Lampwork Bead of the Day: February 15

Love is in the air!

And I love this bead:

Pink Implosion Heart Pendant

Simply lovely.

Made by the talented Patrice from Shepherd Creations. You should visit her ArtFire shop to see all the marvelouse beads she creates.

Bead of the Day Thursday 1-19-12

This cute blue ziggy-zaggy heart is from Patrice at Shepherd Creations on ArtFire. Patrice describes it as "reminiscent of a winter sunset." Check out the lovely blues in this piece.

Don't forget to vote for your favorite romance themed bead in our challenge, just over to your right on the screen. Click HERE for more information.

Lampwork Bead of the Day: December 14

I needed some cheering up today. This bead did the trick:

Green Blue and Purple Octopus Pendant

Thanks for the smile, Patrice of Shepherd Creations!

Donät forget to vote in this months challenge! Black Tie is the theme.

Lampwork Bead of the Day: November 16

We've had an unusally warm autumn in Sweden, but today there was frost on the lawn for the second day in a row. The shops are allready filled with Christmas decorations and today I heard a Christmas song on the radio. I still have a blooming marigold in my garden, but I guess it will not last for much longer.

But I long for the summer when the weather is warm and there's flowers everywhere. And so I picked a flower bead for todays BOTD:

Pink Viney Flower with Red and Purple Accents, Boro Glass

Isn't the vine hanger beautiful!? The flower is made by Patrice from Shepherd Creations. She's very talented with the boro glass.

While you're here, don't forget to vote in the November bead challenge.

Glass Bead of the Day 10/21

There's still time to get a little spooky! For me, a hauntingly themed glass bead is about all the dress up I need! How about this guy:

Don't you just love the face murrini on his back??? Perfect for the scariest of holidays! You'll find this skull back spider glass bead in Shepherd Creations Artfire shop.

Have a wonderful weekend and be sure to check in here to see what's going on over the weekend...

Bead of the Day 9-22-11

Today's Bead of the Day is this super cute Blue-Green Octopus pendant by Patrice of Shepard Creations. This guy is clutching a swirly marble in his arms. Janice does a lot of animal and wildlife glass work. Check more in her shop out at Artfire.

Patrice is participating in our Bead of the Day promo, buy this bead and she will give you free shipping.

Glass Bead of the Day 9/2/11

Can you believe September is upon us??? And that means my favorite holiday season is just around the corner... HALLOWEEN!!! Or as I like to call it, HOWL O WEEEEEN!

If you make jewelry for the ghoulish day, it's time to start thinking of beads NOW. And you know the Divas can help with that! Check out this spooky bat from Shepherd Creations:

I just love that she used a dark cobalt instead of the traditional black... so creative!

The Divas wish you a safe and happy last weekend of summer! If you're around, do stop in and check out our fantasy shopping Saturday post and as always, gossip on Sundays!

Bead of the Day 7/22

Friday again and another hot summer weekend is upon us! Nothing like some beautiful glass to get me in a happy ready-for-the-weekend mood! This stunning focal from Shepherd Creations is just the ticket:

Can't you just see this beauty worn with a lovely flowing summer dress???

The Divas wish you all a wonderful weekend and want to remind you to vote in our challenge. Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered in our contest where you could win a $20 Gift Cert to Shepherd Creations shop!s

Diva of the Month (Part 3): Patrice Sheperd

Hi all you Diva lovers! It's time for an update on our Diva of the Month - Patrice Shepherd. Lampworking is a challenge and fun at the same time. And those who torch have to have a sense of humor - it can't be all work, work, work. So, Patrice here are few funny curve balls for you to answer. We really want to know ALL - I feel like the "Insider - tell all Hollywood". Let's turn it over to Patrice...

Name three tv shows you watch but are kind of embarrassed about.
Aww nothing embarrassing about comedy! The Big Bang Theory, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and (ok, maybe this one is) America's Got Talent.



Do you have a day job??? If yes, what is your favorite thing about it???
Yes, I work for my County certifying EMTs and Paramedics, and providing data and project support to my office of nurses and paramedics. I've been there over 6 years, and have grown so much with my little hard-working EMS family. My favorite thing about my office is that the people that I work with, including the management, are all genuinely caring people who really want to improve emergency patient care. They are all from the private sector, who came onboard to make policy changes to improve our emergency system, and I love working with such caring, honest, and funny individuals. I get my daily dose of sarcasm and comedy amidst serious business, and it's a great place to work.

Who do you most admire in glass and if you could take a class with that person, what would you most want to learn? (Please include LINKS to their website!)
Currently, I would love to take a class from John Kobuki, because his implosion marbles are INCREDIBLE!
Click my link to: John Kobuki

What is the first thing you do when you get home?
I greet my husband, put my stuff down, uneaten lunch snacks go in the fridge, then I check mail and proceed to wind-down. I get home late most nights, so I don't always make dinner, but some nights I do if I get home before 8pm.

