Thursday, December 31, 2009

Last Lesson of 2009

Happy New Year!!  I truly hope that 2010 will be everything you want it to be!  I wanted to share a couple new beads ~ we've been so busy with company I've barely managed to squeeze in any torch time, but I'm pretty pleased with what did show up in my kiln.  Glass teaches me something new everytime I sit down at the torch ~ sometimes with fantastic results!



I'm finally getting the silver glass to look like something other than mud. What I find incredibly fascinating is that both of these beads were made with the same silvered ivory base, the same black and the same silver glass ~ but look how wonderfully different they are!  This is truly a lesson in letting the glass do what it wants to do instead of forcing it to do what I want it to.  I'm looking forward to learning even more in the coming year as every torch session is a new lesson for me.  Bring on 2010 and let's make it our best year ever!

(P.S.  Happy 40th Birthday to my incredible, fantabulous, super sexy, wonderful husband ~ thank you for being my best friend and my hero! :D )

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Studio Clean Up!

I've been putting off the overwhelming task of cleaning my studio for months, but I finally buckled down and spent 2 days cleaning, organizing, and getting rid of all the stuff that doesn't belong in there.  Which probably means I was avoiding doing something that I wanted to do even less! :D  Well, it was approaching dangerous ~ I had a pile of glass that I kept putting the latest hot rod down on, and it was getting to the point that the hot rod would slip down the pile and I would try to catch it.

Years ago, we remodeled our house (this room was the original living room) and this became an office/laundry room.  The I started lampworking and set up in a playhouse in the yard that the kids had outgrown. When we remodeled again and added an addition with a new laundry room, my superfantabulous husband added cupboards, counterspace, ventilation and a sink to this room and moved me inside. 


This room seriously has not been this clean since the day I moved in ~  I guess now I'll either be way more productive or afraid to go in there and make a mess! 









Have a productive day!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Can you say BUSY!!

I'm just stopping  by here to take a breath and share some of my newer work, and to remind everyone that I'm always up for special orders ~ but please contact me soon!

Currently, I'm working on non-jewelry gift items ~


Here is a set of fruit salad magnets



 and of course: more Charmed Dreads :)   Lately, I've been wearing these just on a simple neck cord and I love them!


I have some wine gift sets almost finished too!  So with that, I'll get back to my long list of beads to make,   jewelry to finish, gift sets to put together and holidays to plan!  And if I can squeeze in some housework, I'll
try to get the beads and bead related items off of every flat surface in my house :D                                     

(please don't tell my husband I said that, he might expect me to actually do it!)


Tuesday, October 27, 2009

New Line of Beads!

So what do you do when you're super excited about a new line of beads!  It's so hard to decide - do you roll out the whole line (i.e. several at once) with hoopla and fanfare?  Or do you introduce them one at a time?  One at a time will get more views in your Etsy shop - and we all know views equal sales.  But all at once makes a more dramatic entrance!  I voted for all at once for this line, I'm just too excited about it to only do one at a time!  So what am I talking about?  

CHARMED DREADS!!




Color and motion drawing attention to your hair!  The charm lets me add elements that I would ordinarily not be able to create on a bead - like dragonflies for instance, I can never get those right! I hope you enjoy these as much as I enjoy making them!  I'm headed to the torch to see what else I can do with these - I think today I'll make one with a lizzard, but who knows?  The possiblities are endless!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Ugly Beads

They say if you are making a bead and you decide you don't like it, smash it and make it into a fish.  So what happens if you are making a fish and you don't like it?  I now know the answer to that question ~ Really Ugly Beads! 

As a bonus:  ugly beads take really bad pictures!!  Do I dare attempt fish again today? 

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Color Mixing

Yesterday I played around with mixing my own custom colors.  Basically, you take two rods of glass, heat the ends, smoosh them around and pull them into something resembling a new rod.  Actually, it's more like a thick stringer when I do it. :)  I then made clear beads and encased them with the new color - the clear base makes it so my skinny rod of glass will go farther.

This set is made from effetre rosewood and dark ivory mixed about 50/50.  So far it's one of my favorite custom colors!  This is something I will most likely continue to play with, as a matter of fact, I'm off to play now!  Have a great day :)

Monday, October 12, 2009

Shards


This past week I decided to try my hand at shards again. The dismal results from my first attempts notwithstanding - I think I've finally figured it out! :) For those of you that don't know - shards are made by wrapping glass around the end of a hollow tube, blowing until you get something that resembles a lightbulb, then shattering the bulb and using the bits on your bead.


