December 17, 2008

We received about 4 inches of snow last night - "it's beginning to look alot like Christmas!". I hope at least the roads will be clear by next Sunday, so that I can drive to the airport to pick up our son without worry....I really don't like driving through Detroit, but I am determined to get more practise at it!

Well, besides working on the torch, I've decided to try quilting again. I used to be a pretty good quilter...haven't really done much of it for the last two years. What has inspired me is that my brother, who is going through radiation for cancer now, has been known to take naps in his sunroom, and use one of the older quilts to keep warm. I know they probably don't cover his whole body well, as he's quite tall, and when I made the quilts, I had my sister in law in mind...so I went through my old blocks and put together a quilt that is sure to cover him from chin to toes! Now it's time to quilt the thing. I am a hand quilter. Nothing against machine quilting, I just like the hand work. I have this quilt set up on my movable quilt frame, so that I can take it from TV room to reading room, depending on where I want to be.

Nov 17 2008

We actually had snow yesterday. Not enough to really stay on the ground, but you can tell that winter is coming. The birds have been visiting the feeder regularly. The "studio" is getting colder, and I've been putting the kerosene heater on to keep warm. None the less, I was happy with the beads that came out of the kiln - lots of turquoise with reactive glass.

Nov 13, 2008

What a day today! Posting time on Etsy. Large hole beads this time.

Nov 12, 2008

I have been having alot of fun just letting glass drip - controlled drip. Thanks to Sarah Hornik's tutorial on "pink", as well as the tutorial she listed on LE. More beads today. Hoping to get a picture up shortly. This necklace is listed on my site www.jgpgesigns.etsy.com

Other than that, bead sales are slow. So here is a question for you - what kind of beads are you looking for? Colors - neutrals - round - tabs - bead sets - focals? any suggestions are welcome.

Nov 9 2008

Sarah Hornik has graciously given us free instructions as to how she does her "ribbon" beads, and yesterday I experimented. The attached picture is what I came up with. I haven't done much experimenting in letting glass "drip", so found this experiment interesting. I really like the results I achieved. Thanks Sarah, for your generous gift.

Nov 8 2008

Christmas is coming, and snowmen abound. Well, here's one. I have more in the kiln. They aren't melting. They are just waiting for the appropriate time to come out. Today, I also experimented with a technique that Sarah Hornik so generously gave us. ....the technique was fun to do, and I learned a thing or two about letting glass drip, and encasing stringers. Hope to have those pictures up tomorrow.

November 4 2008

I finally took a picture of the beads I was raving about yesterday. How come when I look at something a second or third time, the novelty has worn off, and they don't look at special any more. I had a fun time reconnecting with "dots". I still like dots. I was focusing on making "perfect" dots, as well as plunged dots. Also, the "warring states" bead is still one of my favories - dots on top of dots....All for now - time to turn on the TV and see how the votes are coming in. Also, a picture of some "funky" bracelets I finished for my little store up North to choose from.

November 2 2008

I can't believe how the time has flown by - November already. For a short update, my daughter and I did finish the Marine Corp Marathon - in 5 hours 2 minutes. We trained to finish around 5 hours, so we did accomplish our goal. Our feet were sore - and we were tired, but all in all, in pretty good shape. No more long runs for awhile. If we can maintain an 8-10 mile run on the weekends, I'll be happy.

Now to try and get back into some sort of routine. I've been at the torch again, and am pretty excited about the encased and etched beads I've done. They have a translucents that is hard to describe.

I don't have a picture yet, but I've made some awsome purple and white beads, concentrating on just dots. After all this time, I've learned something about them. It has alot to do with how you melt them in as to keeping them as dots and not having them distort on you.....I tried meling in the side dots first - and it works! Hoping to get a picture of them tomorrow. These may make an awsome necklace that I can take to my favorite gift shop....

Sept 15 2008

Back to running - it was a long run today - 22 miles actually. The first 17 went OK. The last 5 were a bit of a challenge. But we did it. Bruce ran with me for the first 17, then followed me on his trusty old Red bike for the last 5. The weather cooperated though. We had 60 degree weather compared to the 80's of yesterday. Anyway, with that, the rest of the day was pretty much a right off. Only one set of beads to show - some turquoise that I have been playing with. They actually have a base of green, with some reactive glass so that the turquoise dots on top consolidate into neat little circles within circles. Tomorrow will be torching time, and I hope to do some more bling bling dot beads as well as try something a bit more masculine.

