Here are a few beads from the weekend.  I will try to list beads in the Etsy store soon. Thanks for the emails and your interest.  Have a wonderful week, and thanks for looking!

Here are a few beads from the weekend.  

I had the opportunity to torch with my bead buddy Maggie this weekend, and we had the best time!  I made large hole beads, to match the first focal, to go on my Pandora bracelet pictured above.

Today is my "Friday", as I've taken a few days vacation.  Michael Barley will be teaching at the studio this week!  I am looking forward to seeing Michael again, visiting with old friends and making new friends! 

I hope you are having a wonderful week!

Beads From The Weekend

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Here are a few beads from the weekend.  The electroformed bead was a reject I had sat aside...it was just too green!  I did a lampwork class a few weeks ago and painted it as a sample bead, and I'm really happy with how it turned out.

I have listed a few beads tonight in the Etsy shop.

Thanks for peeking!

Electroformed Focals

Here are a few beads from the Lampwork / Electroforming class that I did this past week.  It was an extremely FUN class!!  Thanks Anne and Jo...I miss you ladies already!!

A Few New Focals

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A Few From The Weekend



Bead 1 - SOLD

Here are a few from the weekend.  I've had so much fun playing with the wing and petal designs. Thanks for peeking :)

Very Soft and Shimmery!

Emmergence Focal done in very soft, glowing pastels ~ SOLD

Flattened Focal in shimmery pinks ~ SOLD

Torch time was very limited this past weekend, and here are the only two that I managed to make on Sunday.  I sure miss my torch!  Hopefully this weekend will afford me more play time!  I hope you have a wonderful week, and I sure appreciate you stopping by!

Today's Kiln Harvest

BEAD 1 - SOLD

BEAD 2 - SOLD

BEAD 3

Here are a few beads from yesterday's torch session.  I used the same three colors on all three beads, with such different results.  Striking time and flame chemistry variables make for a wide range of colors and results!

Thanks for peeking!

Today's Kiln Harvest



BEAD 1



BEAD 2 - SOLD





BEAD 3 - SOLD





BEAD 4 - SOLD



 I had the chance to torch all day Sunday, and here are some of the results.  I need to start concentrating on inventory for Bead and Button...it will be here before you know it!

Have a great week, and thanks for peeking!

Soft, Subtle "Emergence" Focal

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Above is a very soft, subtle focal done in ivory and pink...it really glows.  Many have commented that this style looks like butterfly wings emerging from a cacoon or chrysallis.

I've also been working on small silver glass bead sets to match focals to take to Bead and Button this year.  

I hope everyone is having a great weekend! Thanks for looking!!

Etched Copper Electroformed Focal Bead

 



I have had this on my list to try for quite a while now, and will be added to the March Electroforming class.

This is the test bead and I still have a little tweaking to do.  Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!!

Having Fun with Lapping and Electroforming

NOT FOR SALE

I'm really enjoying the restored health and energy!  I have been busy the past two weeks working on the flat lap machine, different electroforming designs and organizing the home studio space

As always, thanks for looking! 

Fresh Out Of The Cooker!

BEAD 1

BEAD 2 - SOLD

Here are a few beads from the weekend fresh out of the cooker.  I hope you have a great week, and thanks for looking!

Lampworking and Electroforming Class - 3/21 & 3/22

Lampworking and Electroforming Class
Wednesday & Thursday, March 21st & 22nd

Please see the CLASS PAGE for more information. I hope you can join us!

Happy Weekend!

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Just a quick post of a focal just listed in the Etsy store. Have a great weekend!!

A Little on the Softer Side...

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Just a quick post and run! Here is a focal of the same style, but done in very, very subtle pastels.

Today's Kiln Harvest



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I'm feeling better and better everyday! The house is clean, the car is clean, bills are paid, laundry is done, beads in the kiln, beads electroforming...I can't remember when I've had this much energy, or accomplished so much! This year has definately started on a good note, and I feel so blessed. I'm finally feeling the torch again, and happy with the results. Here are a few from the weekend. The electroformed bead is for my beady friend, Ofilia. The bead came out of the patina screaming magentas and golds! The colors have calmed down a bit, but they are still pretty vibrant.

I hope you have a great week, and thanks for looking!

First Beads of 2012 ~ Happy New Year!



