Color Obsession

Like most artists, the Fire Divas all have color obsessions. This month, I asked the team, "If you could use just ONE color, what would it be? And... what makes you love it so??"

Cindy of CindyLynneGlass was the first to jump in:

Oh gosh its hard to choose just one color but being that Pink is my favorite color and I wear pink extensions in my hair I have to go with CIM Cranberrry pink. I love that I can get a brighter pink or a deeper cranberry depending on what glass I use as a base, add dichro which is also an all time favorite of mine and it just puts me over the top! Pink and Sparkle?! Puhlease its a girly girls dream!

 Hot Pink by CindyLynneGlass

I had to suggest my personal fave Blue Steel. It's a Bullseye 90 COE but I just LOVE this rich gray - blue. reminds of denim and makes me want to curl up with a good book by a fire with a mug off cocoa! This color is just comfort to me!  You can see it dead center in my Pantone Colors of Spring 2013 set: 

Pantone Colors of Spring 2013 Glass Bead set by HollysFollyGlass

The always elegant Lara Lutrick chose my #2 favorite as her top choice: opal yellow.

Opal Yellow, hands down. I like the blush of peach and pink you can get with the yellow. The base of all three of these beads.Let's have a closer look:

 Purple Rain #2 by Lara Lutrick

Sonja of SilverRiverGlassWork has another favorite:

Currently, my favorite glass is Psyche, mostly because I never know what its going to do! LOL!

 

 Blue Green Purple Ripples Heart by SilverRiverGlassWork

Amy of AmySimsDesigns got a rude awakening upon mentioning her favorite color:

Double Helix Kronos is my go- to single color. I can get so many different shades of blues and greens out of it. ( I'd prefer the original to the Kronos 2, but you can't get it anymore!)

 The other Divas were all so sad to tell her that Kronos 2 is no longer being made either! AGGGGH! The glassworkers greatest dilemma: as soon as you fall in love with something, it goes extinct (and the price goes through the roof!)  This is Amy's current fave with her soon to be former favorite color pinned to the new Fire Divas Pinboard (follow us!)

Kronos Bead with stamped sterling end caps by Amy Sims Designs

But colors going extinct isn't the only dilemma faced by glass bead makers. As Rose of Spawn of Flame points out:

It's so hard picking just one color. I don't usually use the glass that morphs into other colors! Right now, this minute, I would choose an oldie - Effetre Medium Red. When it behaves it makes the most beautiful red. Ask me tomorrow and I might just pick something else.

 Red Beads with Organic Ivory Webbing by Spawn of Flame

I'm Coming Home.... Tell the world I'm Coming home...

May 7, 2011.... It's not a holiday anywhere in the world that I know of....It has no real significance probably to anyone but me, unless of course it's your birthday LOL.  And if that's the case, here's an early Happy Birthday wish!!!! ;-)

May  7, 2011...  It doesn't really seem that it's been 18 months.  It is and was, the last time I posted on this blog. The article was a dedication to all Mothers,.... a visual Mothers Day card from the Fire Divas.  And as I was reading that article, a song by Skylar Grey popped into my head... and although all of the lyrics don't  necessarily pertain to this article, the following 3 lines do:

                     " I'm coming home,
                        I'm coming home,
                        Tell the world I'm coming home...."

You see, this was the first team I joined on Etsy.  I learned how to promote here, how to effectively work my site, how to take better pictures, and in the process I also made new online friends, got reacquainted with old friends who were part of the group, and developed relationships with members in other countries. I learned to blog, tweet, re-tweet, HootSuite, Flickr, and a host of other valuable tips and techniques that helped my online visibility. The team is made up of a group of really fabulous and caring ladies.....all very  uniquely different- who share a common love .....glass.  It's the glue that keeps this team going ..sorta' like the  "Energizer Bunny"....  we just keep going , and going, and going....LOL

So it's fitting that today it feels like I'm home....It's familiar,--- like slipping on an old favorite tattered but cozy housecoat, or favorite fuzzy slippers....like, getting back on a bike..... It's comfortable.

In keeping it "real"... hats off to these Divas....oh,.... and feel free to check out their sites.. It's a perfect way to beat the holiday rush,-- and find fabulous finished jewelry and beads, that are unique and one-of-a-kind!  Happy Saturday!!!!!

Kathleen

Amy Sims Designs FIRST CELL

Babs Beads and Design

Cindy Lynne Glass

Giapet

Holly's Folly Glass

Lutrick

Silver River Glass Work

Spawn of Flame

Ugly Duckling Beads

A Look at a Lampworker's Workspace

I thought I would share what my lampworking space looks like so that you can see a little bit of how lampwork glass beads get their start.  Do keep in mind that each lampworker's space will be unique to their style of working and what level of messy they can stand while creating.  This is super messy for me, but I know lampworkers whose space is far messier than mine and they make some fabulous beads lol! 
So any way, this is my main work area,  you can see my kiln on the right, my ventilation in the middle and my lovely purple torch slightly to the right.  As you can see there are lots of tools, scattered around as well as glass.  On a side note, I drink a lot of water when I am torching, since the heat makes me thirsty lol.

 

This is my glass.  It is stored on these shelves by coe (co efficent) and then further organized by color.  I will be honest, I can go downstairs and just enjoy looking at my glass. ( I have a hard and fast rule that I don't torch when I am tired, its dangerous and not worth the chance of burning myself badly.  Don't ask me how I found this out lol)  So on the days that I work I don't torch.  So if I am really feel the pull to torch on those days, I will go down and do some pre torching color matching and designing.  Lampworking helps me destress and relax and it makes me happy to make beautiful things.

Please, have a look around our blog and check out the great lampworkers and the wonderful beads that they make that are a part of this group.   Now you have a bit of an idea what at least one lampworker's space looks like!

Sonja McClung
SilverRiverGlassWorks