Sept 12, 2008

I read on Lori Greenburg's sight the other day that it was time she got back to making what we really enjoy - and I also have always enjoyed "dots" - I still like dots....and in the process of using some of the odd lots I received awhile back, I came up with this set of beads. They are a bit larger than what I have been making recently, but I like that also. These beads say something. They are meant to be noticed. And I like them.

By the way, did you notice the new feature on our blogs - you can now subscribe to posts and comments. It's pretty easy, just click on the "subscribe to" button half way down on the right hand side and follow the instructions. You can also list yourself as a follower - It would be interesting to see how often this gets read.

Thursday August 28 2008

The weeks continue to fly by. Already I can tell that Fall is on it's way. The mornings are cooler, making running alot more comfortable....in anther sense, I don't want summer to end. I like warm weather. I have spent my torch time learning this week - Chaos beads by Sherry Bellamy and Lydia Muriel's tutorial on her encased florals. More work is to be done on both of these techniques...but I will show one of my encased florals. Still alot of work to be done on this one...

August 24 2008

I just had to include a picture of the beads I was able to create today. I am especially proud of the Chaos bead - compliments of the excellent tutorial by Sherry Bellamy. Also included are a group of beads - base is ivory, decorated with Silver Cinnamon - the ASK glass that is no longer available. It has a really neat reaction with the Ivory - first outlining the cinnamon with a dark ring, then fracturing the ivory to give it a really organic look.

Last, more reactive glass - Iris Blue. The base is grey, giving the iris blue a mustard look. First, the Iris Blue expands till it reaches itself, outlining the base color. Then when a color is added on top of the iris blue, the color sort of absorbs into itself, leaving an outline of lighter color, and consolidating that color into the center.

Marathon training - I did complete 19.68 miles on Saturday. The first 8 were a piece of cake - I really enjoyed being out in the county running with the wind. The next 7 miles were OK - started to feel a bit week, but electrolites and Cliff Shots helped alot. For the last the last almost 5 miles I was windering what in the world I was doing this for....my feet hurt, and I was tired...but I DID IT. Next long run is in three weeks.

August 22 2008

It's been awhile since I've had fun making focal beads. There is so much space on a focal for one to add dots, color, murrini, stringers....Also, I've had a chance to view Sarah Hornik's tutorial on using rubino, and had some fun trying one of her focals also.

As an update for marathon training, it's a 20 mile run tomorrow morning. I'll let you know how it goes. We are planning on an early start, as today was hot and humid. Unfortunately, hubby won't be running with me. He's got a pulled muscle, and has decided to rest....fortunately though, he'll be following me on his bike, so he can lug extra water, food, tylenol, etc.

August 18 2008

Time does fly when you are having fun, or are busy. Can't really remember all that has happened since the last time I wrote - I went to Florida to visit family - yes - it was hot there, but I enjoyed it. My sister-in-law and I ran 11 miles in preparation for our marathon coming up in October. Since then, I have been trying to get back into the swing of things here at home...chores that have been waiting for quite a while need to be done now....taking care of the dogs, running....torching...the days just fly by.

Lately I have been experimenting with reactive glasses, and am really excited about the results. Greens, blues, deep reds, and tans are all developing - on bases of ivory, silver ivory, black and opal yellow! I think I've finally figured out how it's done, and what's most exciting is that I can reproduce the results from day to day. Along with the reactive glass, I've done a couple sets of violet and white beads, copper green and iris blue, as well as turquoise and white....a pretty productive day today.

July 28 2008

Sometimes what comes out of the kiln really suprises me. I might have mentioned that I have a new torch - and so I tried some reduction glass the other day. I'm really happy with these results, just posted on ETSY. I am hoping I have enough extras of the reduction glass to make a bracelet for me

July 25 2008

Well, it certainly has been awhile since I have updated this blog. I'm still here - Still enjoying "retirement", and most importantly, still torching. I have upgraded to a Mega Minor torch, with an oxygen concentrator, and let me tell you, "it is GREAT". No more burnt glass...no more funny colors. No more waiting forever for the glass to melt. I am also having some luck with the reactive glasses.

