Where do all the artists go?

Since being bit by the lampworking bug, I've spent hours searching the web for everything lampwork related: pictures of beads, flameworking videos, sites to buy glass, blogs about beads, and especially sellers of jewelry made with handmade lampwork beads.

You know what I've noticed? Many, many sites link to artists whose sites are no longer there! These aren't old links, either. It seems that on their way to finding what they really want to do, many people try out lampworking. Then they try something else.

I guess it's evolution of a sort, but I'm strangely bothered by it. I hope I'm still making stringers and shaping beads when I'm old and grey (okay, more grey). I can't imagine doing anything else. But who knows? 

Until then, I'm following the artists who've "hung in there." And making beads.

       

Kelley

Some Artists I follow:

Corina Tettinger - has the best bead newsletter ever 

Harlan Simon - makes easy-to-see and follow beadmaking videos

For the Kids

If anyone is in the Rochester, NY area this weekend, Studio 34 is hosting a bead-making workshop on Friday June 4 from 4-8 PM. We'll be making glass beads to donate to the Beads of Courage program, which awards kids with serious illness a special bead at various milestones in their treatment. I think this is a wonderful program, and Marilynne is terrific for donating torch time for this.

If you're not a bead artist, but still want to lend your support, stop by the studio! You can 'sponsor' a bead with a $5 donation to the cause and watch one of us create a bead of your choice to donate! (But you may want to choose someone more experienced than me for this. These girls are talented!)

Here's to a fun Friday!

Kelley

Burned!

Well, the honeymooon is over. My torch and I had a spat.

I was wrapping a bead with a short piece of stringer when I suddenly, stupidly forgot I was working with MOLTEN GLASS in a FIRE and REACHED IN to adjust the stringer. Whoops.
I burned my index finger pretty badly, but it could have been oh-so-much worse! I am grateful that all I have is a hot-head torch. My first thought after I got my finger under cold running water was, "And I had to get Chem-Pro for the extra 500 deg." LOL

Love and learn. (Yes, that was a typo, but it makes sense so I'm leaving it.)

I'm back at it, though. I was even out there melting glass with a big 'ol bandage on my finger. That probably wasn't so smart either, now that I think about it. But I'm still in love with each and every little bead I make.

:) Kelley

I'm in Love!

I’ve had my new HotHead torch for 2 weeks today, and have made over 200 beads! Most are small, simple beads--I’m working on shape--but I love them all equally.

I started with MAPP gas, but used 4 cylinders in 2 days. At $7.49 a piece! The local welding supply store had a better answer—a 20# tank of Chempro. Less expensive and 500 deg.F hotter than MAPP gas. So now I have an outdoor-grill-size tank of gas hooked to my HotHead torch. It even has a gauge so I know when it’s empty! Which, thankfully it hasn’t been yet.

Since the HotHead came into my life, my husband has been behaving strangely. He’s volunteered to make dinner. He’s started getting my son off to school in the morning. He stops by the computer for a hug. He even pokes his head into the garage “just to say hi.”

I wonder: how long will the honeymoon last?