Monochromatic Challenge Fire Diva Style

The Fire Divas have created some beautiful beads for this Monochromatic Challenge.
You should vote for your favorite and you could win a lovely prize, a coupon for 20% OFF anything in Lori Bergmann's Artfire shop, AshlynDesigns.

Online Surveys & Market Research

Burns happen

In January I received a serious burn while I was creating a bead. I became so focused on the bead and getting the enamels right where I wanted to apply the color I temporarily forgot about the flame. This is a VERY BAD thing to do. I don't often get so involved that I forget about the flame. You simply can't afford to do this when you are working with a flame that has a temperature in the area of 1500 - 2000 degrees. But it happened. I was working beneath the flame and inadvertently put my knuckle straight into the flame. The words that came out of mouth weren't very nice because I knew it was going to bad. It didn't it even hurt, not even a little bit, not a good sign!

I will spare you the gruesome photos I took in the early weeks. This is what the burn looks like three weeks later. Really not bad considering what had happened.

One of the good things, no I should say GREAT things that came out of this event is that I learned about a product I had never heard of before. It is called 2nd Skin for burns by Spenco. This stuff saved me. Really! My burn was so bad I needed to have it covered, for the slightest brush against anything brought tears to my eyes. Keeping it covered wasn't easy because everything I tried stuck to the wound and caused more pain. I posted a photo of my burn on my Facebook Page and a wonderful fellow lampworker, Bonnie Stow of PuddyTatGlass came to my rescue. Bonnie suggested this product and I must say it worked wonders! It is a gel like covering which I had to secure onto my hand with a band aid or two. I don't know exactly how it works but it FELT GREAT, I was able to actually function with this on my hand and it seemed to help the healing process along. A little gelly miracle.  

You can look around Google and find a price you like. I bought a couple boxes from Amazon for a fair price.

I will keep these on hand but hopefully won't ever need them again.

Transitions ... from shirt to bead

My son found this t-shirt on line. I purchased it for him for Christmas. When it arrived I was wishing I had bought one for myself. I love this t-shirt!!! I still could buy one and so can you if you want. You can find the Transitions t-shirt right here on shirt.woot. The problem is I'm not a huge fan of t-shirts. Those necklines feel like they are strangling me and drive me nuts all day.

Now if you have been following my blog you will have noticed that I am hooked on making tree silhouettes. It was a natural transition for me to turn this t-shirt into a tree bead. I love it!!!

Transitions by Ema K on Etsy

Now maybe I won't keep threatening to steal my son's t-shirt or maybe I will because I have listed this bead in my Etsy shop. He better watch out. :D

Cast Your Vote for Your Favorite Bead

The Fire Divas like to play...this month we are hosting a lampwork bead challenge. Let's see what the incredibly talented Divas came up with for our True Love Challenge this month. It could be hard choose they are all so fun and delicious, don't forget to vote on the right side of the Fire Diva's blog!


Entry 1


Entry 2


Entry 3


Entry 4


Entry 5


Thanks for voting! Results will be posted in one week!

The Direction of My Art and My Life

Happy New Year. 

I become self contemplative when the new year rolls around and this year I find myself in an unsteady, unsure space. Last March I had a major health issue take charge of my life. I slowed down for a while and didn't sign up for any shows. Then a couple of opportunities presented themselves and I jumped back on the band wagon. Now I find myself wondering about my direction again.

I have such a strong desire to create, I find it difficult to deny myself any opportunity to create. However, by next September I will looking at two sons in college and also feel the need to contribute financially to my family. Up to this point my business has not been able to provide that. So what does one do? It is quite a task running a business when you are the one who is responsible for creating all the products as well as handle ALL the other responsibilities related to running a business...business plan, marketing, vending at shows,  bookkeeping and so on.

In addition to my work I am MOM. I have been blessed to be able to be a stay at home Mom. I still have a younger son who still needs Mom around. I am pulled in many directions and at times feel conflicted as to where my attention should go. So what does one do?

My artful ideas are plenty. It seems my ability to translate those ideas into profitable internet sales are where my shortcomings fall. Selling my work at outdoor venues is always a joyful experience; it is however physically draining and I am still concerned about my health. So what does one do?

If I am going to continue to do what I love I need a plan. A better plan than the one I have been working with the past few years. I wish I could say I have the answers I seek. I don't at this very moment. I do have a plan for the moment. I am offering 30% OFF ALL lampwork beads in my Etsy and Artfire shops. I am practically giving my beads away. Beginning February 1, I will remove all items from my shops and I will slowly begin to list items which I see as a new direction for me.