If you had one wish, what would it be???
I guess I'd wish for the world to be stress-free. Either that, or for everyone to be more considerate of their fellow humans, animals, and our planet. If decisions were made more for consideration of others instead of greed, the world would be so much nicer for our children, grandchildren, etc.

Describe the most fun day you’ve ever had.
That's a tough one... The most fun may be on a day from our Montana vacation a few years ago... The fun part was a long horseback ride through the Beartooth mountains with just Paul, myself and our guide. Breathtaking views of pristine forest by horseback, what could be better? We took so many photos and had a great time, plus we stayed on a lake in a rental with full kitchen and fireplace. I think most of my favorite "fun" times involve hiking, horseback, biking, and aquariums. :)

Making beads is solitary work. How do you handle that??? If you listen to music / watch videos, please share some of your playlist.
Peaceful, solitary work. It's wonderful! It's probably easy for me to do on my own because I work in a very busy, small office, and am constantly re-tasked with other assignments that it's refreshing to work quietly on my own. Music is really helpful to keep the momentum and energy if I'm "working" in the studio. Some of my favorite bands to listen to include The Beatles, The Killers, Muse, Tegan & Sara, Coldplay, and The Postal Service. I'm an alternative rock kind of gal.
Favorite color and how does this show up in your bead work?
Well, I love green and blue, so you'll see tons of beads using both colors. Although they are two of my favorites, I love variety, so my beads will usually exhibit more colors than just my favorites, as I want to make what customers will also dig. I like beads with several colors, so silvery boro glass is one of my "favorite things." The way that boro colors tend to have so much variety is just awesome, much like the silvered soft glass our group loves so much. Life's too short to be into just one color, though :).

If we were visiting, and starving and you weren’t home…what could we find in your pantry / fridge to use to whip up a meal?
TONS! We are firm believers in preparedness(and options), so there is always a ton of food in my house. Since I have a booth at a weekly farmer's market, there are usually some fresh veggies, most always tomatoes, cilantro, onions, and potatoes. I love eggs (hard-boiled and scrambled/fried), so we usually have a dozen fresh and a few boiled for snacks in there too. Years ago we bought a huge (I think 22 cubic feet) freezer to house meats, bread, grains, prepared meals, ice cream, just about everything that can be frozen, and it's usually pretty packed. In case our solar cells and batteries are damaged, we also have a decent supply of canned goods, including my favorite standby: jalapeno refried beans! The usual canned tuna, salmon, beans, etc. are also there for variety. If you needed to whip something up in my house, you'd have plenty of options, plus a hefty cabinet of delicious spices and seasonings. I don't stock much meat on a regular basis, but if you were adept at cooking without fresh meat, you'd be pretty well set in my little kitchen.

What is on your nightstand…list everything?
Hmm, well of course I always have a necklace or two laying around there from taking them off before bed, a notepad, assorted pens and pencils, hair ties(to be fair, these seem to be in every room/on every surface in our house!), lip balm, tissue, loose change, hard candy, a few beads that were in my pockets before I emptied them... Sometimes I will pick out a bead or two I've made previously that I want to duplicate or make similar of, and it travels back to my nightstand in my jeans pocket. Then I will hopefully get it back to the studio when I'm tidying (so it may take a few months to get back there!). :)


Thank You Patrice - You're a Good Sport! One more interview to go with Patrice - are you all ready for your quiz? I hope so...she's a gal with great talent and it looks like she a hard working and FUN Diva to be around. See you all soon!

Diva of the Month (Part 2): Patrice Shepherd

This is our second installment of my interview with Patrice Shepherd. I'm really getting to know "all things Patrice" - How about you?

What attracted you to glass?

"I have always loved glass beads, since the earliest knotted old strands of beads in an old tattered plastic bag handed down from my mom's friends :) Seed beads held my passion for over ten years, but I had to give up bead weaving when I developed tendonitis. Glass has always been an alluring material, especially when we saw all the gorgeous glass flowers made around the turn of the century. It's amazing what humans have done with glass over the years!"

Many glass artists have training in other art mediums. Do you? If yes, please explain.

"No training, I'm actually not the "artistic one" in my family. I've always been the analytical techie-girl, so glass is a challenging fun hobby that allows me to do something totally different from my job and regular life. There is so much you can express in glass, and I think it's my first "artistic medium."

Describe the first bead you made that you were really proud of? Are you still proud of it now?

"I had a few beads at each "level" of progress, but there is one standout turtle as my style was changing from round to shaped shells. I was totally proud of this turtle three years into the journey... I didn't get to keep it though, as all my best are offered for sale. My newer pieces are fancier, but we must appreciate our progress each step of the way, especially when it's been a six-year journey so far. :) "

What inspires you?