So far, the recipe I've liked the most is ivory glass wrapped in silver foil, burnished in, then rolled in aion powder. This makes a nice organic webbed effect!




The most important lesson I learned doing this is to heat the bead, not the shard! Applying heat to just the shard instantly melts it down to nothing! Sometimes doing it wrong is the best way to learn to do it right. :)
I'm off to the torch to see what lessons I can learn the hard way today! Have a fantabulous Monday!!

Monday, October 5, 2009

New work

I'm working on a few new things - night scenes and ocean scenes. Couldn't be farther apart! But I'm having fun with both :)

Here's a night scene - Blue goldstone background, big yellow moon, tree silhouette and a black bird preparing to take off from a branch.





and from a series of Starfish by the Sea - A red starfish waits on a sandy beach for the cool blue water to cover him.

I have another series of ocean floor beads that I'm working on as well. For now, I'm calling these my 'no fear' beads. My goal is to feel the freedom to add more and more elements to a bead with out the fear that the next step will 'ruin' it! It's a concept that I have difficulty allowing myself to believe :)

Off to the torch!! Happy Monday :)

Monday, September 21, 2009

Glass Stock



The most fun I've ever had with my torch on!!! Four full days of torching with and learning from some of the most amazing artists I've ever met! I learned so much from the classes, but I also learned something from every single person I met there.

This is a picture of Deb Crowely ~ the indominatable force behind the Glass Stock event. She is an incredible artist and also a fun, kind-hearted women who is passionate about glass and infuses everyone she meets with the same passion! Thank you Deb for sharing your knowledge and spirit with all of us :)

The most important lesson I learned at this event was to stop fearing that every new element I added to a bead would be the one to ruin it. I learned a freedom to create that I had never allowed myself before. I haven't put every technique I learned to use - but this one lesson I'm sure will dominate my efforts at the torch - probably for as long as I do this. Thanks again to all the incredible artists who shared so much of their knowledge and their spirit with all of us - You all rock out loud!!


Monday, August 31, 2009

Glass Stock!!

I'm on my way to Oregon for an incredible glassy adventure!! 4 days of glass classes, demos and torching!! I've never had an opportunity to take classes before, so I am hugely excited about this! Plus, I get to meet in person many of people that I've "known" online for years and I'm sharing a house with 7 or 8 of my closest strangers :) I just have to say that I am so fortunate to be a part of this community of "co-workers". Within 2 hours of finding out I could go 2 people emailed me offering a place to stay, and another offering to car pool. I was stunned! What an amazing group of people I get to work with - even though we all do our own thing, the camaraderie is unbelievable!

These are the vendor gifts I'm taking (each person needs to bring 2) I hope they like them!



I've been packing for 2 days. So far I think I have everything but the computer, my toothbrush and the kitchen sink. The computer and toothbrush will go in last, I'm still debating about the kitchen sink :) I better go recheck my list for the hundredth time, I'm sure I've forgotten something.

Everyone has to do a demo at this event. I'm nervous about this so I had to pick something I could do in my sleep ~ Fancy Squares:


I'll be posting lots of pics when I get home next week and hopefully making use of a ton of new info! See you soon :)

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Art Bead Scene Monthly Challenge



I just entered Art Bead Scene's monthly challenge for the first time! I don't usually enter this sort of thing; but I'm really making an effort to push myself, challenge myself and gernerally try things that are out of my comfort zone. This seemed like an excellent way to start!

The challenge for August is to be insired by the ocean, which has always been a huge inspiration for me! My entry is a seastar bracelet and earring set made with my lampwork beads and heshi shells. Be sure to check out all the great work at Art Bead Scene!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Random Thoughts

I have been on a roll lately! In the last two days I delivered over 140 beads to my local bead store The Sun Dog Bead Co. Two torching sessions per day have really boosted my production, and the cooler weather has helped a little. I'm still working my way through a huge pile of beads that aren't currently listed anywhere for some reason or other. I must often put them in the boxes that correspond with where they are listed before they actually make it on the site! Some of that pile will be made into jewelry for my 1000 Markets shop, but most will be listed on Etsy and ArtFire. There is only a week and a half before school starts so we're headed out of town for a few days, but come September - Look Out! I'll actually be able to torch full time without any interuptions! I'm planning to update my blog once a week starting now (wait, now - no, now) :) and I'm also working on a tutorial! More on that soon. There is so much to do when you're a one man show!! Have a fabulous weekend and I'll see you next week :)

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Designer Showcase - Splashings

Featured Designer Karen Cedrone-Harris of Splashings is a talented designer that makes fantastic jewelry using handmade lampwork beads by a variety of artists!


