You Pick Bead Exchange

I have blogged about doing exchanges that stretch what you typically do.  And this is one of my favorite ones found on Lampwork Etc.  It's called You Pick 7.  Each participant posts an inspiration photo and everyone interprets it in the best way that they can.

So...I'm pretty sure you can pick out the bead that I made for this photo above.

This one, was one of the hardest for me. I know, it should have been easy, but finding the right colors and the gentle gradations of it, felt tough.  What would you have done?

This is the photo that I chose for others to make.  I love the organic forms and I thought that these colors were represented in both CiM and Moretti- and that it might be something that a beginner through advanced glass beadmaker might be able to interpret.  After I chose it, I saw one of this series by Matisse at our Atlanta Hight Art Museum up close.  It was pretty amazing.

If you would like to see more photos and the conversation about the exchange, pop by here.

If you were choosing art for others to interpret, do you know which piece you'd choose?  Tell us.  and if you have a link, we'd love to see that too.

Christmas Decorations in Murano and Venice

Dear Fellow Glass Peeps,
I'm subscribed to the newsletter from venetianbeadshop.com, and always enjoy their local photos of Venice and Murano.  After visiting and taking a class in Murano with Lucio Bubacco, the memories and wish to return are always present.

*flower shop in Venice, below   (I could get lost faster in Venice than any other city, I think!- but what a city!)

So I'm sharing just a few photos from the newsletter, but if you want to see more, please visit their website and learn a little bit about the local life through their eyes.

*restaurant in Murano, below  (Waking up and looking out to the boats and sunrise each morning on Murano was so touching to me.  It really grabbed my heart.  And being around so many other people who love glass too.)

All photos from VenetianBeadShop.com....

Ahhh, Glass!

One of my friends was selling off all of her 104 coe glass, as she is not making beads any more.  This is my new loot that arrived yesterday.  I can't wait to go through it and see what is in there.   I'll let you know if there are some hidden treasures.  You know, sometimes there are old corals or colors that just aren't made the same way any more.  Cross your fingers for me.

Graceful Hands in Glass

One of the many items that my teacher, Lucio Bubacco demonstrated, (or as he said, "do a performance"), were tiny little graceful hands made from glass.

The size of the hand itself, is about the same as the first joint of my pinky finger.

So you can imagine my awe in watching him not only sculpt this marvelous little treasure, but to do it with a large rod of glass. For you glass folks, this isn't our usual size that we buy in the States, but the thicker ones that are more available in Italy. Geesh!

Needless to say, practicing this was high on my agenda, and to be honest, high on my "not yet achieved" list too. My glass hands looked more like they were from some Zombie B Movie, than one owned by a prima ballerina. But they will remain on my list until I am more satisfied with how they turn out. I know the age old "practice, practice, practice, will bring my desired results....eventually.

Frantz's Sale- Colors I'd Like To Try

L to R: Coral Martian, Sediment, Yellow Apricot Premium, Yellow Opal Premium, Dark Pink Premium Pastel
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I can't help but be tempted when I see sale advertisements for glass. It draws me in and even if I don't need it, I still want it. With my stash, I try to resist temptation, but can't always.

So I decided instead to blog about colors I'd love to try. Wish I could get a single rod and just test them out to see if I really, really wanted them as much as I think I do.

Here are the colors from the most recent Frantz Art Glass 50/50 flyer that recently came out.

I have to say that I'm not sure why I want that Coral Martian, but because I tend to horde many shades of good ol' # 420, it must be that same gene. I'm trying to think where I would use this striated rod, but I know I'd find a place. I know flower petals would rock with it and striated stringer on a turquoise base would stand out. And the Sediment looks like "fur in a rod". I think you've probably seen some of the dogs & fur babies that I make and it sure would come in handy. (Am I correct to guess there is a Vetrofond similar one that I own?)

