8.2.2017 - "I missed her Organic Phase"

Funny - I heard that comment online about 10 years ago, when I guess I skipped through an organic phase rather quickly! LOL....  I've been making beads now for twenty years, that's a long time - but I confess - I still get excited as I sit down to a torch session to transform rods of glass into bead creations.

I have found over time that when I happen onto a new design - I do it to death, all colors - many sizes and usually for the better part of a month... until I slip off to some other design (to do to death)...   Of course I have my favorite styles, but feel equally at home in all styles... sometimes it's nice to have a style that's 180 out from what I've been obsessing over for the past month.  

 

This has happened to me just recently.  Usually when springtime hits - I'm so ready for the "fresh  newness" of transparent glass - after a heavy wintertime. (ummm sometimes that doesn't hold true, as I DO live in Texas... but I do live vicariously through others and empathize with their wintery situations online).  

I also love the transparent glasses I use, my very favorite is Lauscha - as I can work hot and fast... no boiling and microbubbles... it makes a big difference!!

But, just because I love transparent glass doesn't mean I don't play with opaques...  I just often forget!

But while the opaques satisfy my need for color, I confess, I do love the form and shape.   Not so much chaos of colors all together in a bead - but sets of usually up to three colors. 

I occasionally fall off the radar when it comes to the silvered glasses.  OMG.  The effects are just amazing.So, selling online is a challenge because I make what I like... and hope that similarly minded customers find me.  I always ask for feedback as to what you'd like to see more of... do email - I'm always open to suggestions.

I love these beads!  They're uber high tech with the silver inclusions... all the silver is held underneath a top layer of clear glass so they never tarnish or get knocked off.  They're just so clean looking and fun.  

I love these purple beads!  They're uber high tech with the silver inclusions... which is held underneath a top layer of clear glass so they never tarnish or get knocked off.  They're just so clean looking and fun.  I've explored many different colorsways, denim blue, pink, olive, purple... and of course the silvered glasses.

Yes... these are timeless.  The wire is fused to itself as well as the glass.  They're part of the Ancients Series.  I love these.  I also love that the base glass is not a yellowy ivory... but more of a very pale taupe.  I like the sophistication of fine details... and clean lines.  Wearability and elegance...

So, selling online is a challenge because I get to make what I like... and only hope that similarly minded customers find me.  I will always ask for feedback as to what you'd like to see more of... do email - I like to hear what you have to say!! 

Smiles, Jill

7.26.2017 - Exciting - & ENOUGH

While it seems my reputation is built on smaller, more wearably sized beads... the inner child occasionally comes out and wows me.  While this set isn't complicated, nor the beads overly jaw dropping - I feel that in beadmaking - sometimes we create feeling inside a bead.... or we create a set through which we create a feeling.  I feel more like a masterful artist when I'm creating components that give an overall feel... maybe that's why this set was so enjoyable.  

I play a lot with transparent glass and shaping, through which my designs seem very sophisticated and elegant.  But I do realize that it's hard to take opaque glass and achieve that same level of gorgeous elegance.  But, lucky for us, not all occasions call for that same level of elegance - sometimes just a oddly fun set is JUST ENOUGH.  smiles -  Jill

 

7.19.2017 - Amazing Colors deserve Sweet Shapes

So, do sweet colors get sweet shapes? I think deservedly so!  I'm loving this sleek oval shape... the wisteria ones measure 1" long EXACTLY.  I love the gradient or ombre illusion that is created.  

The shape also a bit more rounded works well for the glittery earrings on the right... and for
the focal below & matching earrings.  Fun. (can you tell I enjoyed making these?)

I have to give a shout out to my sweet neighbor, Katheen, who suggested my using her camera to try and capture some of my problematic colors.  It worked beautifully... so  you may be seeing more of the turquoise blues and aqua colors!  It also allowed me to photograph transparent pink more accurately! Happy day here - smiles - Jill
 

7.12.2017 - Mid-summertime Blues

I was feeling a little low the other day, as a friend had forwarded a FB auction win of someone who had made beads 'similarly'...  but IMHO... not so similar.  I wanted to talk a little about these beads because I also received a comment on FB - where I was asked how the wire stayed on the beads...  ?  I guess the details of the beads weren't obvious, there is a base bead, a layer of wire and then an encasing layer.

You all DO realize there is 1/16" of clear glass encasing on these silvered glass beads that holds the silver in place... this also preserves the sheen from the silvered glass when it's reduced, no silver beads popping off the base bead,  and makes these less labor intensive... no need to carefully polish the beads. 

If  you look over the horizon of these beads - you don't see mostly clear - and a slender core of color... you see silver and silvered glass.  I feel like being aware of the heat tolerance of the silver - combined with applying an even layer of clear make these extra special.  

Update tonight at JillSymons.com - where these beauties are available.  smiles - Jill
 

6.28.2017 - Off-Mandrel... (it only took me two decades!)

I have been mulling the idea of pendants lately... I like to imagine that the holes aren't there (but they usually are anyway)... until this week, when I was looking to create a cabochon type presentation - but limit the amount of post creation work (ie silver bezel setting or beaded setting)...  the idea of a pendant was alluring.

I am continuing my love-affair with the silvered glasses out there - and the simplicity of design to allow each element to sing.  I think this may be the solution.  Of course, I took it in other directions simply because I could... what do you think? Which do you like better?  What size would you prefer?  Cording or chain?

 

I like all the elements I mentioned earlier - and think this is a winner... it's about 1 1/4" dia - which is a nice size to wear close to your throat or on a longer chain.  Again, simplicity  very cool.  Update tonight 6.28.2017 - JillSymons.com at 9pm! Smiles, Jill

Then I decided that the loop of glass might be delicate - and how could I remove that?  I like the idea of a silver ring through a cabochon, but wanted to limit *again* post torch cold work... and managed this...

