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

Etsy Treasury Giveaway Winners!!!

After a wonderful and exciting 10 days of voting, reading all the wonderful comments, and seeing all the new "hearts" for the Fire Divas wonderful works of glass art—we are finally ready to announce the lucky winners of our Etsy Team Treasury Giveaway and our Special Blog Giveaway!!

So before I do the cyber drum roll, I want to thank all of our fans, both old and new, who have supported the Fire Divas team! This giveaway was a chance to spread a little love and awareness of the beautiful works of art that the talented members of this team make. So without further adieu....... DRUM ROLL, PLEASE!! ……

The winners of our Etsy Treasury Team Giveaway are:

……Row Number 1:  Jane Cucchiara- Janiesgems!

……Row Number 2:  Marti Ann- Pizzazzled Designs!

……Row Number 3:  Amber- Hurdler4Eva!

……Row Number 4:  Rebecca Witcher!

And the winner of our Blog Giveaway is: Debbi Deaux!

Congratulations to all our winners!! And a big "Thank you!" to everyone who participated and helped make this such a fun and memorable experience!!!!
❤ ❤ ❤ the Fire Divas

Fire Divas Team Treasury Giveaway!

This month, the Divas are breaking out all the stops and creating a fabulous treasure trove of beads to be featured in the Fire Divas first ever Etsy Team Treasury Giveaway!

Most of you are probably familiar with Etsy's Treasuries, which are collections of items illustrating a special theme chosen by individual curators. Well, the Fire Divas are doing something a little extra special! Not only are we creating a Treasury featuring many of the Fire Divas showing off their renditions of a "Bead Jeweled" theme, but we are giving them all away to four—yes we said, FOUR!—very lucky winners! Each winner will receive four awesome beads from this collection. All you have to do for a chance to win is leave a comment on our Treasury through Etsy HERE and "heart" or add all the featured shops in it as a favorite.

Only one comment/person, please! Winners will be chosen at random on August 21, 2011.

'Bead Jeweled - Fire Divas Team Treasury GIVEAWAY!'

RESERVED for Fire Divas... AmySimsDesigns $15.00	RESERVED for Fire Divas... susanlambert $20.00	RESERVED for Fire Divas... spawnofflame $20.00	RESERVED for Fire Divas... giapet $15.00
RESERVED for Fire Divas... BethKnappTyner $28.00	RESERVED for Fire Divas... AshlynDesign $15.00	RESERVED for Fire Divas... Lutrick $15.00	RESERVED for Fire Divas... FenG $39.99
RESERVED for Fire Divas... HollysFollyGla... $15.99	Reserved for Fire Divas... KittyLampwork $13.50	RESERVED The Fire Divas... alohabead $48.95	RESERVED "Fire Div... UglyDucklingBe... $18.00
RESERVED for Fire Divas... RiversEdgeGlas... $20.00	RESERVED for Fire Divas... SunDoorBeads $8.50	RESERVED for Fire Divas... SilverRiverGla... $9.95	RESERVED for Fire Divas... uvanomos $10.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

The best way you can show your love and support for the Divas is to make sure that you and everyone you know stops by to view this amazing Treasury! Please also take a few moments to spread the news by posting a link to Facebook or your blog, tweet it, StumbleUpon, or any other social media you prefer to use.

And in the style of those infamous infomercials…"WAIT! There's more!!"

Since some of our team members don't have their own Etsy shops, we're also offering a separate Blog Giveaway here to one lucky reader, who will win a wonderful prize from Patrice of Shepherd Creations!

To enter our Blog Giveaway (separate from our Etsy Treasury Giveaway!):
Please leave a comment here (and please make sure to include the best way to contact you!) after this post and one winner will be chosen at random at the same time we pick the other four Treasury winners.

They say that a person's greatest treasure is their friends—and you, our fans—are some of our greatest treasures too! Thank you very much for your support from all of us here on the Fire Divas team!!

Fire Divas Gossip Column!

It is that time again! Time to play Sherlock Holmes and solve the mystery about what our Divas have been up to this week!!! I love a good mystery and that is what it feels like sometimes when I imagine what everyone has done with their week! Mine has been so busy making new beads and getting my Dear Husband and Son off on a trip to Bolivia, South America! So now lets get our magnifying glass out and see what our Divas have been up to!


Holly Dare of Holly's Folly Bead & Jewelry has a heartfelt memory post that made me cry! (Make sure you have a box of tissues handy!) I know that the recipient of this bead will be moved and cherish her life long memory! Thank you Holly for being and amazing person!

Lara Lutrick of Lutrick Beads is definitely to be congratulated on her beautiful bead which made it into a juried show at this years ISGB Annual Gathering! The bead is gorgeous and definitely deserves this place of honor!



And here we have Amy Sims of Amy Sims Designs and I have been following the creation and construction of her brand spanking new studio in her new home in Atlanta! Here is the latest in her studio journey!!

Thank you for helping me solve the mystery today of what our amazingly talented Divas have been up to! I know they enjoy and love knowing so many people our learning more about what we do, who we are, and most importantly how fun glass is!!! Have a great Sunday!!

Fantasy Shopping Saturday

Generally I have a lot to say. Give me  a topic I'm passionate about and I can talk your ear off for hours. I'm also an explainer... ( I don't really think that's a word), but it's important to me to explain things. With a background in Marketing and Instructional Technology,  I'm typically direct, concise, and easy to understand .  I feel the need to make sure my listener understands whatever it is I'm talking about down to the tiniest detail ( to the chagrin of most of my friends).  But in the end they're grateful for all the information and my tenacity for making things understood.

Today I'm doing something different.  I'm stepping "out of ME".  The beads I've chosen today speak for themselves.  They don't need any explaining.  They stand on their own merit.  And there's my cue!  Take a look.  Buy what you like... and enjoy all the wonderful beads made by my fellow Fire Divas!  Happy Shopping!

Aloha Bead

Susan Lambert Susan Lambert

Uvanomos

Beth Knapp Tyner

Juls Beads

Giapet

Lutrick

Kitty Lampwork

Spawn of Flame

Holly's Folly Glass

Rivers Edge Glass

Ashlyn Design

Right Turn Art Werks

Ugly Duckling Beads

Shepherd Creations

Sun Door Beads

Amy Sims Design

Babs Beads and Design

AbbieLyn