It's Getting Spookier

With all my seasonal Christmas show work that needs to be done, I have to be careful to take time to enjoy Halloween.  In this line of art, we need to make our seasonal products in advance, so that jewelry making buyers have time to create their finished pieces. So I'm in the middle of Christmas, before Halloween even passes.  And we all know, this is a really fun time of year.

It's not that I like "spooky", but it's more like it's time for people to be creative.  Whether it's the funny food that is a riff on the holiday, or the costumes and decorations, it's almost like this holiday gives people permission to be out of their traditional life a bit.

I have this little bride of frankenstein vignette in my etsy shop.  She is a bead and so is the owl.  They are fully removable for wearing, or they can stay on their mulberry root stand.  The tree can not be worn.  My suggestion is to get those change a bead pendants so you can switch back and forth.  (Her dress is my favorite part.  It really looks like there is movement and fabric, instead of opaque glass.)

Now, if I can just stay out of the candy until this season is over.  Of course I like that aspect too.  Chocolate and candy corns.  Save me your Mounds Bars...mmmmm.

Frankie in Soda Lime Times

If you are a flameworking beadmaker, and haven't subscribed yet to Diane Woodall's Soda Lime Times, you are missing a great deal.

This month has the Halloween issue and I have a tutorial for Frankie, (pictured above) in it.  But within the 52 pages, (yes, that much!)  there is tons of content in her monthly subscribtion e-zine.  It is so worthwhile.  I have been beadmaking for about 12 years, and each issue teaches me something new.

What a Fox!

I am working on a new project and decided that I might need a fox for it.  So here is my first effort.

My second one will look closer to this photo, which I should have printed prior to melting the glass..but oh well, I have plenty of glass left to make more.  I must be making too many dogs, because the muzzle looks more like a police dog, than the fox.  But in fairness, the bead is small, about the size of the first joint in my thumb.  (who needs rulers when we have thumbs to measure with? Ha, ha!)

So I look forward to showing you my next iteration of a fox.  I love making the face only beads and those come out well, but making tiny full body ones, will take another try.  The second one will have a different snout, slimmer tail, possibly longer legs, but honestly there's a trade off between what should be and what works better for strength, and there will be a bit more white around the face and other parts of the body.

Wondering why I'm showing you my not quite successful one?  Because seldom do we do super well on our first try.  And it's good to see that even with this many years of melting glass, each new attempt is a learning opportunity.

See you tomorrow!

Glass Honey Badgers Don't Care

The Honey Badgers have given up on snakes and are after Santa!  Luckily, he's magic and this is what happens...

I think he made them the official bouncers for the North Pole and even with that awesome title, we all know...Honey Bears Don't Care!

I'll show you next week what they encounter next.

pssst....these Honey Badgers are available from my StudioMarcy Etsy shop.  Get them, before they get you.

Shell and Starfish Class Wrap Up

Here's a quick snapshot of the some of the shells and starfish from my last  2 hour class at FlameTree Glass.  I was really impressed that my students did so well.

Those starfish can be a bit hard to do the first time around.  And we all were laughing.  Before they get their decorations, they look a bit like an uncooked chicken ready to be popped into the oven.

Roses- Fresh Off the Mandrel

If any of you know me well, I have the brownest thumb on this side of the Mississippi.  If it can't grow by itself, it's not going to survive.

So when my sister asked me to make her a rose pendant, I was venturing into new territory.
You see, I had just been at my friend Marilyn Peraza's studio a few weeks earlier, and she makes such gorgeous roses. It's her "thing".  But I am kind of funny about techniques,  unless someone invites me to watch, I feel funny soaking up someone else's work.  I think it's the old copying thing that we're all so afraid of.  So I missed learning from one of the best.  (although she has two wonderful tutorials on sculptured roses and rose murrini here.

You can see my first attempts.  I'm not crazy about the colors though.  I need a shade of yellow that is right in the middle. I can't remember which Vetrofond special color I used on the lighter and the brighter yellow is an old Russian 104 glass that I have.  The butterscotch-ish one is an opalino and the pink one is a CIM. I tried dipping each pink petal's base into frit first, to give it some variegation, but I think that specific frit wasn't the best for that particular experiment.

