Changes

Not sure how I feel about the new banner. I think I like it better than what was up there (you can actually read it) but it's still cutting into the background. So not sure 100% yet. Any opinions?

So I've taken the dive back into glass working, I've gotten some really awesome colors out of Pandora glass... I'm still not sure why so many people say that they hate that glass.... hmmmm....

Been stalking this blog and this blog recently. Really enjoying the wonderful creations that people are coming up with!!! They make me want to make more myself. Too bad there aren't more hours in the day!!!

Decisions

I've decided that it's time for a change for the blog. Mind you, not much of a change but I played around a bit with the background and colors of the blog itself. What do you all think?

As for me? The reason I've been so absent: I work the Colorado Renaissance Festival. Between that, school and performances with Pandora Celtica I've been crazy busy. Though I am hoping to soon have photos of a custom set of beads that I just finished for a dear friend and I'll make sure to post about them here!

Until then!!

New Creations

The past few weeks I have been learning a lot of things about bead weaving. From peyote stitch to weaving crystal and bead types to thread types. I've started not only working with Nymo but also Fireline. I've left little gashes in my fingers from unintentional garrotes and I've pricked my fingers with long needles. It's all so incredibly worth it. Above you can see the crystal ball pendant that I made with 4mm Peridot Swarovski crystals. Megan at The Peacock Shop taught me the technique.

Well I had been contemplating making a collar for quite some time, with crystals and beads and shiny bits galore. Last night I finally got a start.

The center is a Vitrail Swarovski Rivoli, and the cabochon to the right is bloodstone. I got so much done on this piece last night, I'm really looking forward to where this project goes.

Updates ahoy!

There are plenty of times that I sit here and think, "What could I possibly blog about? What could I say that anyone would want to read?" I find that this is a common question among bloggers, one that a person asks themselves at least once in their blogging "career". As for me? I think I've found the point where I'm just going to blog.

I have a lot of places that I write. A journal for my band musings, a journal for my life... and a journal for my creative endeavors. This journal has been neglected many, many times and I hope that said neglect does NOT continue.

Photo taken from Megan's shop listings

Today? Today I talk about the amazingness that is a dear friend of mine. Megan owns The Peacock Shop out here in Colorado and also is the owner of an amazing etsy shop.

Megan is down to earth, creative and has this wonderful and amazing fascination for shiny things. Swarovski crystals can be found in almost every single item she makes or sells. Her color choices have the ability to make customers drool. She is an incredibly helpful woman when it comes to teaching as well. I can't tell you how many times I've gone to her, asking for help and teaching. She always smiles and offers her help without batting an eyelash.

She makes some amazing bindis, for the bellydancer in all of us.

I suggest you check her out!

Her Jewelry on Etsy
Supplies on Etsy
The Peacock Shop (in Denver)

A Story

...Once upon a time there was a girl. This girl really liked glass. She loved seeing what it could do, how others used it. So she started learning to work with glass, to manipulate it in flame and turn it into works of art. Months turned to years and before she knew it she was arriving at the two year anniversary of her start date at the torch.....

Yep. February 18 will be two years! I can hardly believe it! It seems like just yesterday that Melissa was sitting me down at her torch to melt glass. My first beads weren't worth writing home about, but they were MINE!

Remember these?
Yep, those were in fact my first beads. Since then I have learned that glass can do amazing things. Two years later the explosion that comes from thrusting a rod of glass into the flame too quickly still scares the heck out of me!
Then came the first beads at my own torch at home in my very own studio. (I really should post new pics sometime. It has changed SO
MUCH!)





And from there came the point where I stopped being afraid to play with colors. Using colors that people called "fugly" I created some unique focal beads, learning that all colors can be gorgeous when used in different ways.





This year I'm looking forward to more Silvered Glass, I've fallen in love with shards. Here's to a 2010 full of discoveries, play time and gorgeous works of glass!