Glass by Billie

Warm and fuzzy day...

2008-06-24T10:25:00.005+02:00

The day started early getting a packed lunch ready for Daisy to take with her to school as she had her first school day trip, to a farm. She was so excited, it made my heart swell. It was also going to be the first day of all her 4 years where she was out of my sight for a full day in the care of someone else. Ruby and I waved her off bravely, fighting back the tears... Daisy ran onto the bus and didn't even give us a backward glance. She did admit when she got home last night that she might have missed us just a little bit, but she had had a very good time riding a pony (it went too slow, she wanted it to go faster, but the bumping about had hurt her bottom a little bit... LOL!) and she had seen pigs, and goats, and sheep and had waved at the farmer.

Checking into my blog comments last night, I also made two warm and fuzzy discoveries.

The first was from Michele at Hedgeland Glass Gems. She had very kindly nominated me as one of her five for an award 'Sweet Home Blogger - for sharing Beauty, Love and Joy

Now I in turn must nominate 5 people. I'll have names ready in my next blog-post as I'd like to take some time to think about it. In the meantime, please have a read of Michele's blog and see the other four bloggers she has nominated.

Also, Clare of Beads By Clare Scott nominated me as one of her five for the "Arte Y Pico" Award which is The Creativity and Art Award.

Again, I'm considering names to pass this award on to. The responsibility is overwhelming :-D I shall be back with names in a few days with my next update.

Michele, Clare - bless you both. I'm truly honoured.

Le vin.... lilac?

2008-06-19T09:15:00.005+02:00

Sue, another wonderful Bead Buddies member, commissioned me to make a rather special gift - a winestopper for a 15th wedding anniversary present. She told me her friend liked Renie Mackintosh and could I create something with that in mind. I knew the colours used in a lot of the designs, so we chose a lilac, white and black theme. I also suggested I had some roses... Here's the end result.

Trees & Vines

2008-06-15T14:42:00.002+02:00

We had the mother of all thunder and lightning storms early evening yesterday. We were sure there would be a power cut - not goods news following 4 hours at the torch making tree and vine beads. The beads had been put on a longer soak as the biggest bead was just under 40mm and the storm starting just as the kiln would have begun ramping down.

Fortunately, there was no power cut, and this is what I collected from the kiln this morning... Not a bunch of frit as had been expected!

This is the largest...

My friend Petra wants a set of beads in turquoise, white and purple but not sure this is what she wants...

And this... My tree beads are usually lentil shape so experimenting...

Blushing Daisy

2008-06-09T15:23:00.003+02:00

Daisy has been pleading with me to make pink beads so she can have a necklace. I made this set - unsure whether to etch them. Anyway, these will be strung on a pink leather thong to make a very girlie necklace!

A difficult task...

2008-06-04T08:36:00.004+02:00

A little image heavy!

Sooz, of the Bead Buddies forum, came up with the idea of everyone contributing toward making Barbara Windsor a bracelet, as she'd heard that BW had lost a favourite bracelet some time back. As so many people wanted to get involved, this turned into making a piece of jewellery for various characters from the soap opera, Eastenders.

I chose Dot, and this is the pendant I created for her. The pendant is on an 18 inch snake chain - don't think you can see it in the photo.

I found it quite tricky! Originally, I had three of the focals on a silver wire choker but it didn't look right. So I made this pendant. Fortunately, I now have two focal beads I can add to my site this weekend - That's a silver lining!!

We also have a challenge/swap running on BB's whereby we make two mushrooms from whichever media we choose, and send it to two BB members and they reciprocate. These are my mushrooms, going to Sooz and Colette. I won't say who is getting which because I can't remember whose envelope each mushroom went in (and it would spoil their surprise if they read this blog before getting their little envelopes!)

And last, but not least, I had a request for a set of orange beads for someone's mum. I don't work with orange very often, but I hope she likes these.

And these are for the young lad who requested the beads for his mum. I thought I'd try and make some "man" beads as I know he makes jewellery too and thought he might like to make something for himself.

Great Colour Resource

2008-05-31T15:39:00.002+02:00

Just wanted to mention this blog http://coloraddiction.wordpress.com/. Kandice, through her blog, is putting together a fantastic colour resource. It's such a well written blog, and showcases beautiful beads.

