Flop Goes the Gathering

I feel like I've had a flat tire. For the past several years - quite a number actually - I've attending the Gathering (conference for glass beadmakers). So, this year I registered up and got my friend Lillian all set. She is on an around the world cruise. Booking for the hotel started on April 11th. It's never been a problem before - although Lillian usually calls Cathy Finnegan directly because she is overseas when all of this happens, it makes her comfortable to do that so I've let it be. This year, well - I figured I could get it accomplished. Registration for my sea bound friend and a hotel when it came up. Or within a day or two after I heard from Lil. If there was going to be a difference in the number of the book group rate rooms available I wish they'd of let us know when they sent out the notices. I waited five days to book and they are gone. The next price up for the SAME room is at a business rate and is $75.00 per night MORE. This year - after I reach Lillian who is due into port tomorrow - and Susan who is at dinner with friends tonight I think I will cancel my Gathering registration. I just do not need the hassle. The Hyatt we stayed at last year was FILTHY - there I said it. Hyatt made little apologizes for it. They screwed up the rate - I had to call. And the room was bad enough I took photos and sent them to Hyatt Corporate after the maid refused to leave the dirty bedspread off the bead. And, that doesn't even begin to cover the condition of the shower curtain (and a half a dozen other things - makes you wonder what they didn't clean in the tub or sinks, huh? Kendra called and expressed her sincere apologizes on behalf of the ISGB - it really wasn't her problem...but I think after this I'm pretty turned off by Hyatt. I go to conferences to join in the fun - support the ISGB, and have a hassle free experience. It has not been that way for the past two years. Seattle is kind of out of question - too far away. But, the GAS conference will be in Toledo in 2012 so I think I'll be heading there. So sorry, this is a vent. It's annoying. You expect - I EXPECT there to be enough rooms to make it over a week of registration. If there aren't I guess I would expect that those of us members who registered on time might get an email. I don't think I should have to check the ISGB forum for tips and details. I have a life here and it's busy. Maybe it's just to busy for the Gathering this year!

A Trip to Nirvana

Okay - it really does not take much to amuse me. Every one's Nirvana is different and I'm such a tool junkie that stores with tools and even a Harbor Freight can make me giddy at times. Oh Yeah, and I most certainly know I am not alone. I'm in good company.

The night I got back from North Carolina there was an email that came from the Michigan Silversmith's Guild. A former teacher from Traverse City who I greatly admired was selling her casting equipment. I had not seen Diane Hubert for a good fifteen years or so. She was a joy to have as a teacher - she was kind, nice, and great at disseminating information. You know those people - a teacher's teacher. I was lucky to have had her for an instructor.

I wasn't planning on purchasing casting equipment just yet but when I saw that - well, it was like serendipity. One more day out of town and it would have been history. Actually, if I hadn't contacted her that night it would have been gone. But DH said - "go for it", you know her and how well she treated her equipment. Yes, she is a good artist, good person, and took care of everything. Seven other people contacted her after me....

It's not set up - I just picked it up this evening - I'm walking on cloud nine.

Onward and upward. This is going to be fun to set up. Oh, and Diane showed me this great fan to purchase to pull fumes out of the way when you are fabricating. What a great set up she has.

I've never used a vulcanizer but Diane showed me how. Can you tell how stoked I am about this equipment? It going to drive me crazy to wait until I'll have to put an air vent up for the burnout kiln but safety first.

I'm feeling blessed. The photo is the pile of goodies in the back of the car. I couldn't wait to take a photo either....

REDO on Artist Info

I know I've mentioned this site before but it definitely is worth a second look. Yesterday I was "floating" around the Internet links from different peoples sites and again ran across the site for Ask Harriette. This time what I found was a series of articles and free pdf's on a variety of topics running from photographing your work to professional guidelines. It's excellent. If in any way you are involved or considering being involved in art professionally you should check them out.

So here is my Redo of Harriette Berman's Link. Give her a click!

Fire Divas

Sometimes you find a group of like minded individuals you just want to join. Some of these ladies have been my blog partners for a long time. They run great blogs, make great beads and jewelry, so what's not to like? You can reach the blog here: Fire Divas. And from there you will be able to peruse the individual blogs. The Divas Facebook and Twitter too! I love blog hopping and checking things out. Everyone has their own ways of doing things and you never know where the next great tip, or great designer bead, will come from.

I'll enjoy being a "Diva" - it will probably be the only time I'll ever get to be one (wink, wink!).

Hiatus is over….but not forgotten

North Carolina View

Bridles at the Farm

I’m sure feeling like Waldo. Where the heck is Sharon? What in the world has she been up to? She’s never missed a whole month blogging before. Nope, I don’t think I have either. Is there an excuse for this absence? I’d feel like a teenager if I made one up - and those days are long gone.

Have I been busy? Kind of…..daughter got engaged and we are knee deep in wonderful wedding planning, took a much needed vacation to North Carolina to see children, working on taxes (UGH), did a number of special orders for customers, did some spring cleaning and have taken seven boxes to Goodwill. I think that catches up the empty slot of the blog. I've added a few photos of the trip.

Now, if I were just caught up with this house cleaning……

My Beloved Detroit

I’ll address my absence from blogging tomorrow but for now I’d like to send a shout out to Detroit.

