The Flaming Bacon Tiara Quandry

The Flaming Bacon Tiara Quandry... the other day on facebook, I posted a photo of a Flame Tiara that I had made. I had used a filter (Oh I felt so artistic) and many of the folks who saw the post thought I had made a bacon tiara. Which made me laugh, because that is not beyond something I'd do. Honestly, I love bacon almost as much as i love a good flame. (that's what we use to melt our glass- 2,000 degrees of flame) So I took a non filtered photo of the flames in the sunlight. See the third photo and folks agreed, that does look a lot more like a flame.

So I cooked up some bacon and made a bacon tiara. (see left photo) I learned a few things... 1. just cooked bacon can not be held together by packing tape. It doesn't stick. 2. I can not ignore bacon or the scent of it 3. T pins work great for holding your bacon together for the quick photo 4. a little bit of saran wrap will protect both the bacon and your hair from each other.

In conclusion, artistic filters don't always achieve their goals when used, bacon is tasty any time of the day and I will make a glass bacon tiara one of these days. Because it would be fun!

If you are looking for either a flame or a bacon tiara - made on a metal base, please message me.

You can find me on Facebook by searching StudioMarcy or Marcy Lamberson, or join my private group "Glass Art & Beads by Marcy Lamberson".  You can also find me on Instagram @MarcyLamberson or on Pinterest too.    Catch you later!

Finding the Right Camera Angle

Finding the right camera angle on sculptural beads sometimes is easy and sometimes, not so easy.  Here is one of my "Bird in Hand" beads.  The hole goes vertically through the middle.

Sometimes, it's just what is the part that should be the focal part of the bead.  Is it the hand, the bird, or the combination.  The hand is the harder part to make, and the bird is the colorful focus.  So I want both.  The technical detail needs to be showcased for adding value. For a beadmaker,  that's the hand. Keeping the fingers extending and and all a bit different, takes experience and technique.  The bird is far easier to make, but adds charm for the viewer and wearer.  Being blue, it could be interpreted as a bluebird of happiness.

So for me, I prefer the bottom photo.  The bird looks cute and chubby.  The hand shows enough for the viewer to see that there are individual fingers cradling the bird.  Which view do you prefer and why?

Love Is In The Air

Yeah, that's right.  Some bunny loves you.  Happy Valentine's Day.

Photos With Glass Rod Colors Already Shown

Oh how I love Design-Seeds, let me count the ways.  

Have you ever noticed how it even shows you which colors you need to choose from your lampwork glass rods?  Pretty easy, isn't it?  I see Dark Periwinkle, Zachary, Pearl Gray and Dark Ivory.  The green might be dark transparent grass green or perhaps the hue you get when you mix pea green and black together. Sweet!  

Now that I've pointed out the ease, can you show me what you make from this inspiration?  I'd love to see it.

I'm off to torch!  Catch you tomorrow.

Rooster Beads

I just had a request for a glass rooster lampwork focal bead.  I wanted to show you how Google is such a big help as I design what I want to create.

For this one, I chose a face close up, to get the eyes and those hanging things (ha ha, I am such a technical person), as well as a good look at a the comb.  (I got one of the terms correct!)

And then I chose two real roosters as much for their coloring as well as their profile.  I love how the shape reminds me a bit of a heart.  And the final two pictures include two that aren't real.  I like to see how other artists capture the essence of what they see as important to the bird.

What I don't do, is look at other glass artists' renditions of roosters.  Even though this is a special request from Beads of Courage, I don't want to even accidentally take on any characteristics of their work.  I want to keep it my own.  If I happen to end up with a similar style that has been done, I always know in my mind that there wasn't an influence from my glass friends.

Is this the way you work too?  Would love to hear about it.  (or if you know what those hangy down thingys are called.)

Now I'm off to make one or two and get them in the kiln.  I'll show you the results in a day or two.

Fall Colors in 104 COE Glass

I've been looking at the Pantone fashion Color Report for Fall 2012 and seeing a good number of the hues are already represented in my glass palette.  Have you been thinking about that, too?

I kind of like Messy Glass's Mink for the French Roast and their Stone Ground for the Honey Gold shade.

Pink Flambe (where did that accent mark go?) has me a bit stumped.  I'm contemplating on that one.  No simple solution, but a combination to make it.  (Kathy Seamands- can you hear me?  Could you please make this one, please?)