Karen began making jewelry 5 years ago when she became a stay at home mom in search of a challenge that would keep her busy. She started making jewelry for herself, and then friends and family and eventually selling her jewelry to the friends and co-workers of those that wore the pieces she made.

Karen says: " As I tried new things, I discovered lampwork glass which I love. I never get tired of looking at it and am truely amazed by what glass artists can do. I love blues and greens and anything that makes you think of warm sunny places and the beach. I have fun trying to find new ways to use beads or trying to figure out a new technique I saw in a magazine, it's like a puzzle."



Karen started selling on Ebay and switched to Etsy last year. She also sells at shows and festivals in the MA and CT area. Her Etsy shop announcement always has a current list of upcomming events. You can also find her work at:

~Closet Collections - 409 Columbia Rd., Hanover, MA~

~HOME Wellness Center - 1028 Poquonnock Rd., Groton, CT~


Don't forget to check out Splashings Etsy shop for your next One Of A Kind jewelry purchase!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Designer Showcase in the works!

Just a quick post: Watch for my upcomming "Designer Showcase" series ~ Featuring designers who have used my beads in their work. It never hurts to have a little free advertising right?

If you would like to be included please contact me! :)

Monday, May 18, 2009

Shop Windows at ArtFire

Good morning everyone! Just wanted to share a quick post for those of you that have an ArtFire shop or just love to shop ArtFire! Shop Windows at ArtFire has a great blog that truly celebrates the ArtFire artisans! Check it out for featured artists, great new indie products, sales and cross promotion ideas. You can also follow them on Twitter!

Check it out today!
Shopwindowsatartfire

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Lampworking Studio




Since people always want to see other people's studio spaces, either for ideas for their own space or just general interest in the artist I wanted to show you mine :) The best part for me is the wooden cubes from target hung on the wall and filled with different shapes and sizes of pvc pipe for organizing the glass. Wait - did I say organizing? What I mean is "oh, there's an empty spot" :)

Actually I should take a current picture of it :) This picture was taken pretty much the minute it was finished, now it's a disaster - the dumping ground for anything nobody knows what to do with, piles of show items, stacks of boxes full of beads, the access to the crawl space and the tools used for the recent bathroom remodel - basically the messiest room in the house!
I used to work in a converted playhouse in the backyard. It was boiling hot in the summer and freezing cold in the winter and after 2 years of working out there my husband decided I needed space inside and remodeled an office space specifically for my studio - adding cupboards and a sink and extra lighting. Did I mention he's amazing! Anyway, I love my space, even when it's messy :)
PS - I can't remember the last time I saw the countertops! lol

Monday, May 11, 2009

I think I'm officially "everywhere" now!

I think I'm starting to get the hang of the whole "be everwhere on the internet" thing! I signed up for facebook yesterday, and already I've reconected with so many people I know :) So now my next challenge is to figure out how to keep everything updated online and still get some work done. I'm going to have to do some serious multi-tasking!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

New Pricing!

I know the economy is taking it's toll on everyone these days, so I've lowered the prices on every item I make. :) It's my way of stimulating the art community! I want you to keep doing what you love (and in turn, I'll get to keep doing what I love!). So keep beading! and thank you for buying Veda's Beads! :)

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Renaissance Faire

Good morning! I just wanted to let everyone know I'll be at the Wenatchee Renaissance Faire this Saturday, April 18th. I'll have all my products from my various shops with me and I'll also be demo-ing! Stop by and see me :)
http://www.wenrenfaire.com/merchants.html

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

First Post!

So this is my first official Blog Post! (Assuming we ignore the fact that I got ahead of myself with ping.fm) :) I'm just going to start with my generic "about me" statement tonight, but hopefully this will be the place to share all things beady!

Generic statement:

I have a passion for glass that I hope to share with you here. I love the solitude of working at the torch, the way the glass melts and flows, and the sheer magic of turning a blob (I believe that is the technical term!) of glass into a tiny little treasure! I also love the way any silly little thing can inspire a bead - coffee cups, fabrics, even smells!
I live in the middle of Washington State (on the dry side of the mountains!) with my super-fantabulous husband and 3 amazing daughters. I make all my beads in the incredible home office/studio my husband built for me and the girls help with website updating and photography. If you would like to learn more about me or see pictures of my studio - please check out vedasbeads.com
Trying out ping.fm