Here's a picture of the beads I have listed on ETSY tonight. Tomorrow I will list more, and then, on July 30, I am off to Florida for a couple of days. Ya, sure, who goes to Florida in July!!! My excuse is that I have family there. The beads will continue to be up on my sight, but just to let you know, any sold between July 30 and Aug 4 will go in the mail Aug 5.

July 1 2008

Happy July 1st to all Canadians.

Aren't these necklace's awsome! Designed by Patricia Weppler and incorporating my focal beads. Please visit her blog at http://patriciawepplersjewelry.blogspot.com/ She tells me she is getting ready for a show she is doing this coming September. Should you be in the Glen Falls, NY area this September, see her at the Colors of Fall Art Festival.

I often wonder what becomes of the beads I create. Thanks Patricia, for showing off your stunning work! Glad I could be part of it.

June 28 2008

Sparticles

I have a hard time with naming my beads. My daughter helped me come up with this name though. I took a private lesson with Corina Tettinger this summer, and as part of her lesson, she showed me how she makes Quarks. Having a daughter who is a physics engineer, and having learned about quarks previously from her, the name immediately intrigued me, as did Corina's beads. I came home from Corina's lesson, and practiced, and practiced, and did some more practicing….and have come up with the following beads.

Now to name them…I can't name them quarks – that name has been taken. I went to my daughter for help. There are lots of physics names out there, but none had the ring to them that "sparticles" had.

Sparticles. There is a supersymmetry theory out there that says for every particle we know of, there is a sister particle that has yet to be discovered. For example, the superpartner of the electron is the selectron, the partner of a quark is a squark. The whole group of these supersymmetric particles are called sparticles for short. Sparticles have not existed naturally since the "big bang"

At CERN, Geneva Switzerland, the world’s largest particle physical laboratory, where my daughter happened to work for a summer, there is a really big Hadron Collider, where they are trying to smash protons up by having them run into each other at a very very fast speed. When they collide, they will unleash energies similar to those found during the Big Bang. That's when scientists hope to see supersymmetric particles or sparticles.

Till scientists can give us a picture of real sparticles, wouldn't it be neat if they looked something like this series of beads?

June 25, 2008

What a perfect day for beadmaking today - and what neat beads came out of the kiln. After hmmming and hmmming this morning, Aila (our faithful dog) and I went for a short run, and then spent about 2 hours at the torch. I have been practising encasing murrini, and finally, today, the results are worth showing. It's just the pictures I have to work on. There is so much reflection and gleam coming off these beads, I am having a hard time getting a picture that replicates their clarity...will post what I have for now, and see if I can improve on the photography later.

June 22 2008

What a beautiful day today- sunny and warm, but not too warm. We started the day with a short 3.5 mile easy run. I wonder if there are any other lampworkers/jewlery designers who run? Anyone signed up for the Marine Corp Marathon? Let me know! The dogs certainly enjoy these runs, although the older dog runs about 1 mile and then goes home for a rest in front of her fan. The younger dog could run all day if we let her. After some weed pulling (and there are lots of weeds), it was torch time. Not a very good day today - I did finish one set of beads, but spent the better part of my torch time practising "stringer control". I took a lesson with none other than Corina Tettinger while out west, and am trying to undo some bad habits I have acquired, as well as learning some of the ideas she showed me. She is really an awsome teacher as well as lampworker. I'd recommend workshops with her anytime.

June 20 2008

It's been awhile since I've added an entry to this. We've "retired" from our full time jobs, and are adjusting to "retired" life. So far, it been very hectic. We've traveled from Detroit Michigan to Vancouver, BC to visit our son, and are settling into a new life style. Today, I have also started training for the Marine Corp Marathon that well be held in October. This is the first marthon that I have entered - with my daughter. My sister in lay, as well as my niece and her husband have also entered. Today's run - 8.9 miles was pretty good. I was tired after 5 miles, but managed to finish feeling OK. Torch time went well. I have been experimenting with some reactive glass and like the results. Now on ETSY, a set of turquoise and white, as well as red and white.

Thursday May 22, 2008

It's been awhile since I have updated this - time flies - I retired from my daytime job, ran a half marathon with my daughter in Virginia, and am now getting ready to drive cross country to visit our son.

