Better Scents in the Studio

Good smells put me in a good mood. I know all of us have different tastes in what smells good. My particular choices tend to center around fresh baking. A little pumpkin pie, cinnamon, cloves and vanilla mixed with other scents, bring a smile to my face every time I'm around them. I can't wait until it gets cold outside, and then I switch to holiday pines and really feel the spirit.

And probably by now, you're wondering, how does this relate to glass? Well, stay with me, I'll show you how it does in its own way.

Today's tip is something that I do. I use soy melts, similar to the ones pictured above, in my studio. I have a kiln with a bead door, so my kiln is essentially front loading. The top of my firebrick kiln (AF-99) is always warm and just hanging out, wishing that it could be of use too. So I put my soy melts inside of a small pyrex heat proof bowl and then place that on top of my warm kiln. They scent the room and make it smell delicious. I like that I don't have one more flame lit in the studio for a candle. (Please note: just one at a time is plenty so there's no chance of spills and only while you're in the studio. Safety is always important.)

These photos are for MULLED CIDER Dye Free Soy Break Away Tart Bar - 3oz and 4 PUMPKIN SOUFFLE Dye Free Soy Blend Wax Muffin Melts / Tarts - 4oz courtesy of etsy shop, TenDigitCreations also from Georgia. You can find these at http:www.tendigitcreations.etsy.com or other similar shops on etsy too.

Let me know if you have some favorite etsy shops for these types of melts and what scents have you tried that you like? I'm always open to finding more sources of delicious smells.

Beaders Showcase, Have You Joined Yet?

Have you checked out Beaders Showcase yet?
http://www.BeadersShowcase.com
(You can click on the photo to enlarge the view.)

I joined last week. It is one of the growing websites that mixes all kinds beads, beadmakers, bead stringers, and everyone else in between.

This type of website to me is very helpful. I like to see what everyone is making. (and admire it) But not just to think it's pretty, but also because it also shows me trends in what jewelry makers are doing and gives me inspiration for some of my beads that I make. This website also has a lot of international members. Seeing what is done in other countries broadens my knowledge base, but also is just plain old fascinating to me too.

And who can resist a website that features video tutorials? Oh my, I'll be in heaven. For as much as I love the written word, to me, I love seeing how something is done. I hope a lot of people add more to the website's library.

Here's a screenshot of half of the home page to give you an idea of what they're about. This global website is not about marketing your work. It's about showcasing what you have and sharing with others. It's run by Jeff Pritchard and his wife, and the members even have an area for voting for planned changes. So you have a say in its direction too. Stop by for a visit and check it out.

Happy weekend to you,
Marcy

Ask Studio Marcy...Online Coaching Now Taking Requests

I woke up this morning thinking about all the lovely responses I received from offering a free mini tutorial earlier this week. Thanks everyone for your kind words.

So my natural progression both from being happy from hearing that, is to wonder what else can I do that will be nice for the lampwork community?

It came to me... Online Coaching.

I am a lampwork teacher. I love it. Helping beadmakers achieve what they want to do and then seeing their smiles afterward really makes me excited. There's nothing like it.

I can share my 8 years of glass experience and we can all learn from this. I know that there are lots of lampworkers out here in cyber land who don't have the luxury of classes being taught in their hometowns. (That's one of the things I love about Atlanta- we get great teachers here!)

So here's how I'd like to set this up:
a. I will do this twice a month - every other week to start. We'll see how it goes.
b. Hopefully, this will be a semi interactive situation. Where someone will offer one of their beads as an example and I'll both post their photo and comments and then provide suggestions that might include tips, techniques, color suggestions, etc. in a kind and supportive manner so it is a group learning experience.
c. And the readers who are following this, may offer their opinions also as long as they are in a kind and supportive manner. (I moderate all posts, so only those types of posts will be allowed)
d. I'd like to try to keep this to the sculptural area, to encourage more people to try it.
e. Now the nitty gritty.
1. Email me through my blog contact form on- www.StudioMarcy.com. You can send a photo, 72 dpi and no larger than 1000 x 1000. I can't choose everyone, but I'll try to find the photos which provide a great learning experience for everyone viewing it. I will respond to everyone though. Please include the word "Coach" in the subject line. Also tell me what you would like to know, your website or etsy shop name if you'd like, (hey, additional pr is always good), what kind of torch you use, glass type, and any other back ground info or pertinent info you'd like to tell me.
2. If you are chosen, your name will be placed in a hat for a quarterly drawing for one of my beads.

And I would be remiss if I didn't pop in a plug for my teaching gigs. As I mentioned, I love teaching. If you or your group would like to learn more about sculptural glass beadmaking in person, I'm an empty nester and love to travel. Please contact me for my class syllabus and other info at
www.StudioMarcy.com

Please share this opportunity with others. Blog it, post it in forums, or where ever we can get volunteers to try this concept. Now let's get this party started! Who will be first?
Cheers,
Marcy

Artistic Conundrum- Copyright vs Have I Changed It Enough To Be Safe and Still Get the Essence

Wow, that's the longest title, I've ever written. But let me explain.

I do a lot of customer requests, but I will not make copies of something that is copyrighted or someone else's work. Very simple and a rule I don't break.

There's always a "however" out there. I've had a request from a customer to make a Mighty Mouse style bead. She had a dear friend, a policeman who died from cancer, who used to call himself Mighty Mouse and she'd like some beads to commemorate him.

