Diamonds are a girls best friend?

Wow, I can't believe its been a year since I've posted. SO many things have changed. These days I sell very little on Etsy and do most of my sales on Facebook. Auction style in different groups dedicated to lampwork beads. I love it, so easy, faster and more of a connection with my customers!

Why diamonds you ask? Well those are a great new shape I have been making. Actually I purchased the diamond press used. I was actually looking for a crystal shape but I didn't realize the difference. I made a purchase from out of the US and when it arrived I was a bit disappointed but I figured I'd give it a try. WOW, I love this press! It has become my absolute favorite! I'll post some pics below so you can see what I mean.
So, if your looking for me on Etsy, I'm still there but most all of my new work goes on Facebook. Handmade Lampwork Beads For Sale, Artisan Lampwork Beads For Sale, Lampwork Beads for Sale and Lampwork Auctions are the groups I frequent most but on occasion I will be found on others too!
I hope you'll come find me, along with lots of other fantastic artists you'll probably recognize!
Heres a small sampling of recent work, including a few monsters!!
Thanks for looking!
Sue

Here I am, yoo hoo........yes, I'm here!

I know, I know. I'm terrible at keeping up with my blog! between the kids, Tony 11, Lela 5 both home schooled, 7 chickens, 5 chihuahuas, it gets quite busy. And to top that off Chowder, our middle sons chihuahua, broke his leg. I was staying at my daughters for the weekend and took all 5 dogs and the two youngest kids. My daughter had 2 chihuahuas (yes, ALL are related LOL) they were so excited to be together and running around like crazy nuts on the tile floor, up on to the couch, off the back of the couch, around through the kitchen, dining room and back to the living room on the couch. All on tile floors........yea, it was pretty crazy. We heard this awful cry and when we ran in chowder was lying on the floor with this horrible puppy scream. I picked him up and noticed his little foot was going the wrong way. I am a baby so I immediately started crying with him! We called a local vet, woke the kiddos up, now Tony, lela and my grand baby Isabella 4, got them dressed and jumped in the car for the long ride through a florida downpour........ during a typical florida "rush hour" bumper to bumper! It was awful. He broke his leg, both bones...... and was after 3 hours sent home with a pressure splint, cone of shame and pain meds. We were told to return in a week. Its been almost two weeks now, he has seen the twice and is due to go again at the end of this week. My son has a gofundme.com going to try and raise a bit of money to help since he works at legoland and this is a slow time so his hours are cut to 2 days right at this time......talk about bad timing! Any hoo, things have been crazy here!
I myself have joined a facebook group, Lampwork Beads For Sale, and I have been selling my beads on there. Its great and keeping me busy making beads.
Heres a few new things I've been doing........I've been on a bead pair for earrings kinda kick! Not sure why but its where I'm at right now. LOL


yup, all pairs. Only the colorful ones and the pink ones are listed on the Lampwork Beads For Sale group right now. The others will probably be listed over the next few days and its done auction style. So if you find your interested in any of them just holler at me!!

So I guess that's it for now, hopefully things will slow down a bit, fingers crossed :-)
till next time
sue

Christmas Ornaments, well sort of.

Ok, here they are! They are not yet made into ornaments yet and I didn't get a picture before they left to their new homes (and our Christmas tree) Then I didn't even think to take a pic of my kids ornaments (sheep and heart) before packing them up. But, just so you know they were wired up very simply and then hung with a ribbon. Perhaps next year I will put them all together for a shot!
If you love the smiles on the sheep and pup, those are made using a tutorial from Bonnie of Puddy Tat Glass. Unfortunately Bonnie is no longer making beads so she shared her smile with the glass community. Bonnie, if you read this, thank you and I will SO miss your critters!!

Until next time take care,
Sue

July already?

Geez, I can't believe its July already!! I've been so busy with life these days that I've totally neglected things.
I have been doing some earrings and kumihimo braids tho......that I can do at night while I'm sitting.
Want to see.......

So yes, I have been busy. We also lost a family member, my sister in law, who was more like a real sister to me that I've ever known. She passed on unexpectedly on March 6th, 2013. Her only daughter is getting married tomorrow, July 4th. Her mom will not physically be there in the traditional way but in spirit she will be there, with all. I was able to make a necklace for her daughter using cremains beads. They turned out beautiful and the necklace just reminds me so much of her moms blue eyes. Its not the same blue but they sparkle just like Lyns did when she smiled. I did take a few pictures before sending it up north for the wedding.

So I guess yes, i've been busy...... Hope your summer is going along wonderfully!
Till next time,
Sue

Whats new!

I'm back. Its been just over a month since my last post. I've been busy with life, Drs 2 days a week, kids, garden, dogs and friends have moved back to Florida and right across the street! Jess doesn't play with fire like I do but she does like to craft so YES, I'll take that....having a friend that enjoys creating is a good thing! :-) She likes to crochet and does beautiful work! her Etsy shop is https://www.etsy.com/shop/MamadukesCreations She makes the cutest things. Her Etsy shop is just getting started this item that already sold and my favorite, but no worries, you can have her make one for your little one as this is a made to order item!! I'm sure once she is settled into her new home she will be back up and running with a nice full shop!! Right Jess?! I've been making earrings......and have loads more pairs to make into more earrings. Heres a pair I've finished. Its not listed in my shop yet but will be soon! thanks for stopping by, until next time take care! Sue

My blog Soup is here, thanks Lupe Meter!!