I'm not done yet.  My sis still needs a yellow rose pendant for one of her friends and I'll complete one that I am more satisfied with.  I've got ideas to try still.  Because for me, part of the fun is the journey.  Trying different techniques, tools and then trying it some more until I'm happy with the end result.

If any of you have expertise you'd like to share, I'm more than happy to listen and soak it up.  Meanwhile, I'm off to my studio to try a few more ideas that are floating around in my head.

Oh, one more thing...Marilyn has some teachers come to her studio.  Look around on her site and check them out.  It might be a class you'd enjoy taking.  Tell her I sent you!

Razorbacks- A Face That Only A Fan (or their Mother) Could Love

So I've been asked to do my rendition of an Arkansas Razorback bead (as a gift-not for sale).  And anytime I do something new, I have to do a little research to see what exactly I'm doing.  Here is their logo. Kind of mean looking critter, isn't it?

And then I also found this close up shot, that would make a more fun bead to do, because there's more personality and different detail.

Rather oozing charm, wouldn't you say?  I do like how his teeth are so rectangular and his face is expressive.

But my favorite form of the Razorback is this picture.  I'm hoping one of you reading this is a fan and can tell me that you own one of these hats.  They sure make me smile.  It kind of looks like an angry red relative to Alf.  (remember him?)

So when I'm done, I'll show you my bead. And in case you're worrying, no need to be concerned about copyright- it's not for sale, but it is for some Beads of Courage parents.  And I'm guessing they need that strength that the hog portrays.

Chub...One of Santa's Helpers

Little Chub just adores Christmas. Each year he dresses up in his antlers and gets ready to daydream about the big day. He still wishes he could fly, but honestly, who doesn't?

Chub is waiting for adoption in my Etsy shop. Pop by and give him an "attaboy".

Girl With A Pearl Earring...and Necklace

I love doing interpretations of famous paintings. You might remember that I've done Son of Man, Birth of Venus, The Kiss, and others. Well, I've added Girl With A Pearl Earring to the list. You might have noticed that there isn't a close up of it. Of course there's a reason. I need to make it again. It's close and gives the impression of the painting, but I want to do a better face on it.

I wore it the other night to our Southern Flames chapter meeting. And I was thrilled that folks knew what it was, without me explaining it. (always a good sign) So watch for another rendition at some point of the painting. And I have a long list of others to do as well. Nice break from sculpture and so much fun too.

If you have a favorite painting that you think might be interpreted, please post and let me know. I'd love to add to my list.

Sketching on Glass

I recently tried "sketching" on glass to see what the results would be like. And the answer is...I need a little practice!

I wanted to try the equivalent of a line drawing on a simple background. So I picked up a piece of stringer and after laying down the first line, realized, I should have chose a more opaque piece. so I went over the same line again and made the "sketch" too wide.

Ah, life's lessons. And after looking at this bead some more, I think I would want the "drawing" to be smaller for a better proportion. So I will try it again sometime. But meanwhile, I'm hoping you'll post links to some of your "sketch" beads and show me what you can do too!

Not Mistletoe Already!

Every year I debate whether to bring out my Christmas beads before Halloween. It's a tough call, but some folks are early birds.

It's not that I'm out for the worms, but I do know that holiday craft shows are coming up and it's nice to have your inventory ready in advance. Or at least I prefer to operate that way.

So I'm slowly stocking my shop with holiday items. This year, once I rev up, there will be lots of new styles to choose from. I've got my drawings completed and now I just need enough time to execute them.

So if you are looking for the holiday sculptural beads, keep checking out my Etsy lampwork bead shop. I'll be adding at least a few each week as we gain momentum towards Christmas. And of course, please don't forget my BOGO 1/2 OFF SALE (buy one, get one half price sale) that continues until Oct. 26th. You can be both the early bird and get a great deal on worms, too!

See you on Sunday for more glass and creativity chat...http://www.StudioMarcy.blogspot.com

Cool Jewelry Design ~ Artfire

I just love the cute way Cool Jewelry Design on Artfire has displayed one of my dog beads. This one has been named, Rascal and you can see the entire listing here.

This mother of pearl frame around the lampwork bead gives the jewelry a unique, dimensional look.