Ema K Designs Esty use coupon code NY1130 for 30% OFF lampwork beads.
Ema K Designs ArtFire all items are priced to reflect 30% OFF

Thanks for visiting with me.
Ema

Wordless Wednesday 12/8

More work from my Fire Diva friends

Judith Billig of Icarus Beads

Rivers Edge Glass

Spawn of Flame

Beads by Clare Scott

Susan Lambert

Dorset Hill Beads

The Tree that Inspires Me

The tree. As I pass by on a beautiful, clear sky morning.

I love this tree. I pass it everyday on my walk, sometimes I pass it many times in a day if I am driving by too. It ALWAYS captures my attention. I particularly love the tree when the leaves are off it. I find I am drawn to it on clear, cool nights, with the moon lighting it up. It speaks to me on some level. I'm not sure I can explain why. I see age and wisdom in this tree. I see strength and beauty. I see it embracing anything and everything that comes its way. I see this tree embodying grace.

Just some of my work that has been inspired by this tree...

My hope is that people will leave this tree alone and it will continue to stand strong, towering over our road.

Wordless Wednesday

Featuring some of my favorite art glass pieces from a few of my Fire Diva Friends.

Amy Houston

Lori Bergmann

Karen of Giapet

Janel Dudley

Lauren of Maybeads

Lara Lutrick

Balancing Act of Life and Beads

Life is a balancing act. For me I am constantly trying to find the balance in life; trying to make sure everyone is taken care of myself included.  The lives of my children, my work, my husband's business, taking care to see my friends and balance relationships, I can't forget taking care of my trusty companion, my dog and then I must take care of myself too . Planning, planning, planning. Planning for shows, planning for trips, planning for holidays, planning for my kids heading to or already in college. You know the ...the list could go on. Sometimes I get so focused on the To Do List that I forget to enjoy the moments. After all that is what life is all about, the moments.

The past few times that I have had the opportunity to enjoy my moments at my torch I have been focused on creating something specific. Custom orders, beads for upcoming shows, beads to list in my Etsy or ArtFire stores and alas a little something for myself. I recently purchased a cuff bracelet made of turquoise, sparkling seed beads and some brown stoney looking beads. I want to create a pendant that is similar in color with a textural look to wear with this bracelet. So far I have not been satisfied with the results. Apparently, I am my own worst customer. I have created some pretty beads but I have not captured the look I want to pair with my new bracelet. (This will be a story for another day.)

My plan for today was to make beads, my plan would be to try again to capture that perfect pendant for myself. As I began I felt frustrated. I did not want to work with "those" colors again. Ugggh! I was just not into today. "But I want to make beads so what will I make?" I was not coming up with any of my usual ideas. So I decided to stop thinking and just do. This felt so freeing for me. I tend to be a thinker and can think a subject or idea to no end. But today, in my moment, I was free. I didn't think or plan. I just picked up a colored rod that looked good to me and began to wind the glass onto the mandrel. There was no preconceived plan, stringers were pulled on the fly, matching colors were picked in the moment. I found myself happy and satisfied to just let it all go. I didn't worry too much about winding the glass perfectly balanced on the mandrel, if it wasn't perfect when I squished the glass I would figure out a way to embellish the bead to make a balanced bead. I am tired of all the to do lists and the planning. Today I just need to be and create.

So today I created my beads of balance and I love them!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving...and then comes round two
Thanksgiving is a multi day event in my family. It is tradition for the host or hostess to plan enough food for the day after Thanksgiving. The family will arrive for round two the day after. Personally, as the hostess, I prefer round two. This day is much more relaxed and fun for me. The food has all been cooked and the pots and pans have all been cleaned and put away. The only thing I have to do is take out all the fixings and let everyone reheat their plate. 

After we are all full of another turkey dinner, plenty of pie (apple pie is my favorite), a glass of wine or two and tea or coffee we play a game of Scrabble, watch  movies and sit by the fire.


I am thankful for my wonderful family. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration.


Ema

Fire Divas Raise Funds for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I am so proud to belong to this wonderful group of glass working ladies. During the month of October the Fire Divas helped raise over $130 from bead sales for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The organizations that will receive the donations are Susan G Komen Race for the Cure, Living Beyond Breast Cancer and the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Look below to see the list of the Fire Divas that participated and to check out some pink eye candy!



