Tiny Purple Flowers - Lampwork Glass Beads - Set

Tiny Purple Flowers is a set made of Creation Is Messy (CIM) glass called "Thai Orchid". I have to say I loved the name of the glass and that is why I purchased the rods. It wouldn't have mattered to me what the color turned out to be. Usually I have a hard time getting my purples purple in the photos, but this color seems to be remaining true on my monitor.

These little flowers are so fun to play with in any design. I hope you enjoy them!

I reached a milestone in bead sales in one day yesterday.  Three sets of beads sold yesterday from my Etsy Shop online.  Three sets in one day!!!  I have a grateful heart - it just feels so wonderful to be producing a product that others are enjoying enough to purchase.  It is a dream come true.

"I'm dancing"  Suzanne

Jupiter - Lampwork Glass Beads - Set - SRA

This color has a rich earthy flavor of pinks, oranges, yellows and golden casts. It is an Effetre Italian Glass "Jupiter" is its name.

There are two sizes in this strand of 16 beads. There are 10 smaller spacer beads and six larger beads.

The silver tag "passion" is included in the sale.

All wound on a 3/32 mandrel.

Enjoy!

Confession of a Bead Artist

Yesterday, I left the torch many times to put the beads up for the day, because I just couldn't find my Mojo. I was hearing this big voice in my head saying "spacer beads - go back to the beginning". Oh no, was I being summoned to begin again? Yes I was ! - my answer "No, No not spacer beads". I had this idea that to be a big time bead artist, I had to create these mammoth art pieces of glass that were beyond any ones wildest dreams. Well, maybe sometime in the future. But, reality struck and the reality of the matter is that my pieces lacked any real creativity on my part. I've done such a wonderful job of studying my favorite glass artist's pieces that my mind is full of their ideas and NOT my own. Danger, Danger. My favorite artists, Manuela, Melanie, Annestasia and many others had filled up all the space in my head and there was no more room for me - where were MY ideas?

I have to say, I did write to Manuela and told her I was copying her beads a while back. She very graciously wrote back and said "Take your time Suzanne". Your own ideas will come. I am forever grateful to her for that because I learned many techniques copying her beads. Melanie's as well, however, I wasn't as honest with Melanie or the others as I was with Manuela. I'm sure they would have told me the same thing Manuela did because they also are, by all accounts, free spirits and loved by all.

However, I've considered myself such a beginner that after two years of torching I had lost all confidence in coming up with my own ideas because there are so many talented bead makers out there - they are all better than me, and there will always be someone better than me. This was a crossroads for me in my bead making career. Was I to become, in my own mind, an apprentice once again beginning with SPACER BEADS. I made a decision at that point. YES, WAS MY ANSWER. YES. After all, am I making beads because I love it. Or, was I making beads to be better than anyone else? I had become what I never intended to become. A copier.

So, I am back at the beginning. I am going to make the best spacer beads I can make. They will be so easy for me that by the time I am able to make a bead that is actually my own idea, it will pass my biggest critics approval - that being ME.  I'll be pulling many stringers and making many twisties too.

So much for the haps and the mishaps in my bead making kingdom in my own mind for today. More than likely you will be seeing many, many spacer beads in the upcoming posts. Let's see where we go from here.

A funny thing happened when I came to that conclusion. I got really really full of joy and inspired. I learned that by being WILLING I have a new found love for bead making. I loved coming to the torch today knowing it is a spacer making day. One day at a time I believe to see improvements in my spacer beads as new ideas come whirling around in my brain as I wind that glass in my own way. I will continue making spacer beads until that happens. I may be here for a long long time. Who knows. Maybe I'm suppose to be the best spacer bead maker in the world. ;o)  Acceptance and Surrender.

Much love in following my posts. You are my biggest fans and I in sharing my heart with you I've found a new freedom.

Suzanne

Carribbean Cruse - Lampwork Glass Beads - SRA

I just love this little set of Mardi Graish beads. There are 20 free shaped spacer beads and four focal beads the little wrench spacers are purchased and also included.

The playful colors seem to dance to the beat of their own drum.