Scheduled to be in print!!!!

2008-05-28T12:55:00.000+02:00

There is an extremely talented UK seed bead artist who goes by the name of Lynn Davy (you may also know her as Nemeton). Lynn is published regularly in UK and US bead magazines and informs me the publication Step by Step Beads will be featuring a necklace she has made with one of my lampwork focals named Chinese Silk. The 'Chinese Silk' necklace will feature in their 'ethnic' inspired issue in November.

Here is the stand-alone focal...

And this is Chinese Silk after Lynn worked her magic...

Doesn't it look sublime?

You can see more of Lynn's fabulous creations on her website and Etsy store

Quelle surprise...!

2008-05-27T11:01:00.000+02:00

Wow! I had a wonderful piece of work arrive in the post yesterday from Valérie (Luz Bijoux Creations) Valérie and I have exchanged emails and blog mentions and I sent her a set of beads. Yesterday, I was the recipient of a beautiful piece of work

Valérie is such a talented jewellery artist. She runs features on her blog in both French and English so please have a read... You can see a few examples of my work showcased there also and blurb on how I got started!

It has been a while....

2008-05-26T11:26:00.000+02:00

Congratulations Griet and Quinton! At long last they have done the deed and Griet has taken on the task of trying to make an honest man of Q. A life time of love and happiness to you both.

So, where have I been? The sun shines, we dig out out our summer clothes and what happens? Everyone catches a cold!! The girls have been ill, James has been ill, now I'm down with the lurgy too. Hoping to re-stock my site with new beads - just need to stop sneezing first. Normal bead service will resume soon!!

In the meantime, I did a prize draw on the Bead Buddy forum and Mary aka Balrogz won this bead... I love the colours in this bead, and the pleat effect of the white. Can't wait to see what Mary does with it.

Keeping myself out of mischief while not being able to sit at the torch, I've been reading through blogs and discovered

For those seriously addicted to art beads, check out http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/

You'll find:

interviews with bead artists and jewelry designers who use art beads in their work.

monthly design challenge

"As the Bead Turns", a round up of the best posts from some of ABS's favorite blogs

It's a utopia of beadiness (not only glass, there are many, many medias featured)!

Who is "Art Bead Scene"? Heather Powers, Melanie Brooks Lukacs, Cindy Gimbrone, Elaine Ray, Tari Sasser.

And what Art Bead Scene all about? As the blog says, "Art Bead Scene is an interactive blog with the goal of uniting bead artists of all materials and the jewelry designers who use art beads in their work."

Sarah Hornik is the current featured artist. Check out the delicious eye candy accompanying the interview.

I have been blogged...

2008-04-29T09:46:00.000+02:00

Valérie of Luz Bijoux is featuring me on her blog at the moment. It is in English, so pop across and have a read http://luzbijoux.over-blog.com/

I have also been reminded to join L'Association des Perliers d'Art de France. It has been my intent to join since arriving in France last Autumn, but as we still have no income we've been prioritising our expenditure. L'Association des Perliers d'Art de France has been instrumental in having a book published on French beadmakers (in which I'm hoping to feature). You can find many talented glass artists listed on their website (see web listing). It would provide tremendous opportunity to showcase my work, so this has nudged me to move applying for membership to the top of my priority list.

And non-beady...

We had a wonderful afternoon with the girls at Citadelle de Montmédy Sunday afternoon. It's less than a 15 minute drive from where we are, although a different commune. The weather has been wonderful here since Thursday. It has given me a glimmer of hope that Summer is on it's way.

Here are my little darlings modeling their sunglasses...

And this is a view from the Citadelle...

You can find a great aerial view of Citadelle de Montmédy here

http://www.jedecouvrelafrance.com/f-3587.meuse-citadelle-
montmedy.html

Tinkering....

