Calling All Designers - Introductory Jewelry Challenge!

The Fire Divas are hosting an Introductory Jewelry Challenge! This challenge will be for jewelry designers who use artisan lampwork in their pieces. The winner of the Challenge will receive a beautiful group of Fire Divas' work. This is a wonderful chance for jewelry designers to show off their talents and get exposure!

To get the details on what is involved, please visit our blog for the info:

Fire Divas

Jennifer's Treasure Hunt

I was so moved to have my friend Jennifer mention my bead in her blog yesterday. She's a fellow member of the Fire Divas and an extremely talented lampwork artist.

Cyber Monday Specials!!!

I am participating in Team ESST's Cyber Monday specials! Everything in my etsy shop is 10% off the posted price. You can either convo me requesting an invoice or else I will refund your paypal account following checkout.

Use Coupon Code: C14E9F54F2-3D03328242 during checkout for my ArtFire shop to get 10% off your entire order.

Etsy

ArtFire

Technologically Challenged

I think I've come a long way over the years and though I enjoy learning new things AFA the WWW goes, it's a constant learning experience. I get so excited to learn a new application and as soon as I do, something new comes along. And this happens instantaneously. It never ceases to amaze me that the more I know, the more I NEED to know.

However I did manage to add a flickr application for my fellow Fire Divas group to my blog and also a slide show of my personal flickr page.

What do you all think? Do you like the new look or is it too busy?

I'm in a New Treasury!

My friend Janel, a fellow Fire Diva, put one of my fish beads in a treasury. I'm in the company of lots of talented glassy peeps. Check it out & click away. Sorry I couldn't copy the whole thing here. The screen grab was not cooperating. ;-) Click on TREASURY to find it.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Fire Divas are having a Breast Cancer Awareness Challenge! Several of our members have made wonderful pieces for YOU to vote on. First, you can feast your eyes on these beauties in big, clear pictures. When you're done savoring them, please vote for your favorite in bite-sized images on the right side of the Fire Divas' blog. The voting will stay open for one week - then the winner will receive a really cool prize!

Go vote on the Fire Divas Blog.

Dinner @ Justin & Sara's new apartment

My older son, Justin & his lovely GF, Sara, moved in together last month into an apartment in Park Slope. Due to our varied schedules, Larry & I didn't get to go see it till last night. We forgot to take any pics so I've "borrowed" these from Sara's facebook pics from when they 1st moved in. It looks nice & lived in now & they've really made it theirs.

They now have a small table in front of the huge bay window that looks out onto Lincoln Place. That is where they served us dinner last night. Justin made delicious hamburgers that he made in the grill pan I bought for them. And Sara made yummy brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes for sides. Even Larry, who's not into veggies, had some.

For dessert we brought some fresh fruit at their request since they wanted to eat healthy. But then when we went on a walk around the neighborhood, they took us to a cute little bakery that they love & we bought all kinds of goodies to take back to the apt. for dessert. It was a fun evening and it was great seeing them both so happy.

October Weekend Shopping Extravaganza

Hate having to pay shipping for just an item or 2? Or even a whole bunch? I am participating in ESST's Weekend Shopping Extravaganza. For this weekend only, 10/3-10/4, shipping is on me, no matter how large or how small your order is. Just please add FREESHIP in your comments at checkout & I'll refund your paypal account for the shipping portion. Good deal, huh??

I will extend the same offer to any purchases from my
ArtFire. Just click on Etsy or ArtFire to be taken to my shops. Here's a sampling of some items from both shops:

Etsy:






ArtFire:

Return From Glass Stock!

I thought that posting on my return would be a sad thing, but I am still so hyped up on all that I learned & the fabulous people I met that I'm still on cloud 9.

For those that don't know, Glass Stock (GS from now on) is a 4 day lampwork festival put on by Deb Crowley in Oregon once a year. Attendees are selected by lottery from the numerous applicants. Approximately 1/2 the attendees are returnees. The rest are all newcomers to the event like me.

Deb had a meet & greet at her house on Wednesday night prior to the actual event. It was nice to see who else would be there though also a bit overwhelming....maybe due in part to my long plane ride, but all my fab roomies were also newbies so I felt safe. Early the next morning immediately following the safety meeting, everyone had to do a demo. I had been dreading this for some time, but being that my name was somewhere near the middle, I had a chance to watch others and my fear subsided somewhat. Here I am doing my demo (photo courtesy of Maggie MacDonald)



Classes started following lunch. I can't remember the order but I had an enameling class with Jennifer Geldard and a fun wire crochet class with Doretha Jones, AKA Dr. Meow. I had an electroforming and PMC class with Bernie and sat in on an incredible fish bead class with Deb. There was a fab class taught by the amazing Mark McCourt on his curly pendants. He's a wonderful, patient instructor with a lovely humble way about him. Last but not least was a coil potted and hollow bead class taught by Hugh Salkind of Eugene Glass School.