HollysFollyGlass - 20% to Susan G Komen for the Cure http://hollysfolly.com/ andhttp://www.artfire.com/users/HollysFollyGlass


UglyDucklingBeads - 25% to Susan G Komen Race for the Curehttp://www.etsy.com/shop/UglyDucklingBeads


Teasebeads - 15% to Susan G Komen Race for the Cure http://www.teasebeads.com/ andhttp://www.artfire.com/users/teasebeads

JanelDudleyBeads - All proceeds of pink beads to Susan G Komen Race for the Curehttp://www.etsy.com/shop/JanelDudleyBeads

AshlynDesign -20% from all ArtFire sales donated to Susan G. Komenhttp://www.artfire.com/users/AshlynDesign

LAJewelryDesigns - 20% to Susan G Komen Race for the Curehttp://www.artfire.com/users/LAJewelryDesigns

ahouston - 25% will be donated to Susan G Komen Race for the Cure for any pink bead sales and goddess beads (everything in the "PINK" section of my shop) http://www.etsy.com/shop/ahouston

spawnofflame - Everything in PINK section of Artfire shop. 25% to Living Beyond Breast Cancerhttp://spawnofflame.artfire.com/

IcarusBeads - From Artfire Shop - 20 % to Susan G Komen Race for the Curehttp://www.artfire.com/users/IcarusBeads


EmaKaye - Any pink beads in the Etsy shop - 20 % to Susan G Komen Race for the Curehttp://emakaye.etsy.com/

Lutrick 20% of all ArtFire sales to National Breast Cancer Foundation http://www.artfire.com/users/Lutrick

SilverRiverGlassWorks - 20% off pink beads to Susan G Komen Race for the Curehttp://www.artfire.com/users/SilverRiverGlassWorks

Shepherd Creations - 20% of Artfire and BOD to Komen for the Curehttp://www.artfire.com/users/shepherdcreations

Giapet - 20% to Susan G Komen Race for the Cure http://www.etsy.com/shop/giapet



spawnofflame



SilverRiverGlassWork



emakaye

The Fire Divas would like to thank those that made all of this possible!

What is a Twistie?

A twistie is a lampworking term which means to literally twist different colors of glass together. Twisties are used to decorate glass beads.

There is more than one way to create a twistie. I have my preferred technique, which I am going to share with you.

In this case I am making a twistie of green colors to use as a vine for pumpkin beads.

You can find pumpkin beads for sale in my Ema K Designs Etsy Shop.

  I begin by gathering a ball of glass on the end of a rod. This is my primary color (green)

While making twisties a lampworker

uses the glass rod as a handle, we call this a punty.

I round the gather and flatten the end, preparing for the addition of the next color.

The next color I am using is black.

I heat the two colors together, round out the gather and flatten the end. I will continue this process until I have added my third and fourth colors, which are yellow and another shade of green.

After adding the fourth color I have to move my punties or handles. The punties must make contact with all four colors of glass in order for the twistie

to include all the colors.

   

I have four colors and my two handles. I am ready to heat the whole gather and begin twisting and pulling out the glass.

      

The result is a thin piece of glass, usually 2-5mm thick, which can be used as decorative elements in the beads I create.

       http://www.etsy.com/listing/55903812/pumpkin-time-focal-lampwork-bead-by-ema

Fire Divas Quarterly Jewelry Challenge Fall 2010

Summer is winding down and the holidays will be here in the blink of an eye. The Fire Divas are hosting our quarterly jewelry challenge. Our theme this time is 'The Holiday Season', and we welcome submissions reflecting any or all of the holidays that are upcoming between now and the end of the year. If you'd like to see some holiday-inspired Fire Diva creations, check our our Flickr page.

As challenges go there are rules to be followed. You will find the rules at the end of my post, but first you must check out the fabulous prizes offered by our Divas....

 http://www.emakaye.etsy.com/

http://www.twoglassyladies.ca/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/JanelDudleyBeads

http://arensea.etsy.com/ or http://arensea.artfire.com

http://www.teasebeads.artfire.com/

http://www.artfire.com/users/BabsBeadsandDesign

http://www.lajewelrydesigns.etsy.com/ or http://www.lajewelrydesigns.artfire.com

http://www.hollysfolly.com/

http://www.lutrick.artfire.com/

Owl bead from http://www.maybeads.etsy.com/

http://www.beadygirlbeads.etsy.com/

Now for the details:

All submissions must feature Fire Divas' lampwork. We require the name of the Fire Diva who made the beads used in the submitted piece, so if you submit something, please be ready to provide that information.

We will allow one submission per person per contest, and a maximum of two photos per submission. Entries may be submitted here (http://www.flickr.com/groups/firedivachallenge/) for approval, no later than October 15, 2010. Please include, in the comments section, the following:

• Information about the beads
• Description of the piece
• Inspiration for the piece

Submissions will not be approved without all of this information.

Fire Divas reserve the right to approve or reject any submissions.
Fire Divas reserve the right to modify or cancel the challenge at any time.

The winners will be determined by an open poll which does not allow multiple votes.