What was I thinking?

Experimenting in glass is the way that I have learned what I know today. Sometimes they turn out fabulous and other times they turn out like this. This is a cab and not a bead and designed with a specific idea in mind for my friend the wonderful metalsmith. I think the concept has potential but this one is not going anywhere.
On the other hand, I have been playing around with a tutorial that a generous bead artist published and you would never know these were even the same type of bead because I put my spin on them. I am very happy with these.

Computers

My modem decided that for some unknown reason, it wasn't going to talk to my Internet Provider anymore. There is nothing more frustrating to me than a computer that does not work because unfortunately, I don't know how to fix it. My dear brother walked me through some diagnostic tests and that didn't work either. I finally had to call my provider and they were able to figure out what the problem was and get it going again by resetting something. All I knew was that for over 24 hours, I was without internet. It goes to show how much I depend on everything working the way it is supposed to work.

Enough of that, I have new beads and cabs! Torching in 100 degree heat is no fun but I do it in short spurts. Hopefully, there will be more beads later in the week.

Challenge

My bead group has challenges monthly and a themed Newsletter that is very informative. The theme for the next Newsletter is "The Dog Days of Summer". It was 100 degrees here yesterday so I think that qualifies. I made a dog bead inspired by my friend's sweet dog. The mismatched ears were on purpose because that is the way her ears really look!

Three Colors

Glass is amazing and that is why I don't think I will ever get tired of exploring. This bead only has three colors of regular Moretti glass. Can you guess what they are???

New Favorites

Thank you for coming to our opening of the new VanJan Collection! It will stay in place at the Houston Potter's Guild Shop through the rest of July.

This is a new set that I am very happy with. I used more shards from Janet's Glass on Etsy and I love the reaction with the silver on these beads. I actually made an entire set in one sitting which hardly ever happens.

Stay cool!

Happy Fourth of July!!!

New beads! I also have new cabs for my jewelry partner Vanessa. I can't wait to see what she does with them. Our new line of jewelry is called VanJan . We will be showing our collaborative work throughout July at the Houston Potter's Guild Shop and Gallery. Stop by if you are in the area.

July Show

During the month of July, Vanessa Parker and I are showing our collaborative work at the Houston Potter's Guild Shop and Gallery. We will have an open house with a drawing for a free necklace on July 12. Please stop by and take a look at our new work.

New Direction

I felt the need to take a small break from beadmaking and do something else creative. If I am having trouble getting the ideas to flow in glass, if I attempt to do something completely different it helps to get me back on track. I made this collage painting on watercolor paper and then cut it up to make cards out of. It actually turned out pretty well. The hardest part is putting the first stroke of paint down. More soon!

Silver Cored Beads

My bead group purchased a Retro Bead Liner and I got to bring it home to do a tutorial. It is much harder to use than I thought but these are the results of my first sterling silver lined beads. I had to complete them using dapping punches and a chasing hammer but I think they look pretty good for my first ones. I don't think I will be making too many of these because it is hard on my hands. I actually have to borrow my husband's hands to turn the wheel. We are also going to purchase the Jim Moore Bead Liner and I hope that one is easier to use.

Inspiration

It is so hot this time of year that I have a hard time motivating myself to sit in front of a flaming torch. The plants start begging for water and shade but there are a few that love the heat. This hibiscus blooms in different colors. It must have been grafted but it is fun to see what color will bloom on a certain day. I have not had all three colors blooming at the same time but hopefully that will happen sometime during our long summers. Stay cool and I will have bead photos soon.

Green Thumb

With the tomato scare this summer, I appreciate my Dad's green thumb even more. There is nothing like a big juicy home grown tomato. He can grow just about anything but the deer eat most of it. They were on the property before he was so he fences off a few vegetable plants and they are free to munch on the rest. I managed to get this shot while I was there. She is chomping away in a round garden bed with a bird bath right next to her.

St. Luke's Methodist Church

Two more weeks and the St. Luke's Show will end. Vanessa has worked very hard getting all the jewelry ready for this show and it looks great. I am very pleased with our collaborative work and I love what she has done with my glass. Come by and take a look if you are in the area. Attached is the postcard that Vanessa designed.

Rings

I only have one mandrel large enough for a ring and the ring is probably a size 5-6. My daughter wears the first one that I made and requested another one. I am happy to oblige as it gives me an excuse to practice using that big mandrel. They are heavy and I only have one but here it is. She likes it.

June Beads of Courage

Where did May go? Every month, my bead chapter collects beads for the Beads of Courage Program. I mail them into BOC for them to distribute to the member hospitals. I normally don't make bright beads but these were fun and gave me an opportunity to practice layered dots as well. I just grab whatever bright color is on my bench and start layering. Most of the time I forget what color I started with by the time I get to the last layer. Stay cool!

Collaborative Work

Vanessa Parker is a very talented Jewelry Artist. We have been working on some collaborative items for an upcoming show. Vanessa is the Artist of the Month at St. Luke's United Methodist Church on Westheimer and the show starts Sunday so drop by if you are in the area. There are three cases of Vanessa's jewelry that will be located in the Rotunda Art Gallery during June. This is an example of a bracelet that she made using my beads. I love what she has done! I also made some cabs for her as shown in the pendant. Look here to see more of our collaborative work: http://www.betojdesigns.com/page11/page9/page9.html

Summer is Here!

We went from Spring straight to Summer! It was 95 one day this week and today's predicted high is 93. I have been doing lots of bead crochet when I am not constructing jewelry. Here are a few photos of beads with the coordinating ropes.

Happy Mother's Day!

I am back to making beads again after a whirlwind session of jewelry making. It is hard to capture the depth of this bead but it has many layers. I have not made raised florals in a while and they take some preparation because of all the canes that have to be made in advance.
I hope all the Moms out there have a great day!

Market Street Jewelry

Today I am still working on jewelry, but I am running out of time. I always do this to myself before a show but I seem to work better under pressure. The weather is supposed to cooperate so let's hope Saturday is a beautiful day. The show is from 10:00 to 7:00 in the West end of Market Street. Stop by and say HI!

More Photos!

I have more for Market Street! The Bright Bumpy Necklace looks so much better in person. It is 36" long and can be worn as one strand, doubled, or wrapped around the wrist. We were making bright bumpy beads to send to Beads of Courage and I was having so much fun that I kept making them. It is not a style that I normally do but I have to get out of my comfort zone occasionally. More later!

Here are a couple of more new pieces. I reworked the bent bead necklace three times before I was happy with it. I finally just put it down late last night and started over with fresh eyes this morning. Now the fun part of inventory lists , tags and prices. More later!

Market Street Art Show Jewelry

I am working on jewelry this week for the upcoming Market Street Art Show. May 3 will be here before I know it, so I am trying to get myself on a schedule ( like that is going to happen). Here are some new pieces that I will have in the show. I will post more later as I photograph them.