A New Studio Space

If you read my "Why are you UNinspired?" post last week, you will know I haven't been working much this month. If you were to look at my Flickr stream, you will see it is no longer filled with bead, jewelry, and studio related photos. Instead its mostly dance, knitting (because sock knitting is easy to do on the road!) and outdoor related photos. Because I'm spending my life weeding, planting and nurturing veggies, driving my daughter to dance competitions (finally over!) and track meets (finally over!).

Because my family needed time at the lake to unwind and get some chores done, we've been here all week. Unfortunately I'm not getting many chores done because I'm obsessed with watching the Sandhill Crane family whose nest is in the marshy area next to the tip of our property. They spend most of the day digging up our yard feeding the two babies.

This morning I woke up and desperately wanted to make beads. However, my lake house studio hasn't been outfitted yet. Yes, I will set up a torch at the lake too because I plan on being here most of the summer if I get my way.

The space where I will be setting up my small studio is a tiny little alcove in the garage.

I bought an oxygen concentrator from a fellow Indiana lampworker named Amy (I can't spell her last name) who makes GORGEOUS, juicy beads. (Like her facebook page for a regular dose of eye candy). I am lazy and don't want to lug my current oxy con back and forth. So I bought Amy's old one for the lake.

When we had the house built, I had the builders install a gas line just for my torch. That's one of the nice things about building a house....you can customize what you need and not have to hire someone to come in to install it.

I have a Paragon Caldera kiln, with the bead collar, that is currently sitting in my current studio collecting dust, so I don't have to buy another kiln. (If you want a small kiln that is really versatile, I LOVE this kiln and would highly recommend it. I bought a kiln specific for bead making because I needed more kiln space than this one offers).

And my view out that window?

My next big step is to get another torch. I will be going with another Carlisle Mini CC bench burner, like the one in the photo below.

I also need a bench to attach it to. Hubs keeps telling me he will build one for me. I'm not sure when he will find time to do that. One step at a time, I guess.

Have a creative week!

-Jen Cameron
Glass Addictions

Getting to the finish

Lately I have been entirely overcome with ADD in the creative process.  I admit I have only had a little bit of beading time lately but it seems the ideas just keep flowing.  So many times I am working on either a test for a pattern designer or a challenge piece and an idea hits me from out of the blue and before I know it my tray is looking like this....

I know it looks organized but there are really 6 projects on there.

I am thinking this happens to everyone but really I am finding it frustrating to actually getting to the finishing of a project.  Then there are always those times when I get so into a project and run out of the beads I need and have to put it aside like these....

How do you over come these issues?

Kristen

In love with enamels...

Last year, I learned to torch-fire copper pieces with Thompson un-leaded enamels, and I was instantly smitten. For someone who loves every process related to metal - banging on it, heating it, folding it, piercing it - the addition of color was a heady prospect. And torch-firing is just the kind of muscular, instant-gratification process I am drawn to.

Vintage copper stampings with torch-fired enamels

Then, for Christmas, my best friend gave me this amazing book.

Amazing book - go buy it!

So, first of all, if you have any interest in enameling at all, The Art of Enameling by Linda Darty must become part of your studio library. As in "not negotiable." It is comprehensive in scope, detailed and thorough in its explanations, and filled with stunning photographs. Seriously - you need this book in your library. One of these days, I'll post a more thorough review, but the Cliff notes version is this: Awesome. Buy it. (Non-affiliate link - I just think this book rocks.)

As if I don't have enough techniques on my plate to work on perfecting, I began to long for an opportunity to try my hand at kiln-firing enamels. I adore the organic results that are possible with torch firing, but the back side of every piece is inevitably scorched from the direct contact with the flame, and I was envisioning a combination of the two techniques: torch-fired front side with kiln-fired counter-enamel on the reverse. And then a great deal on a Jen-Ken enameling kiln fell into my lap, and I jumped at it.

Mine is similar to this but also has a door in the front for accessing the firing area for enamels.

We're in the process of readying our house for sale, and I'm reluctant to take the time now to make the studio changes necessary for a kiln enameling center, so the kiln is sitting in my garage and I'm left trolling Pinterest. I can't stop thinking about it, so I thought I'd share some of the inspiring pieces I've stumbled across in the last few weeks.

Ruth Ball Enamel Design (source: Pinterest)

I love everything about these - the colors, the metal work, the movement. And I love that while each of these is similar, each is unique with its own distinct feel - and the settings are clearly handmade and designed for the piece.

Angela Gerhard (source: Pinterest)

Reds are a finicky color in enamels - quirky, hard to fire true, and prone to failing if all the elements aren't precisely right. Angela uses red a lot in her work, and always successfully. I am very fond of this trapezoidal shape and the gorgeous soft matte finish on the red is terrific. (Note also the gradation on the black and red piece - wow.)

Carly Wright (source: Daily Art Muse)

Carly Wright's website is one of those places where it's possible to wander and linger for a very long time. Her work is so unusual and beautiful, and I love both her artist's statement (which is simple and without the self-reverential tone of many I have read) and her explanation of her process. The Daily Art Muse article where I found her work described her as "painterly" and I think it fits.

Beth Novak (source: Beth Novak)

Every single thing about Beth's work sings to me. Her metalwork is gritty and organic, and the enamels she adds to each piece are crisp and specific.

So these are the things I'm drooling over these days - and, if I'm being honest, I am at once certain I will never ascend to these heights and hopeful I might make something that approaches this beauty. The kiln in my garage is impatient to get started. And, I suppose, so am I.

What about you? What new technique is calling your name??

Until next time!

Here Comes The Sun...

It's yet another grey, wet and cool day here in the UK and quite frankly it's getting rather tedious. As we head to wards June there should be some sign of sunshine, blue skies and fluffy white clouds surely...

Well rather than sit around and wait I decided to go in search of some substitutes for the real thing so sit back and enjoy some summer eye candy, even if it's hot and sultry where you are you can never have too much eye candy...

First from the AJE team...

Gorgeous sunny ruffle bead from Sue Beads

Pretty Sunshine necklace from Linda Landig

Wonderful sky blue toggle from Karen Totton

Can you get much sunnier than Rebekah's delicious beads?

My own 'House of the Rising Sun' necklace

Sweet little spiral sun charm from Jenny Davies-Reazor

And if these aren't enough to brighten up your day then check out this AJE Etsy treasury full of art bead  and jewellery goodies full of summer cheer - just click on the picture to see more.

Have a great day.

Lesley
The Gossiping Goddess