2008-04-25T11:02:00.000+02:00

We had a wonderful day at the park yesterday with the girls. The sun was shining, it was a very warm 18 degrees and the day had "park" written all over it. Daisy and Ruby were climbing trees (unfortunately I didn't have my camera, but when grandpa downloads his pictures I'll add one to this post) and there is also an athletics section to the park and I showed Daisy and Ruby "how to do" the long jump. It was so warm, I was wearing knee length trousers... Hadn't realised how abrasive sand can be!! After a few hours at the park, we had a short drive to our main shopping complex which houses a Haagen Dazs cafe, so the girls had an ice-cream and chocolate brownie, and James and I were very good sticking with our diet and had a water and orange juice respecively :-D We had a great time, and Daisy and Ruby were asleep within minutes of their heads hitting the pillow. They were awake very early this morning though, so we're having a quite day doing jigsaw puzzles and crayon-ing.

James has gone into Luxembourg today for a lunch with someone who may have some work for him. Here's hoping!! It has been a long time since we had a regular income and funds are now running very low.

When James is out, I can't make any beads, but I can upload photo's so I've been updating the albums on Flickr (and I'd hoped Facebook, but I keep getting an error message :-( ). Here's one set I made from a bunch of beads last week. I love the classic reaction of turquoise and ivory and rather predictably, have called them Classico...

I don't know if maybe I need to move away from dotty beads again for a spell and re-visit the sculpted focals I so enjoyed making at the end of last year...

To be honest, it seems the case that when I sit at the torch, I'm subconciously driven to making a set of dotty beads, or a tree bead, or a sculpted focal before my conciousness engages and even realises it. I find I can't "force" myself into making a specific type of bead, I can't sit down and say "Right, I'm making this kind of bead today" because I usually end up with a jar full of water and frit. Maybe that's lack of discipline, I'm not sure. It is interesting though. I stand in front of my rack of glass, pulling out colours not knowing what is to become of them... Maybe that's all part of this glassy madness!

Vive le Forum!

2008-04-20T15:40:00.000+02:00

I am very slowly finding Forums based in mainland Europe where jewellery artists congregate. Another very friendly forum I have found, on recommendation of Valérie (Luz Bijoux) and Laurence (Laulo) is Beadouillerie. The work is beautiful. Even if you've not spoken/read French since your school days, hop over and take a look at the work :-D You will be impressed.

I am trying to negotiate the boards to find the correct place to upload images of jewellery and beads... It is taking me a while :-D I think I repeatedly post in the wrong sections on Histoire de Perles, and my poor French makes people wince, but everyone is so encouraging, it is wonderful.

Blooming marvellous...

2008-04-18T15:10:00.000+02:00

I passed up the opportunity to lock myself away in the cellar this afternoon, as the weather is so glorious.

Daisy, Ruby and I took the camera into the wilderness that is the garden (that's my way of warning you this Post may be image heavy and quite possibly boring to all but me!!!), and took some photo's to help me with colour alchemy on my tree beads.

Additionally, I really want to do a series of nature inspired beads, but not being into florals, I need to find another way to interpret flora and it's beautiful colours.... Watch this space.

I might create an album set in Flickr to store the rest of this afternoon's photos otherwise you might get really bored :-D

And Daisy insisted we had a photo of the tree-house Grandpa is building...

I was also able to exchange a few emails with Teresa Laliberté yesterday. She has posted for sale through her Etsy shop, an absolutely incredible tutorial on her Willendorf style goddess. The detail she has put into the tutorial is truly outstanding. I am really looking forward to attempting to make a goddess in this style over the next week. If you would like to see more of Teresa's art, her Lavender Creek website is listed on recommended websites to visit. I hope to attend one of Teresa's classes one day. I should start saving for one to one tuition with her in Germany :-D

And not forgetting to mention, my friend in Toulouse, Laurence (or Laulo to admirers of her jewellery) now has an English version of her blog. See the recommended blog links...

Is Spring springing..?

2008-04-17T11:20:00.000+02:00

We have woken up to such a bright, beautiful, sunny day. It's absolutely gorgeous outside. I feel as though my internal batteries are recharging already. It's amazing how a little sunshine cheers you, isn't it? I'm happy, even though my first tempt at a mermaid didn't go so well. She wasn't the most attractive thing anyway, and she cracked in the kiln. Some things aren't meant to be... but never mind! The sun is shining!

