ah-h-h-h......

Today was our ISLAGA meeting at Indy Flame Art Studio.  Had a great demonstration on making boro marbles by Samma Parcels.  She makes it look so incredibly easy.  After the meeting, I stayed to play on the big girl torches.  Spent the most relaxing 2 hours in a long time!  Sitting there melting glass drained away all the stress that's been building up for the past couple of weeks due to unusually busy and hectic conditions at work.  Anyway, I fired up a Minor and made 5 beads in 2 hours!  (It's taking up to an hour per bead on my hot head).  Enjoyed chatting with Tammy, Sally & Samma - which is another thing you can't do with a hothead!  I'm so used to letting my mind wander when I'm sitting at my torch, I almost forgot to join in the chatter with the girls.  Won't be able to pick up my beads until Thursday, so that will be something to look forward to!  Enjoy the rest of your weekend!  I'll be chillin'!

After the Fair

The Indiana State Fair has now come and gone.  My friends at ISLAGA and I entered our finest efforts with visions of ribbons and prizes.  The judges did their thing and I was able to photograph just about all our entries.  If I've omitted anyone, I'm truly sorry.  I wasn't able to take pictures until I picked up my beads after the fair.  Congratulations to everyone who received recognition for a job well done!

New Beads this weekend

Went to our monthly ISLAGA (Indiana Society of Lampwork and Glass Artists) meeting yesterday.  As always, there was a great group of people there with much to talk about.  We all reminisced about our adventures at The Gathering in Louisville.  Sally Gurth was kind enough to do a demonstration on her beautiful African sunset beads.  Feeling really inspired when I got back home, I immediately fired up the ole' hothead torch and tried to put in practice what I had just learned.

I'm a really big fan of the beauty of the desert, so I adapted the bead as a desert sunset.  Now, you're gonna go OMG, that's awesome! - and I'd have to agree with you.  But to let you in on a little secret, it's all in the lighting!  In real life, this bead doesn't look NEARLY this vivid.  I leaned it up against a rock on the railing of the deck and the sun brought it to life!  Tell me what you think......I've got another one in the kiln right now that will look a little different. I'll debut it next time.
Also, while looking at a book at the meeting, I saw some other neat beads I wanted to emulate.  One is called an "End of Day" bead.  It's made with scraps of glass left over from other bead projects.  Sort of a cool way to use up all your glass without wasting any of it!  Here it is.  Now, only if I could get it to look this good when I wear it!  Maybe I need to invent a little lighting system. 
Also in the kiln is another bead that's my take on an aquarium.  You'll have to wait to see it til next time!

Art in strange places

So, we're at Avon Subway yesterday enjoying our usual Saturday  afternoon fare.  I glanced at the pictures on the wall and suddenly saw the profile of either Cyranno or Gene Simmons.  If you look in the center of this photo, to the left of the green peppers and under the red onion, you can see a white-faced man looking to the left, with long black hair, a large nose, and wearing a green fedora.  Now, before you say anything snide, this was at lunchtime, and no alcohol was involved!  Unless you saw poodles and bears in the clouds during your childhood, you might not be able to see it.  It jumped out at me, and I had to record it as an artistic musing!  It took me quite awhile to upload, sideload, download this picture.  When I tried to crop it, the image was distorted and really showed that it was a reflection on a black olive!  So, if you go to Subway, look for the photo of the big tomato slice with oil/vinegar getting poured on it.  See if you can find the Cyranno/Gene and let me know!

Smokin' Toes

There's just something about a pedicure that soothes the weary soul.  I hadn't been since May, so I was way overdue to make my feet Summer Presentable.  About halfway through the day today, I decided it couldn't wait any longer and I made an appointment at Perfect Pinkie nail salon for after work.  Once you get there, it's almost like planning an art project.  First, you pick out what color you want - do I need something flashy or demure (yeah, right.)  Matte, pearly or sparkly (duh.) Light or bright (given).  Then, you have to decide if you want plain or with a fancy design.  I chose plain so I can add Swarovski later.  Today, I met Li for the first time.  She's very personable and really knows her way around pedicure tools.  After a day of  rushing around and dealing with people wanting something from me every 5 minutes, it was SO nice to relax and be pampered., if only for an hour.  The leg and foot massage was wonderful, topped off with hot towels wrapping the calves.  I could have very easily fallen asleep right there in the heated, vibrating lounge chair. 
My color this time is "The Show Must Go On" - a lively, festive shade with just enough shimmer and sparkle to give me yet another set of Smokin' Toes (as Jim calls them).  I left with a finished masterpiece to enjoy for the next month.  If only I could wear sandals to work~  The canvas may not be that great, but the artist's rendition is fabulous!  Lovin' the Happy Feet!

Art for Tuesday

I'm trying my very hardest to post pictures on this blog.  However, when I plugged in the iphone, it started syncing and I don't know where it "sunk" to.  Sometimes too much technology isn't a good thing...

I was trying to post my entries for the Indiana State Fair.  Anyway, here's some of my fav flower pictures - after all, they're art too!  Since I grew them from seed (or plant), I guess I can take partial credit for it!
These lillies are some of the prettiest flowers around.  I've found that they change color from year to year.  One year they're vivid pink, and another year they're light pink.  Wonder if it has something to do with the extreme summers we've  had the last 2 years.

This is hardy hibiscus.  Each bloom is dessert plate size and a brilliant pink.  I always look forward to these blooming in July - reminds me of Hawaii. 

Are you noticing a trend?  Seems like all the gorgeous flowers that bloom in the front yard are some shade of pink.  They're all so pretty, but they have such a short blooming time.  Thank goodness for cameras!

Maybe by the next time I post, I'll figure out pulling photos out of my iphone!

A Day at Mecca

Today's activities began at 7:15 when I left the house bound for Louisville, KY for the annual ISGB Gathering.  This is the national convention of glass beadmakers, with a smattering of bead weavers, silversmiths, clay bead artists and vendors. This convention is held at different corners of the country every year and it's been 5 years since it was this close to Indy.

Getting there was fairly simple - just a 2 hour drive.  I hadn't been to Louisville in a long time and was amazed at how easy it was to get around.  The downtown area has a festive atmosphere with lots of green areas and Fourth Street Live, which is a pedestrian only area for dining, shopping and entertainment.  The bead show was held in the Kentucky Intl. Convention Center.

 In all the years I've been making beads, I've read books about the 'superstars of glass'.  Today, I got to see them for real.  And what a nice group of people they were! They were so cordial and approachable - something you don't always see when there's a mass of talent gathered in one place.  They were more than happy to share little secrets on how to get a certain result with a certain type of glass, or interject amusing anecdotes about their experiences along the way.  The beads I saw were beyond amazing and I came away from the convention center with a mind brimming with ideas.  It made the drive home a little easier as I was planning my next projects while I drove!
Most of my friends from ISLAGA were there today and it was fun chatting with them.  It was neat seeing the inspiration for some of their beads from the original artists. This is a photo of Leah Fairbanks, who has been a great inspiration to me.  I took one of her classes in raised florals last spring and thoroughly enjoyed it.

When I got home, I put all the business cards and post cards collected at the show in a photo album.  These will serve as inspiration for future beads, and as reminder of a special day.