Welcome

This blog is intended to document my journey into the world of handmade artisan lampwork beads.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Best Friends




The best dog in the world and the luckiest kitten ever, taking a Sunday nap. Topper is so good to marshmallow. This was the view out my kitchen window this afternoon. He literally has taken to motherhood like it was natural.

I had a rather productive day. Did some sewing, some mending and some beading. Yesterday I finished a necklace and a bracelet that had been laid out on my bench for a week or so. Sometimes I have to stare at the layout for awhile before finishing it to make sure it is the way I envisioned. I really do not redo things very well but will if it needs it. Can't decide if I will sell the necklace, I do not make myself many things but I kind of like this really well. The bracelet is made out of beads that I made about 6 months ago.

Thanks for looking.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Second Thoughts


I rarely wear a bracelet but this one tugs at my heart strings for so many reasons. It has been sold along with several other pieces to a group of women that are friends of my husbands friend Keith. Someone asked me if I ever had trouble parting with pieces after slaving over them in their different stages of completion. Normally I don't because I know that with a few exceptions I can recreate it for me if I decide to.

I used to wear a gold mesh bracelet almost every day years ago. Then I moved to KY which is more relaxed and I got out of the habit. I always wear a watch but almost never a bracelet. When I made this one, I was thinking about my mom. She has been gone 5 years, she loved the ocean and this color palette, and pearls. I made donut shaped transparent glass beads, smashed them then etched them to look similar to sea glass. I added bicone crystals and pearls, a clasp and a starfish charm. If I had kept it I might have worn it but it would have to have been to somewhere other than work, due to writing so much. My mom did not wear many bracelets either, even though she had some. One of her favorite things were charm bracelets. She started both my sister and me one when we were young. Mine was stolen years ago in a home burglary, of all the things stolen that time, that is the one thing that haunts me. You just can not replace something that is created out of memories.

I have already made some more beads like the ones above. I may make another bracelet and maybe try to design a necklace that I would wear.