My Lampwork
So much glass... so little time!!! The only thing that holds me back is that there are not enough hours in the day to play with glass... Actually, the truth is that my eyes get tired after 6 or so hours at the torch, so I try to ensure that I take a break in the middle of the day to clear my head, freshen up my thoughts and renew my energy. Well, that took 5 minutes - what shall I do now? :-))
When I took up needlepoint and tapestry work in 2004/5, I spent huge amounts of time at the library looking for design source books which I could use to help me design my own pieces. I then went on to buy some particularly fine books, which I am now finding hugely useful in preparing designs for my own lampwork beads. Of course, thread on fabric is very different to glass on glass, but that won't stop me from at least trying to achieve some of the wonderful designs and textures I've seen. For example, on the cover of a recent magazine, there was a magical mix of colours in leather, which I tried hard to replicate in glass. I had absolutely the right colour glass; however to say that my efforts were disastrous would be too kind. I shall keep trying though.
(Green cube set by Joanne Rohrer)
I've learned so much, since I started making beads full time in December 2006. My notebook is constantly being filled with ideas and notes on things to try out. It's pretty hard to get through all the ideas really, but I can only try. There's so much to be inspired by on a daily basis... I don't think that there's a rod of glass that hasn't been tried in my torch but I continue to be amazed by even more new glass appearing on almost a daily basis. Frits, metals and enamels are all constantly in the mix; different shapes created primarily by hand or with the help of the odd bead press.
I continue to have so much pleasure and enjoyment from selling my lampwork beads. It truly is a lot of fun, as I'm always amazed and then hugely grateful when my beads sell. I'm not too disappointed when they don't sell, as I never over-estimate my ability to design beads that everyone will like. I would, however, like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported me, not only by buying my beads. I've met some truly wonderful people through correspondence and in person, something I could never have imagined would be possible. In my past working life, I suppose that I never really had or made time - everything was always such a rush. Now I get time not only to smell the roses, but to build some amazingly beautiful friendships - thank you all so much for that.