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Wishing everyone much love, many blessings and great health in 2012! Here are the first beads of 2012. Thanks for looking!

A New Lease On Life!

I've Got A New Lease on Life!

I’ve been MIA for a while. I've been on the mend, I’m finally back on the torch, and it sure feels good! (Here is a picture of one of the latest beads)

I am posting this for awareness purposes:

After almost seven years of a “mystery” illness, I was finally diagnosed with Primary Hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). I traveled almost 1,000 miles to The Norman Parathyroid Center in Tampa, Florida for surgery. They are the experts with the most experience, and since this is not very common, I wanted to go to the best! They removed a tumor and one of my parathyroid glands, and the restoration of my health has been remarkable! I am so grateful to Dr. Politz and Dr. Norman for giving me a new lease on life. I feel AMAZING!

Best Source of Information: http://www.parathyroid.com/

Parathyroids have nothing to do with the thyroid. Hyperparathyroidism is not very common, and therefore, often goes undiagnosed and/or misdiagnosed. Most doctors know about HPT, but do not know it well.

From the Norman Website: The ONLY purpose of the parathyroid glands is to regulate the calcium level in our bodies within a very narrow range so that the nervous and muscular systems can function properly. This is all they do. They measure the amount of calcium in the blood every minute of every day... and if the calcium levels go down a little bit, the parathyroid glands recognize it and make parathyroid hormone (PTH) which goes to the bones and takes some calcium out (makes a withdrawal from the calcium vault) and puts it into the blood. When the calcium in the blood is high enough, then the parathyroids shut down and stop making PTH.

Hyperparathyroidism occurs when one (or more) of the four parathyroid glands grows into a tumor and behaves inappropriately by constantly making excess parathyroid hormone regardless of the level of calcium. In other words, one of the parathyroid glands has lost its control mechanism and continues to make large amounts of parathyroid hormone without paying attention to how high the blood calcium is. Thus, even when the calcium level is high--when the parathyroids should not be making any hormone at all--one of the glands keeps making hormone. Why? Because one of the parathyroid glands developed a benign tumor and lost its inhibitions and controls.

Inappropriate blood calcium levels can make you sick and very symptomatic. For the past six years (especially the last two), I had many of the symptoms. In October, my body lost the ability to regulate my blood pressure. My BP was very erratic, spiking to 222/116 and dropping to 95/55. These swings often made me feel like I was going to pass out. This is what took me back to the doctor.

Once the lab results were in, I again heard high calcium, and again it was dismissed. I did some research on my own, and found Dr. Norman’s website. It is so informative, and I became educated. I could not believe what I was reading… only EVERYTHING I had been telling my doctor for years! I emailed my labs to Dr. Norman, and they confirmed that my numbers warranted pursuing PHPT as a possible diagnosis. I then did a self referral, had a consultation with Dr. Politz and surgery was scheduled.

Again, I am sharing this for awareness purposes. It is a shame that this went undiagnosed for so many years. Not only does this disease make you feel sick, it MAKES you sick. It causes kidney stones (which I had almost two weeks after surgery), will cause osteoperosis 100% of the time as it leaches the calcium from your bones, has been linked to breast and prostrate cancer, decreases your life expectancy by years, and many other things...

A bit of advice: If you are having ongoing, unresolved issues, do your own research! You need to take an active part, along with your doctor, in your healthcare.

Anne, This One Is For You!

Here is a special order...Anne, I hope you like it!

Winter Whites

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Here are a few Winter Whites fresh out of the kiln.

Today's Kiln Harvest

Two views of the same bead



NFS - In line to be electroformed

Here are a few beads from this weekend's torch session.  Thanks for looking!

Gearing Up For Fall

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I am so ready for Fall...my favorite time of the year! I torched this weekend, and am prepping more leaf beads, like pictured above.

I hope you have a great weekend! Thanks for looking!

Lapidary Class - September 24th & 25th

LAMPWORKING AND LAPIDARY
September 24th & 25th (Saturday and Sunday)
from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
at Indy Flame Art
$275.00

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Day One: We will make beads suitable for the lapidary process on day two. We will concentrate on design, shaping, floral cane, using silver glass, goldstone and encasing.

Day Two: We will review equipment, lap beads from day one, and I will do a demo taking the bead back in the flame for surface decoration.

I hope you can join us!