And this chap came over to say hello to us this morning. Our neighbours horse (one of two). We aren't quite sure what his name is, but now I have such a nice photo of him I shall try to find out.

And how is this for a view...?

Took this photo from the hill leading up to the woods. You can see the in-law's house nestled amongst the trees (three storey brown house in the middle of the photo). Isn't it a beautiful setting? How can you not be inspired by nature?

The kiln fairy

2008-04-16T19:19:00.000+02:00

I've actually spent a few hours on the torch for the first time in aaaaages! The fairy and wood nymph unfortunately cracked so I won't post pictures, but I made three dotty bead sets to send to friends, a Pysche tree (smaller than usual and found it really difficult doing a tree small scale!)

and also this bangle for myself.... Double Helix pysche, nero intense black and some sterling and Karen Hill Tribe silver...

Humbug...!

2008-04-15T16:24:00.001+02:00

So, I check my email this afternoon and I have a notification from "Compare People" on Facebook. My rankings have changed.

I've slipped down the rankings to #4 most athletic (not sure how I ever ranked third amongst my friends for that any how!!!!) I'm not even that upset at slipping 2 places (well, slightly...) and now being ranked 4th for most generous but GOING FROM TOP SPOT TO #4 MOST FASHIONABLE?? I need to have words with my friends >:-(

On a more positive note, have been at the torch the last two afternoons. Depending on how kind the kiln fairy is, there are a couple of Pysche tree beads, a couple of dotty sets, and I hope a fairy and a wood nymph... but I'm not that hopeful on the last two, but we shall see.

Pictures follow tomorrow.

Idle thumbs....

2008-04-05T14:39:00.000+02:00

You know that saying, "The Devil makes work for idle thumbs"? Well, Ruby and I are both down with the lurgies today. So while James and Daisy have their afternoon jaunt to Daisy's ballet class, followed by a sleep-over at a friends (yes, both of them. James's friend Gareth celebrates his birthday this weekend and he and his wife are having a party incorporating a wine tasting evening, so the girls were going to have a sleep-over with their children while we joined the adults and quaffed some wine), Ruby and are watching DVD's, drinking juice and I also decided to have a play with the banners I use on various online shop fronts and forums. So, gone is the monochrome look, and you'll see above a rather colourful banner incorporating a set of beads I made with topaz and light steel effetre glass. Not sure if I like it, and if it will stay.... but it's here for now.

Here's the set in their full glory!

I have to say, they are one of my favourite sets to date.

I can't believe I haven't been on the torch for almost a month now. Besieged by back ache, and now a cold. Busy week next week too as James is in London, but I'm hoping for torch time on Monday. There are beads to get out!!!

2008-04-01T10:17:00.000+02:00

There is a huge European forum - Histoire de Perles, which is multi-lingual and has so much incredible work showcased on it. I was fortunate enough to hear of it through two new beadie friends I have made here in France - Luz Bijoux and Laulo (see links to their Blogs). I can't post pictures to show you samples of their work as obviously I don't own copyright of their images, but if you get chance, go have a look at their Blogs. You should be able to translate the sites from French to English using the Google website translation tool.

Laulo also has work available through a DaWanda shop.... http://en.dawanda.com/user/laulo31700

What's the time Mr Wolf...?

2008-03-31T11:25:00.000+02:00

Soooooo.... we remember to put the clocks forward yesterday, unlike quite a few people we interacted with yesterday in France.

The girls go to bed at the revised time and didn't seem to notice having an hour trimmed off their day and the alarm is set for ten minutes to 7, as James also wants to go down to the walk-in surgery at the doctors this morning. Everything is right with the world.

When we get the girls downstairs this morning, it isn't 5 minutes to 7, it's 5 minutes to 8. I need to be out the door on the way to the bus stop with Daisy at 10 minutes past 8. It's only a 3 minute walk, but Daisy likes a few minutes to run around with the other children before the bus arrives.

Someone... mentioning no names James... didn't change the bedroom clock. Why does James get the blame? Because he sorts the bedroom clock and he also had to be up a little earlier than everyone else.