Pop by and check out her shop. The designer lives pretty close to me, so I was lucky to have met her in person. She has a cool personal style, which translates well into her work.

See you tomorrow. Check out my blog archives, http://www.StudioMarcy.blogspot.com

My Impatiens With Bunnies

I love bunnies. No doubt about it. But I have to say, my resident rabbit has been snacking on my flowers- impatiens to be exact, a little too often.

Sure, I understand that the flowers are lovely in their bright coral, pink and purple colors. And I also know that they're nestled in a nice patch of shade near the bunny hangout. But I just didn't know that they were that tasty.

All summer, they've been disappearing. I get a little sad, because I sure love the bursts of color- almost like exclamation points in my yard. I'm afraid the exclamation is turning into an apostrophe.

So here's my lampwork glass bunny bead named Juniper. Hopefully she will somehow telepath my wishes to the resident living breathing one and my poor impatiens will live through the end of the summer. And if you need help with bunnies in your yard, maybe she can help you too!

See you tomorrow

Cheaper by the Bakers Dozen Cupcake Glass Beads

I had an inquiry from an online bakery specializing in cupcakes. We discussed a wholesale price for cupcakes.

Now I know that a lot of artists don't do wholesale, but I have a different opinion. If the details are spelled out carefully and agreed upon, then it can be a win/win situation.

But back to cupcakes. Part of the fun for me, was trying to figure out what types of cupcakes to offer. I reviewed her website, and then thought about what would I want to make multiples of at the price we agreed upon. (and decided that I was pretty open as long as the cupcake wasn't too detailed)

Here are four samples of the many that I came up with. I first made a list of what colors cake bases might be. Then I went to frosting colors and then I have a separate column for decorations. By writing out my ideas, it's easier to make an assortment, once I get to the torch, than having to think them up as I go. I'm a list person through and through.

Do you sell wholesale? And if so, do you have any pointers for our readers? And of course the other thing I want to know is...what's your favorite type of cupcake? I think mine would be rum cake with pineapple frosting and lots of coconut sprinkles, I've never seen one, but it sounds good.

See you tomorrow!

Does This Bead Match My Bag?

One of my customers constructed this bag and she is aiming to embellish it a little more. So she contacted me with the bottom photo and asked if I would design a bead to go with it.

Well of course I'd give it a try. I love looking at custom orders a bit like a puzzle. It's good to mentally and physically challenge oneself to figure out how to make something new.

Before accepting the commission, I look at the colors. Do I own rods that match, or can I layer or mix these shades? What about the shape? Is it within my realm of expertise? And technically, can I figure out how to attempt to do it...at least on the first try?

Often it takes more endeavors than just one. And I know that I don't usually charge enough to cover those extra efforts, but to me, the custom orders almost always are worth it.

Each one teaches me and that's one of the elements that I love. Foremost is the customer's happiness, when I'm able to create what they want. It makes me just as joyful. But definitely secondary, is stretching my boundaries in a different direction to practice looking at the 2-D object and interpreting it into a 3-D shape- boldly going where I have never gone before. It's like a mini class for myself.

Do I ever have to call it quits? Sure. Not often, but I have. Once someone wanted me to make a specific NASCAR racing car less than an inch tall with the numbers and some of the intricate details. What was I thinking? Suffice it to say, it didn't work. I imagine if I had chosen to continue on and make enough of them, I'd get it, but I didn't quote a price anywhere close to the hours I was putting into it. That car is still on my bead rack to taunt me.

Some of the more memorable custom orders? Well I delighted in concocting someone's cat dancing on two legs, wearing a pink tutu and a black pirate patch. Creating pets, or the grandchildren face beads, school mascots, special mermaids and fairies or funny requests like Easter bunnies wearing viking helmets makes me grin. Bringing others' imagination to life is very rewarding.

So this swallow, (which matches a tattoo as well as the tote), is ready to be sent. Just wanted to share a portion of my art with you. These custom orders are a pleasing challenge in many ways of almost every day that I am at my torch.

If you have a custom bead you'd like to discuss, please contact me through my StudioMarcy Etsy shop, http://www.StudioMarcy.etsy.com. I'd love to chat.

Are You a Superwoman?

Are you a Superwoman?  Or do you have one in your life?

