From Flower to Jewelry

I just recently found out that I was accepted to the ISGB's 3 x 2 Exhibit.  The premise is that the glass artist submits a bead to a jury.  If accepted, then the beadmaker makes a total of three similar ones that get sent on to a Washington state metal jewelry artist  who will then make each of the three beads into jewelry.  One will go on exhibit for our Gathering in Bellevue WA this summer, and then each of the artists receive one of the final design.

I love this type of collaboration.  Usually I am making custom pieces or for myself, so I don't have to give up all control of the final item.  But you know, sometimes you find such wonderful combinations that you wouldn't have thought of otherwise.

I tried to pick colors that would go well with a variety of metals.  I know that some are so expensive, so I wanted colors that could look luscious with ...oh maybe copper or something else.  The affordable kind.  And although the bee is sculptural (and yes, he does have two wings, but a funny angle of the photo makes it look otherwise.), he is protected with the petals that I made a little thicker than usual.

And I was careful to make a very flat bottom for this as well.  I am not experienced in setting beads, but I thought that between having a 1/16 hole as well as a flat bottom, the metal crafter had more options for attaching them.

If you make beads for bezels, what are some tricks that you don't mind passing along?  I just shared my thinking, but I bet there are more angles for attacking this than what I thought of.  Let us all know.  And hope you had a nice weekend...

Project Lampwork by Southern Flames, Atlanta ISGB Chapter

A couple of months back, Southern Flames, the Atlanta based chapter of the ISGB- International Society of Glass Beadmakers, had a meeting called Project Lampwork. I believe it was the brainchild of co-President, Sylvie Lansdowne. Our meeting attendees were divided up into 4 groups- one per set up torch, and each chose a magazine photo to create a bead that was inspired by it.

The team had a few minutes to make their decisions, grab their glass and then each team member had a few minutes to torch and then had to hand off the mandrel to the next team member. It was such a fun meeting, I'd highly recommend it.

We got to know our other team members a little better that evening. It was great seeing where each person went with their "part" of the bead and watching collaborative beadmaking.

The team I was on had two brand new beadmakers and two quite experienced ones. And having a lot of experience, at first I thought I would be doing some of the latter part of the bead. But analyzing it, my best use was getting the initial glass onto the mandrel into a nice shape quickly, so the others could add their decorations and interpretations. With only a few minutes each, we had to look what each person could do in the alloted time. And you know, it was kind of fun getting my turn out of the way first, so I could enjoy watching the others and seeing how they interpreted the inspiration. Each had different ideas and abilities. Each person stretched in different ways and it was an event that the Flames want to repeat in the future.

See you tomorrow at www.studiomarcy.blogspot.com