Yay or nay on the beads. I think they’re looking pretty elegant. They’re time consuming so I only got 2 done in this color scheme and went back the next day to make more and only got two more done and realized that I left a step out so they’re more of a greener teal color. So, rather than a set I’m offering eclectic pairs this week. (not up yet, but if you’re on the mailing list you’ll get a notification when they are).
You beadmakers out there might wonder, why so time consuming? They’re just dots and lines. What you might not realize is that there are three layers to this stringer work. Remember my harping on layers being the key to depth of design? Yep. That means every dot and stripe of color you see on these beads consists of three applications of very thin string(er)s of glass.
<>They’re the same style as the beads on auction right now, the Tan and Black ones that I showed a few days ago. I’m wondering if they’re exciting enough to continue on in this vein. I mean, everyone does lines and dots, don’t they? What else is there to do in a straightforward stringer design other than swirls? Don’t answer that, there are tons of things. Basically I’m asking, even though the process of these is more complicated than meets the eye, is the design too elementary?
<>It’s confusing to me because the past, at least, year has been working with enamels, frit and organics. This new work is a more clean look and it just feels funny to me. One thing I can say is that I’ve been enjoying making them…which is not something I’ve ever been able to say about precise stringer work like this. In the background I have been messing with some new designs but they haven’t struck me enough yet to show you…I’ve been accumulating lots of nice wonks that will eventually be a fused something-or-other…or not.
Anyway, when I say something like ‘I’ve been enjoying making them’ you know I need to do more to get them out of my system or they will haunt me until I do. Another reason they take a bit longer is because I’ve been using that wonderful Lauscha black glass and it melts slower. On top of that, this is a bigger size than you may think. 21mm square by 11mm thick. I’m waiting for a smaller size tool to arrive so that should make it go a little quicker and thus more enjoyable.
Ok. Don’t run away on me when you see (or hear about) this one. Something you might not know about me but may have been able to guess is that I am interested in outsider art. Unconventional art. With shows and inventory behind me for a while I have the opportunity to do some more creative work (if you call this creative). And not that my show inventories aren’t creative but these are the times when I’m coming up with next years inventory ideas. Don’t worry…this won’t be what I’m offering to my mainstream customers at next years shows.
Anyway, one of those things to work on was a submission for an exhibit by the ISGB called ‘Metamorphosis: the life cycle of a glass bead’. Let me first just say that that title told me that it meant glass beads. As the day got closer I read more carefully and realized that it was for glass bead jewelry and while I’ve been wanting to start working on these kinds of pieces for a long time, it didn’t fit the criteria and I missed the deadline for a jewelry piece. BUT. Blogging is a great thing because I just went to their site to provide the above links for you and I see that their deadline has been extended…there just might be hope for me.
So, why Gossip? As I said in an earlier post, my inner workings have been taking over my pieces, starting with the Stitched beads. I’ve always wanted to do pieces that speak to social issues but it hasn’t felt right yet. Lately I’ve been wanting to express myself and use my art as a tool for healing. I love to read stories or hear about troubled artists and writers and how they express their inner workings through their art…my counselor mind finds it morbidly interesting. Like Edgar Allan Poe or Vincent Van Gogh. Andy Warhol to an extent. Possibly even Brittney Spears soon, eh? While I don’t think of myself as disturbed (though some might wonder) I do have the same issues as everyone else. Old hurts, new hurts…issues.  They’re all around us. We all struggle with something.
This piece happened as it is becoming more and more apparent to me that words hurt. Whether they’re said directly to someone or behind their back. Whether they ever know it or not. Whether they’re true or not. Words in the form of gossip have no redeeming qualities. None. Zero. Before you call me a hypocrite I will admit, I’ve been on both sides, as have most of us. Being on the side of being talked about by others hurts. It has helped me to see that I have hurt others too…whether it be directly to them or the fact that I participated in gossip and didn’t stop it. The latter I feel even worse about. I let waters be poisoned and that is what I am trying to work through with these pieces. Believe me, I have a lot more to go…whether I show them or not.
In relation to the Metamorphosis entry idea, this unfinished piece represents what gossip can do to you. Not how gossip hurts people, but how it can distort you when you’re a part of it and participate in tearing someone else down. It makes you ugly. It made me ugly, especially on the inside. Yuck. Hopefully some day I will be able to show you pieces of beauty after I am able to say that I handle gossip around me in a better way, and within myself. Who knows…maybe then I’ll even be able to do florals.
There is a thing called ‘blogrolling’ that is when you have a list of blog links that you read, right on your own blog.  I realize that I can be funny about sharing interesting blogs that I find, for many reasons and it’s really weird. I go on kicks where I search for new and unique blogs and when I find what I think is interesting I put them into my Bloglines, which is a reader that consolidates all of your blogs. Blogs must have a ‘feed’ in order to work with Bloglines and more and more people are using readers like this to optimize their blog reading experience. So get a blogging software that uses feeds!
Anyway, I love to follow links from other people’s sites but I don’t like putting links on my own site. What is that all about? I think it goes back to an old hoarding/protecting issue but we won’t go into my psyche right now.  So, I will try to be more forthcoming in my blog sharing…maybe even start a blogroll at some point? One step at a time.
So, the first one I want to share is a blog that is an awesome art/craft business blog of a professional. We see lots of amateurs out here, like me, building out businesses but still relatively new. This one is from someone that has been around for a while and really seems to have it down but also is real about what it takes and her journey. Luann Udell of Durable Goods was a pro back in the day when I was doing polymer and she continues. I hope you will find inspiration and great information at her blog, just as I have been doing.