There were also some fun night time activities, such as pajama jam and crazy hat night and a few other fun things plus open torch every night where you could practice what you had learned during the day.

I felt so energized and inspired watching all these hugely talented glass artists demo for us and have them share their techniques with us so freely. Huge kudos to Deb Crowley for putting this all together for us. I can't imagine how much work & planning goes into such an event and I feel blessed to have been able to attend. Thanks Deb!

Roze rockin' the torch:



My roomies:

Glassstock in ONE WEEK!!!

I have been waiting for this event for over a year. I first applied last year & didn't get into Glassstock. I was pretty bummed hearing all the others making plans and talking about their upcoming trips. So when I got the e-mail saying that I was in, I was beyond myself.

Well here we are just a short week away & you would think I'd be prepared, but no, still plenty of trade beads to make & supplies to gather. At this point both my artfire & etsy shops are stocked & I've decided to put everything in both shops for sale @ 20% off till 8/31, giving me enough time to pack up orders & send them on their way on 9/2 before I leave. So, shop away & send me a message to remind me to refund your purchase price by 20%. Anything that's left after that time will be coming with me to Oregon as trade beads.

From Jewelry to Beads

I wrote a blog entry for another blog & thought that I may not have posted to my own just how I got involved with lampwork. So here's a little bit about myself.....I started out making jewelry over 10 years ago after I was unable to work following spine surgery. I had to find SOMETHING to do to keep myself busy. I had always been creative so naturally when I'd go into a department store to look at the jewelry case, I'd examine the pieces and decide, "I can do that". Unfortunately in those days we didn't use digital cameras (I sound old, don't I?) so no images to share of my early work, but here's a piece I made a little later on. It's made with vintage Swarovski crystals.

It started innocently, just making jewelry for myself until one day one of my DH's employees, knowing that I dabbled in jewelry making, showed me a necklace that someone had given her. It was too bulky for her small frame. I took it apart for her & made her a new necklace with matching bracelet and earrings. She was so thrilled and urged me to go into business.

I did that for several years, but got the bug to try lampwork (glass beadmaking) after taking a class at a local art league. Though my results were sad, to say the least, I know immediately that I loved melting glass and seeing it turn into beads. I saved up & bought all the equipment needed (trust me, this is NOT an inexpensive hobby) and read everything I could get my hands on. I've since taken 2 boro classes as well. I just love the colors that you can get from boro, though oftentimes it's still a mystery.

I find making glass beads mesmerizing. I often fall into a zen-like state while working. Of course there are some challenging beads and days when nothing goes right, but when you open the kiln the morning after a good session and find lovely surprises awaiting, it's just the best feeling. It's like Christmas each & every time. LOL!

So, I know that the journey for many is usually the other way around, from beads to jewelry, but for me it was the jewelry that got me interested in making beads in the 1st place. Now, I love nothing better than to get an e-mail from a customer with a photo of a finished product using MY beads so if you have one, by all means, PLEASE share it with me! And for those of you that are jewelry makers, I also take custom orders if there's something in particular that you'd like.

Look What a Customer Made With My Beads

I woke up to find a nice surprise on my friend Kristen Latimer's blog, a lovely bracelet that she made with beads purchased from my ArtFire shop recently. She's the talented jewelry designer behind MJM Jewelry Designs. Not only is she a talented jewelry designer, but her photographs are wonderful as well. Her designs show off the beads to their best advantage. Beautiful Kristen!

Fall Harvest on Etsy

I'm so pleased with how these 2 sets of beads came out. They were made at different torch sessions, but they are similar enough in look to be used in the same design if so desired. Of course there are enough beads in each set to use them on their own. Just saying....

First up is a luscious set of boro rounds pictured above, called Fall Harvest, a wonderful set of 6 round handmade artisan boro lampwork beads. The beads are made on a base of topaz glass, with small glass bits in varying shades of green and topaz similar to falling leaves and a ribbon of cranberry glass. The beads measure from 17-19mm and were wound on 3/32" mandrels.

