A Short History of My Creativity

Today I was prompted to think back on how creativity began for me. That was a lot of thinking...because I actually don't remember a time before I realized that by altering something, I could turn it into something I considered beautiful. I remember (I know this is gross) chewing on my antique bed frame because I liked the look of the wood grain better than the varnish. I was around three years old then. In kindergarten, like most budding artists, I intentionally colored outside of the lines. No, not to be rebellious. It was because the fat printed lines of the drawing I was supposed to color in didn't look like cat hair. By the way, lots of cats are green, right?
When I was in third grade, my family took a trip to Texas. We had family in El Paso but we traveled to other parts of the state, too. Over the three weeks we were there I was exposed to a lot of scenery that I never could have imagined, living in my home state Michigan. The desert, the strange looking cactus, gravel yards, the colorful springs...all these things worked together to expand (blow!) my mind. One thing in particular that changed the course of my life was a little glass shop near the Alamo. I have no idea what the name of the shop was, only that the people in there were taking molten lava and turning it into beautiful works of art.
The following year, on a fourth grade field trip to the local museum, I visited the permanent paper weight collection...and have been back  to see it many times since. As a nine-year-old girl I was captivated by those glistening orbs of intricate and colorful design. Ok, I'll fast forward a...ehem...couple of years.
I finally bit the financial bullet and bought myself a lampworking set-up  in 2009. I am primarily self-taught but I do like to treat myself to the occasional tutorial.  I love melting glass...I told someone the other day that I felt like I was in a partnership with the glass, working together to create something beautiful. Corny, right?

Peggy's Charm Barn Blog Hop

Today is finally the day for the Charm Barn Blog Hop! I received these acrylic links from Peggy about a month ago. She decided that half of us would receive black links and the rest of us would receive tortoiseshell. I was hoping to receive the latter because I really wanted to pair them up with my lampworked animal print beads. I made a brand new set especially for this challenge when I saw that I did indeed receive the tortoiseshell links!
I ended up using all of the links she sent, five of my glass animal print beads, strings of small square black and bone colored beads, Swarovski faceted beads, some genuine amber beads (that for years I have been saving for a special occasion) and copper chain.
I really enjoyed working with these links. I should have taken pics of some of the other ways I had them situated but I didn't think of doing that until just now. I settled on the finished piece you see here because this look is my favorite. I love layers and layers of strings of beads that (as Stacey London says) "go" together and a blend of textures, too. But like I said, there are so many different ways to make a great piece of jewelry with these links...which brings me to the subject of our blog hop! Please be sure to visit the links below to see how the other artists put them to good use. Also, be sure to visit Peggy's blog and vote for your favorite piece!

Glob of beads

The finished necklace

Hanging nicely on my mannequin

Peggy's blog - http://charmbarn.blogspot.com/

Ilenia Ruzza - http://ile1974.blogspot.it/

Shelley Graham Turner  -  www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com

Tania Spivey -  www.moobiegracedesigns.blogspot.com

Ambra Gostoli -  http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com/

Kashmira Patel - http://sadafulee.blogspot.com/

Linda Florian - http://lilysofthevalleyjewelry.blogspot.com/

Jami Shipp - http://celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com/

Terri Gauthier - http://terrisbloomingideas.blogspot.com/

Miranda Ackerley - http://mirandack.com

Mischelle Fanucchi  - http://thesecretlifeofmicheladas.blogspot.com/

Mary Govaars - www.mlhjewelrydesigns.com

Sarah Goode - www.pookledo.blogspot.com

Paula Hisel - http://simplybeadiful.weebly.com/simply-stated.html

Shai Williams - http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Reno - http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/

Kay Thomerson - http://kayzkreationz.blogspot.com/

Denielle Hagerman  - www.somebeadsandotherthings.com  ****You are here right now****

Janeen Sorensen  -  http://wildvanilladesigns.com/

Emma Todd  -  www.apolymerpenchant.blogspot.com

Audrey Bélanger  -  http://esperianterra.blogspot.com/

Michelle Andrade - http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/

Thrift Store Blog Hop

Today is the big day for the reveal for the latest blog hop I'm involved with! This one was a lot of fun because I really challenged myself to do something out of the ordinary (for myself.) I have always enjoyed macrame...when I was a teenager in the 80s I had an armful of friendship bracelets and now that fad seems to have resurfaced. When I came across this pile of floss in my local Salvation Army, I knew exactly what my project was going to be.

I was going to make several bracelets for my daughters but they asked me to cover their ear buds instead...what a cute idea! I did it and I love them. Now my daughter has made several of these and has opened her very own Etsy store! I'm so proud of her and her willingness to try her own thing. If you get a chance, I would love it if you would stop by her store: https://www.etsy.com/listing/106060977/handmade-macrame-wrapped-earbud)

I found this wad of floss for .98

Here is the finished project :)

Now I'm headed off to visit everyone else's blog and I hope you do, too!

Participants:

Sarah - www.pookledo.blogspot.co.uk
Deb - http://greenshoot.blogspot.co.uk/
Kimberley - http://goddessesandbeads.blogspot.co.uk/
Skye - http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.co.uk/
Ambra - http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com/
Beti - http://stringingfool.blogspot.com/
Emma - www.apolymerpenchant.com
Shelley - www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Tammie -  http://ttedesigns.blogspot.co.uk/
Leah - http://beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.co.uk/
Denielle - www.somebeadsandotherthings.com  <==You are here
Keri Lee - http://www.pinklemonade.typepad.com
Rochelle - acreativechelle.blogspot.com
Pam - http://pamelas-studio.blogspot.com/
Ingetraud - http://ingetraud.wordpress.com/
Audrey - http://esperianterra.blogspot.com/
Julie Anne - www.thepeacefulbead.com
Sharyl - http://www.sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com
Micheladas - http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com
Lo -   http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk/
Kala - http://maybejustperhaps.blogspot.co.uk
Jo - http://jobunkum.blogspot.co.uk/
Dyanne - http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com

Are Mass Produced Lampwork Beads Worth the Cost?

Who here hasn't needed to pinch their pennies before? And who hasn't regretted at least one purchase they made based on price? It's true that sometimes it's not worth it to pay for a name (I buy store brand macaroni and cheese because it tastes exactly like Kraft) but other times the name equals value (I definitely buy Charmin toilet paper rather than generic!).
I was at one of the large craft chain stores last week and I was drawn to their jewelry section. I could not stop looking at their mass produced imported beads...it was like I was rubbernecking a car accident...I just could not stop gawking at the poor quality of these little pieces of glass. I understand that everyone has to learn how to make beads and that we have all had a bad day on the torch, but really, some beads just belong in the aquarium...and not for sale. Anyway, here is a great blog post from another artist about this topic.

I took pics of a couple of the beads I saw there and some of mine, too. My beads may not be what you are looking for but there is a lampworker out there with just the right bead for you. Can you afford less than the best in your work?

Imported bead showing weak detail and pitting from a fiber blanket which insinuates improper annealing

My bead

Poor focus on detail

My bead

Here are a few things to consider:

• How many times will your favorite client forgive you for beads breaking on the jewelry they buy from you?
• Will you accept a return from customers who don't like bead release all over their clothes?
• If you need beads made in a particular style or unusual color, where do you go to buy them?
• Have you ever lost a sale to a discerning customer who is familiar with artisan-made beads?

I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences with mass produced beads!