It's the city of my birth, a place where I grew up meeting my Grandmother for lunch at Carson's, explored Museums, enjoyed the Scarab Club, drove "muscle" cars, fell in love with old buildings, and people. New York has it's charm but I think if you can "make it" in Detroit - well, you've got GRIT!

We've all watched the auto industry problems - it really hits home for me to see that. In our neighborhood we were the children of "factory rats", Air Force people, and whatever squeezed into living around them. It was a great WWII neighborhood with children at every house. Well, you don't want to know about that. You want to know about the shout out.

April is glass month in Michigan. Hallelujah! Can you believe it? Of all of the places to have a Habitat Gallery - it's Michigan (Metro Detroit). All the galleries and the studios seem to celebrate in one way or another. It's even got a mention in American Style Magazine. I'm hoping I get back downstate to visit some of the galleries and some of my friends this month. We'll see - it's mighty busy around here.

Carol Shepard of SMGBG (Southeasterm Michigan Glass Beadmakers Guild - Glass Act) sent out a notice to all of us in the guild about a "happening" during this time. It was kind of a gallery walk - open house. The factories aren't all abandoned. Check out the Russell Industrial Center Leave it to the artists to find the best in things and rebuilt. My motto - abandon it and they will collect it, repurpose it, and turn it into art. Go ARTISTS - and GO DETROIT!

The Russell was designed in 1915 by architect Albert Kahn and used to be home to the Murry Body Company. Today it is home to more than 150 artists and creative tenants. Everyone here has a passion not just for art, but for creating art here in the Motor City.

So lift up your coffee cup and give Detroit a toast - they are nothing if not resilient and artistic.

Lapped Beads

I've been having great fun since participating in Jeri Warhaftig's focus group for "Creating Glass Beads". One of the projects we did was to lap beads made in a unique "Jeri kind of way". I love making them and am getting excited about making them into jewelry pieces. I've posted these photos on Lampwork, etc. but wanted to show them here too. I'm using an Inland Swap Top grinder and they just shine on the flat surfaces. It's not as hard to do as I thought it might be and I'd recommend the technique to everyone. The book will be on the shelves in a week or so and I know I've said it before but I'm going to repeat myself. BUY THE BOOK! Aside from this technique there are nine others - - - including how to silver the inside of a bead - PMC work on glass - and more. To be totally honest -I'd buy the book because the techniques are not widely known and I love trying something new.- but Lark has been gracious and generous and is sending each of us in the focus group one.

An Addition to the Resource List

Check this one out! Lots of interesting articles for us Etsy sellers....

Handmadeology

I was thinking about the first out of state bead making class I ever took. It was a wild ride….I mean like literally. Susan Lambert called and asked if I’d like to take a beadmaking class with Jim Smircich. Okay. Although at the time I wasn’t sure I had heard of him.

Susan and I had met but not “hung out” – we had mutual friends. I was game – then she told me we’d have to go to Kentucky. Uh, alright – that sounds like fun. Both she and I were working full time…she an art teacher and me, I worked with the kids who didn’t quite make it in school and had already been arrested. Actually, our jobs required high energy output. Cool, I thought – kindred spirit and I could use some really professional lessons. We left for Kentucky after work one day and drove off to Kentucky.

It was an over night trip and we talked all the way. Instant bonding and Susan and I are still kindred spirits – as are so many of us in this crazy fire+glass=beads club. She was even kind enough to nudge her new friend when I fell asleep during one of Jim’s demo’s. I was fine as long as I kept busy but when it came to a late day demo I was fading fast. That was when I realized how much stamina Susan has compared to me. I’m good – but she had the cat-nap thing down to a science.

I’m not sure why I was revisiting this first “big name” instructor in my mind. Maybe it was because I was wondering where the constant references disappeared about puckering the ends of your beads. Jim was huge on heat control and getting the base of the bead correct before you moved on to the decorating part. Hey, he was a very good teacher for a virtual newbie. I still pucker my bead ends. I Googled puckered bead ends and up came tons of explanations and instructions for them. Here’s the one I like the best:

"Lampworking is the art of making handmade glass objects, such as beads. An accomplished maker of glass beads has the ability to create miniature works of art using a torch and different kinds and colors of glass. The hallmark of a high-grade, professionally made glass bead is its smooth, puckered bead hole openings, also known as dimples."

Read more: How to Get Puckered Ends on Beads for Lampworking

I like that. Jim taught us to be professional about our work. To create a standard puckered dimple on the bead ends so it wasn’t sloppy or sharp. Whoo Hoo – my friend Susan sure can pick ‘em and I’m glad she asked me to join her on our first adventure.

Now go forth and pucker!!! That's good advice and just in time for Valentine's Day.

It's February!

Holy Snow Storm Batman! I was going to put a photo here of some guys digging a car out and the snow was over their heads - but, it's not my car/ or my fellah. LOL

What I'm putting here is a Nasa photo of where I live from space with the storms swirling overhead. I live in the Mitten - appropriate isn't it? Luckily, we didn't get the blast that others got. We added a lot of inches (I'm in the center of that mitten) but compared to the Detroit area/lower right of that mitten and Chicago way to the lower part of that long lake on the left of Michigan we were spared. I can't yet get out of my driveway - the snow plows blocked the end.

Good reason to curl up, stay warm, list beads, and make quilts.

If you'd like to look at a Nasa photo of your area just click here.