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She's Crafty

I was asked tonight if I've always been this crafty.  My first response was, "no." Then I remembered when I was little how I loved to color.  All throughout high school I took art class.   I wasn't the greatest at drawing.  I think it was learning the process and working with different mediums that fascinated me the most.  Then I started making cards at my friend Amy's house.  She and I would make a mess on her bedroom floor designing cards for hours.  I love giving gifts and handmade cards.  I worked in a couple flower shops.  I love flowers. It was then when I learned how to design flower arrangements and corsages.  On Mother's day I usually pick the roses and black eyed susans out of my garden and some foliage to make corsages for my Mom and Mother-in Law.  I am always doing some kind of craft project.  Some time after my 21st birthday I walked into a jewelry shop.  I learned the basics of stringing beads, wire wrapping and attaching clasps.  After I learned how to make jewelry I decided to do craft shows.  One Christmas I got a glass bead making kit and a Cricut.  I mostly use the Cricut to make vinyl wall art work.  There is a lot you can put vinyl art on.  I like to put quotes on ceramic tiles to display on rod iron stands.  I've also made the monogrammed letters that you see on everyone's cars.  Devin bought me a kiln one Valentine's day so I could put my glass beads and wine bottles in.  I took a glass bead making class, so now I can make my own beads.  After making the beads you have to kiln anneal them so they are less likely to break.  Devin originally bought me the kiln so I could melt wine bottles into serving trays. I also took a class on how to make my own sterling silver jewelry out of PMC.  I've always loved making things.  So when asked if I've always been this crafty, I should have said, "yes."

Bead Heaven

Dontcha just hate when you drop beads and can't find them? Unless I see where the bead falls, I will never find it.  I have carpet in my art room and the beads tend to weasel their way into hiding.  I hate to vacuum my art room because I can hear the beads (the ones I couldn't find) being sucked up. Beads are expensive! I know I'm not alone when I say they've gone to bead heaven. Kinda like the whole sock thing.....when you can't find the matching pair. You might as well give up...there is a sock heaven too.  Anyways....I dropped a crystal this morning and that's why I am writing this blog.  I will try to blog more often...especially to keep you posted on my upcoming shows in September. 

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

o.k, so if you can't tell by the title, I am just a wee bit frustrated with the hot head torch I am using.  I am going to take a moment to vent.  If anyone out there reading my blog is new to glass bead making/Lampwork, let me just save you the time and frustration by saying go buy a Minor Torch....it is worth the money.  First of all, I got the glass kit that hobby lobby sells....and it is a pretty nice kit for starting out. Starting out....meaning once you use the hot head torch, you'll want to take a nap. I used it one time and I was ready for the minor torch.  The hot head torch I have is hooked up to Map gas and pulls the oxygen from the room......this does not make for good beads.  My beads look horrible, they are not round and they look dirty. This is because the flame is not hot enough.  Grrrrrrrrrr Not to mention the glass does not get hot enough nor does it stick to the mandrel very well.  When the glass doesn't get hot, and you touch it to the mandrel it then pulls/drags and causes the bead release to break off.  Talk about frustrating!  Needless to say, I complained to my husband and he just said "told ya so.." He tried telling me that I wouldn't be happy with the hot head torch and tried to buy me a minor torch......if you know my husband, you know what he did next. Yup! he bought the Mega Minor Torch. Sweet! Oh, and did I mention that you have to have propane for it and an oxygen tank. Lucky for me, he already has that stuff. Gotta love when you can borrow your husbands tools!  So I have been practicing with different colors etc. and I am learning that different colors seem to take longer than others. Now this may be because I am using a hot head torch right now with map gas.  I used a yellow glass rod and it took, no joke, 30 min. to get a hot enough "blob" to make a bead....I still have so much to learn and I can't wait to start making some really cool pieces of jewelry.  Check out my etsy site as I add new jewelry www.lfjewelry.etsy.com

My 1st Glass Beads!

So these are the beads that I made and I am so excited about them. Now I need to figure out what I want to make with them.  They aren't exactly the same size, so I don't think I can turn them into earrings.  I think I'll make a bracelet and pendant with all of the bright colored ones.  My favorite ones are the two white ones in the back with the brown specs.  The process of making the speckled beads is fun.  First you make the solid color bead, then you role the bead into crushed glass (frit)....then you reheat the bead to melt the glass into it and voila! I love love love the frit stuff...it is magical! The tuxedo looking bead was pretty neat to make too.  This class was so much fun...the best part about it is you get to see instant results of what you are making.  It is so much fun to play with fire!

My 1st Glass Bead Making Class!

Sooooooo Devin signed me up to take a glass bead making class.  Now I understand why Diane Kovach says," she's involved in a long term affair"......with glass that is! There are so many colors to choose from and the designs are endless.  I could make beads for hours.  It is instant gratification. You stick the glass in the flame and roll it, and voila!  Of course, there is much more technique to it....hence why I took the class. Diane is a very good instructor.  She makes everything look so easy.  I learned how to add dots, swirls, and different patterns to the bead.  I also learned how to add fritt.  Fritt is so much fun! you make your bead and while it's still warm, you roll it in crushed glass (fritt).  Then you put your bead back in the flame and watch it melt into the glass.  I now understand the addiction to fritt.  When you are making a glass bead, it is very important to keep the bead warm if you are going to add to it.  I let a bead cool down too much and stuck it back in the flame and it exploded.  We jumped back and a tiny piece landed down my shirt and into my bra an somehow only left a teenie tiny burn.  If you play with fire, chances are you will get burned...No big deal really!  It is all a learning process on what to do and what not to do.  Thanks so much for teaching me how to make my own glass beads Diane.  Look forward to future classes with you.  Here are some pictures of the class.

Craft Room

Here are some photos of my craft room! The first photo is what I take with me to my jewelry teaching classes.  You can find out more about my jewelry cases if you click on the link on the left side of my blog.  My desk is very messy.  You can see the comfy chair my husband got me.  He wanted me to have something nice to sit in.  Of course everyone needs a light box to take their photos.  Be sure to stop by my etsy shop. www.lfjewelry.etsy.com