6.21.2017 - Going dotty in Mayan...

hmmm... do you think she'd be inspired to wear any of the items I made this week? I loved her earring and started to think of dot placement... and how as the glass melts in, it snuggles up to the dot next to it.  This is an acquired mastery... and I am NO master yet.  But it was fun and addictive, can you tell???

We spent some time at Playa Del Carmen, MX and took the time to tour several ancient Mayan temple ruins.  What was amazing was the intricate carving and castings that were on the buildings - preserved for over a thousand years... telling stories of Mayan rituals as well as day to day life.  The burial chamber in the building below was about 150' up in the air, and nowhere was there a railing or warning signs about not falling off the edges.  *maybe tourists in this foreign land have more smarts that in the US... or they sue a lot less!

do you see the face in profile on the corner of this structure?

The eagle eating the heart?

Most amazing fact was that these Mayan people (circa 600-900AD) created a 5 meter deep foundation that was built underneath the entire site so that these structures would be level and true.  Their knowledge of mathematics and astronomy was evident in El Castillo, the main structure at Chichénitzá.  It was said that only twice yearly (Spring & Summer Equinox) are shadows cast by the 9 levels of steps ONTO the vertical sides of the stairs... these shadows softened some and appeared as the undulating back of Kukulkan - the mythological feathered serpent... do you see the head at the base of the steps??  How cool is that?  The base measures 181' sq... and it's height 98'.  There are 91 steps per each of the 4 sides + the temple platform, total 365 steps... (sound like a familiar number?!)

This image above was taken from the web - illustrating what I was telling you about.  I am just floored by the intricate & precise calculations required to make all this possible.  The structure is made of limestone - and they had no metal tools with which to carve... amazing detail carved anyhow, and preserved so beautifully.  Enjoyable venture into the past.  Granted it may take awhile for the full impact of the trip to find its way into my work.  Smiles, Jill

6.14.2017 - Update coming next Wednesday, June 21st...

I just got home yesterday - and have had no torch time.  So... tune in this time next week and see what wonders were inspired by these: : )

5.31.2017 - Color

Last week I had some issues with getting a true capture of the colors presented.  I took a quick snap with my iphone this morning as I finished stringing the sets - and thought that it was an  accurate representation.  Amazingly so.  SO, bear with the fact that the background isn't white...  but revel in the fact that this is what colors they actually are!  Maybe I need to take all the images with my iPhone.... hmmm?
These are just now being put onto the Weekly Update Page that will go live tonight at 8pm EST... on my website - http://www.jillsymons.com There are more goodies that didn't make it into the picture... but this is the brunt of Them! : )  smiles, Jill

5.24.2017 - What a Joy!

We have been hit with the nice wetness we usually have in this month leading up to the summertime heat...... and you know what they say - April showers bring May flowers... as is most certainly so!   I've fallen in love with portulaca this year as well as the balloon flowers.  They rise to the occasion and always produce a profusion of color.  I admit, the ritual is: coffee in hand each morning I greet them... and marvel at their colors, then check on them as the sun sets. These flowers are easily pleased and seem eager for my applause!  This year I aimed to plant what likes to grow easily and requires little water - as this IS Texas and we know what ominously looms just around the corner. ; )

So,  - much like the flowers - when I sat at the torch this week, I decided to create only what brought me profound joy... and I think it reflects so nicely in the result.  Come see these offerings tonight on my website at 9pm Eastern.  As always - smiles, Jill

5.10.2017 - Filling In...

I've noticed that there are sales coming from the pages that surround the Weekly Update Page... so this week, I've pulled more from my bead stash and filled some of those pages with inventory!

As an aside, I am still playing with that photo app called Prisma... I love what it does with my beads!  My goal is to make beads that look like these!  Just kidding, these ARE my beads! (just 'Prismafied')  I just turned on the torch/kiln and plan to be at it again tonight.... do check in next week for some majorly pretty pretties!!
Thanks for looking! smiles, Jill

5.3.2017 - The Nature of Nature

This weekend we spent a lot of time in the garden as well as in nurseries.  It was such fun!  Of course the String of Pearls looks more like a "pot of peas"... but I do SO like these!!

Remember to check out the update tonight!!

first day - so tightly closed, and then triumphiantly open and glorious!

Loved the playful planters for these two...  and a succulent that looks as if it were stacked leather saddles (below)

I always love good shadows.

and radial regularity... oh, if my dot placement skills were as spot on!

4.26.2017 - Long Longer - LONGEST

It feels so nice when long held limitations are lifted.  

For years I've been making beads that are ONLY SO long.  Because I have been cleaning beads the same way for two decades!  I have a diamond reamer that I use with water and a Dremel rotary tool.  It has always worked, and I never thought I needed any other way.

Last week I went to Blue Moon Glassworks' Fireflies night *(where the local glass artists meet once monthly to share)*... Libby Leuchtman was doing a demo and had some beads that were maybe 4"L.  How do you clean that???

I ended up buying a packet of silicon carbide grit... and with the help of a mandrel dipped into water and then grit - I learned just how to conquer the long beads.  Repeatedly using the grit eventually coaxes the bead release from the holes + it doesn't remove glass... it doesn't taper the holes - just takes the bead release.  SO NICE.

I was inspired this week to work in transparents - not giving a second thought to length of the hole (that I'd need to clean out...) and went to town.  I made way more than what's shown on my page... but that's always the case!  many smiles - Jill

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