The other day, I was thinking about Mothers' Day and what would I buy for my Mom.  She's a tough one to buy for- has everything she wants and generally I'm limited to tennis related items.  Sometimes when trying to figure out this hard to buy for type, I do a mental "free-association".   The word, "Superwoman" came to my mind.

I won't go into family history and details, but suffice it to say, she's pretty amazing and that was the birth of the big "S" focal bead.  I know there are so many other women out there who are just as cool.   Are you one of them?  

I'm going to make more in different colors.  I'm hoping that women will find their free association in the symbol as well as get a good smile out of it.  Superwomen of the world unite.  Now if we could just get the rest of the super powers.  I'd sure love to be able to fly.

Venus on the Half Shell- Bless Her Heart

I love the painting, The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli. And I am guessing that he's probably rolling his eyes in disbelief right now. But being the adventurous spirit that I am, I had to see what happened when I sat down and attempted a very simplified glass version in my characteristic style.

Well, as my friend said, "she's a little short waisted". Which of course made me burst out laughing. For one thing, my Venus needs longer legs. All I could think of was the Southern way of adding, "Bless her heart", when they are ready to say something unkind. For some reason, that makes it okay to say.

But the problems was, that I made her head first, instead of her body and started working my way down and ran out of room. So that was a big lesson learned. I think I was concentrating to make sure her hair and hands covered every body part, that I wasn't focused enough on the big picture. A little cleavage wouldn't have hurt anything.

And if you look at the background, I was pretty happy with that. I made the colors blend to give it a similar coloration to the original. I know that in the real, gorgeous painting, her skin is luminescent against it. Needless to say, I used pale ivory to try to achieve that.

All in all, I was happy with this first attempt. Sure she is not tall, elegant and gorgeous, but she is a fun characterization of the original, which definitely has always been my style. And I like being able to look at a bead and dissect it to see what I would do differently next time. I made four little sculptural seashells to go with her, so now I'm off to photograph them and upload this bead into my Etsy shop. You'll be able to find her there. Bless her heart.

Japanese Bento Boxes As Art

I figured you non-glass readers who follow my blog might need a day or two off from my comments about silver glass. What better way to get your attention than to talk about food.

Especially "cute" food. These illustrations show two Japanese Bento Box lunches that are about as artfully arranged, as I've ever seen. ( I have quite a few other photos of great ones too.)

When my kids were little, I drew and decorated their lunchbags, cut their sandwiches into butterflies and other shapes, but believe me, I never put
this amount of energy into it , although, if I had thought about it, I sure would have enjoyed creating some of these fun treasures..

If you aren't familiar with Bento lunches, they can be homemade or purchased as take out. I've seen all kinds of containers- some are beautiful lacquer, and others very nice, but more utilitarian.

But bottom line, (of course a beadmaker feels this way), don't these look like beads with surface decoration? The shaped boxes that contain these little edible works of art, could be bead bases and the the lunch could be decoration on them. I can't help but look at so much life that way.

So if you happen to see Bento Box inspired beads in my Etsy shop in the next couple of days, you'll know where I found my inspiration. I've been making sushi beads for years, so perhaps this is the next step.

See you tomorrow with more thoughts and fresh ideas. Meanwhile enjoy your Friday.

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!

Aretha's Inaugural Hat Commemorated in Glass

I don't know about you, but when I saw Aretha Franklin's hat at President Obama's inauguration,  I fell in love with it.  I looked at it and knew that someday it needed to belong on one of my beads.

That day has come.

I was thinking about who would be the lucky character to get to sport this incredible hat.  When I do something like this,  I love to have a tie in with an amusing story, if possible for my Etsy shop.

Well meet Erica Franklin the mermaid.  (Wait until you hear the convoluted tie in- think tv trivia from days of old)

Erica's mom is named Bonnie, who is red headed, laid back and takes "One Day at a Time".  (if you're old enough, you could groan now)

And although Erica bought this knock off hat on Ebay, she believes it brings her closer to her missing relative, the one she would love to be related to, Aretha.

And of course after I started to write this, I noticed that Aretha's hat is everywhere.  

Well the cool thing about this is that Erica may not ever get to meet Aretha, but at least her mom has ties to Valerie Bertinelli.

Pop culture is alive...and percolating in my brain.