The Yellow Apricot Premium is just flat out luscious to me. Rich and vibrant, I would find many uses for it, and I'm not an "orange" person. But this one is singing to me. And who can resist a good Opal Yellow? This one has "Premium" attached to its name. Hard to resist. I wonder how this batch is? Anyone try it yet?

And finally the Dark Pink Premium Pastel...I can never have enough shades of pink. I need it for cheeks, and cute little beads. It's always pretty cased with Ink Blue or other colors too. I guess I just like girly colors, simple as that.

So these are my current shades that I'm daydreaming about in the Effetre shades. I have a huge list of CIM colors and others too.

What have you been wishing for? Let us know. Add a link if you have one and let us all drool. If you have beads made with any of these, feel free to post a link to them too. Why not?

Effetre Dark Pink...My Half Pound of Destiny.

Have you seen this batch of Effetre (Moretti) Dark Pink?  The colors make me want to scoop it up and just run it through my hands.

My friend Sylvie tried some and called to tell me I "need" it.  Then she called to tell me that she was going by Flametree Glass and would select some for me, if I wanted it.  I succumbed to glass lust and said okay.  I could tell it was my destiny.

Needless to say, a small pile of it is mine.  It's like a cross between pink and EDP 254- but in my opinion, it's not evil.  I haven't seen the same devitrifying as the other glass.  I've seen a little in some instances, but work it farther out in your flame and hit it solidly with heat before you put your kiln.  

I've already tried encasing it in both Ink Blue and CIM's Crocus which not only takes away any devitrification concerns, but is also quite yummy. I'm going to be using this a lot, as I'm working on my "Spring" beads.  It gets me in the mood for flowers and warm weather. 

This basket of glass is some of Flametree's inventory.  I wanted you to see the lusciousness of the variegated shades. For me, it will be fun experimenting and using the different colors within my half pound of glass.  It's like getting more for your money, because of the assorted colors.  Be aware it is pricey, but it sure is gorgeous too.

By the way, sorry about the black line in the photo.  That's my error and someday, (fingers crossed), I'll be proficient with a camera.

Come Vote For My Glass Entry, Skylar the Bird

Our Lampwork Etc. Street Team is hosting our January Challenge. It's for beads that make you think positively or make you happy.

There's quite a wonderful array, and plenty to choose from. I'm hoping that you will mosey over there and vote for the bead of your choice. Of course I always love your votes, but I'd be just as thrilled if you found another favorite or even voted for someone with fewer votes to even things up a bit.

This is Skylar the technicolor bird- my entry, who is currently living in my Etsy shop. Skylar is based on a heart shape before her extra feathers are added. I think I made her body from Check Glass, and the feathers from Moretti and her cheeks of course from my favorite cheek color, CIM's Gelly Pink. Love that pink. And if you look carefully at the wings, I used various shades of transparents and then blended them together, which I do for fins too. I think Skylar is even prettier in person.

Don't forget to vote and hope your Sunday is wonderful.

Ah....Tuesday. Day After Surgery

Yesterday was the second day of surgery for Ms. Pris the Fish, pictured above. Being the Sturgeon Surgeon, I feel comfortable discussing her surgery and I do have her permission in writing. (This doesn't sound a little fishy, does it?)

Anyhow, when traveling to her new owner, Ms Pris suffered a partial fin detachment. This hasn't happened before, and I"m knocking on wood, that it doesn't happen again. Anyhow, the new owner sent her back to me, for an operation to reattach her left bottom portion of her fin.

After the complicated, but successful surgery, I noticed that Ms. Pris was now suffering from what her grandmother fish would call "Lazy Fish Eye". So she went under again for additional surgery to correct that. She has decided to be brave and honest that she did have a lift done at that time and also her lips were redone. She felt that she was looking more like Melanie Griffith and wanted lips more like Angelinas. So that was done too.

I'm happy to report that she's resting and feeling almost like a new fish...but not quite. Here are the before (Top) and after (Bottom) photos. You'll notice that she was photographed under different conditions, so the colors are not quite the same.

Sincerely,
Dr. StudioMarcy