Yup, its here! Wow, Lupe the polymer pieces are beautiful!! SO many goodies, how does one choose!! I have an idea, sketched it out on paper and hopefully I can do your pieces justice! Thank you Lupe!! Sue

Marbles

So, i've always had this fascination with marbles. Over the years i've put them in jars and bowls and enjoyed how they look there. Maybe a year ago I tried my hand at making one....well actually 3 but who's counting. It was VERY difficult for me. They were very small, misshapen and not quite that pretty but "I" made them so I was thrilled. But with it being so hard I got rid of my book and marble mold. Figuring I would just stick to beads........ A quick look at them:

yea, pretty crappy and very tiny. SO, go forward and I've decided to try it again after finding a youtube video. She made it look SO easy. I wish I could find the video again, it was a woman making a marble at a show and a little boy was watching. She inspired me to try it again and i'm SO glad I did. Not that my marbles are much better, although they are, but she made it look easy enough to try again! So, I first started with soft glass again since its what I'm used to working with. Here is some results:

First a group shot......the good,the bad and the ugly!! :) then some I really like looking at. I've been carrying some around in my pocket, taking them out to admire. So, I decided to give boro a try. Why not, I had enjoyed making the boro chains from Pipyrs tutorial, why not marbles right? Other than it taking SO much longer, it was great! So I have decided to continue with boro for marbles. Yea, I made a pandora bead just for the heck of it but it certainly didn't come out as nice as the marbles did!! The marbles stand in the pics is soft glass.....I need to make one with boro and not so colorful :)

Top 3 pictures are of one I used a flower pin frog with and the last 2 are of one swirled. I have 2 new ones from last night, one I made using a tube and the other a flower compression marble from a video I found on youtube. They came out VERY cool and I'll post pics once I get them done. Till next time, take care! Sue

New Glass Chains

I've been working on something new: Glass Chains! I've been trying to make them in soft glass but have not been able to get beyond 3 chains. A secret Santa gifted me a tutorial written by Pipyr Here's the link http://pipyr.com/tutorials.html just in case you would like to try too! Her tutorial is SO well written, lots of pictures and includes an off mandrel button tutorial. Now, if you know me you know I LOVE making buttons! My etsy shop has lots of them. I have them on my desk waiting to be listed, on my work bench waiting to be photographed, they are everywhere! The off mandrel button tutorial was very easy to follow with great results too! Now mind you I've only played with boro twice so I was a little worried but figured since her tutorial was written using boro (she says soft glass can be used too :) I decided that I would work with the boro first! Here are my results! I just LOVE this chain, so much so that I made a second one in clear!! Here is the end of the first day, 2 1/2 hours on it.

and the button

Last night I was able to get another 2 1/2 hours on the torch and made the rest of the links and a few toggles. I'm not sure if I'm going to use a toggle clasp or the button with the leather the way Pipyr does it in the tutorial so I made both.

So, what do you think? Any thoughts on the clasp? Have you gone to check out the tutorial yet? You will be very pleased if you do decide to purchase it!! Well, till next time, Have a good one, Sue

Something new......Kumihimo

Yes, thats right, I've been working on something new! Kumihimo! Its Japanese Braiding and I've been learning to do it with beads. My first finished one already listed in my Etsy Shop

The next one is done in lampwork spacers but I haven't finished it yet. I just need to do the caps and clasp. Here is what I'm working on now........yea I know its not a whole lot of info but its what I'm starting with and hopefully the design I've drawn out will be easily transferred to a finished design!

I've made the focal bead and last night I made the closure beads. I just need to finish the braid and put it all together! This is such a fun thing to keep busy. There are lots of times I want to get out to the torch but its not possible and i'm a person that can not just sit still and watch TV or read. I've got to be doing more than one thing, multitasking. My computer sits in our living room so that I can see the TV and work on the computer or do a bit of beading. I take it everywhere with me. It drives my husband nuts! LOL So what do you think? Do you like it? You can learn more about it on the internet of course and there are lots of good books too! I choose to watch Youtube videos and also learn more reading about it on a glass forum I'm a member of. www.lampworketc.com check it out! And, if you decide you'd like to give it a try you can always email me too, I'd love to help you get started!! Till next time, Sue

Made in Slovenia

Every now and again I get to chatting with a new customer. Most I will never meet but chatting over the internet you still get to feel you know them. On occasion one of those customers will share their work too! In this case I had the opportunity to chat with a woman from Slovenia and had the pleasure of seeing her work. Milojka sent me pictures of a few pieces she made with some of my spacers she purchased and also some work without. Her work is beautiful! She doesn't sell on line yet but if you are interested in her work you can reach her here:studiomkl16@gmail.com and she now has a facebook page for you to check out!! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Studio-mkl/211453558902794
Here are a few of her pieces............

This last one is definetly my favorite, I love the purple!
Till next time,
Sue aka glassymom

Red for the Holidays, Artfire Collection

Ok, So I'm feeling a little festive and decided to go through artfire shops and make a collection with things that were Red! I love red for the holidays and I'm looking forward to them! My oldest son is a soldier and has been gone overseas for almost a year. He did get to come home on leave for 2 wonderful weeks and he MAY,and thats a big MAY be home for Christmas! SO, lets celebrate and get festive!!

Red for the Holidays

Curated By: glassymom

ArtFire.com

Handmade Jewelry