Studio Update

So I've been organizing in my studio AGAIN!  I'm getting the glass done this time though, so hopefully, this is the last full on studio re-do I'll ever have to do.  I have made a big dent in the glass storage going from this:

Before

To this:

After

WHEW!  That was a bigger project than I anticipated!  In all honesty, I'm still not finished (I will NOT show you pictures of the piles that are still on the floor! lol)  But I'm getting somewhere, and I'm already finding it easier to decide what colors to use.

While I've been working on this project I've come to realize that I have a LOT of tools that are begging for some sort of organized storage too.  

If there was a "Hoarders" show for crafters, I would probably qualify!

But the upside is I've decided to start a "Tool Talk" segment on my blog.  I'll feature one tool (hopefully every week) let you know if I have any hints or tricks to using it, whether or not I would buy it again, show you some samples of what I've made with it, etc.  And the (other) upside is that this will make me really focus on each tool and possibly even part with the ones I don't really, truly love. (Read - more room for new tools!)

Okay ~ diving back in!  I've already started thinking about the first tool review ~ and it's one I've only had for 4 days and I already love!

I'll leave you with a little cleaning music ~ crank this one up and try not to dance!

A Pirate Looks At 40

40!?!

I can't believe I'm turning 40 this month ~ 

I can't do anything to stop it, so I'm going to celebrate with a sale!

For the entire month of November

40/4/40 

that second one isn't a 40 for a reason :)

So, what is the 40/4/40 sale?

40 cents off every item all month long!

Buy 4 items (see, aren't you glad it's not 40!)  and get 40% off 

the highest priced item.

To receive your discount just put Happy 40th in the note to seller and I'll send you a refund through paypal. 

Since I have to turn 40 anyway, I may as well be positive about it!

And a special Happy Birthday shout out to my sister who turns 38 this month ~ I love you Melly!

New Tools!

ZOOZII'S BUBBLE PRESS

I was fortunate to be able to attend the International Society of Glass Beadmakers Gathering this year.  It was an amazing experience!  I learned so much and met so many great people.  And of course, I also did a LOT of shopping! Thankfully Dusty went with me and not only carried everything, but even encouraged me!  

One of the purchases I made was the Zoozii's Bubble Press. 

I was a little intimidated because it looks so difficult to use, but it made such fun beads I couldn't resist! Amy even showed me how to use it during one of the open torch sessions,

I've made about 15 of these so far, but I already only have these few left at the house.  

I swear the only thing happier than bubbles is bubbly beads!

More of these will be turning up in my Etsy shop in the days to come and of course you can always find them locally at The Sun Dog Bead Co.

Happy Beading!!

Just for fun ~ here's a little music that always makes me feel bubbly!

Richie Spice - Yap Yap

Bead Inspiration ~ Tropics

Once again, I am dreaming of some tropical location and wishing I lived under a palm tree!  I think this week I will focus on all things tropical ~ palm trees, the ocean, sea creatures ~ you name it, I'll be trying it on a bead!

Here are a couple of things I'm going to use for inspiration this week:

And I think I have a really interesting idea for this:

This week I'll start posting pictures of what I made based on the inspiration.  I promise I'll share the good, the bad, and the ugly ~ as long as you understand there will probably be more ugly than anything!

Since it's on my mind again ~

Two Tickets to Paradise by Eddie Money



Have a productive week!

Motivation Monday - Kalypso

DH Kalypso

I realized I have a lot of special glass sitting in my stash collecting dust because I didn't feel I was "good enough" to use it.  DH Kalypso is one of those colors.  It's expensive and I'm frugal, so it's hard for me to risk making ugly beads with it.  However, I just accidentally ordered more last week, so I felt it was time to use some of it!

It doesn't look very special in the rod:

But I made this bead with it the other day:

and I'm really excited about it ~ I'm always looking for pink!!

I think I'll do several experiments with Kalyspo this week,

and I think I'll do them to the sounds of the Carribean and this beautiful steel drum soundtrack!

