel it is a wonderful means to share information on techniques,
especially when classes are not always available
for the buyer.
Most of the tutorials are very reasonably priced.
They usually run between $15 and $20.
There are a few out there that are as high as $100.
I can't afford those.
I made this mushroom using a tutorial by Mary Moth.
It's a fabulous tutorial, and I don't regret buying it at all.
I learned a lot of things by using this tutorial.
It's a great source of information for me.

Mary also developed a bird tutorial.
This tutorial is also an excellent one!

Here's a bird I made using Jen Geldard's bird tutorial.
I've spent a lot of money on tutorials, because I find them to be great resources of
information,
and
with all the tutorials I've bought,
I've spent a little over the amount I would spend for a single class.
Ask me,
Do you like tutorials that are sold to the buying public?
Yes, I do.
Will you buy more tutorials?
Yes, I will.
In spite of the fact that these tutorials are sold and not shared without cost,
do you still consider them to be a
legitimate way to share information?
Most definitely.

Featured Etsy Store: May Beads Handmade Lampwork Beads

Need a smile? Want to smile? You need to visit May Beads on Etsy. Lauren Mazursky is the proprietor and chief bead maker for this shop. (I honestly think she's the ONLY bead maker for this shop!) Look at Blueberry! Blueberry is one of Lauren's newest items. Isn't she the most adorable cow you've ever seen? Look at those eyes! Now how cute is that?

What did I say about a smile? How could anyone resist Archie? He's an alien and isn't he cute? Lauren, I love your work!





















Like jewelry? How about these little turtles on your ears? Aren't they sweet?






Last, but not least, meet Skillet the Pig. Who could think of him on a skillet? Look at those sweet eyes. He's adorable!

I was trying to think of what I liked best about Lauren's work. I honestly think I love the personalities she gives to her little critters. Their eyes are wonderful!

Remember to stop and say hi when you visit Lauren's store. You will enjoy your visit.