4.19.2017 - It's ALL about the Earrings....

If I could choose - I would love to be known as the ergonomic earring designer.  You know... one who considers what's comfortable... colorful and unique.  : )

Granted, I have a few limiting factors.  1.  I like that my earrings fit into either of two little plastic boxes I have... they seem to accommodate 1/2"dia rounds and others with reasonably similar dimensions.  I think (just my humble opinion) that earlobes get to be exhausted if they're called upon to support anything that is much larger than a 1/2" diameter volume of glass.  Granted this can be shaped otherwise - but - 3/4"d I just can't do.  So - with that as a parameter - I create.

I love rounds... and often will make a matching pair on the same mandrel - mirroring dot placement so that even with random dot placement - they match (is that OCD?).    I love balance, symmetery... and ease of wear (reads "comfort").  If it pinches or binds - you won't find me in it.

Last week my mother came over wearing a pair of black/white dotted earrings and I was so pleased with the design and how nice she looked in them.  Inspiring me to make dotted beads.  For those of you who know my work, you know that is NOT the norm... but it was this week.  

Years ago, I was told that I needed to make all my findings, as that would allow me never to be at the mercy of a supplier - AND would give my work a distinctive look.  Over time I have tried a few different style earwires - but seem to always come back to the round.  People tell me that they stay in easily and they don't lose earrings! (Yay!!)

This week, I also revisited the lovely long & slender tapered cones.  They are exactly matched in length and diameter top and bottom... the proportion of these was chosen among my existing beads as being the most pleasing to the eye - and easiest for most of us to wear.  I like it when the reflection that shows down the barrel of the bead is unbroken and straight... indicating a beautifully reflective surface and sleek design element.  Crisp lines, straight edges IMHO speak volumes!  What are some of your favorite earring shapes and lengths?  I'm always interested.... smiles, Jill

4.12.2017 - It's Raining... POURING

Into every life a little rain must fall... I admit it, it is pouring! I've been really stubborn this week especially so...  because I hate to give up.

You know those lovely silver wired beads I've been making?  The ones that have the silver wire that's encased and still in wire form?  Being like I am, I have - of course - tried it in most of the opaque colors I have on hand it's been great FUN.  Some colors are heavenly, some are just meh....  so, we avoid those that don't work, and revel in those that do.

Then I got a special request... to make them in Gerber Daisy Pink... that's one of the elusive colors we all covet... I got down to business.

I tried all the pinks I had in Lauscha, nothing creamy enough... nothing pinky enough... tried all the Moretti ones I had.  Nope.  Even tried three enamel powders I had but nope - skip the enamels - they messed with the silver... ugh.  Then I switched gears and tried some Bullseye pinks *had to dust them off", because I rarely work with Bullseye.  Bingo.  I mean BINGO.  I made about 20, and upon opening the kiln the next day, noticed that about 20 of them cracked in half.  I scrounged around and found a clear that I thought might be the key -  and made eight more...  they survived and are still beautiful!!

I made a special trip to Blue Moon Glassworks to visit Rose and buy some clear to encase that was actually known to be Bullseye (same COE) - and I researched a special annealing schedule for the Paragon for a long slow cool down and got down to business on Monday... hot from the torch into the hot kiln... 

The pink is a Bullseye glass: This is an American glass company that is well known in the fusing world. It is a soda-lime glass and the rods are 4 to 5 mm in diameter. The coefficient of expansion is 90. The annealing temperature is 940 degrees and the strain point is 820 degrees. The rods come in opaque, opalescent and transparent as well as frit and stringers. This glass has a slightly stiffer working condition than Effetre.  I would like to adjust my annealing schedule a bit - anyone out there work with Bullseye on a regular basis?  I have a space for a Bullseye annealing program on the Paragon... want to get it right this time...

AND

Does anyone have any luscious opaque pinks they can point me to?  I'm surely open to ideas...
 : ) Jill

3.29.2017 - Hello Color, hello Mother Nature!!

Is it any wonder that the perfection we see in nature is such an inspiration in art? Symmetry, balance, color, repetition... it just leaves me (almost) speechless!  Surprisingly, we were hit with a freeze here this 'winter' that killed many of my favorite plants, so - no pretties yet from my garden... but I am in the act of replanting.  Below are some of my favorites from this past year though.  AND on another note - remember - the update is tonight in just a little under an hour... smiles, Jill

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!!)

JillSymons.com Lampwork

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

JillSymons.com Lampwork



 

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