Interviewed on Macaroni & Glue

I love the title of this blog, Macaroni & Glue.

Kelly is the artist behind Retrocrafted and Freshly Crafted which are really unique paper goods stationary shops on Etsy.

Kelly has posted an artisan interview with me which was so very sweet of her.  There are lots of photos and amazingly fascinating little known facts. (okay, maybe not entirely fascinating, but the latter for sure)

So here's my question of the day for you.  Kelly asked me to describe my work in three words.  What three words would you use to describe your art?  Or, you're always welcome to describe mine.

Packaging and Branding Your Art

Do you ever read About.com's jewelry making section?  I receive an email once a week that includes some how-to's or topics of interest.

The post this week that was of interest to me was about packaging jewelry when selling online.

It seems like I've read a lot of posts where customers have said it doesn't much matter, as long as their purchase arrives safely, but I think a bit of extra care, really can help.

The article talks about this is your chance for branding your product.  If there is something about your work or business that the packaging can reinforce, then it makes a difference.  I agree.

I've included two basic jewelry boxes from Nashville Wraps, which is where I buy some of my supplies.  They're quick, and close to me, so shipping costs are reasonable too.

But I wanted to show you the difference between the two boxes, which both serve the same purpose, but in my mind, would be great for different types of beads.  The 80% recycled kraft paper box is very cool.  It would show that you are aware of current environmental recycling issues and to me, would look great with most beads.  In particular, if you specialized in organic style beads, I think the style would reinforce your look.  

The brown and pink one makes me think of glossy high fashion.  I picture beads with sparkle or detailed designs in these.  Girly floral encased beads or beadmakers who use these colors often would also do well with this style.  There are all kinds of colors for boxes or even organza bags out there to choose from to reinforce who you are and what you are selling.

Don't forget to include a business card in your package, so it's easy for your customer to contact you and tell you how much they love your art.  A short thank you to them never hurts either.

So when you're next ordering shipping supplies, look at your options, while also looking at prices.  See if there is something there that silently tells your customers a little more about who you are.  If you are one of my customers, you'll probably receive a new little box, but there will be recycled packaging materials inside- I guess I'm a combination of both worlds.

See you tomorrow,

Marcy

Fire Breathing Art

There's just never enough fire breathing art in my opinion. You know, people who use torches have an affinity for flames. Especially 20' tall fire spewing robots with baby faces.

This is the "Giant Torayan" robot by Japanese artist, Kenji Yanobe. I love it.

This art piece moves in multiple places and has a ship's horn attached for loud blasts, which can be heard miles away. His chest compartment opens up and you can see little doll-like heads lined up inside.

Master craftsman Yanobe, who calls himself a welder, is known for his innovative and futuristic vision of art.

One of the online articles that I read about Yanobe, discussed that his work was part of the "Otaku Culture". Being inherently curious, I looked up that term and this is part of what the wiki said-
"In modern Japanese, the term "otaku" refers to any particular theme, topic or hobby. Common uses are anime otaku, cosplay otaku and manga otaku." Apparently the term sometimes has a bit of a negative connotation in Japan, so don't sling the word around, unless you are sure of yourself.

If you'd like to see more of Yanobe's far out, very cool art, just click here.

As for me, I'll be thinking about large fire breathing beads and how we can make them on the miniature scale. Wouldn't that be a trip?

See you tomorrow.

I've Been Puppy Blogged

I've been blogged!  Fellow glass sculptural beadmaker, Louise Ingram included my pup in her Friday blog about making dog beads.  Louise makes wonderful "monkee" beads.  I love the ones in astronaut gear.  Visit her blog and see what she's up to as well as dog photos by a variety of beadmakers.

Teletubbies or Glass?

Just to look at ~ not to eat.

http://www.StudioMarcy.etsy.com

Three new beads listed daily

~

Mini Tutorial- Making Mushrooms by Marcy Lamberson

Mushrooms traditionally add a bit of fancy to

to an owners collection, or wardrobe. Often I think of them being appreciated by people who enjoy fairies, and small woodland type vignettes.
I just happen to be one of those people and perhaps you are too. If so, here's a very simple mini tutorial for you, so you can make your own.

Marcy's Magic Mushrooms
(Okay, I grew up in the 60's and they aren't that type, but it sounds good.)

Supplies
Glass: Light 

ivory, white stringer and color for mushroom cap. Most often it's red.
Tools: marver (I prefer a brass Stump Shaper, but any marver will do.)
Directions:
1. I work on a 1/16th mandrel, but 3/32 would be just fine also. Starting at the end closest to the hand holding the mandrel, start winding your light ivory into a chubby donut shape.

2. Marver your donut into a stem shape similar to a cone without a sharp point. Keep that end nice and wide to attach the cap, but make it smaller than the base end.

3. Pat yourself on the back.
4. Using your mushroom cap color, make a small donut with about 3 wraps around the mandrel directly next to the smaller end of the stem. This makes sure that your mushroom cap will be smooth at the mandrel. Turn your hand holding the mandrel and point the flame directly at the top of the donut, so it gets warm and smooths out.
5. Gently marver it on a slight angle to slightly spread it out and smooth some more. Please note, depending on how pointed you want your mushroom cap, this is where you decide. Use a sharper angle marvering it, if you want a more pointed cap. If you happen to marver it too much and your glass gets too thin at the top, just sparingly add a few more dots of glass around the top of it and gently melt in and marver again- g e n t l y and not too hot.

6. Now, you should have a band of color for the start of the cap. Heat your rod of the same color and the rim of the small cap and point your flame where the two meet as you apply more glass in circles, widening your mushroom cap. It's like making a disk on a slight angle or a half of a hollow bead. Every couple of wraps, be sure to keep your mushroom warm.
7. Aren't you happy that you didn't make the top of the stem too thin? Because you need this top of the stem to help support your cap and make it more secure and easier to marver. Whoops, that's the next step.

8. Once you have enough mushroom cap on, then you can gently heat and marver it smooth. It will slightly contract and that's okay, because you know how to add more glass. I think getting a nice, smooth cap is more important. Once you have it the way you like it, there's just one more step.

9. Add your white dots. Sparingly. A few seem to work the best. Melt them in gently and marver if necessary. But not too hard, because then they aren't as opaque. Finish fire polishing your mushroom and pop it into the kiln. Or...

10. On my green mushroom below, I added a little bit of sparkle.

 A light pixie dust, (goes with fairy objects after all) or even a few little thin green stringer strands of glass grass on the base of the mushroom stem can add a touch of detail to make it more special.

11. Pat yourself on the back one more time. Enjoy!

Have You Entered?

If you haven't seen this gorgeous book, Frit Secrets: A Flamework's Guide to Using Reactive Glass Frits  by Val Cox, you've missed out.  It's 120 ages with over 250 photographs and has technical information as well pictures to drool over.

You can find it on Val's site, here.

OR...you can attempt to win one of the two copies that Lori Greenberg is giving away here.

One way is to comment at the bottom of Lori's review.  Let me tell you, there were 90 responses when I last looked.  I've got my fingers crossed on that one.

The other way is to take some great photos of your best bead made with frit and submit it.  The directions and requirements  are easy.

I don't know about you, but perhaps today will be my day to make my best frit bead.  I'm definitely going to give it a try.  Only a few more days in which to enter, so we all had better get going!