Each is wound on a 3/32 mandrel. They are strung on a hemp cord for easy undoing to place in your very own designs.

The opposite side of the focals is also decorated with hair fine stringers of glass as well.

Enjoy!

Singing - Lampwork Glass Beads - SRA

This nice little set is a string of three barrel beads and one large round bead encased in clear magnifying the design with three barrel spacer beads each in pea green, teal blue, purple and black. It reminds me of waves of music dancing in and throughout these beads in color.

All handmade by torch and immediately switched to a digitally controlled kiln for durability. Stringer work is done with hair fine pulled glass.

All wound on 3/32 mandrel.

Enjoy!

Sandy Shores - Lampwork Glass Beads

Sandy Shores is a double helix color I found in my glass stash and french blue Italian Effetre. I wish I knew the name of it to share with you. The french blue is a beautiful contrast with the layers of the dh glass.  The beads are encased in buttery clear glass for a 3D look.

These beads put me in a dreamy mood for the ocean beaches somewhere exotic far away from home. Or, just down the street to the Venice Beach Boardwalk right here in LA.

This set is wound on a 3/32 mandrel and can be found in my Etsy Shop this evening.

Enjoy!

Tribel Ocean - Lampwork Glass Beads

This is a lovely set of four focal and 13 spacer beads. I used intense blue transparent, pea green and silver plum of the finest Effetre Italian glass . You can see the rods of glass behind in some of the pictures.

The beautiful transparency of these beads is much prettier in person. As are all glass beads. You have to hold them to believe them.

All were created in my home studio, kiln annealed for durability and meticulously decorated on both sides with hand pulled hair fine stringers of glass.

Wound on 3/32 mandrels. Enjoy them on Etsy this evening.

Banana Split - Lampwork Glass Beads

MMM MMMM Yummy. This is a new color for me to play with. It's called "Yellow Banana". I mixed it with berries and - Ola - Banana Split !

So summery and cool. There are six focals and 15 spacer beads in this wonderfully delightful set. Birds and flowers, my handmade murrini's, free shaped and whimsical.

They are being shown on a black rubber cord as loose beads.  They will surely incorporate in alone or all together in a necklace, bracelet, or any design of your choosing.

I hope you enjoy them.

xoxo Suzanne



DoodleBee Bird - Handmade Glass Lampwork Beads - Set

Almost a Road Runner !! Picture this little guy running across the desert in Palm Springs. Lickety Split. A little bit of a KooKoo. There are four matching disk spacer beads included in this set. Both sides of the bead are decorated with my own handmade murrini and then magnified with a dollop of clear over the top forming a trapped air bubble in the center. The entire focal bead is encased in clear giving a many layered effect and depth.

This little bird is a picture painted with glass on glass. The intricate hair fine stringers are applied using heat control at the edge of the flame. What an art to master. I've been working on it for two years. I'm obsessed with it as a matter of fact !

I used to tole paint with oils on tin/wood objects back in the 70's.  I was infatuated and mastered the fine detailed scrolling with expensive little natural hair paint brushes with only a few hairs in the brush. The correct mixture of thinning agents and paint had to be met before a delicate and continuous line cold be drawn. I'm drawn to that type of detailing with glass as well. So, the more I decorate my beads with these hair fine glass stringers the more expert I become with the process.

The beads are all wound on a 3/32 mandrel and are about 10 mm thick.  The hole runs lengthwise through the focal bead.

Enjoy and thank you for shopping with me.

hugs
Suzanne

Green Speckled Birdy - Handmade Glass Lampwork Beads

This little birdy is wound on a 3/32 mandrel against several layers of clear glass creating a very nice layered effect. My handmade murrini's are on both sides. The birdy is a beautiful transparent blue and he has little purple shoes on and little purple dots on his knees. The striped background is a warm gray on white.

The four spacer beads accompanying the focal are also striped gray on white with grass green and black dots. They are also 3/32.

This little birdy is a happy chickadee chirping away as he bounces to town to purchase his worms for the day.

These beads are waiting on you to complete the journey and find their forever home. He brings with him a "joy to the world" song.

He is a collectors item as well as a jewelry designer and/or mixed media artist's dream come true.