Before I left my day job, I gave everyone there a bead pendant/key chain to "remember" me by. The next day, one girl told me the story of how her eight year old daughter drooled over her bead, just itching to have her mother give it to her, which didn't happen. Well, I brought her daughter some of my orphan and extra beads - this is a picture of the thankyou card she wrote in return. It's a card that I will keep.

SALE TIME

I really don't know how many people come to this site, but if anyone does, just to let you know I'm having a sale on my ETSY sight. Buy the first item at regular price, get all other items (of lesser value) at half price. Just convo me, and I will adjust pricing and put a "reserve" on the items for you. I have some ideas for new beads, and will have time to create, so it's now time to reduce my inventory a bit.

April 18 2008

What a beautiful day today...I actually had to time my torch time around the weather - because I wanted to enjoy the beautiful day we were having. I've had some good torch times this week - working on a hothead, in the past, I haven't had much luck with reactive glasses....but the blue and black set gave me hope that I can achieve something with reactive glasses. Also, the black and white is another reactive black, when the stringer was left raise, a beautiful golden metallic sheen developed. :) Amber, Ivory and Silver seem to be classic also. I love those colors together. And how can you go wrong with purple. I am really liking the new kind of bead I've been making with these.

April 11, 2008

Time flies - almost the middle of April already...and finally, we are seeing some nice weather. I've been in a bit of a rut at the torch lately. My inspriation came back when one of my custmers sent me this picture of a bracelet she made from a set of beads. It's a golfer's bracelet! Here's how it works in her own words:

I created the Golf Stroke Bracelet because I have such a hard time trying to remember the number of times I hit the ball on any given hole. (Yes, I hit it a lot!!) Anyway one of my girlfriends showed me this stroke counter she had on her golf bag. It was basically a piece of nylon rope that had 10 plastic miniature golf ball beads afixed to it. Everytime you hit the ball, you slide a bead down the rope. At the end of the hole you count the number of balls and then you know what to write on your score card. Well, being the girly girl that I am I wanted something that looked a little nicer, could fit on my wrist, and match my golf outfits. So I created the Golf Stroke Bracelet. After I hit the ball, I slide a bead over. At the end of the hole I count how many I slid and then I know what to write on my score card. Once I write my score down I move the beads back into the starting position. It's functional during the game and after I play and we are in the club house having some refreshments it still looks good on my wrist. Unfortunately the bracelets haven't helped me play any better, just keep my score more accurate. :)I also wear them during the day when I'm not playing golf to remind my self to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. For every glass I drink, I move a bead". Should you be interested, she can be reached at: cognitojewelry@cox.net

I should be able to use one when I am running laps at the track, cause after 3, I sort of forget how many I have done (and I'm tired of keeping track on my fingers.

March 25 2008

Sometimes I wonder just how many people have looked at this...One of these days, I will try to figure out how to send an email to those people interested in receiving automatic updates. We had a lont, 4 day weekend with Easter - two good days of torching...one bad day. I am still intrigued by the warring states beads. Maybe I just like the dots. One of the hardest decisions to make is which colors of glass to use - white goes with everything, but one gets tired of that after awhile. The blue and black color scheme I sort of stole from Corina Tettinger's latest beads. She did three awsome sets of blue and black beads - I thought the colors would do the warring states design justice also. It's always fun to see how the reactive glasses will work. These include opal yellow, copper green and rubino, I think. The orange shebert really say "spring", don't they. Too bad the weather isn't cooperating yet. Rumor has it we have 4 more weeks of winter! Stay tuned - my next set is going to be black and white (maybe not that boring). I think I am starting to ramble. Bruce was in bed this past weekend with a really bad cold - just hoping I'm not getting it.

Good Friday, March 21 2008

You know, I thought Spring was on it's way, but I was cleaning off my new set of beads today, looked outside, and there is a regular snowstorm starting up. What I saw was not a couple of flurries that was going to stop anytime soon. The bright spot of the day are my beads - it's part of my study in the reactions of opal yellow, copper green and edp purple. They are reactive glasses, and depending on where you use the colors, you will get either a spreading out of color, or a condensing of color. They are bright and pretty and make me smile. Now on ETSY.

