Working with Powders. . .A Gift of Inspiration

Recently a dear friend of mine sent me a gift of metallic powder that she had on hand. When I opened my package and looked at it, I thought, “Okay, I HAVE to try this stuff!” I’m sure that those of you that make lampwork beads have used your share of powder and frits, but for the most part I have avoided them. I think the main reason is because I have to wear a respirator. It gets so hot and stuffy inside of those masks and I tend to feel like I’m being smothered.

Her gift really inspired me when I most needed inspiration. I haven’t spent as much time as I’d like in my studio lately, as I have been chained to my desk with the renovation of my website.

The little baggie of powder that peeked out from beneath my helter skelter stack of papers on the corner of my desk, became a major distraction. I kept wondering what I could do with it, or better yet, what it could do for me.

When the powder and I finally made it down to the studio, it demanded to be used with opaque pink glass, transparent pale amethyst and honey amber. I wanted to create a trio of beads that looked as sweet as sugar and spice and everything nice. Of course there had to be flowers too and I wanted a great deal of contrast so that the look would be sweet, yet dynamic. I have some more playing to do at the torch, but so far I am pleased with the potential that this little packet of gold powder has to offer.

A special thanks to my friend Barb!!

Lampwork Beads with CZ’s. . .Girl’s New Best Friend?

Okay, maybe that is a major STRETCH, but that is what I was thinking when I made the beads for these pieces. Since I was a kid, I loved sparkly stuff. It didn’t matter what the object was either. A huge slimy toad with glitter stuck to it’s back could have crossed my path and I’d have picked him up and stuffed him in my purse in order to stare at him later. Luckily, as I grew older I became a bit more discriminant when it comes to sparkling things.

I have been making floral beads in this style for awhile and I always yearned to work with them, rather than sell them as loose beads. I wanted them to look a bit different though. . .More fresh and new. I had just received an order of cz’s and they were exactly what I needed to update the look.

I was very excited when I finished these pieces because they have a balance of both elegance and time warn appeal. The oxidized wire wrapping and heavily silvered base glass lends a bit of a rustic feel, while the florals and cz’s provide a sort of pristine element. This is one of the reasons that I love vintage jewelry and antiques with new hardware. For me, there is something comfortable and beautiful in what looks to be a mix of old and new.

Lydia Muell is a glass bead maker who blogs in her studio from Lexington, NC. For more information please visit here website at ashtonjewels.com.

Picture Books, A Great Tool for Breaking Through A Creative Block

I had spent the past two weeks soul searching, trying to figure out what I need to do in order to break through the creative block that I had been suffering as a result of my New Year’s blues. I felt so in need of inspiration. Tired of the same ole color combinations that I had been doing over and over again, I went on a fishing expedition for ideas to take to the torch.

For Christmas, my husband gave me several books filled with pictorial info about the different regions of Italy. Not only are they filled with color, but they offer many wonderful examples of the classic architecture that I have always admired. One of the books provided beautiful illustrations of several ancient villas in Pompeii. As I sat looking at the hand painted ornate designs that surrounded some of the door casings, I wondered how I would communicate the look in a set of beads.

First, I thought much about color. One of the villas that I liked the most had walls that were a sort of a warm sunset red. Since red is one of the most difficult colors for me to work with, I thought this would be a great opportunity for me to do something different. I wanted a very warm red-orange, so I began mixing colors until I found a combination that really appealed to me. I chose Raku to use as a base glass and for the ornate motif that would decorate the surface of the beads. I was excited, because the beads looked fantastic as I put them in the kiln. The next day when I went to retrieve them, all had nearly lost their color with the exception of two. I was so disappointed, but at least I had a nice starting point. I spent the rest of the evening thinking about what changes could be made to the glass mix in efforts of keeping the beads from losing so much of their color. These were the only two that made it. . .

I decided to try DaVinci for the base glass and motif rather than Raku, and changed the mix that I was using for the red-orange tones. I wanted a warmer version of the color with a bit of translucency so that the plunges would show up. I am very pleased with my end result because they really do speak of the beautiful pictures that inspired them.

Lydia Muell blogs from her home studio in Lexington, NC. More of her work can be seen at Ashtonjewels.com .