Thank you for enjoying him as much as I do.

Hugs
Suzanne

Goth Girl - Cirque du Soleil Series - Lampwork Glass Focal Bead

First in my Cirque du Soleil Series. A number of my son Gabe's friends are members of Cirque du Soleil and perform all over the world. I love the colors, characters and weird wonderful world I'm in when in the audience.

I've been pondering for quite some time how I could bring the Cirque du Soleil experience to my world of beads. This little Goth Girl is the first in an ongoing series I hope. We'll see how the creative spirit of the project leads.

The hole runs lengthwise and is wound on a 3/32 mandrel. This bead is squeezed and about 10 mm thick.

Hold it for a little bit of joy. It is a collector’s item as well as for jewelry designers who see a finished piece immediately when they find beads they love. What a gift. I love designers and mixed media artists. Thank you for seeing my glass art in your own unique ways. It is a pleasure to serve you with my passion for glass objects that make you laugh, dance, sing and enjoy life through rose colored glasses.

***If you would like this focal bead to be made into a pendant, please convo me and I will make it happen for you.

Love Suzanne

Glass House - Handmade Glass Lampwork Bead - Focal

This is a very unique bead. I call it the "Glass House". The window at the top of the door is dichroic glass and sparkles. Very hard to capture on camera. My camera anyway.

It is a happy house with little squeezed red dots simulating hearts along the side. It sits kind of wonky like it is balancing itself on the hillside. The blue and black twistie on the bottom offers a bit of whimsy as well. I think I would like to live in this house. Although it is on a black bead it still looks warm and fuzzy to me. How about you?

Enjoy - more views in my Etsy Shop. Click on the pictures to the right to see them.

Love you lots - Suzanne

Rodeo Drive - Mom

Yesterday mom and I took a day trip to Rodeo Drive. We touched and oooo'd and ahhhh'd the fabrics, clothing, prices...hahaha

Had a great time. She loved it. I just about walked her to death but she made it without too much complaining. ;o)

We think we saw a movie star - but we're not sure. At any rate, naturally, we felt right at home amongst the rich and famous. Whoever they might have been.

We decided that this cute little sports car would be great to take home but we couldn't fit it in either of our purses. We left it for another time.

Wish you all could have been there with us. Now that would have created quite a ruckus. Tomorrow, we are doing Santa Monica.

Today I made beads. It rained a bit so it was a great day to stay inside and watch mom's stories on TV. Now after not watching them for over 10 months - I'm all caught up again.

Beads to post tomorrow. Tune in then.

Love you all.

Suzanne

Pink Lady - Lampwork Glass Beads - Set

Pink Lady - I love pink and black. Guess it's my love for the late 40's and early 50's. In the house I grew up, our bathroom was pink ceramic 3X3 tile with black 1x3 accents. My aunt even had a pink and black bathroom.

The pink in these beads is EDP. I don't know what that stands for, but it is VERY hard to work with. Very shocky glass and it must be encased in clear or it looks frosted. (Not in a good way). So these beads are encased in clear. Clear is great if it is a really fabulous clear. There are no bubbles in the glass and if the clarity is terrific.  I use double helix "Aether". It goes on like "buddaa". I encase nearly all my beads because it magnifies whatever it is encasing making the colors stand out like 3D.

Enjoy (Adam just said this looks like a three eyed goblin). Funny, I didn't see that. Well, to each his own !

Have a great day!

Hugs
Suzanne

Wings on Fire - Handmade Glass Lampwork Bead

Yesterday I sat down just to have fun with my beads. I worked and worked sculpting little pieces I could fuse in the flame to whatever bead I came up with. Since I share both my haps and mishaps in my blog - well, here is a definite mishap. Must be the co efficiency (COE) of the yellow or orange glass I am using. Seems as though whenever I use it the glass cracks right down the middle of the bead. As you can see. It's really not rocket science. I shouldn't use it again - right? Duh

I got to use my new philosophy which is "You get what you get. So, don't be upset". It worked and today I will try, try again with a new bead. You can borrow my new philosophy. (It's free) See how it goes for you! ;-)

Later then - this one will not be going up in my Etsy Shop....haha

Hugs
Suzanne

Palm Springs Weekend Retreat

This weekend I went with my friend Judith to visit her son Adam, daughter-in-law Hong, grandaughter Leilani (11 years going on 30) and Hong's mother Wei Po, in Palm Springs. Adam and Hong are potters. Hong's work is museum quality pottery and several of her pieces are currently shown in Museums.