Tangerine Tango makes me think of Clockwork and Pantone's Ultramarine Green looks like Messy's Jade Palace to me.  The Bright Chartreause I'd head over to Vetrofond's Verde Muschio  Oh I love that color.  Not for it alone, but how it is found in nature and works to make so many other colors pop!

Olympian Blue reminds me of Electric Avenue (CiM) and Titanium could be Effetre's Dark Gray or perhaps Oliphaunt (Ltd. Run CiM).  Rhapsody could be a paler hue of Evil Queen or maybe Effetre's Soft Violet/New Violet.  And finally, Rose Smoke looks like my Vetrofond Seashell might work or perhaps Messy's Chai which is a Limited Run.

I am so open to other interpretations.  Have a better color match?  Please post and let all of us know.  I know there are always more possibilities and interpretations.  Now let's all get out there and sell some beads!  Working with the Fall Colors, might just increase our sales.

See you soon!

I'm So Happy To Be Home

I heart being home!

Okay, so I admit that I wasn't posting as much as I'd like over the last three week, but I was busy!  While at the Gathering, I taught a 2 day class, co-taught a teaching the teacher class, was filmed and then spoke for the International Society of Glass Beadmakers conference, and participated in all the activities.  Then before the first conference was over, I joined a second conference also in Washington where I taught three classes and participated in that group's activities as well.  (Plus I got a little sightseeing!)  Then I came home and my daughter arrived for her visit prior to leaving for Antarctica next week.  You know how when you want to get in every available minute with someone how you kind of give up on sleeping the amount you should?  Yes, that's me.

I can very easily admit...I'm kind of tired.

So this weekend will be a bit slower.  I'm still unpacking, cleaning, and reassuring my wonderful cat Zeus, that I'm home for a bit.

 I am also teaching a "Beach" class at Flametree Glass tomorrow from 12-2, in case you want a quick sculpture class (www.flametreeglass.com)  I know there's still a little room, in case you'd like to join us.

I'll post more later this week to fill you in on my prior weeks' adventures and some of my purchases.  (making sure the economy stays strong, you know?)  Glad to be back.  See you Sunday.

Join Me In Vienna, Austria!

Cornelia Bock is hosting me in Vienna, Austria to teach classes.  I am so excited and am hoping that there will be fellow, non country citizens who want to join me on this gorgeous adventure.  Such a lovely country and so much to see and do either before or afterward.  And with the exchange rate being pretty favorable, I'm always happy to see another part of the world and teach sculptural glass.

We have chosen to do Christmas holiday ornaments and regional related sculpture- a woodland forest related bead or two.  I'll make sure you can take these skills and translate them to other sculptural glass beads and work, as I always do.  And of course there is the Marcy style of teaching- I draw what we're going to do, then I talk and demonstrate what we are doing and then....(ha sounds like a lot of teaching, doesn't it?), and then I walk around the classroom to be available if you need me, so you get the most out of your class. The class is always a lot of fun, but I want to see you pleased with your new skills too.  It's important to me.

So the specifics are...it will be either this September on the 8 - 9, or next September 20-21, 2013.  If we can quickly fill some classes, then it will be a go this year, but in case we can't, then it will be next year.  I know, it is a little crazy, but we're both optimists and I am voting for both years, personally.

So this is how you find out more...first you contact the delightful Cornelia Bock.  Her email address is: bock.c@utanet.at , and you can check out her blog (it's in German- but you can translate through babelfish) http://kultur-art.blogspot.co.at/2012/04/lampwork-class-with-marcy-lamberson.html, and you can visit the facebook webpage: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.303796826361714&type=1.

Writing Artist Statements

I was recently helping a friend write an Artist Statement for a juried show.  It seems like statements flow all the way from being rather succinct to artistically flowery.

Leaning more towards the former than the latter, I want a statement to use language that everyone understands. Yet, it needs to bring out a little of what is "inside" the artist as well.  And not being an expert in any way, I did a little research to see what is said about writing one.

There are lots of great samples and sites that focus on this topic.  You can find them by googling "artist statement examples".  There were a few that drew me in.  The most humorous was the Critical Response to Artistic Product, (yes, you can figure out that acronym) generator.  You can find it here.  Not for humor, but more serious content, I liked this one and this one.

One of the points made is although as artists we want to communicate visually, but our society mostly communicates verbally.  And we need them to work together to optimize what we are saying through our art.  That made a lot of sense.

So tell me your experience with writing artist statements.  Any tips or tricks?  Anything memorable from the process.  I'd love to hear.

Beads of Courage's Stash Low- Beadmakers- HELP!