Happy Monday ~ and Stay Motivated!

What's Up Wednesday - The Flow

upcoming events, news, and interesting tidbits

I have an exciting announcement!  I'm very honored to have been included in The Flow Magazine's 7th Annual Gallery of Women in Glass!!  

I can't believe my work was included amid all the truly incredible, inspiring artists in this magazine!  If you have a copy of The Flow I'm number 81 on page 16.  

Thank you to The Flow ~ I can't tell you how thrilled I am!

Motivation Monday - Chinese Character Beads

Things that inspire me, color combinations I love, the music that rocks my studio and 

anything else that makes me want to jump up and make a bead!

The first Monday of 2012!  I'll be in the studio all day today and I'll be working on Chinese character beads since I have a special order and I need to replace some in my shop (plus, they're fun!).  

Here's one I already made:  Friend

Here's the special order character I'll try today: Unity

Whew, this one looks hard!

And I feel like rocking 2012 ~ so I think I'll crank a little Nickleback!

Thanks for stopping by and stay motivated!

Featured Friday

FEATURED FRIDAY

Cool handmade stuff from artists I admire

Maybeads

My friend Maybeads makes the most adorable critters!  Every one of them makes me smile :) They sell out quick though, so if you see one you like don't hesitate!!

Metamorphosi

                                                                

I love this piece by Metamorphosi!  Partly because it's glass of course ~ but it's also up cycled and beautiful and just looking at it makes me really, really want to hear how it sounds in a gentle breeze!

Thanks for taking a peak ~ and check back next Friday for more great handmade finds!

The Great Studio Clean Up

WARNING:  This post will be image heavy, and mildly alarming ~ small children and those with OCD should look away!  :)

I'm so embarrassed I can't believe I'm sharing this!  My studio is in a convenient location to be the dumping ground for everyone in the house.  If you don't know where it goes, just put it in the studio "Mom will deal with it".  Okay, that might work if Mom actually dealt with it.  But I don't.  Usually, I'm in a hurry so I just push the stuff into piles to get it out of my way, then dig through it to find stuff that I "know" is in there. You know the drill, I can't possibly be alone in this!

Anyway, here are the before pictures.  I should have taken a picture of the floor, the game trails were a nice touch!

 

 

SEVERAL hours later..... The studio looked like this:

 

 

Sooooo worth it!  I can find stuff again (well, except for the stuff I'm currently packing all over creation!)

There is one small remaining problem.....

I didn't touch the glass storage.  To be honest, the task is so overwhelming I'm afraid to start. 

                                                                                  Under the torch:

Torch Table:

                                                                        

                                                     

And the all important "oh, there's an empty spot" method of actually storing the glass.

I want labels, I want organized by color, I want to know what I need BEFORE I place an order.  I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Anyone want to come help? There might be some glass in it for you!

Unloved Beads

We all have them.  They don't go with anything.  Maybe you made a few more than you needed or they just weren't what you planned when you made them. Somebody asked for them and then changed their mind and you don't know what to do with them. They kick around in the studio forever and all they do is gather friends (and dust).

Well guess what, you can love your beads again! 

I need to buy more pens ~ I know I have more "finally found a way to love them"  beads!

Local Woman Turns Christmas Gift Into Glass Bead Business

A photographer from my local paper contacted me last Monday and told me he had taken pictures of my jewelry at the local gallery and would love to see the process of making glass beads.  He came over that afternoon and took dozens of pictures and then called a reporter to come intrview me too.  The little article turned out to be a full page! 

Here's a quick excerpt ~ You can read the whole article at wenatcheeworld.com

"As the glass glows from the heat, Jessica Jones uses a knife to help form what will be a tree on a bead she’s making. She heats the glass up to more than 1,000 degrees to melt and form it. The owner of Veda’s Beads, she’s been making beads for sale professionally for two years in what started as a hobby about 10 years ago"

The photographs were taken by Mike Bonnicksen, the article written by Rick Steigmeyer.  Thank you gentlemen!

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 )

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