Their garden is full of surprises. One of them is each clay pot in the garden (and their are many of them), holds a tiny surprise  - such as this tiny chinese man among the plants. I found myself chuckling as I check them all out to see what I would find next and taking as many pictures as I could.

Hong and Adam are both artists, Adam, in addition to pottery, is an incredible Medical Illustrator (illustrated the entire surgery of Betty Ford for documentation purposes) and also for veterinarian medical literature.  Checkout their website "OneDreamDesign.com"  Their work and story is quite captivating.  Hong is from China so Cantonese is spoken regularly and fluently by Leilani and Adam as well. Wei Po speaks no English at all. But her smile is enough to fill all of the outdoors.   

I took my glass making equipment down because Hong had mentioned to me how she had wanted to learn how to make glass beads.  We set up in the pottery workshop attached to the house and fired up my torch. I taught Hong, Leilani and Adam how to pull a stringer, and make a twistie, wind the glass around the mandrel, form a bead and decorate the bead with the stringer and/or twistie they had each made. I taught them safety precaution issues in using the torch, propane and oxygen concentrator and proper safety attire and glasses to use when working with the torch and glass.  They did amazingly well and are each showed a talent in melting and manipulated molten glass into the shape of their choice.  Leilani was the first (naturally) to use her twistie.

It was an incredible afternoon of teaching.  They were in awe at the process involved in making and decorating a glass bead. Hong had a handful of lampwork beads she had bought at an Art Fair where they were selling pottery. She said she was infatuated with the glass beads and had been wanting to learn how they were made for a very long time.

I was so happy to play a part in making a dream come true for her and that the rest of the family was equally as interested in learning the process as well.

Here are a few more of the surprises I found in the garden along with the figs, green beans and many varieties of chili peppers used in the meal Hong prepared at our request to have a genuine Chinese meal. Yummmmmm  She is truly a gourmet Chinese Chef.  The cooking is authentic and delicious so I picked her brain as best I could for tips.  My kind of food for sure.

Saffron Rice, Seaweed Soup, Cantonese shrimp dish and beef dish (with macadamia nuts !)  and asparagus.  Desert was equally delicious.  Sweetened Rice (coconut milk) and Mangos.



Hong in the Kitchen preparing our genuine Chinese meal



For dinner, Sunday, the evening Judith and I returned to Los Angeles, Hong treated by taking us to the annual local potters dinner at the Indian Wells Restaurant "Vicky's".  Many of the local potters live in Palm Springs for a season and then return to their permanent homes elsewhere.  This is their opportunity to get together one last time of the year to say their "see you next season fairwells".  The food was delicious but visiting with fellow artists made the evening a grand finale.  We talked of glass, pottery, kilns and, in general, our love of the arts all evening long.  Hong shared how excited she was about the lesson in glass she had had and everyone became as excited about it as she was.

Of course, the weather was absolutely my kind of weather.  Hot and Sun Shiney!!!

Now, back to the torch for me.  Thank you for letting me share.   hugs - Suzanne

Heart On My Sleeve - Lampwork Glass Bead

The little heart that jets from the side of this bead reminds me that no matter what is going on in my life, there is love embedded in the turmoil. Don't sweat the small stuff.

This bead has two handmade by me murrine - one on each side. The picture doesn't pick it up as well as I would like but it is beautiful. The one on the other side is larger...more views are available in my Etsy Shop.

Transparent blue and some double helix striking glass makes this bead especially organic. It is free shaped and has many layers of clear glass adding depth.


Measurements:
47h x 25w x 8.5 thick
Made on 3/32 mandrel

Thanks for taking a peek.

