Saturday, October 27, 2012

Autodidact???



Are you an AUTODIDACT???

When I began making beads I didn't know where or who to go to to learn this skill.  My oldest son came up with a torch and my youngest son helped me buy a kiln.  The rest was up to me.

I found someone at a fair who made enamel beads and talked him into showing me how he did it in his garage over 100 miles from where I lived.  I drove there and sat with him for about an hour and a half for $40 to learn what he knew.  From there I bought a book by Corina Tettinger, Passing the Flame.  I was making beads in my mother's garage for two years before ever taking a class.  It wasn't until today I discovered that I am an autodidact as I continue experimenting, practicing and pursuing this passion I have for glass any way I can.  One day, I will be a master.



Some of the greatest people in history have educated themselves to a large degree using a process known as autodidacticism. This is something that's more easily undertaken these days with the great wealth of online tools available to anyone.

Whether you've gone to college or not, you can learn just about anything these days on your own. Want to learn about the classics? Carpentry and home maintenance? Philosophy or cooking? Chess or computer programming? It's all online, and with a little bit of excitement, you can motivate yourself to learn a subject in a growing number of ways.

Why self-education? Well, besides the obvious reasons of wanting to improve yourself, prepare yourself for success, and just learn as much as you can, self-education offers a few extra benefits: you can learn at your own pace, and in your own way. You can follow your passions, and learn about things that excite you. There's no price for failure, but there's every reward for success.

How do you go about becoming an autodidact? The answer is simple: any way you want. I would suggest you set aside just a little time each day to learn a specific subject, but that really depends on your learning style. Some people learn all in one great rush: they'll stay up late hours for a few days in a row, consuming everything they possibly can about a subject. Others are overwhelmed by an approach like that, and would rather learn a little each day.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Saturday, October 20, 2012

ARF ! WHO LET THE DOGS OUT???

Hey!  Who let the dogs out?????


Makin you smile this Saturday AM.  Love you!!!

Suzanne

Friday, October 19, 2012

Guess What???


Guess what I did yesterday?  Yes !!!  I finally found a bead I could master that Claudia Trimbur-Pagel showcases in her book, Glass Bead Trip.  I feel like a Genius...haha  I needed this to boost my ego which has been sorely in the pit lately.  Not that that's a bad thing.  Just not as much fun as soaring with eagles.

Another thing, I've finally taken the commitment plunge to do Precious Metal Clay on a professional level.  Getting off the fence has done a ton for my joy levels.  Now I can't wait for the materials to arrive from Cool Tools !!!  Yay.

Hugs
Suzanne

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Detailed Stringer Work


Working on detailed fine stringer work since the arrival of Claudia Trimbur-Pagel's book "Glass Bead Trip".  I go to sleep looking at the pictures and reading her instructions.  The only answer to her wonderful world of glass beads...Practice...Practice...Practice.

I wake up in the morning excited to see what the results of yesterday's work is.  I run to the kiln in the sunroom to fetch the prize.  There is always room for improvement and it takes me a couple of days to appreciate what I've made because of that bugger - perfectionism.  There is always room for improvement and I have to work at appreciating where I am at right now.  Otherwise, I'll lose sight of the joy of my glass bead journey.  I AM happy with todays glass beads.  Now this afternoon, I'll hit the road a runnin and improve upon yesterday.

I'm willing, able and once again, inspired.

Hugs
Suzanne

Monday, October 15, 2012

Glass Bead Trip by Claudia Trimbur-Pagel

If  I were any more excited than I am right now,  I would not be able to type at all.  But, I want to share with you.

I just received Claudia Trimbur-Pagel's first book for advanced bead makers.

I was fortunate and one of few in the US to take a class from Claudia back in November of 2011 at my favorite bead shop "The Mandrel".  Claudia was brought in to teach from France, where she lives, by Donna Conklin and a few others across the United States.

Her work with glass and with Precious Metal Silver Clay is absolutely the most exciting, inspiring class I have ever taken.  So I will be reading and reading again until I have a much better understanding of glass and Precious Metal Silver so my work will take an even sharper turn than it has lately and be even more facinating than it is right now!!!!

So, get ready, cuz here I come...

Lovin you all because you all are lovin me !

Suzanne

My Inner Chihuly - by Suzanne


I seem to be drawn to making these delicate flowers on copper lately.  Not sure why I'm making them or what they will become.

The ideas will eventually come...must be my inner Chihuly.  (Dale Chihuly the glass guru from Seattle).

What do you think they will be?

xoxo
Suzanne

Friday, October 12, 2012

I AM Refreshing - Lampwork Bead and Copper Necklace by Suzanne



One-of-a-Kind 

This pendant is as refreshing as the deep blue sea and as pure and white as snow. This beautiful lentil shaped bead carries with it the refreshing clarity of mind that comes with cleansing your soul. The two headpins gracefully hanging from the bottom of this bead signify the eyes of our Creator watching over you as only a Father can with love and acceptance.

Wear this piece knowing you are loved and accepted for exactly who you are right now with no expectations and that you are being well taken care of in secret.

Enjoy!

