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.