Snowflake Bead Inspiration

Winter is a funny time for beadmaking. Sometimes I want to convey the cold, without making the sculptural visual of it. Like snowmen, children wearing scarves or even the fun little bright mittens.

I saw this plate, (wouldn't you know, my memory failed me), I think on Pottery Barn or CB2's website and just loved it. The simple and complicated snowflakes make me feel like winter and yet are a gorgeous pattern just by themselves. It's almost more like a symbol. The cool gray background helps give it a frosty feel.

Have you found something recently that affects you similarly? How about sharing it with the rest of us. Or tell us what you think exemplifies winter in a different way? I'd love to know. Feel free to include websites- yours or others to show us too.

See you tomorrow. http://www.StudioMarcy.blogspot.com

Guess What I'm Doing?

Guess what I'm doing today?

Look down the checklist for the fourth bullet. I'm teaching a private lesson. But this isn't just any private lesson, it's one where my student came from out of state and is staying for a few days. Oh boy, it's fun!

We started on Tuesday and will go through Friday. It's mostly about sculpture and learning how to look at photos and 3D items and translate them into glass. There are different steps and techniques to learn along the way which is what we're following, but at the end, we'll have plenty of time for specific beads that she wants to learn. I hear dragons, mermaids and angels are on that list.

So if you don't see me around quite so much, I'm having a ball working with my friend. Lots of glass, chatting and learning all going on at once.

See you tomorrow- same time, same place.

Off The Radar Inspiration Sources

Off The Radar Inspiration Source

Over the years I have found some rather atypical sources for inspiration. And as the latest email advertising arrived, I decided to share it with you.

You see, I have a "thing" for the Antique Drapery Rod Company. Yes, you read it correctly.

I like the large photos and the sculptural shapes of a lot of their items. The bee and floral rosette pictured here
are just two examples.

You can find their website here. And don't forget to check out their finials. A lot of their products are basically "bead shaped", but have a twist on them. I would love to see what you make from using them or a similar product as inspiration.

And now it's your turn. What's one of your "off the radar" type inspiration websites that you don't mind sharing?

See you tomorrow for more creativity and glass talk...right here at www.StudioMarcy.blogspot.com

A Connected Group of Artisans

I saw the post below as part of Gail Crossman Moore's blogpost and felt it is important to re-post in part. Each time I read a story about one of our fellow lampworkers, I get a stomach ache .

Even if I don't know the person directly, I know of them, or know one of their good friends. We are a connected group of artisans who look out for each other. Although we are scattered across the world, our art world is relatively small. So I'm asking you...if you can, please help in some way. If you can't, please send warm thoughts, prayers or however you do it.

The photo is a collaboration of Meesh and Stephanie Sersich's work from Meesh's website. The rest of this blogpost is a direct quote from Gail Crossman Moore's original post here.
................................................

Michele Goldstein is caring around the clock for the dying father of her children. (There is no time for their family to prepare for the end of his life. Steve's sickness was unexpected and the cancer is moving quickly through his body. His death is imminent, and it's only been three weeks since he was diagnosed.)

If you know Meesh, you know that she is the kindest of souls and is always generous and puts others first. She would never think about asking for money from others. That is why her friends are asking you to think of sending her something.

In looking at the dawning of a new 'age', a new year, I want to start it right and send a loving message of direct help to one of us who is in need. Meesh has been unable to work, has needed to cancel shows and is looking at an uncertain future for herself and her two young boys.

It is my hope that we could take some immediate heat off of her situation by laying down a little padding to her nest. Could you help?

If you can help, the most direct route would be through her Paypal account.(meesh@michelegoldstein.com) If you could forward this to anyone who might be interested in helping, please do!

We will be following this up with an interesting auction of donated items, if you would like to become a part of this please contact either me at gail@gailcrosmanmoore.com or Anne Mitchell at aemitchell6482@yahoo.com to develop a trust for her children.
---Gail Crossman Moore

Faces Of Glass

Eileen of Dorset Hill Beads made this fun Etsy Treasury, titled Faces Of Glass.

I love seeing my glass friends, with whom I've been writing for the past few years.

Please visit it here and click on each picture- glass and peeps, and comment in the section at the bottom of the page.

This treasury will expire on Tuesday at 10:33 a.m.

Don't you love seeing the faces behind the glass? Please comment if you want more of these kinds of treasuries. I know I do!

Happy New Year! Let Your Artist Out This Year.

Happy New Year my friends. I hope you had a fun celebration last night.

So have you made your New Year Resolutions? I haven't. I decided to wait a little bit to do it. I want to take time to contemplate what mine were last year, and where I am with those.

One thing I've noticed, is the increase in artists choosing to make this next year a creativity year. I have at least three friends who have mentioned that they will be working on their artistic views more than filling an online shop, teaching or doing more of the day to day selling activities. They plan to blog more often too.

I salute them. I think a lot of us tend to get caught up in the smaller- what will sell today mode, and don't take the time to really let our inner artist play, find new styles and even take time to think about what we really want to do.

So if you have plans to create more- how about sharing them with us. What are you going to do? Tell us. If you have a blog, feel free to post it too. Let's increase our creativity in 2010 and share with all.

See you Sunday with my next blog installment. As always, I'm taking Saturday off.

Creative Flavor Combination in a Chocolate Bar

Anyone else looking for a unique way to usher in the New Year? I know most think of champagne, but what about the age old chocolate bar? Except, this one isn't too old in its ingredients.

This Christopher Michael chocolate bar contains 41% Venezuelan milk chocolate, bacon, sea salt and popping candy (pop rocks), so it's bound to contain unique flavors.

I just think it sounds like it has potential in an off kilter type of way. Bacon, sea salt and chocolate sound great. I'm wondering what the pop rocks add to it?

And I know it has won awards at the San Francisco Chocolate Salon.

What I like about this combination is that is creative and has flavors I really enjoy. My hat is always off to folks who seek new twists to a traditional subject. I'd say this exemplifies it.

Anyone brave enough to try it? Here is where you can find it. It retails for $7.

See you tomorrow...http://www.studiomarcy.blogspot.com