Contemporary Glass Flowers

I was asked to make bright flowers in the style of my Anemone Bead series and this is what I came up with.  My customer has a contemporary home.  I can see these in that setting.  I'd love them each in their own individual vase lined up.  Kind of the way we see Gerbera daisies in photos.

It gives me ideas for making fluffy dandelions.  I've always thought about how would I make those.  Perhaps this is the first step?  Or a way of making "fireworks"  that's another one I've contemplated about over the years.

Is there something you have been muddling over to interpret in glass or in another medium?

My StudioMarcy Etsy Shop Is Being Re-Stocked

I am starting to restock my Etsy shop! Hooray.  I will be starting with some of my favorite beads which are in stock and then as I finish up some of my show deadlines, I'll be adding more new ones.  Here is Serena the Seahorse.  You can find her if you go to www.StudioMarcy.etsy.com (and see my other beads too!

Announcing "Creative Forces" Class in Deland, Florida

Creative Forces

November 12 - 13, 2011  

Glassic Arts Studio - Deland Florida

(this is a sample of a Beads of Courage young male patient request for a Razorback bead.  I took this picture from the internet...

...and made this bead for him.)  This is a sample of one of the techniques I will teach in the class, although we'll focus primarily on sculpture (and much "cuter" beads!)  Hope you'll join us.

This class will be dedicated to the Beads of Courage. A portion of the tuition & instructor fees as well as beads will be donated by both teacher- Marcy Lamberson and Glassic Arts, the host studio. Have you ever looked at a picture or an object and wanted to figure out how to interpret it in glass? Join instructor, Marcy Lamberson to discuss how to build what you're looking at and then create a sculptural bead in 104 glass using easy to understand methods.  These sculptural and viewing techniques will apply to so many facets of your personal beadmaking too.  We will also work on interpreting some pictures as raised sculptural detail on a base bead.  Sometimes the object (or the potential owner) needs a more solid background... legs on flamingos are a good example. Come join the fun!   This class is great for the Beads of Courage "Artist On Call" Beads.  We'll practice with one actual Artist on Call bead for a child, and if you choose, you can donate it to the program, or keep it for yourself.  For reservations: call  Kathi Truba,  386-738-1008 or email Kathi@glassicarts.com

Shell and Starfish Class Wrap Up

Here's a quick snapshot of the some of the shells and starfish from my last  2 hour class at FlameTree Glass.  I was really impressed that my students did so well.

Those starfish can be a bit hard to do the first time around.  And we all were laughing.  Before they get their decorations, they look a bit like an uncooked chicken ready to be popped into the oven.

Not Slacking...Busy Making Hearts for Beads of Courage

I'm not slacking, I swear!  i know, I should have posted my blog for today a few hours ago.   I'm sorry, but I've been working on purple hearts for Beads of Courage kids.  You know how when they receive their purple heart bead, it means they are done with their cancer treatment.  I thought it sounded like a time for celebrating with balloons.

I'll show you my other design later this week, but meanwhile, back to the torch to make a few more.  And later, I will be carefully cleaning these.  Don't look too closely- I haven't used my Dremel or soapy water yet.

Have a great Monday.  See you tomorrow- on time, I promise.

After 12 Years...I've Pulled Them Out Again

I brushed off my dusty watercolors and started painting again.  I knew when I started working in glass that this would go by the wayside and it has for about 12 years.

Painting has a similarity to riding bikes too.  I didn't forget.  Perhaps a bit rusty though.  I noticed I had a different fine motor skill than before after working in glass. I wanted to use more of both hands at the same time, instead of just being left-handed.

And I still loved mixing my colors to find the exact shade that I wanted.  That is one of the things I love most about this art form and some of the others I've dabbled in.  Working with colors makes me happy.

I'm including some old pictures that we in my unframed stash.  Not my best, but you can get an idea of where I've been with them.  And I'm undecided how often I will come back to painting now.  Perhaps I'll be doing some beads and coordinating watercolor sketches or backgrounds for them.  I'm not sure.  It would be fun to combine the two.

I'd love to hear what other art forms you did, before the one you are currently enjoying.  I've found over the years that many of us have quite a list.  And are you working any combinations of them together?  I'd think that people who sew and button making would be a perfect union.  Tell us about it.

My Valentine's Day Laugh

As some of you know,  I was away for Valentines Day on a trip.  I wanted to show you the fruit basket from my husband and especially the note that was sent with it.  My son Grant is his assistant at work, and apparently was assigned the task of ordering it for me.  He decided to inject a little humor into it and write the direct quote.  And honestly I hadn't laughed that hard in a long time. (and just in case you're wondering- we had already celebrated an early Valentines Day and this was an "extra".)

Rainbow Colored Rubber Tubing- Fun for Funky Jewelry

There is something about this combination of joyful colors in a necklace that just makes me want to smile. The designer, Yvonne Irwin says it reminds her of a carnival and I had a similar reaction of thinking that it looks like a visual party.

Yvonne is the shop owner of MyElements on Etsy who sells these rubber tubes, colorful O rings and quite a variety of other jewelry making pieces.  I found her through some of my friends and have to admit, am a bit addicted to the tubing.

You see, it works perfectly in some instances for a quick ending to a memory wire style necklace that uses my lampwork.  It keeps it lighter weight and for me, a quick string.  Here is an example of one that I just recently made.  (It is available if you message me, but not up on my StudioMarcy etsy site.

I love this light periwinkle blue color of the tubing.  It goes with a lot of my spring colors.  I have used plenty of other colors.

The O rings work well for accents between some large hole beads strung on the memory wire + tubing made up choker style too.  I'll show that necklace another day.

So pop by and visit Yvonne's shop.  One of the other options with this tubing is to feed wire through it and bend it around.  You can make corkscrews, loops or whatever you like.  Lots of fun and funky options.

If you've made something already with it, please post a link.  We'd all love to see it.

See you tomorrow!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Keep smiling and enjoy your holiday!