Beads of Courage has been helping a lot of kids recently and are REALLY LOW on inventory.  Here is a link for the form and address. Please help if you have a some spare lampwork beads- they need Acts of Courage beads, which means anything that has at least a 3/32 smooth hole.

I know the program, and especially the kids will appreciate your donation.  Thanks!

Tiny Magical Elves

I never knew that elves were so tiny, until one of my customers asked, "can you make tiny elf charms?"  Of course I could.  So here is the gang.   Left to right...Conor, Faervel, Thalon & Fred.  There's always one in the bunch!

That is a penny that Conor is leaning on.  He's not really lazy, just "resting".  They are quite small.

And they are available in my StudioMarcy Etsy shop.  You can click HERE to find them.

A Whale of a Time Making Memories

My sister just celebrated her birthday in San Diego with her darling young grandson and his family.  Of course Sea World was on the list of "have-to" places to visit.  I was trying to come up with an unique present and decided to make her a small pendant that would bring back memories of her fun trip.

I found that making a small glass orca whale is pretty easy.  This one has been eating well, but anyone looking at it will know what it is.  

I was thinking of making a tutorial for one, if enough people are interested.  Please post or shoot me an email to let me know if you think it might be something you'd like to learn.

See you tomorrow

You Pick 7 Bead Exchange

Oh, here I go again.  I love this "You Pick-7"  bead exchange on LampworkEtc. forum.  (It's the 7th edition, not 7 beads)  Here's how it works...You sign up to join and then post one picture for everyone in your group to interpret in a bead.  (It can be polymer clay, but most folks are lampworkers.  The pictures are quite diverse and sometimes they have special meaning.  There are 16 to a group and usually 2 or 3 groups and open to all levels of experience.

I love this exchange for a multitude of reasons.  I live that each ability of beadmaker is stretched- whether you're brand new or an old hand.  You can interpret the photos any way you want...sometimes I take a simple element and sometimes I do the entire picture.  The people involved in it have always been so nice and encouraging to everyone and it's small enough that you get to know some of the others better.

There are still some spots open in group 2.  Hope you're join us over there and stretch your skills a bit.  Oh, and here is the picture I chose.  I've always thought that it would make cool inspiration for a necklace and now I'm testing out my guess.  I just know that I'll end up with 15 interpretative beads from it.

Fishing Around for Inspiration

So what kind of shops do you go to for inspiration?  I hadn't been into a salt water fish store for a long time, so I popped in to have a look.  I love the big fish especially, or the ones with the bright colors and beautiful patterns.

This one wanted to be my new BFF.  He kept coming over to have a better look.  Right up against the glass.  I've never really noticed any alive thing with real blue lips before.  Pretty awesome (and one of my favorite colors too!) 

And the colors- I think this moving item (what is it anyhow?) was gorgeous.  It is my inspiration for Fall colors. I love the warm, rich shades - red, purple and gold together.  And the shape would make a gorgeous bead too.  Watch for this one!

So what do I find in a store like this?  A lot!  I find nature's gorgeous color combinations and patterns.  I find shapes not only in the fish, but in the corals, and that unnamed purple/red/gold unit that I love, and I even saw some little creepy crawly things that looked like they could be inspiration for Halloween, when it comes around.  Not bad for a quick visit.

So tell me, where do you like to go for off beat inspiration?  We'd all like to hear.  See you tomorrow on my blog, http://www.StudiMarcy.blogspot.com

Recent Itsy Bitsy Commission Work

I make a lot of commission work.  I love doing it.  So when I received an email from someone who asked me, "can you make me 20 Christmas bulb lights that are 1/4" long?"  I decided to give it a whirl.

If you are a flameworker, you know that is a pretty tiny scale to be working in.  But always loving new challenges, I got out my tape measure and turned on my torch.

I found that I could reasonably get to 3/8" of an inch using a 1/16th mandrel. (non- glass folk, I know you secretly love tech talk).  And made an assortment of colors for her.

So in case you're wondering what she is doing with them, here's the answer.  She is needlepointing Christmas stockings for her grandchildren with a house that has lights hung from its roof.  She tried the plastic miniature ones for embellishment, but decided that glass would be better.

And I couldn't resist taking a photo of them, so I added my little trailer that I got years ago on Etsy, and one of my new Santa design beads and made a little vignette.  Might just be my Christmas card this year too.

Stay tuned for my next commission blogpost . I'll give you a hint.  It has to do with a Spirit Animal.
See you tomorrow!