"Nature is my inspiration. I love plants and animals, particularly wildlife in its natural habitat. Our world is filled with inspiring flowers, plants, trees, insects, mammals, landscapes, just everything around us outside (inside too if you're lucky!) can be inspirational. If you look at my glass work, you'll see loads of animals, flowers, insects; nature-inspired glass is my passion and our habitat is my inspiration. "


Do you have a plan when you sit down to torch? Do you sketch beads or have photos around for reference?

"About half the time I go to the studio, I have something particular I need to make. I'm very methodical in my approach to new designs, using multiple sketchbooks and searching for animal photos online and in my books until I have the idea "just right." I also use a list on my smartphone or a piece of paper to remind me what I should be making to add to my different plant and animal series collections. Starting without a plan can be overwhelming at times, as there are too many things you CAN make, however, starting without a plan can also be very fun. Personally I like to plan my direction most of the time, as you need to know where you are in order to get where you want to be. :) "

Photography seems to be a key element for any glass artist. What type of camera / lightbox set up do you use?

"I use a photo tent with natural-type light bulbs and a tripod for my camera. It took a while to get the setup to where I like it, as photographing glass is hard! Lots of trial-and-error, and editing the photos while trying to keep the colors true-to-life is difficult."


If the issue of finances (i.e. will it sell?) were of no consequence, what would you spend your time making?

"I would like to make more animals of all different kinds, larger sculptural work and more vessels. I love detailed work, and if selling it weren't so difficult, I'd probably make intricate pieces and collections all day long! "

What kind of jewelry do you wear? Everyday vs. out on the town?

"I wear my own pieces, usually one pendant most days, on a handmade leather cord or a chain. I don't wear much jewelry, but it's easy to wear something you've made, because it can be uniquely you. Plus my husband makes glass pieces too, so he has made several pieces for me, which make them extra special to wear. '

What is the one skill you wish came easier to you?

"I wish that larger sculpture came easier. Working with borosilicate, which requires a much hotter flame, it takes a long time for a large piece of glass to melt, and it must all stay warm while you are working with it to avoid cracking. This is difficult, besides the muscle it takes to hold a large piece in front of you for several hours! I'm getting better, but like everything else in life, it takes lots of practice'

What do you love about marketing your business? What’s the hardest part of marketing it?

"Marketing is difficult, as I don't like being "sold to" in my own life. I respect people's boundaries, and don't like to do very much marketing, but a little is good because I make very unique pieces. The excitement exhibited by a customer when they find something that "speaks to them" is such a wonderful thing to see and hear, so I guess that's my favorite part. When you have something so special and different like our handmade-with-love glass art (our Fire Divas group has tons of talent!), marketing is easier because glass art speaks to people on such a deep art-loving level. ' "

Thank You Patrice for another great interview and some helpful glass hints that will assist all of us artists!

Diva of the Month (Part 1): Patrice Shepherd

It is my pleasure to be introducing as Diva of the Month – Patrice Shepherd of Shepherd Creations. I’ve admired Patrice’s work for a long time on her Art Fire Shop so it was great to learn more about her work. I hope you will enjoy this interview as much as I have.

Patrice, please tell us where you live and what your studio is like.

"My studio is at my home in Riverside, California. It is my hobby haven :) Although the studio itself is in half my garage, I also have a workspace in my office to clean beads I make and photograph my pieces. I live close to our local foothills, so wildlife and diverse plant species are always close by. Being a nature-lover, it also works out that it's very sunny here, which helps power my studio with a roof-top full of solar panels. Inside the studio lives my creative chaos..."

Now that we adoring fans know where you live and work, if you don’t mind, we’d all like to know where you’re from and the influences that helped form your style.

"I'm originally from the desert, but that just gave me a healthy love of all things green, as they were so scarce. There wasn't much to do where I grew up, so nature played a big part of my childhood. I'd catch lizards (and release them, of course!), watch snakes, collect rocks, and hang around the cactus garden and few salt-cedar trees we had. I always dreamed over gardening catalogs about all the wonderful flowers and plants that can't really be grown in the desert, plus all the animals that can't survive there, and they eventually became one of my favorite things to admire and sculpt. "


How long have you been lampworking? Picasso always had a favorite muse to paint or draw. Is there a favorite bead or theme you love that you could do over and over?

"I've been in love with lampworking for over six years, first getting into the hobby to make beads, as anyone who buys or collects beads knows you can "never have too many beads." My love of nature prompted me to start making animals with my glass art, which turned into my specialty. I plan to continue making glass art goodies for years and years into the future, as I got my husband interested in marble making a few years ago too. :)There is an endless variety of things you can make in glass that it's hard to stick to just a few, but if I had to pick I would say sea creatures. They are some of my favorite things to make, as they can have such a wide variety of colors, frills, shells and fins, as long as you have a little imagination."



