Berry Picking

This morning I unloaded another 'harvest' of strawberries from my big red bead kiln.

By tomorrow morning they'll all be earrings and on their way to the market for sale.

Earring Cards

Getting ready for the summer show season.
This morning my earring cards got dusted off and freshened up.
I just print these on card stock, snip them apart, punch holes in them and viola - custom earring cards.

Summer Fruit

A whole serving of sweet little strawberry headpins.

Perfect in pairs for earrings, they're ripe and ready for charms, dangles, jams or links.
I put a couple pairs up on Etsy but most will be made into earrings for upcoming early summer shows.

I grabbed a few snapshots of my work area as I made them, just for those of you who like seeing some hot studio action.

If you have any questions - just ask. I will be glad to share how I made them.

Hooked

A large, end of the mandrel, pendant.

Drip Drop Flop

Clearly, it is never going to stop raining.
April showers dragged into May showers which have now aggravatingly become June showers.

It had better not be one of "those" summers.

Studio Snapshots

A small handful of photographs of my glass studio. These were taken by my daughter, Margaret. It's fascinating to see something familiar through someone else's eyes. To find out what they think is interesting.

 

Bigga - da - bugs

Our family vacation to Maine was wonderful.

The purpose of our trip was to deliver Miss Margaret to the Maine Media Workshops, in Rockport, where she has a three month photography residency.

We did it all... stayed in a cabin, walked the beaches, picked up loads of rocks, ate lobsters and drank beer for breakfast.

One highlight was a tasting tour of the Allagash brewery in Portland. Now that's good beer.
My favorite? The Curieux which is aged in Jim Beam whiskey bottles. I know - it's witchcraft.

This sexy guy watched us eat lobsters. Many a lobster gave their life for us last week. Margaret has always loved lobster, when she was three she ordered "a bigga-da-bug." in some restaurant. I imagine that waitress still remembers her - same with the waiter she ordered "dog balls" (hush puppies) from.

It sure is scenic in Maine.

I can't wait to go back at the end of summer.
Maybe I will finally see a moose. I really want to see a moose, I need to see a moose.

New Beads On Etsy - Squeal of Delight

Here they are - the first beads from my new studio making landing on Etsy.

Birds! Including two iridescent blue black crow focals.

Hearts! Big crazy ones, very organic and sculptural.

And, the very first marble from my new studio.

Suddenly it's all so very real, I actually have my own studio and I am back in the business of melting glass.

O! I do so love playing with fire.

Moose Whisperer

Back from our adventure in Maine.
Oh crap is it ever scenic up there.

Another Day * Another Bead

An "Instagram" snapshot of the sunlight streaming in and filling up my studio with a blinding, bright warmth.

I'm sorry there haven't been many photographs of all the new beads I have been making. I am keeping it simple and just rebuilding an inventory. I didn't have much of anything left after four months without any 'flame time.' Yesterday's beads are mostly small beads for simple hammered link necklaces.

If you look in the center of this pile of mandrels you will see the first marble made in the new studio.
Men love marbles. So, I better get busy because father's day is right around the corner.

It Was a Dark and Stormy Studio

The weather as it rolled towards my perch this afternoon.

The photo was taken with "Instagram" download it to your cell phone - it's a great toy.

Shane Fero - Glass Birds

I am so in love with these birds I ought to marry them.

Check out his crazy, amazing torch set up.

Click here to visit his website.

Let's Keep Craft Tidy

Is it weird that I always neaten up after I work?

Why do I put all the glass away, sweep up the wasted bits of rods, put my tools back in their drawers and roll my concentrator back into place after each and every time I work? It seems silly. I was watching You Tube videos of other glass workers and their bench surfaces were wild nests of of tools, rods, twisties, frit, flotsam and jetsam.