Friday, April 30, 2010

Earth Bird



Well, this little bird didn't make it through the annealing process in the kiln. As I hold my breath each day removing the day before beads from my kiln, I hope with all my heart they will emerge as perfect little works of art glass. This one was perfect until after I removed the bead release and held it in my hands admiring the depth I was finally able to improve upon. I heard this little "tingle-crack" and my heart sank. Yes - as I delicately searched for the mishap - there it was - all down the side of the bead. What breaks my heart is when this happens - I can't even send it to the Beads of Courage kids. So, back to the torch today in search of my most perfect - to date - art glass bead. Better luck tomorrow! Can't lose faith just over a little crack in perfection - don't you agree?

xoxo
Suzanne
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Monday, April 26, 2010

Springtime in Paris



I've always wanted to travel to Paris. I think it's because I'm a bit French and my name is Suzanne. What better reason (other than shopping, naturally) teehee
I wanted to do an Eiffel Tower bead and then the flowers behind a black iron fence just fell into place. Someday...this dream too, will come true, as all others have. parle' voo france' (I probably should take a language course so I spell in french? correctly) Enjoy!
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Thursday, April 22, 2010

Beads of Courage or Birds of Courage??? Smile

What to do with boxes of beads while I continue the unending process of evolving as a valuable member of the glass bead making community?  Box them all up and send them to Beads of Courage.  I learned of the program through my local bead club "Fire and Rain" about a month ago.

When I think of the endless little birds I've practiced to recreate from a much respected beadmaker, Manuela Wutschke from Germany, I couldn't help but think how much joy they would bring in the hands of a child undergoing a serious illness.  Up until now, they have been sitting, unappreciated, in a box in my studio with no future hope of release. 

So, I boxed them up yesterday - after making certain they had no sharp spots and that there was no lingering bead release in the holes - and as soon as I get some packing tape, they are shipping off to the Beads of Courage headquarters in Tucson, Arizona where they will be distributed to children participating in the program.

When I made the decision to do this it was like new inspiration and ideas on how to make the perfect bead began to flood my being...where did it come from?  One of those unexplainable spirital happenings we hear about from time to time - a boost to my own courage as I spread the love for making glass beads.

What is the Beads of Courage Program?

Every bead tells a story of strength, honor and hope.

The Program is a resilience-based intervention designed to support and strengthen the protective resources in children coping with serious illness. Through the program children tell their story using colorful beads as meaningful symbols of courage that commemorate milestones they have achieved along their unique treatment path.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Yesterday's Work









I've been working with enamels which gives a completely different look to the beads.  And, I'm getting better with planting the murrini's I'm making on the face of the beads without melting them completely beyond recognition!!  Practice makes perfect.  Getting enough detail on the face before mashing (shaping) the bead flat is another skill to be mastered.  Everyday is a new day with new ideas.   Someday - somebody's gonna love my beads enough to BUY them!  Smile...
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Thursday, April 8, 2010

Murrini!


I'm having so much fun with designing new murrini's to include in my beads. Also including dichoric glass in my designs. Dimension is the only word that describes it and "sparkle" of course! Hope you like them. They will be on Etsy later today...hugs suzanne














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Monday, April 5, 2010

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Murrini


Today I learned to hand pull murrini. These are slices of what I did. Yea! I've been waiting a long time to get it right and I still have a loonnnggg way to go before I like them.. Sharing the triumph ;-)
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