Food is not allowed on the school bus, but at La Maternelle they don't have a morning snack and I'm not letting Daisy go hungry until lunch time. So we hatch a plan, this morning she will be driven to school so she can eat her toast in the back of the car enroute. While I get her dressed, James makes toast. While she drinks a cup of milk, I get her feet into her boots. While James gets her in her coat, I pull a brush through her hair. Ruby, during this frenzied activity, is calmly watching her Snow White DVD.

James and Daisy hurry out the door at 8.15a.m. and drive to school. The school bus that's due to leave the village bus stop at 8.15a.m...... comes flying past the house at 8.30a.m. The bus was also running late!

Wonderful swaps

2008-03-26T15:37:00.000+01:00

If any of you are members of forums, I urge you to get involved in swaps and exchanges. They are ace!! (and while mentioning swaps, I recommend you go visit my friend Tan's site (Tan, of Course - link listed under websites). She has a page on her site which lists beads she's willing to exchange for other items. If you have any of the items she's looking for on her list, you could find you have yourselves a deal!!!

I've received two fantastic swaps the last couple of days. The first was a wonderful etched goddess from Becky at Chameleon Designs as part of a swap on the Frit Happens forum.

Isn't she a fantastic colour? My cobalt blue goddess which appeared on the blog at the end of February is now in Becky's hands.

Next, I had a visit from the Sock Fairy. No, I'm not losing it!! The Sock Fairy aka Jaye, is a lurker on the Bead Buddies forum, and in exchange for these beads....

I received these fabulous socks.

No more cold toes when I'm in the cellar making beads :-D

Thanks Jaye!

Spring

2008-03-25T09:48:00.001+01:00

I don't usually post pictures of my girls on publicly accessible forums but I have to share this with you. We were out at 7.30a.m. Easter Monday morning building Mr Frosty.

Here's a view of the garden.

I think we're been experiencing the same kind of weather conditions as most of the UK over the course of the last week, namely hail, sleet, rain, snow and on occasion bright sunshine. Today it is bitterly cold. So cold, I expect to see penguins waddling down the road at any moment!!

I've been a bit slow on the bead front because it has been uncomfortable sitting at the torch, but the website has been updated today with some beads and a couple of focals. I think these are my favourite set on the website at the moment... Dark topaz and light steel effetre.

These creaking bones...

2008-03-11T14:25:00.000+01:00

Haven't been on the torch for almost a fortnight. I felt something twang a while back when picking up Ruby and it still hasn't quite righted itself... not enough for e to be comfortable sitting in the cellar for a 3 to 4 hour spell while I make beads anyway. Will hopefully have some freshly baked beads toward the end of the weekend...

Release your inner goddess...!

2008-02-29T16:06:00.000+01:00

Hmmm.... another Frit Happens bead swap has been organised. This time we are swapping goddesses. Have never made one before, even though I've been itching to give it a go and signing up for the swap is the kick-up the bottom I need. Anyhoooooo... this is my first attempt at a goddess.

and from the side...

and rear...

Not as voluptuous as most so I need to work on getting some "flesh" on her. I also couldn't remember as I was finishing this one off whether they should have heads or not!!! Anyhow, I think we have until the end of March until we are assigned swap partners, so I can get plenty of PPP :-D

I also made this bead while I had the cobalt and turquoise glass to hand....

A pressed lentil, approximately 36mm from hole to hole. I think this may have my friend Georges' name on it :-D

2008-02-28T19:10:00.001+01:00

There is a Pleat Bead challenge running on the Bead Buddies forum. I had a go making some a couple of weeks ago (Tonbo Dama, the Japanses Glass Artist, features them in his book), and Sooz thought it would be an idea for those who could be tempted to have a go. Everyone is doing really well. It's great seeing the colour combinations people are trying.

Also, if you like beads, like working with beads and are a serious beader, get yourself along to the Bead Buddies forum (link below). They (we!!) are a great bunch.

Frit Happens Tree Bead Challenge

2008-02-28T18:49:00.001+01:00

We had a tree bead challenge set on the Frit Happens forum back in January. This was fortunate, as I was harbouring an addiction to tree beads.

This is the bead that went in the swap to Vicki...

... and these are the beautiful beads I received in return!

You can see more of Vicki's work at Pure-Shore Lampwork (link below)