2.15.2017 - Bigger Brighter Bolder Beads

(First I have to mention that there's an update tonight at 9PM)

I've always thought jewelry should be rather small... and out of the way.  I still feel that way about earrings - that they shouldn't tear your ear lobe off - so I will maintain my view there... But necklaces - with a few key elements of weighty deliciousness - in glass -  are sooo wonderful.

There is this artist who makes this amazing necklace... her name is Lucette Mugnier - and they're sold through the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago... here's a link...

I had posted a picture - but there was a note about not using their images. : ( so I provided the link instead.  I purshased this necklace, so I thought I'd share how amazing it is... The hollows are sealed, filled with some type of viscous liquid... and have itty bitty Swarovski crystals that settle to the bottom.  So Very Cool.  Anyhow - stunning is just that - I wondered why it took three of these beads to achieve "stunning" here - as one is sure to wow.

So, in an effort to realize that stunning can be achieved in the Less-Is-More manner of thought - I created the larger version of my carved beads I've made for years... it's a 1" carved focal bead that has glittering silvery mica inside.  It nestles in the hollow of my throat... and is sparkly and 'alive'.  (but, I still bought the other necklace!!)

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Then, in the mode of bigger brighter Bolder Beads... there is this set... I'm always inspired by the change of seasons to work with transparent glass and play with the way light is held/reflected.  NORMALLY, the oblong carved melon shape second from Right is focal bead sized... so - this set has big chunky beads that are alive with color and light.  I am *transformed*. smiles, Jill

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1.25.2015 - Wow! - 2017 Brings something BRIGHT!

Last year I made a gorgeous hollow necklace and the focal (and favorite hollow bead was a luscious green!)  Then went through a phase of using it for the bars shown below... I've been timid with green, because I thought it was difficult to wear close to the face.  But - next week we will explore a collection style offering that will bring this luscious color to the forefront!

While this photo shows Peridot faceted gemstones, my approach to pure saturated pops of color... set in a minimalist type offering will showcase the glass itself.

 

I am changing the way the offerings are organized.  I think it would make more sense to choose a color palette each week - or a collection style and stay within the parameters for a more cohesive page, offerings and visual experience.  

What colors are your favorites and which do you wish were more often paired up??

smiles, Jill

1.04.2017 - Limitations

I've always felt that a volume of more than a 1/2" bead hanging from ones' ear lobe is too much.  So - I've always looked for little boxes in which to send my creations. For years the little square plastic boxes worked, as everything was a 1/2" round.

But - now with longer beads and the glassy headpins - I've found the need for longer boxes...  I don't know why, but I love storing things so that I can see my beads.  These work wonderfully, but sometimes it's a serious puzzle with how to get the beads to nest so that the top fits... you know this if you buy from me. : )

But - now with longer beads and the glassy headpins - I've found the need for longer boxes...  I don't know why, but I love storing things so that I can see my beads.  These work wonderfully, but sometimes it's a serious puzzle with how to get the beads to nest so that the top fits... you know this if you buy from me. : )

So, along with graduating to these boxes, I've been delighted to find that three of these longer ones fit rather nicely inside of a square box... I hope you're not thinking that 'she has issues'... I just love boxes.  The most recent issue is that my new Mini Moo cards are long and no longer next nicely into the lid of the bigger square box.  But that's OK, as I can still print more of the original version of my business cards that DO fit nicely.

What are your packaging issues and what solutions have you come up with??  Smiles & little plastic boxes, Jill
 

12.14.2016 - Castle Hill Graffiti Park

Austin... you've gotta love her.

YEARS ago - I lived in the neighborhood at the top of this park.  It's on the edge of being right in the midst of the meat of downtown, and has a view of that says it all.  "Way back when", this was a failed foundation for a commercial venture.  Given a few decades - it has become an art gallery that is always in flux, with new art popping up overnight - then obscured by the next up-and-coming one.  Nice - as it's like watching a r.e.a.l.l.y slow movie... 

Awhile back, my friend Vickie R. from CA was visiting and we went for a brief visit... since then it's become a mainstay to show visitors the oddly quirky remnants of this city and tell tales of things not torn down - but repurposed... I kinda like that.   Anyhow.  

It inspired a set of mine - that is way more colorful and abstract than I normally work... but it gives me hope that someday my inner child will be released. : )

JillSymons.com Lampwork
Graffiti Park - $130

So, this set above is on tonight's update... I was planning to do a mini one - only with cool earrings, thank you Barbara Muth (ArtSongSoul on Facebook) for yesterday's email.  Saying how when she was wearing her long purple pillar earrings - they made her feel like a million bucks (even when she was wearing the garb of an artist at work)... big smile for me, and inspiration to work in long slender pillars at the torch for the day.  Hence the update.... : )  The holidays are looming - and I decided to do what feels good this week.

