My adventures at the ISGB Gathering in Houston, TX

This year the ISGB (International Society of Glass Beadmakers) annual Gathering was held in Houston Texas. This was the first time I have been to Houston and was really looking forward to seeing the city. The Gathering was held at the Regency Hyatt Hotel downtown, so there was not much in the way of shopping, but I was able to get a ride to a local boot store and take the light rail to a funky eclectic shop nearby.  Since there was so many things happening at the meeting that I hardly noticed that I did not see much of Houston.
All of the talks and demos at this Gathering were fantastic, my head is spinning with inspiration and new techniques to try. I got to hang out with friends and fellow beadmakers, and made some new friends too. I was really excited to see my piece that was excepted into the RAD exhibit among some really amazing work by other artists. The whole experience was incredible and it will take my brain some time to process all of it.

I took a photography class with Doug Baldwin to learn how to take better photos of my jewelry for submitting to shows and exhibits. This is a photo Doug took of one of my pendants. He made it look so easy and inspired me to practice and practice to get the best photos.

My Cowboy/girl hat in the Beads of Courage display that will be kept in the local children's hospital for everyone to see. I feel so honored to have one of my beads there.

Sharon Peter's chicken wearing boots and a hat.

Marcy Lamberson's cowboy riding a chicken

Another view

Beads of Courage presenting the ISGB with an award.

Some of the work from the Pendant Exhibit

Pendants by Marg Karg who is part of my East Central Region.

My table at the Bead Bazaar. 

Partial room shot of the Bead Bazaar.

One of my favorite necklaces that sold.

My piece that was excepted into the RAD exhibit.

Me and my roommate Sue Angell

My bead exchange haul.

Show Schedule

This year is already half over and I have been busier than normal. I have been making new designs with my beads and jewelry and working with more metals. I have finally gotten the information about the upcoming shows that I will be in and I hope to see you there.

July 19th
The ISGB Gathering Bead Bazaar
Hyatt Regency Houston
1200 Louisiana Street, Houston, TX 77002
Admission $5.00 per person
For more information, please visit www.isgb.org
http://www.isgb.org/info/uploads/beadbazaar2014flyer01.pdf

July 25 and 26
Sounds and Sights Festival
Downtown Chelsea, MI
12-8pm
http://chelseafestivals.com/festival/artmarket/

August 2
Holland's 45th Annual Art in the Park
Holland's Centennial Park, Holland Michigan
9am-4pm.
http://www.hollandfriendsofart.com/ArtInThePark.htm

August 23 and 24
DIYpsi
The Corner Brewery
720 Norris St, Ypsilanti, MI 48198
Friday 11-11pm
Saturday 12-6pm
http://www.diypsi.com/upcoming-events/


Here is a little teaser of the newest bangles I have been making:

Beads and photography

Beads are not easy to photograph especially beads made with silver glass. Recently I submitted some pieces to several ISGB exhibits and most of the beads were made with silver glass. Here are some of the photos:

These three things

Sometimes life throws things at you to see if you are paying attention. Yesterday we took the puppy for a long walk around the block and through a forested park. I like to explore how nature looks during the different seasons. Lately I have been fascinated at the things that are lying around after all of the snow has melted. There is an enormous amount of trash and decomposing things. While walking I picked up these 3 things all in different places along our walk and did not think twice about them until I got home and set them down.

The wood was going to be a photography display for my beads:

This seed pod looks like an owl:

And this rusted metal was going to be used as a found object in a piece of jewelry:

But after I placed them all on the table, something compelled me to do this:

So, now I have to glue the pieces down, drill a hole in the wood for a hanger and find someplace to hang him.

Next time you are out walking around, see what nature wants you to have.

Photos by David Orr Photography

I had some of my pieces photographed by David Orr Photography and wanted to share them with you.
David lives in Arizona and is known for his jewelry photography, you can find him here: http://davidorrphotography.com/

Working away

Here are some of my latest finished pieces

Keeping this one!

And this one!!

Long treasure necklaces

Having so much fun riveting these disks to copper

Love

More love

Electroforming a giant bead

At one of the retreats I went to last year I had a chance to use one of the biggest mandrels I had ever used before, the thing was 1 1/2 inches!

This is Annie Shook holding the mandrel, we tag teamed it until it was finished-so much fun.

So as soon as I got home I placed an order for 2 mandrels, a 1 1/2" and 2". 

The first time I used these I was hooked! Here is the 2" in action

And here are the finished beads

What the heck am I going to do with beads that big you ask? Well, I am still pondering that but I have been having so much fun making them, it's kinda hard to stop.

Last week I decided to break out the electroforming kit that I purchased years ago and here is that process:

The kit

The bead after painting with the copper paint.

The bead in the solution

plating

My "go to" book 

And after 20 hours and some patina, here is the finished bead:

What do you think?