Suzanne

Headpins Galore - Handmade lampwork glass headpins

 I've recently discovered another way to be of service to jewelry designers who are seeking glass headpins for their unique pieces.

This is a package of 5 handmade lampwork beads headpins. I made them in beautiful transparent sky blue and also using a striking double helix frit color on metal wire. Each pin measures length about 2.5".

Shape: Lampwork GLASS HEAD PINS

If you would like a different quantity, color or length, please convo me. I'll be happy to oblige! Handmade findings may vary from the photos. These are great for using as earrings or to incorporate in your own unique handmade braceletes, necklaces, mixed media art work, etc. - wherever your imagine can take you.

Enjoy - You can find them in my Etsy Shop by clicking on the picture below.

Thanks for stopping by.

Suzanne

Sunset - Glass Lampwork Bead

Had a wonderful day yesterday. Went to a Memorial Day BBQ with a friend. There was a live band, everything in the world to eat and sunshine the whole day. Who could ask for more.

More Sunshine today...I think summer is arriving!

Latest bead from the beadcast. "Sunset".

Hope you like it.

xoxo
Suzanne

Venice Art Walk - Handmade Lampwork Jewelry by Suzanne Hansen

I've been invited to show my work at the Venice Beach Art Walk tonight. The Alkaline Water and Art Gallery will be doing a demonstration on Alkaline Water and I will be answering questions as well as showing my Glass Art for sale to guests walking through art gallery's and businesses located on the boardwalk in Venice Beach, CA.

It is a wonderful opportunity so naturally I spent the entire day yesterday turning my art glass into Handmade Jewelry. I've never considered myself a jewelry designer and have basically based my niche for selling my beads to "jewelry designers" on the lookout for cool and unique pieces of art glass to focus their designs around.

When I got into hammering and pounding the silver used as eye pins and melting tiny pieces of glass to the bottoms of each eye pin to accentuate each beads unique qualities, I realized how much I was enjoying the art of creating my own designs within each pendant. It seemed that each bead was crying out to be wrapped and or strung with a certain color ribbon or certain glass to stop the bead from falling off the eye pins. I think I might have it in me to be creating jewelry out of my very own Lampwork pieces of glass art. How can this be. I've been very clear about NOT being a jewelry designer and now - I find it an art in itself. Life is full of wonderful twists and turns.

I'll let you know tomorrow how much fun I have tonight showing, selling and telling the wonderful story of what Alkaline Water can do for your health.

Til then, I love you all - Suzanne

Matters of the Heart

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

Henry David Thoreau

Family of Hearts - Glass Lampwork Focal Beads

A "Family of Hearts" was born yesterday. My friend Judith, also has a son named Adam, is an artist living in the Palm Springs Desert. He has done an amazing work of art for the Heart Museum called "Heartland". Please take some time to go to the website OneDreamDesign.com to read the story of how the museum came into being, how it is built and how the museum is interactive with its visitors. It reminds me a lot of our "Beads of Courage" project for kids with life threatening diseases.

Her Adam is having a show in Beverly Hills today so I will be attending and I'm certain I will be greatly inspired. I'm looking forward to meeting Judith's Adam and shaking his hand for a wonderful piece of art the museum "Heartland" has become because of him and his amazing team.

All I could think of yesterday was HEARTS. So naturally - out of me came HEARTS which I love to do, by the way, really my favorite thing to do. I should then keep doing them my "heart" says...they make me smile.

I will display these one at a time, in my Etsy shop so you will be seeing them on a regular basis now...haha.

Love you and have a great day. - Suzanne

OneDreamDesign.com


My "Heart" goes out to you.

Hugs
Suzanne

Heart and Soul - Glass Lampwork Focal Bead

I had some left over fat ends from the new murrine made the other day and I just loved the stripes left over. I thought - I've got to put that on a bead and see what it does! Wow I love the effect especially with the heart.

The bead is encased in clear for depth and the heart is on the outer clear layer. It looks as though it is floating on the surface of the bead.

I know that 'Heart and Soul' is such a cliche. But that is what I put into this bead to make it especially for you. It is one of a kind.

Measurements approx: 47 x 25 x 8 mmMandrel size: 3/32