Jodi's Jewels and Me

Just a quick post to show off some lovely pieces made with some of my beads!

Jodi of JodiMooreJewels has fallen in love with my portal pendants and has done some lovely things with them. It's always fun to see what someone else does with beads I've made. Jodi's got a wonderful sense of color, and really draws out the colors of the focal in her beadwork. Now it's time to give her shop some love.... 

ISGB Glass Bead Evolution Advertising

Just a very quick little post. I have just recently gotten a new work-from-home job as the advertising sales representative for the ISGB's (International Society of Glassbeadmakers) new publication. Woo-hoo! I really needed another source of income, hence the happy face.

We're publishing a brand new magazine called Glass Bead Evolution- you can see from the official blurb that follows that this magazine is going to be expanding to include other mediums and to be available to non-members in digital format. It's an exciting idea, and I'm happy to be a part of it. Ads go from a premium classified size all the way up to full page. If you want more info, or to see the media kit, email me at sales@isgb.org

   "2013 is an exciting year for the International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB), the leading organization for the promotion, education, and appreciation of the art of glass beadmaking for wearable, sculptural, and functional art. With its new mission, direction, and marketing and communications programs, ISGB is introducing its new publication, Glass Bead Evolution, with content that will complement its new mission statement, programs that move the organization forward, and directions that will make the magazine more than a membership publication. The organization plans on continually expanding its readership and target audience, and will strive to provide artists, designers, educators, studios, galleries, suppliers, and museums opportunities to reach new markets.

  Glass Bead Evolution is a magazine created by beadmakers for beadmakers and yet is inclusive of other artisan mediums. Every issue will feature a complementary medium while maintaining a strong emphasis on glass. Moreover, it will be in both print and digital formats and available to both members and non-members reaching artisans worldwide.

  Glass Bead Evolution provides its readership robust content that includes insight into artists’ private worlds, tours of fascinating venues, tips and techniques for both glass and complementary mediums, a showcase of exquisite work, and reviews of tools, materials, tutorials, and books.

 ISGB is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary. We hope you will join us in our journey into the next 20 years. "

Happy Holidays!

It's been a while since I've had anything to write about . And maybe I still don't, let's see...
Well, we had a white day-after Christmas, which has been kind of fun.

There are photos of a these two long beads in the gallery of the December issue of Bead Design Studio- I always love to see something get published! Tube beads are some of my favorite types to make; they can really class up an outfit bailed and hanging vertically.
And I decided to make a few new hearts. For some reason, I am tired of hearts with vertical holes through them, so I've moved to big holed slider hearts with a horizontal hole. It just seems that the shape is more to my liking, as are the designs I can use.
Oh! I made a 6 minute video of me making a leaf and put it on youtube. I need to figure out how to set up the camera so that it zooms in closer to what I'm doing. Something to work on, as I've got more video ideas in the works.
Soon there will be more important updates, but that's it for now!

Some new favorite glass colors from CIM

Leaky Pen Background

I have to admit- I've been resistant to using Chinese CIM glass for many years. When the first few colors came out, I was interested, but had a few apparent compatibility issues and decided it just wasn't worth it. After all these years, I decided it was time to give some new colors a try- a lot of them just looked too interesting to keep ignoring. I found that Howaco Glass in Michigan sells single rods of glass (as well as all the usual), so picked out a few rods to try. And I have some winners!

Very Berry on top

Everyone already knows about leaky pen- a wonderful shade of dark teal like nothing Moretti makes. It seems a bit stiffer than most of the Italian glass, but also seems to melt and apply very smoothly. And the color is truly lovely and very saturated- a clear background will thin it out just enough to see it well.

Very Berry was another nice choice. It's a lovely saturated dark reddish purple. Similar to amethyst, but it seems to keep more of its purple color and it also seems a bit on the stiff side.

Crocus Purple

The big winner? Drum roll please.... Crocus. What a beautiful color of light purple. It reminds me of the old yellow vaseline glass- beautifully translucent. It is a little bit shocky, but not overly so as long as the rod is not too big around. It doesn't seem to scorch like the alabastro and opalino glasses, so is very easy to use. I worked it pretty long to make this little dragon and had no problems at all.