My Struggles With the Concept of a “Fresh New Year”.

“2008″. . .I still cringe when I say it. I have been struck with that same state of melancholy that blankets my soul immediately after the Christmas holiday has passed. Partly, that is because I tend to reflect on the collection of the 365 days that just passed me by while trying to figure out how I can improve the next round of 365 days that are ahead of me.

I have always heard that women handle change much better than men. I wish that I were one of those women. If I am going to change, it has to be SO drastic that it spins me off of my axis and into a whole new universe. Drastic change seems to create a mental numbness that puts me into survival mode. As the numbness begins to wear off, I am left wondering if I need to spin off of my axis again to find yet another universe to blindly explore.

The reason that I use this analogy is because I was very recently presented with a job opportunity that would not only provide the benefits that I so desperately need, but also a handsome salary and rather large office. Initially, I thought that this so called “opportunity” couldn’t have arrived at a better time as I have been ramping up for a that proverbial big spin that would launch me right off of my current path and into something shockingly new.

I attended the formal job interview yesterday, dressed in that same stuffy business attire that I so happily pushed to the back of my closet a year and a half ago. The suit that I wore is still in fashion but fit a bit more snug than I remember, which reminded me of yet another thing that I need to change in 2008.

As my would-be boss explained his expectations of my would-be job performance, all I could think about was my journey as a glass artist. It was a layoff from a job much like this one that launched my career as a lampworker. The journey has been like a roller coaster. . .So many ups, downs, loops, and curves. You never really know what might be around the bend. . .All you can do is hold your breath and hope that the track doesn’t fall out from under you as your round the next corner.

I barely remember the moments as I departed the stuffy office building, wearing my snug and stuffy suit. My mind’s mental flash player presented slide shows of the beads that I had made over the past year as I made the drive home. They served as a reminder of what I would be leaving behind if I went back to the cold corporate world that I at one time wanted so badly to get away from.

The first three photos above are of some of the beads that I thought about on my ride home from the interview. They were created in early 2007 and were sort of a launching pad for the work that would follow over the next year.

This next grouping of photos are of beads that I made in late 2007/early 2008. They remind me of my progress over the past year. They also help me to know that my happiness and peace can only be found within the four walls of my basement studio.

Tis the season to create a blushing pink lampwork bracelet!

It isn’t often that I have the pleasure of sitting down to create pieces of jewelry. This time of year is an exception to the normalcy of my routine, as I get to enjoy more than my share of creating gifts for family and friends. It’s a true pleasure because I explore the personalities of each individual as I try and design something special just for them. It comes with struggle however, as I tend to think of jewelry as being an extremely personal thing.Recently, I filled a custom order for a lovely set of pink and gray beads. I really loved how they turned out and my first thought as I strung them, was “Ah!! My mom would LOVE these!!” I made another large set for her to be used in a bracelet, necklace and earrings. Her style tends to be somewhat simple. Making things with her in mind leaves me with a craving to create something a bit more complex and detailed. Luckily, I had several of the lampwork beads that I used in her jewelry set left over. In fact, it was just enough for an additional bracelet.

As I sifted through one of my many coveted boxes of gemstones, I came across some pink Peruvian opal rondelles that I picked up at show last year. Their blushing color seemed to be a perfect accent to the pink and gray lampwork beads. Still, I thought, “Yes, there IS such a thing as TOO much Pink!” This idea paved way for a seeking mission that kept me digging through ten boxes of semi precious gemstones, only to find the beautifully faceted, steel blue-gray labradorite that I had purchased just one week ago.

With components chosen and scattered about my workspace, I began to think about what I really wanted the bracelet to look like. I knew that I wanted to do a double strand design, but at the same time, I wanted the design to also have a sort of flowing movement. Normally I can only achieve this idea in a piece that has a great deal of wire wrapping. Since I was bored of that idea, I chose to try and creatively string the design that I saw in my mind’s eye. I must admit that I am very pleased with this piece. Were I a wearer of the pinks, I’d have likely kept this one for myself.

Lydia Muell is a glass bead maker who blogs in her studio from Lexington, NC. For more information please visit here website at ashtonjewels.com