New Etsy Shop SingingGlass

I have known Janet for a long time now and have been watching her progress with learning the art of lampwork bead making, as well as, enjoying her wonderful blog and fun FaceBook entries.   Now she has a new Etsy Shop called SingingGlass . I don't know how she got so good so fast but take a look at these lovelies.

As you can see she has a rich color palette.  I think she must be as into color as I am.  And truly, when I was once interested in making glass beads, it was the colors that attracted me to that art form.  I think that must be true for Janet as well.  She puts them together beautifully.

I hope you get a chance to pop over and help Janet celebrate the opening of her new shop.

New in my Etsy Shop Today

A pair of washed denim colored heart charms/pendants

An soft yellow orange Daisy Pendant

A set of rustic stoneware beads

All of these are new in my Etsy Shop today.  Also a few pieces have been put on sale.  Hope you can stop by.

Pictures from my Beading and Bracelet Classes

Now that I have my DSL back I can share some pictures from the two classes I taught last Friday, July 15 at the Thousand Islands Art Center.  The morning class was called Beaded Cabochon Pendant.  The students were very enthusiastic.  None of them knew how to do peyote stitch.  I did not expect them to.  The class was about learning to do peyote stitch and making a completed project in the 2 1/2 hours that we had.

They all did very well.  I think I should have made the class at least 3 hours, as a couple were not quite finished.  There were 7 students so I was busy.  They were wonderful, helpful to each other and very appreciate of my handmade ceramic cabochons.  I had a great time.

Student bead work around my wild grass cabochon

Student bead work around my wild leaves cabochon

Student bead work around my cluster daisy cabochon

Two of my students working  away and enjoying each other's company

It was quite a hot day and we were very happy that we were assigned the ceramics studio since there was cross ventilation and excellent light.

Copper Bracelet Class

From about 1:00PM to 5:00PM I  taught the copper bracelet class.  The above pic is a collage of the bracelets we made and my model.

Student bracelet. Love that detail around the edge of the disk with the "c" riveted to it.

I can't tell you how much the students loved hammering away on the blank pieces that were included in their kits.  I cut out all the copper disks myself and drilled holes in all of the washers.  I hand punched the holes in the copper disks since they were 22 gauge copper and soft enough for that punch.  But the washers were much harder and I had to use my drill press to make the holes.

Disc Cutter for the round  pieces

drill press for drilling the had copper washers.

Students working.  Tools everywhere.  The noise was incredible at times.  That is why we were in ceramics studio!!!

Student Bracelet.  You can see how individualized they are. Gorgeous original stampings on the round disk with the "e" riveted to it.  Everyone did a rivet, dapped, use patina, use a screw rivet, textured, hammered and were very creative.

She domed the toggle clasp.  A very nice touch.

She put a flower on the toggle clasp and made lots of wild stampings.  And she had on some incredible jewelry she had made.

I love it that she stamped "River" on her bracelet.  Clayton is such a beautiful river town and has such a wonderful vacation feel to it.  I love coming here.

This was the model from which I made the kits for the  class.  I love how the students worked their own individual magic on these components.   

Busy, Fun Busy, Busy

I am now having a lot of fun putting together kits for my Beaded Cabochon  Pendant class next week.  You can see in the picture above some of the cabochons I made for the class.  I have already glued on the backing to save time since the glue requires considerable dry time.  I like to use E6000 since it is good with ceramic clay. 

I have come up with an additional sample for the class to work from.  This one adds a row of beads around the edge.  They don't all show here due to the angle of the shot. And I see a small bit of thread I will need to cut off.  I have struggled quite a bit with which method of attaching the beads I wanted to use.  Originally I used a blanket stitch which gives a lovely look to the back as well.  But it takes a very long time and requires some skill.   So I went with the bead embroidery back stitch which does a great reliable job and looks good.  The sample above uses the back stitch method.  The class is only 2 1/2 hours long so I am trying to teach a method that will result in a finished product in the time allowed.

Here is a picture of some of the cabs I made up for the class.  I totally enjoyed making these and I love how the colors came out.  I imagine I will be making some more before too long.

I made a lot of earrings for the show and they sold well.

I have also been very busy because last week I participated in a Craft Show:  Mare's Wares Art Festival to celebrate Canada Day and start off the long 4th of July weekend.  It was a wonderful experience and I am so glad that I did it.  I felt a bit rusty since I haven't done a show in 2 years.  I see how staying practiced helps.  But I sold well and best of all I saw many folks that I hadn't seen since my last show.  Great blasts from the past and wonderful reconnections.  And the organizers of this show Mare and Karen are just the best.  Friendly and helpful all the way around.  And the setting:  so beautiful.  My booth was nestled into a lightly wooded area next to an apple tree.  How pastoral is that.

More earrings--my hand stamped hoops with Vintaj flowers

       And lots of funky Lake Erie beach glass that my Buffalo friends just love and bought for gifts.

And my beaded bracelets which went well.

What didn't sell well, my new wire wrapped bracelets.  Necklaces were not a go either.

I guess you can see what I mean about Fun Busy!!!

Thank you for stopping by!!