Pushing Boundaries

Hello to all of you. I’m very pleased to be part of Watch Me Create. I discovered this website about a year ago and finally decided to jump on board. I tend to procrastinate. I hope what I share will be either helpful or find you inspired since thats what its all about, right?

My name is Linda Lawrence and I have been creating lampwork beads and jewelry for several years. Actually, I don’t track time very well so I’m a little uncertain as to exactly how long, but its been awhile. I took my first class expecting to end my experience at the conclusion….the purpose of that class was to make beads for a ceramic totem pole I was working on, not spark a new interest. Prior to beads, I painted and did ceramic work….more on that later. But things didn’t workout that way at all. I was bitten….bitten by the seductive flame and have been making beads ever since.

My first beads, as you can imagine, were not particularly great to anyone but me. They were fairly large and boldly colored and I might add….poorly shaped (like all beginners). But I loved them. I continue developing my skills and have taken classes with Emilio Santini, Nancy Tobey, Beth Williams and Sally Prasch.

Fast forward to the present. Mistakes and lots of practice continue to improve my work. One of the best things about bead making is that your learning is never done. So, my journey continues and I am pushing boundaries (my own boundaries that is) and am working with other materials along with my glass beads.

Currently, I am exploring PMC & glass, mixed media & glass and felt with glass. I’ve been doing mixed media & glass for sometime but have included my love of painting. Prior to beadmaking I painted a handful of Pet Portraits (I thought this was going to be my artistic direction) With the concept of Pet Jewelry in mind, I created this;

This is Winston. One of my crazy, loving, naughty dogs. I first drew him & then painted the background inscribing appropriate saying for this mischievious dog! After painting his portrait, I then used some of my “cast off” beads to make him a nice collar complete with bow!

I’m not sure what Winston thinks of his portrait but his sister, China, wants one too so her portrait is next!

Some other possibly interesting facts about me: I live in Upstate New York with my husband Peter. We have two silly dogs, Winston and China. I’ve always been involved in the arts in someway. Dancer, freelance graphic artist, advertising agency artist (I worked for Young and Rubicam for 12 years), and currently an elementary art teacher. I LOVE teaching & working with children. They are my most treasured source of inspiration.

Hope you will visit me here or on my blog (www.bellabeadjewelerybylinda.blogspot.com) or my website www.lindasbellabeads.com

See ya soon! Linda