Hugs
Suzanne

The necklace comes in a gift box ready for giving. A card with regard to the artisan (me) is also included. ;o)

xo
Suzanne

Thursday, October 11, 2012

I AM Effervescent - Pendant by Suzanne



This pendant is infused with an iridescent piece of dichroic glass that sparkles beneath the surface of an already beautiful lentil shaped bead.  I felt keeping the piece simply strung was important for the character of the glass to shine.

This is a new technique I am trying out after purchasing a tutorial from Astrid Riedel, one of my very favorite glass artists.  This is a yummy, marshmellowie, blue with a pea green and black stripe twist covering half the bead.  Very unusual and amazing.

Enjoy!

Hugs
Suzanne

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

I AM Aspiring - Yet another Necklace/Ring


OK I think I'm hooked !  This is a size 5.5 ring as well as a necklace.  So if the ring size is too big or too small, it doesn't matter at all.  Wear it as a necklace and pretend you are going steady with the man or woman of your choice!!!  How about that.   This piece is prettier than the camera can pick up.  It begins with a multi-silvered expensive specialty glass made into a flat disk upon which the next silvered disk sits on and then yet another speckled (kinda looks like a bird's egg) on top of that.  Sandwiched between the speckled bead and the freely hanging fleur de lis is a small copper bead.

The ring shank aka bail is hand forged, antiqued and hand burnished copper 16 gauge wire on a copper ball chain approximately 17" long.  Perfect length for a V-neck t-shirt.

I'm liking making these a lot.  Stay tuned for more tomorrow!


Have a great day.

Monday, October 8, 2012

I AM Playful - It's a Necklace - No - It's a Ring



One-of-a-Kind 

This is such a PIECE with a Topsy Turvey Playful attitude. Not only is it a pendant on a ball chain - it is also a size 8 ring !! WAY... I love this piece. It has two of my lampwork beads. One disk shaped specialized silvered glass bead on top of the pendant or the bottom of the ring. And one ruby red round lampwork bead balancing on top the silvered disk. Also an enameled headpin hanging loosely from the bottom or again top !! 

Set comes with the copper 17" ball chain for use as the pendant.

All beads are separated by hand cut and burnished, etched, domed and antiqued copper disks. 16 gauge copper wire also antiqued forming the bail or in this case also the ring shank.

All for so much fun depending on your mood for the day. Wear it as a necklace or as a ring.

The necklace/ring comes in a gift box ready to be wrapped by you for giving. A card with regard to the artisan (me) is also included. ;o)

xo
Suzanne

Saturday, October 6, 2012

I AM Charismatic Necklace


I've been expanding my skills, as many of you know,  as of late in making my own findings - clasps, etc. out of copper, steel and sterling silver.  There is a lot of work involved as you can see in Shannon LeVart's video on her blog.   It looks easy as pie and I mean, after all, isn't it just a circle of copper and some wrapped wire?  Yup, but what all happens to that little piece of wire before it looks like this is a whole other story.    I won't go into detail because Shannon tells it all in her video.

I first found Shannon's work in the the art jewelry magazine called "Belle Armoire Jewelry".  I've been following her work ever since.

The behind the scenes preparation is, antiquing in Liver of Sulfer, tumbling overnight in a tumbler to remove the black crust formed by the antiquing, hand burnishing to get that antiqued warm copper glow and then sealing the wire findings with a finish all before it even ends up in the piece of jewelry you see above.  Why is handmade artisan jewelry expensive - because it is not manufactured by a machine by the millions in China.  Thus, the wonderful energy these pieces of jewelry exude when wearing.  I love it.  I wore my new copper bracelet to yoga on Friday and I swear it made me stronger...haha  no really!  I could feel it - I swear.


At any rate, I love the look of this kinda western - I am from Wyoming after all - style of jewelry.  And you will more than likely be seeing more it it included with my glass beads.    tra la la la !

If you care to see the behind the scenes dirty low-down on making hand forged metal findings for jewelry - click on the link...

http://missficklemediacom.blogspot.com/2012/09/kitchen-finishing.html



Tuesday, October 2, 2012

ShowCase at Bikram Yoga Manhattan Beach

Such a long time since posting - I've been working on my new website and pulling most of my hair out by the roots.  Ha ha.  Making some new designs with my lentil beads and was happy to take a new set in to the Yoga studio today.

This matching set is with my lampwork beads, leather cording and silver African Trade Beads. I've handmade the closure of steel wire and earwires are hand formed silver wire.  This is a 'pure' artisan set.  Nothing manufactured in China here !!!  Totally made in the USA.

It looks beautiful on the counter where practicing yogi's sign in for class.  Kudos to Tiffany, owner of Manhattan Beach Bikram Yoga Studio, for her belief in and support of this artisan jewelry designer.  It is so nice to have good solid peeps who believe in you.  I told her today her belief in me as an artist is making me soar to new heights.  And that, is the truth.  She is such a high powered YOGI !!!  I love you Tiffany!

My goodness, got lost in my praise there for a moment.  I AM calling this necklace set "I AM Centered".  The upper half of the lampwork bead is a lovely silvered glass that shimmers burgundy and cloudy whispers of ivory with blueish undertones.  The lower half is silvered ivory with a twist right in the middle joining both top and bottom with lapis - blue - dots encasing the twist.  Well, let me say, it is just beautiful.

Have a great day!

Suzanne




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