Sunday, March 16 2008

It looks like Spring may be on it's way, here in South Western Ontario. We have been able to run outside once again. It takes awhile to adjust from running on a treatmill to running outside once again. The treadmil is a no brainer. You set the speed at which you want to go, and just make sure you stay in the same place. Running outside is different. You have to be able to judge your pace. If not, one most likely runs out of energy before the distance is covered, at least I do. I tend to run too fast in the beginning. Anyway, this is a beading blog, not a running blog.

It's been awhile since I've last added to this blog...but this weekend, I did get some awsome beads made. I still like dots, and have discovered Warring States Beads that date back to 400bc time in China. The black and white are my interpretation of these beads. I also worked on some raked beads - more dots only they are distorted. Another technique I like to use when making beads, especially focal beads, is to just play. I have no set ideas, just put alot of colored glass in front of me, and play...

Back from Florida

My daughter and I did well in the Sarasota half marathon. We had some knee and hip problems, but finished in about 2:20. I came home to warm weather, only to wake up to a real snow storm two days latter. This is March, but I am so wanting nice spring weather. My snow day consisted of making the following. Louise, if you see the black, pink and white, let me know what you think. I am also practising my dot placement with my version of a Warring States Bead.

Sunday, February 24 2008

I had an excellent torching session today. Got lots of beads made. A couple new items are up on my ETSY sight - please have a look.

Friday, Feb 22, 2008

I had a pretty good session on the torch today. It was cold out in the garage, and the kerosene heater was empty, so I didn't spend as much time as I would have liked making beads. I made some turquoise and ivory beads that a fellow ETSY jewlelry maker might be interested in, as well as some beads for me. My daughter and I will be running the Sarasota half marathon shortly, and for my trip down, I thought I would treat myself to a new bracelet. I've been busy creating items for my ETSY sight, and haven't made anything for me lately. I've played with some mustard, sage, and racu glass today.

Also, my daughter's ETSY sight is up and running. She is making paper cranes and some knitted articles, the proceeds of which will go towards her goal of raising $2900 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Triathalon that she is training for. Please check out her site. www.cassi.etsy.com.

Pictures of my beads to follow.

Feb 20 2008

Well, it's still cold here - and I'm still hoping for Spring and warmer weather. Running on the treadmill is becoming much too common an occurance. None the less, something exciting has happened for me. A fellow ETSY person has taken one of my beads and made a most awsome bracelet with it. I've included a picture, as well as her ETSY sight, as she has some pretty awsome jewlery there. Ellakay's sight is http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5197591

As an update, Cassi is still working on her cranes. Please take a moment to visit -

www.active.com/donate/tntnca04/cassi
http://tntcassi.blogspot.com/

Friday, Feb 15 2008

I just read my daughter's blog. She is training for a triathalon and raising money for the the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! What she's doing is pretty neat -
www.active.com/donate/tntnca04/cassi
http://tntcassi.blogspot.com/
are the web site regarding the triathalon and her website. Just reading her training schedule for this week tired me out.
Today was my day off, and after the usual Friday chores of cleaning the house and washing clothes, I actually put 11 miles on the treadmill (no matter what my daughter says, I have to do my best to keep up with her for our half marathon this coming March). After that, it was torch time. I think I made some pretty good beads. I'm practising stringer control (much needed), and I still like dots. I was happy to learn that there is still much to accomplish in my dot travels after seeing what Larry Scott can do with dots..http://www.larryscott.net/gallery.htm..I think I have a long way to go. Anyway, will try to post a couple of pictures of what I accomplished today later.

February 12 2008

Winter continues to drag on here....although it is nothing compared to winters we have gone through up North...so I shouldn't complain. None the less, to get our spirits out of the gloom, I have started working with colour. Lots of color. I've also been working on manipulated dots - here's my first bead worth showoing. I might save this one. I like to save the first beads made in a different style.

Superbowl Sunday Feb 3 2008

I spent the weekend practising - used alot of silver, tried to make a tree, and used some of the new Odd Lots from Vetrofond. Probably not much I will put on ETSY, but the practise was good.

Jan 31 2008

What do you think? The middle picture is a sampling of the new Vetrafond odd lots. Lots of oranges and greens. I like them - just trying to figure out what else to make from them. Classic is the Racu on black (picture on the left).