I recently joined Facebook to take an online creativity course led by Sylvie Elise Lansdowne. We get one assignment a week and have to make ONE bead. That is, that we don’t get a chance to refine the bead or try different things. Then, everybody in the group comments on the bead photo, and gives ideas of what direction the bead can go in. We’ve done two weeks already, and I have to think on how I’m going to do bead three. This bead here is NOT one of the beads from the course – I’ll get to it in a bit.
This is a different kind of class for me. And I’ve gotten some great ideas so far – and it’s only week two. But I’m finding it very difficult to get moving on the assignments. I don’t like the one shot aspect, I don’t think. I understand why we’re supposed to only make one bead. It is supposed to loosen up the inner critic – by having people look at, comment, and often compliment the one unrefined bead. But I still don’t like it too well.
This bead here is a type of bead I’ve known how to do for ages – it’s in the books. I don’t know why I haven’t tried it before – it wasn’t too hard to do. But, maybe that’s because I’ve had the experience with glass that I have had at this point. Anyway, I like the way it came out except that the flowers are a little washed out looking. I think that the course I’m taking allowed me to stretch myself a little and at least give the bead a try. So, that’s good.
I ordered a bunch of Satake glass last week – it’s supposed to be here tomorrow. So get ready to see some different types of beads. I really enjoyed the Satake class I took awhile back, so I’m excited to get a chance to refine those techniques and maybe do a little experimenting. And then, in July, I’m going to take a class with Akihiro Ohkama, a Japanese bead maker. This class will be taught on Japanese torches (which are radically different from what I’m used to) using Kinari glass. Apparently, we will be making murrini – so that will be wonderful. I’m so excited!
Well, that’s all the bead related news I have at this time. I’m going to NY (state) to visit my father next week, so I probably won’t get a chance to melt the Satake glass until I get back. And, I have another class coming up on the 23rd and 24th, so April is a busy month.
4 Comments
nice bead there, for sure. I like the green base, and the stem came out looking really nice. The flowers, the left one in particular, may be a bit… “Monet”, but not bad. It’s hard to get an idea of the size. How long is it?
Joe-Charles! I’ve been thinking about you. How the heck are you?
Thank you, and the bead is about an inch long.
about an inch? that would make that stem in the middle about 1/16th inch piece of melted glass that looks like a stem… which kind of amazes me, not knowing much about glasswork beyond what I’ve seen on pbs
I’m doing considerably well all things considered. employed (not there), married, sober a year, no kids but an uncle 2 times over. my computer is dead, so I manage the best I can on this mobile until I save up for a new one.
Can’t tell you how happy it makes me that you have found your passion. I’ve been thinking about you, hoping you’ve been doing well pretty much since you went north. I’m glad to see you seem to be doing well. but this has nothing to do with beads so i’ll cut it off here. somebody hacked my yahoo account can you email me at the address i’m posting with?
Hey I was looking at your website and I saw a few beads I didn’t recognize… I miss ya… I’m over at my grandmas for a little while, well for the night… Did I tell you that I bought somemore glass? It’s really neat to get online and see what you’ve done, it looks very professional… I can’t wait to get a hot head and more tools to work with. I need to see if you can help me find some books that would be good for me to learn from. Anyway, I miss you and hope that I get to see you soon!
Beth