: ) - smiles - Jill
(just to show you a pair up for grabs... )

12.7.2016 - Bubbles in the Park and a Preview

Last summer Luis and I took a trip to Boston, and we tromped all over that city - and one of the  magical visuals I took back home was this small gathering that were utterly delighted at the bubble creation performance at the edge of the pond.

I found instructions to make this and will direct you there - granted - I guess this is more of a summertime thing - but - I just remembered how wonderful they were - and maybe some of you are in a location that this would work - NOW... : )

https://www.pinterest.com/explore/giant-bubble-wands/

The weather here in TX has finally turned cold... tomorrow night it's supposed to get down to 30 degrees... so - I'll be schlepping what plants I can into the garage for awhile.... Granted, torching and having a heated kiln going are perfect activities for this time of year - know that I'll be at the torch!!  Update tonight with this week's goodies - tonight at 9pm EST - stay warm.... smiles - Jill.

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11.30.2016 - Tenacity

I was sweeping the deck today - and found this treasure.  I guess the mother plant had been brushed up against and had lost a petal... and through a desire to exist... it has forged forth.  How amazing is this?  And how amazing was it that I found it today, when my mind was elsewhere.
Many of you out there know my father "Glassdaddy" aka Frank... today he completed his first chemo treatment... he seemed to weather it well - but it still must be awfully scary.  Jill

11.9.2016 - Culinary Bead Courses

While I love making beads - I equally love photographing them... then writing about them.  Is this considered all consuming, I wonder.... ?  Anyhow - my sons both rave about a Netflix series called The Chef's Table, and last weekend we tuned it in.  One would think that being a chef and their subsequent preparation of food is the main push of what they're about, but not according to this series.  

There is talk of instead of adding rosemary to a dish - perhaps placing a plate on top of a pillow that allows gentle puffs of the aroma with each cutting motion... delights the sense of smell - in combination with taste and obviously (presentation) sight.  

I realized that I had taken this advice to heart this week and instead of serving you side dishes, my photography was serving up the main course plated with the sides.  The menu is cohesive and the sides vary... and of course the photography was a delight!  Enjoy.

I try hard to always give you an idea of size... and call out the measurements of the beads, even sometimes resorting to the bead-in-hand photos... which give a sense of scale.  I understand the help it provides, but dislike the visual pollution on my website... and who likes their hands photographed?  So - this approach serves two purposes - to whet your appetite, and to give you a sense of scale and how the beads/focals relate to each other.  FUN, huh?? 
smiles, Jill

10.26.2016 - ... I love it when... "My Friends are friends with My Friends"

I spend much of my time working solo.  Creating solo and musing solo.  Throughout my life I have always moved so often that I now I can claim a significant collection of friends scattered all over.

Granted some of them are glassy, some of them are from school, and some are just the timeworn OLD friends - broken in and comfortable.  What I've begun to see recently, through social media, is that my separate 'friend groups' are starting to cross over... and be friends with each other.  I then surmise that I must attract/collect a consistent type of person, and for that I am glad - as it affirms that I am steady and true.

This week I have retreated to the comfort of the magical groupings of beads - and I am again finding the same theme, glad to see that whatever style of bead I've made - again, somehow - they all seem to play nicely together - be it through color, texture, shape or just overall theme.... and for that - I am very happy. : )  Jill

*Remember - tonight's update (10.26.2016) at 9pm Eastern Time... http://www.jillsymons.com

10.19.2016 - Stiff Competition....

The Weekly Wednesday Update for my website is supposed to go live just about the same time that the final presidential debate starts.  All I can say is that I'll post it and when you tire of the debate you can come see some pretties... no drama here, just gorgeous glass.  (smile)
 


I'm on the cusp of venturing out to writing my first tutorial... and am looking for some advice, as I know many of you are also beadmakers... What has worked best for you?

Also - for you "non-tutorial writing beadmakers" - what would you like to have a tutorial ON?

I think one of my favorite things is shaping of glass.  Sometimes making it do what it doesn't want to.  

I've been making beads for 20 years, and while much of what I do has become just motor memory... when asked to describe something, I would normally tend to gloss over what has just become the normal way of doing things.  I had a friend watching one day - and I heard her "AHA moment"... she pointed out that I had done something that solved an issue she had been struggling with,buty it had just been the normal way I do things... so attention to detail will be paramount.  Huh. Neat.

I discovered lampworking on eBay - and learned in a vacuum, through mostly trial and error.  LOL, mostly through lots of error!  My passion has never waned - and through these weekly updates - I have always felt the need to constantly be pushing forward - to discover things so that you will always be eager to come back.  Last week, I happened upon one of those moments where all the time put in pays off...  and all I can say is I will explore this further - and when it's to the point that I have enough secrets and techniques to pass on, there will be a tutorial.   Want to hear the glass sing?? Can you hear the symphony yet?  Smiles, Jill

*update tonight at 9pm EST - at http://www.jillsymons.com