The set below is similar, but in a tab shape, a wonderful set of 5 handmade artisan boro lampwork beads. The beads are made on a base of topaz colored glass, with small glass bits in varying shades of green and topaz similar to falling leaves and a ribbon of cranberry glass. The beads measure from 20x16mm to 25x20mm and were wound on 3/32" mandrels. Both sets are currently available in my etsy shop.

Lampwork Focal Glass Bead : lajewelrydesigns - ArtFire Glass

I just love making these beads!




Lampwork Focal Glass Bead : lajewelrydesigns - ArtFire Glass

Shared via AddThis

Lampwork Focal Glass Bead Set : lajewelrydesigns - ArtFire Glass

Lampwork Focal Glass Bead Set : lajewelrydesigns - ArtFire Glass

Shared via AddThis

Fab Skin Care Products from this ArtFire Shop

Mea Culpa's Body & Bath Creations on ArtFire has some fab skin care products. My personal favorite is this 3 in 1 skin cleanser.



Here's a description from the listing...sounds good enough to eat:

You open this bottle and the gentle scent of roses hits your nose and takes you away....nope, it doesnt just smell good, it does good too! It cleanses, moisturizes and might help prevent premature aging and protect against the suns rays

Witch Hazel is one of the best natural cleansers, its cool touch on the skin wakes it up and gently rubs off all the dirtiness without drying it out harshly as any over the counter al-cohol based product would do. It is also said that it helps with oily skin and acne.

Rose Floral Water...wow...I dont know if you noticed, but I have this in a lot of my products. Shhhhhh....thats my secret for making my skin soft....it is said that its a gently cleansing and toning product for all skin types. Maintains the pH balance, stimulates regeneration processes, has a calming effect in acne and sunburns. As a result the skin texture becomes even and elastic.

Green Tea Extract is believed to neutralize the damage done by exposure to UV rays. Since exposure to sunlight is a major factor that ages the skin, it is reasonable to assume that green tea cream could help prevent premature aging.
No one is advocating giving up your sunscreen in favor of green tea just yet, but green tea can definitely help enhance its effectiveness.

Lovely Earrings from JewelryByJoy on ArtFire

Look at these lovely chandelier earrings I found today on JewelrybyJoy on ArtFire. They are so pretty! Made of crystals and gold filled wire and findings. Just beautiful!

Forget the Trash, Bring a Towel

Forget the Trash, Bring a Towel, check out the ingenious use of a dumpster to make a pool on the banks of the Gowanus Canal in industrial Brooklyn. It's actually three connected pools housed in Dumpsters, a boccie court, some lounge chairs, grills and cabanas.

The space has been open since July 4th weekend and has hosted barbecues, photo shoots and a film screening, all by invitation only. Macro-Sea, the company behind the pools, is using the project as a template for a larger idea: turning eyesore strip malls into artsy community destinations, with Dumpster pools and other indie attractions.

Can't wait to see one in person!

Trash Fashion Face Off starting today in NYC:

Designers use recycled materials 2 come up with fashion designs. I've copied the content below. Sounds like a fun exhibit, pretty cool if you ask me. :)

Trashion

New exhibit from

The Urban Green Initiative

Gallery 151 (350 Bowery, NYC 10012) invites you to the opening of "TRASHION" the newest exhibit from the Urban Green Initiative - an ongoing series of art exhibitions, music concerts & dance performances that will encourage an artistic approach to ongoing conversations about environmental awareness.

The opening night "Trashion Tuesday", will include a performance by Miz Metro featuring Crosby and saxophonist Alex Violette and a live "TRASH FASHION FACE OFF" where two designers given the same recycled materials will battle to be the "Trashion Queen". Live performances on the chi-chair, and games and toys made of trash to play with. Also featuring an interactive tape wall where gallery goers can become a part of the exhibit with their own tape creations, creating a community mural that will stay up and can be added to through out the duration of the show.

Featured Artists

Dan Walker, Francis Stallings, Patrick Sheely, Rolando Politi, David Levine, Kristy Leibowitz

Miz Metro, Marcus Jefferson, Kipton Hinsdale, Jennifer Harris, Kate Goldwater, Walker Fee

Zev Deans, ClockWork Cros, Boneman, Isaac Aden.

Open: July 21st - August 21st

1pm-6pm Wednesday-Sunday

Crazy Train on ArtFire

I'm a newbie member to the ArtFire Crazy Train. Fellow artisans work hard to promote one another. Today's shop of the day is Andrea Designs. Andrea is a fabulous knitter. Look at this awesome shawl that she knit. A beautiful accessory for a night out on the town. I'm a pink person so am partial to this: