I received my order this week from Moo Cards… I’ve placed several orders over the years - and am just so pleased!!! These are laminated so they’re shiny - this time, I’ve chosen only three images for the front - but you can choose as many as you want! I have my logo and contact information on the back. I just wanted to share! : ) Update tonight - at 9pm EST. smiles, Jill
PS - if you want to order cards - I can send you a referral - and you will save 25%!! Contact me at lampwork@jillsymons.com : )
9.26.2018 - Midnight in The Garden Focals... snowstorm in the garden?
Click below to see the video from the torch - it’s only 5 seconds - but it’s interesting to see these as they’re created.
This focal reminds me of perhaps flowers in a snowstorm… but, in all reality, (especially in TX) that’s not too possible. This is one of my larger focals - long/balanced and slender.
I just had to show you what a snowstorm looks like in TX… smiles, Jill
9.18.2018 - Obsession & Figuring it out - Thanks for coming on my journey : )
Are you like me? Do you take a new idea and do it to death… in all colors - variations and such until you and your viewing audience are totally saturated? Sometimes that’s what it takes to get to a point where you’ve addressed all the issues. ALL the issues.
As you know, I’ve been on this quest to get rid of the bead hole - as I gravitate towards transparent glass I often feel that hole meandering right through the middle is a distraction… from the perfection of a near bubble-less creation. I don’t work often in clear/colorless glass, but the Lauscha is so darn wonderful… I couldn’t resist.
It started with a tiny drop of glass no bigger than 1/2”, I played with various ways to create this on or off the mandrel. Then they got bigger as my confidence grew…. until, that is, I realized they were too large. I slimmed down the earrings, perfected the profile and found a way to be able to consistently handshape these earring beads - and have nicely matching pairs. I’m finally satisfied and can now just produce… I’ll meander off somewhere and obsess about something else.
….LIKE these pendants. Why is it, I am easily able to make only a certain size?? I’d been asked to work larger - but I get lost in a larger scale. hmmmm. Maybe that’s the next chapter. Smiles, Jill
9.5.2018 - Yes - I'm still here.
Hello - I'm still torching - and creating, just having trouble getting it translated and onto the site!
color, color, color..... and not much else. Smiles, Jill
8.15.2018 - Its all about the Weather...Little Lines of Glass.
I often say that my hands are busy, but my mind wanders... and of late it's been wandering over to muse about all the wild weather that has come our way this year. I have a friend, Sue, who lives in CA & in my opinion way too close to the fires... but that's not the only problem. They have a sweet golden retriever, Sadie (Charlie's Girlfriend), who has been traumatized this year by frequent gunshot blasts to keep the birds from a neighbor's rice fields until they have a chance to harvest. So - from the fires come the series
"Firestorm"... where swirling flames are churned into angry weather swirls - only one of these pendants has a raindrop at the base...
Then there's the harvest and the angry skies..... This type of transfer doesn't happen that often, and I don't usually become too literal in the representation of things on my beads. But, this just happened - these are the "Harvest Series".
Then we have the rains in the Northeast.... and some crazy Texas rain... More crazy angry clouded skies and downpours. I love the size & simplicity of my canvas - and the easy portrayal of events as simple as weather - in little lines of glass.
"Downpour" is the third series... guess what that's all about? LOL.... loving these! The focal bead in all these pendants is 47mm x 12mm or smaller. With the bail and dangle charm, this brings them to at or Less than 70mm or 2 1/2"L - they are, for now, assembled to be photographed, but not permanently epoxied into place. Just say the word and I can send you the components and you can assemble as you choose. OR just say so and I'll do it! These will be on tonight's update - 9pm Central time - Smiles - Jill
8.8.2018 - Jetstream in a NEW Shape
Oh, you know how it goes - how many different style beads can I work my design into?!
I've taken the Jetstream bead style into an elongated shape and capped it in black at both ends... this allows the focus to be on the design in the center. These range in size from 1 1/4"L - to little over 1 3/4"L.
The silvered glass' sheen and the silver's shine is held under a layer of clear encasing - amplifying the design and making the maintenance/upkeep minimal. All beads have 1/16" mandrel holes.
8.1.2018 - ...and Why Not off mandrel?
so... we all have to start somewhere, right?? New endeavors - and just the discovery of how to do things by trial and error... have a seat and take a deep breath... because there is some serious ugly coming your way!
I had a request last week to replace a long loved pendant (by another artist) that had been dropped - and while I understand the desire to replace, I know whatever I make cannot 'replace it'. So - I hope to introduce something that will make the broken pendant a fond memory and perhaps become the stepping stone to things wondrous. As most of you know - I am pretty defined by the mandrel - although I'd prefer it not leave a hole. I like the idea of off mandrel work - but the soft glass I use most often becomes rather drippy for my taste (*at least at this point of my working proficiently off mandrel*) - so - it's off to my Boro stash.
For you non-glassy people out there - Borosilicate is the generic name for the glass more commonly known as - Pyrex. It melts at a higher temperature, is more forgiving while working, and is annealed at a different schedule in the kiln. PLUS... the colors can sometimes 'bloom' in the torch, OR are *hopefully* awakened by the hotter temperature cycles during the annealing process in the kiln.
These are MY (yes, I'm owning it) first tries... as we all have to start somewhere... right? Promise not to laugh?? Starting at top row left - that was the first, progressing to the right... then L to R on bottom...
my takeaway from this is... the swirling that happened at the last one on the right - bottom is something I definitely like and will keep... now - below are the next day's efforts... "the pretties"...
From my Boro journey, the discovery session also translated somewhat to my work in soft glass... and as I'm writing this - It occurs to me that along with not being wild about a mandrel hole.... I'm also not wild about the hanging loop of glass... which is likely the first thing to break... so, maybe one more session and I will endeavor to bury the hardware in the bead. for a cleaner sleeker look. I am liking that! Smiles, Jill
7.25.2018 - How small CAN you go??
Last week, the push was to go small on some pendants I was making - only to have others asking me to work bigger. It's a genetic flaw - I've always worked rather small - and It takes some serious attention and effort to go larger. I totally 'get' both sides, and will aim to fulfill everyone's wishes.
This morning, the first task of the day was to clean yesterday's kiln contents - which were mostly beads from my Jetstream sereis. It amounted to a handful - literally - after 8 hours - only a handful. BUT... these aren't any ordinary beads. They're one holed pendant *actually maybe you'd call them charms*... with a small sterling bail epoxied in place. I have many matching pair - perfect for earrings!
See, these beads are 10mm in diameter - and have three layers: silvered glass, fine silver wire, and an encasement layer. I love all the detail they have - and I love that they're so nice and small.
Small doesn't always equate 'less time & effort'... I remember years YEARS ago - Corina wrote about working small *yes, she is definitely someone who can pack a whole world inside a small bead!*. She said that it often takes MORE time to make a small bead because of the delicate nature of smallness, the precision work of small components, and that while the end result is YES... small - it just takes more effort. (Corina - obviously this isn't verbatum, apologies - but hopefully your general message does come through...?)
And to please the others - I've got some things in the kiln that should prove interesting... AKA, me working "not so small".
7.18.2018 - Just Enough
It's summertime in Texas... and like much of the country - it's unmercifully hot. So hot, in fact, that even the idea of wearing a necklace seems too hot. (did I just say that?)... I was photographing some items today - and in an unedited photo, felt that this embodied the sigh of relief I feel when I come inside to the air conditioning... So minimalism is here again... just a hint of color - a hint of the unusual - and that's enough.
I have a new small series coming out that is just that - a small swingy pendant that can be strung onto any light chain or cord and it's just enough.
I've been toying with the idea of splashing some items around in the Facebook sales groups - and also - here... if I miss a week here and there - I'm trying to find my equilibrium... please bear with me.
Change is often difficult, as we ARE creatures of habit.
Thank you Louise for your wonderful insight - I agree with what you said, and am working to implement changes. I am always open to suggestions for things you would like to see, or such - just send me an email. Happy Wednesday - smiles, Jill
7.4.2018 - Gaia Epitaph
Sadly, sorrowfully - I became aware that my go-to Gaia silvered glass by Double Helix has been retired. WHY?
First I had cut my teeth on Precision's Picasso R4 silvered glass - and I used it relentlessly... but then the formulation in several orders had changed and I could not get it to reduce to that decadent gorgeous blue/green...
So then I fell in love with DH's Gaia... as it struck easily and remained opaque, even when not layered over an opaque, it encased beautifully... and, when photographed... sigh. Then it was brought to my attention that it isn't available anymore.
Hmmm.... just what DO you use for this color, that strikes easily and is consistent???
Please Do message me. sadly, Jill
6.27.2018 - Spots and Dots & an UPDATE!
OMG... I decided that I would rally and have an update after all.... all the sets are $89, with one at $40. They're mighty pretty. Here's a sampling of the evidence... and there are a few more!!
Summertime sizzle has hit. I'm taking this week off - I happily spent time at the torch this week, and made a random assortment - but not complete enough to be brought here. SO... today -
We admire this beauty roaming the neighborhood... have you EVER seen a kitty like this - housecat size?? She lives by my folks and is seen frequently out and about just doing her thing.
enjoy your day - smiles - Jill
6.20.2018 - Construction Hardware & Tesla RRRRRed!
In my continued effort to clean up details of handmade jewelry. These earrings have a one-holed glass pendulum suspended below the black dotted bead. I like the fact that there isn't a lot of visible "construction hardware". What I'm talking about is massive amounts of wire that detracts from the star attraction - the beads. These earrings have minimal wire - and amazingly - weigh near nothing (4 grams). overall - the length is just under 2".
In search of red.... and appreciating a really nice one.
I saw this car the other day and marveled at what a glorious red it is... Tesla Red. YUM. I felt the same way when I photographed these beads - such a rich deep red. It also has some reaction with silver and creates a darkened background. smiles - Jill