My Glass Seahorse Demo Video

Awhile back I did a flamework glass Seahorse demo for FlameTree Glass.  Well, it's up on their website and you are welcome to take a peek.  (and if you haven't shopped with FlameTree or taken one of their classes, you're missing out.  (I am teaching Holiday Bobbleheads there on November 5th, for one day, if you can join me.  It will be fun.  I promise!

And at this time, also wanted to give a shout out to Brad Pearson who taught me.  I made one in his class and of course changed it up, but you know, it's nice to give credit to our influences.  (Now, if I could just make awesome marbles even a quarter as well as he does!)

Jennifer Geldard Class At Southern Flames Atlanta

As the class organizer for our Southern Flames ISGB (International Society of Glass Beadmakers) Chapter, I am pleased to announce Jennifer Geldard's two  2-day classes in Atlanta Georgia on October 6-7 and 8-9, 2011.  The title is, "The Art of Play - Surface Design - Form and Structure".


Jennifer has been chosen by Bead & Button to make this next year's commemorative bead as well as teach a master class, which I think is similar to this one being offered.

We will hold our class lottery for Southern Flames members tomorrow night and then any extra spaces can be filled in another week for non-members.  You can circumvent waiting simply by joining Southern Flames, which is $25,  the difference in the cost for members versus non members. (And wait til you see the class price!)

Click here to our Southern Flames website for more information.  Tell them, Marcy sent you!

Autumn Leaves, Acorns & Pine Cones Class-Saturday at Flametree

Ah the joys of autumn. I honestly can't wait for the cooler temperatures and leaves changing. So when Maureen and Lance asked me to design a half day class for their FlameTree Glass Studio in Roswell, GA, I jumped at the chance.

I hadn't really made a lot of any fall items other than pumpkin and Halloween related beads, so this was a treat getting to play at my torch and decide what I thought would be fun.

And I think acorns ARE fun. Their shape reminds me of a spinning top and although they are normally rather sweetly muted in color, I thought they are the perfect bead to have a little fun with. So once the shape is learned, it will be great to see how the students can come up with their own ideas. I have all kinds of ideas in my sample box as well. (I just finished making two with glow glass rod and powder for our friend Joe of Glow Glass. That was a kick!)

So if you're in the area and have time, we're going from 12-4. The price is so reasonable too. Just $75. I think that is very fair and I promise, you'll learn a lot too. We'll even work on multiple styles of loops for the leaf beads and get a little glass cutting action with shears as well. Hope to see you...there are only a few spots left in the class, so hurry!

Clover and Hallie- Balancing Act

Meet Clover and Hallie. I know, it's an odd angle for a photo, but these girls have been doing this balancing act for a while and wanted a new perspective. Clover has been working out with her ear weights and now has great muscle tone to balance Hallie. If you read the story about them in my Etsy shop, you'll understand, that there's a lot more to the story.

But let's chat from a glass artist point of view now. Although it would be classified as whimsical sculpture, to me, this is a mini study in heat control. These two beads were made at once on the same mandrel with the hole going through both of them. I used a minor burner with a 10 lpm concentrator. When I teach classes, so much of what I teach is how to control your glass and have it do what you want. (ha ha, wishful thinking sometimes) but when it comes to sculpture. Know the temperature of each part of what you're doing is important. It's kind of like its own balancing act.

See you tomorrow. Gotta go balance my life, while I'm at it.

Pine Branches and Pine Cones

I know some of you have seen my pine cones already, but I wanted to show you one of the variations of Branch Bails that I have been making to coordinate with them, my acorns, owls and other Mother Nature items.

You might just call me the new "Branch Manager".

I have been working on ways to coordinate beads to be worn together. It just makes sense, doesn't it? I would think this would be pretty on a copper bead strand as well or many other choices- but I found some not too expensive natural beads that gives it a woodsy feel. (perhaps real "seed" beads?

I'll show you my other lampwork "bails" a little later. Different styles to go with different beads. Animal, nature, funky and fun ones all in various stages right now. They'll be debuting soon. I say, why not? All are made to be worn alone, or with some of your other lampwork treasures.

If you have any special requests, feel free to post or email me. I'm adding to my Etsy shop again after a lot of time off. It felt great with all the teaching I've been doing, but it's time to rock and roll again. I just have too many ideas that are percolating.

See you tomorrow for more blog chatter. And don't forget, I take Saturday off, but return on Sundays so my blog is 6 days a week.