Needless to say, I told her I can't make them like that, but what are some different angles we could use to have an essence of Mighty Mouse, but still make it a different bead that is special to his memory? We have decided on a police hat, a face change and his police number on the chest, but I think there need to be considerable other changes before I feel comfortable with it.

I know it's mostly artists and artisans who read this blog, so please tell me what you think. How would you change this image to keep the essence and yet make it different enough? I'd love to hear your ideas and opinions.

Cactus... Inspiration and Free Tutorial

Inspiration always comes from funny places. Sometimes it's as simple as something that is staring you in the face.

When my son came home from college, he brought two cactus with him. One of them was this one pictured. He added the mustache, which is a family joke.

This inspired me to make some of my own cactus in brighter colors that I prefer as you can see. These don't hurt like the original ones when you touch them, and they even require LESS watering. This one is available in my etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15088842

If you'd like to make a cactus of your own, here's a quick tutorial.
104 COE Soft Glass Needed:
Pea green (opaque)
Transparent Grass Green
CIM Gelly Pink
Transparent Pink - any one (not sure which one I used)
1/16th mandrel, pliers, marver and of course, torch and kiln

The main stem is your base bead. Lay on the pea green in a modified barrel shape. Make it as long as you want. I usually keep mine under an inch. I want to keep it a little larger at the base and slightly taper off towards the top. On purpose, I don't want it to be exactly even and sometimes we need to change old habits of perfect symmetry.

To build the "arms", I heat up a gather of of the pea green (better for it to be a little too much than too little). Then I heat up the place on the base cactus where I want to place it. Hot glass to hot glass melds and connects much better than if one side isn't pre-heated. I hold both pieces of glass together for a second for them to connect and place that section in the edge of the flame to make sure that is totally joined. Then I slowly hold the gather rod at a perpendicular position and barely pull out and then change the angle so the arm becomes an "L" shape. I flame cut the end of the glass slightly tapering it at the time. Repeat for the other arms that you choose to add. Remember, this piece needs to be thought of as a pendant, so you need to have at least one side, where it will lay well against the body.

Now to add the needles. As you can see, they are simple dots laid down in vertical lines along the cactus. I like to start with one line on a totally open side, and then work around the cactus.

Finally the flowers are ready to be added. I make base medium sized dots- kind of like a basic flower petal shape in the opaque pink. I like 5 dots, because it's an uneven amount and when you're going around the mandrel, you can make it with that number, as long as they're large enough. On top of the opaque dots, I add bits of the transparent pink to add a little depth. Then I take my pliers and squish them out to petal shapes. Just twist and turn them a bit to make them look the way you want.

Hope you enjoy making this cactus and that you have as much fun with sculptural beads as I do. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. You can post here, or convo me through my etsy shop, http://www.StudioMarcy.etsy.com

I would love to do a follow up on this Cactus How-To. After you make your cactus, please send me a photo of it, so I can post it here to show others.

Marcy

Start Your Day Off Right ~ With a 30% Off Lampwork SALE

The Etsy Glass Artists (EGA) group that I belong to is having a quick sale starting today and going through Thursday, September 9, 10 & 11.
Participating shops will be offering 30% off select items in their shops ~ see see each shop's Announcement for their specific offerings! Use the code FFG (Fall For Glass) in your notes to buyer upon check out so you can get the 30% discount. A great deal and a great time to get started on that holiday shopping list

Of course I want you to stop by my shop first- and don't forget, free shipping for orders over $40 after your 30% discount.

http://studiomarcy.etsy.com

And here are the other wonderful participating glass artists in my Etsy Glass Artist Group...
http://willowglass.etsy.com
http://liskidder.etsy.com
http://glasscat.etsy.com
http://psodesign.etsy.com
http://susanlambert.etsy.com
http://chickadeebeads.etsy.com
http://prizmatic.etsy.com
http://mycabincreations.etsy.com
http://paulasstressart.etsy.com
http://monkeyblues.etsy.com
http://jewelrybynatsuko.etsy.com
http://sandree.etsy.com
http://susansheehan.etsy.com
http://LeahPellegrini.etsy.com
http://groovyglassgirl.etsy.com
http://wendylee.etsy.com
http://jochris12.etsy.com
http://popko.etsy.com

Colorado Slim Cooks Out

Here's a photo that makes me smile. It's Colorado Slim and his charcoal Weber grill. I'm not sure, but it could be buffalo burgers with cheddar that he's grilling.

What I really wanted to talk about today is glass assemblages. Where more than one bead is combined to make a vignette. Technically, an assemblage is a 3D piece of art that is made with found objects. I just find mine on my bead racks.

I didn't make these beads to go together. As most of you know, I see something, remember something, or just have an idea pop into my head and then make a bead. Colorado Slim came from a few sources. When my son was little, he liked a Deputy Dan book. Slim is a lot slimmer than Dan, but has his influence of a scruffy look. The red Weber grill was one that I won years ago when I worked for a corporation in marketing. And I liked how these two beads look together as an assemblage. This type of combination works well when you're putting together a postcard for marketing your work or a small ad. It makes your work more memorable and adds a touch of whimsy. (Colorado Slim is available in my etsy shop- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7906349 )

Later this week, I'll post a small tutorial for making your own simple stands for multiple beads. I make them so they can hold a couple beads upright in one place. These are good for assemblages or just for your photography.