Describe your style for us….If you don’t feel you have one, describe how not having one works for you.

"My style is based on my own perspective on life and nature. The animals and other glass art pieces I make can often be described as "cute," as I think adding whimsy to the world is a good thing. Life can be very serious, but I like my glass to have a more lighthearted feel to it. I like making things that would be uplifting or fun to wear, like a seahorse or an octopus that looks straight up at you. It always makes me happy when my glass critters make someone smile; even if it's just at the thought of wearing a colorful octopus on your chest. :) "
Thank You everyone for joining me and getting to know Patrice. I know you want to know more - me too! - so come on back next week and we'll continue to find out more of Patrice's great glass creations. In the mean time you can catch Patrice on her Twitter or her personal blog, Glass by Patrice.

Lampwork Bead of the Day: May 25

Now, get me a swimmingpool and a fruity drink with a cocktail umbrella in it! I've got a palmtrea to sit under.

Though, if you think about it, I'd probably need som shrinking device too (and a diet won't be enough) to actually be able to SIT under this tree. But I can take that drink anyway! ;)

And the palm tree is awesome! It's made by Patrice from Shepherd Creations:

Tropical Palm Tree Glass Pendant

Patrice is so talented with the boro glass. you really should browse over to her ArtFire studio and check her stuff out.

For more lampwork, check out the Fire Diva weekly threads at ArtFire and Etsy!

Bead of the Day 4/22

Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home... to ME! Isn't this just the cutest ladybug pendant ever??? I just love the little legs...it's hard to believe she's sculpted of glass. You can have this little ladybug fly away home to YOU if you visit Shepherd Creations on Artfire.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend full of glassy goodness! 

Glass Bead of the day: March 2

Patrice from Shepherd Creations makes the cutets creatures in glass. This little fellow is just lovely:

Aqua/Teal Sea Turtle Pendant with Flower Implosion Shell

Just look at the implosion flower on his back! Soooo pretty!

Want more? Visit Patrices shop and also our weekly threads on ArtFire and Etsy.

Glass Bead Of the Day: January 5

My first BOTD in the year 2011. Feels kind of special.

I browsed through the Divas studios on ArtFire for inspiration, and look what I found! The sweetest frog on a beautiful implosion bead:

Teal Glass Frog on a Blue-Green Implosion Pendant

It looks totally newborn and is made by Patriche from Shepherd Creations and might be one of the lovliest glass frogs I've ever seen!

By the way - you didn't miss that we're throwing another round of the Fire Divas Quarterly Jewelry Challenge!?! Do come and join us!

Bead of the Day 10-15-10

Check out this cute pink paw print pendant bead from Patrice of shepherdcreations. Perfect for a cat or dog lover this pendant is ready to string on a leather cord.

For the month of October Patrice is offering 20% off bead of the day items on ArtFire. Check out this blog post for more Fire Divas October pink beads/breast cancer discounts.

Bead of the Day: September 1

Did anyone on the face of the earth miss the big news last May? That I finally got my kitten? Didn't think so.

So I guess you are not surprised by my choice for BOTD this week. As soon as I saw it, I didn't have to look any further. Patrice made a glass cat.

Black Cat Halloween Pendant

Meeeeooooow, I LOVE it! (Or "mjaaauuuu", as the cats say in Sweden. Tazza sends her best.) you can find this cat and all the other beautful beads by Patrice at Shepherd Creations.

And if you, as I, fell in love with this cat at first sight, Patrice offers free shipping to anyone whos places an order on it within 24 hours.

And finally - donät forget the Fire Divas Quarterly Jewellry Challenge! You've got until October 15 to participate, so start creating!

Bead of the Day - Art Fire Friday 8-27-10

This graceful Whale's Tail Patrice or shepherdcreations on ArtFire. Patrice has lots of lovely beads and pendants made of Boro glass. Check out her ArtFire site HERE

If you buy this bead in the next 24 hours. Patrice will offer free shipping.

Bead of the Day 7-22-10 ArtFire Friday

This cute snake on a branch is today's bead of the day from Patrice or shepherdcreations on ArtFire. Patrice has lots of lovely beads and pendants made of Boro glass. Check out her ArtFire site HERE

If you buy this bead in the next 24 hours. Patrice will offer free shipping.

Don't forget to vote for the Jewelry challenge on the right of this blog.

Summer Bead Challenge Results

[NOTE: I thought this published days ago. So sorry for the delay!]
The results are in  Fire Divas  monthly bead challenge for June. Our theme was Summer. Congrats to our winner, Susan Lambert.

Let's take a look at those other entries: 

LA Jewelry Designs

Tease Beads

Janel Dudley Beads

Babs Beads and Design

Shepherd Creations

 

Maybeads

Lutrick

Arensea

Holly's Folly