I love snowmen, one for your bracelet

I love making snowmen, so I thought I'd see how they went on a charm bracelet. 

The problem with this is gravity and the way the hole has to go through the man

 makes it difficult to make him balance and actually look like a snowman.   

The first one I made is mine! Today I wore him around (no stoppers) and he pretty much stayed in place.  With stoppers he doesnt flip at all. 

So I say, this project was a success!

More snowmen large whole beads are on their way!  

   Order yours today for $15/each and choose your hat and scarf colors.

Please specify which bracelet system you have.

Thanks for looking!  -Kari-



My neglected blog

It's been way too long since my last post!  I can't believe how quickly time passes by.  It seems facebook is the way to go and there aren't as many blog followers as I wished, so the blog has been the last thing on my list of things to do.

Today is my torching birthday!  It's been one year since I purchased my torch and started this adventure.  I love it now just as much, if not more, than I did before!  I often have a hard time being proud of my accomplishments, but as I got ready for my last show I realized how much I have grown over the year.  I will admit that I am proud of my work and the fact I can call myself an artist and business owner.

I just wanted to post a few of my new favorite glass creations.                  

                                                                                          

   

The beginning of my Halloween Series

Yesterday was my first batch of Halloween beads and I thought I would share. I had so much fun making these, I can't wait to make more!  Please remember that this was my first attempt at any of these. The first of my alien abduction series was fun, I cant wait to make more.  Elvira hair on fire was inspired my another artists pic that I found while trying to find some insperation. I wish I could find it again to give her/him the credit for the idea, I loved her and just had to make one of my own. Any ideas or suggestions or wants please let me know.

Thanks for looking, Kari

Opportunities are a blessing

Last week was fantastic! I have been so blessed to live in a city that sees the benefits in supporting their local artists. CAFE  http://cafehuntington.com/articles/fourth-presenter-kari-newman/ is a community based group that hosts a dinner once a month and donates the funds raised to the artist of choice. I was the chosen one and I am so thankful for the opportunities they have given me! I met so many people with valuable feedback, connections and ideas. I cannot wait to get more involved in the artist community in Huntington...not to mention spend my well needed award on proper ventilation, art organizations and additional classes. I truly appreciate this and it couldn't have came at a better time!



It's going to be busy around here for awhile... finishing my studio, sending items for the gallery at Brazee Street in Cincy, getting jury pieces ready for a few organizations, taking classes, not to mention the family and life itself.  I will do my best to post, but most important I'm going to get things done first!

Brazee Street Studios in Cincinatti

We are just now returning from our family vacation of camping, canoeing, museum and amusement park visiting. We had a great time even though this was our budget vacation. The last day of vacation we had an opportunity to visit a new school of glass in Cincinnati for their open studio night. This was a great family night and I met so many wonderful and inviting people. The downtown area of Oakley has special events going on for the entire family on the last Friday of every month. Chris took the kids to an awesome toy store, they saw stilt walkers, a magician and street performers. I missed most of it because I was asked by the owner of the SOG to torch! I felt so privileged to be able to work in such a great place and to be able to demonstrate to others the art of lampworking. I can't wait to visit again! I can only dream that one day Huntington will have an area and events like this.

A horse of course...and a few other notes

For my first horse lampwork bead, I am pleased! It's funny, sometimes the first is the best, I guess that is why I try to keep things original. I turned him into purse jewelry for a special gift for the avid horse lover.

I am working on pricing and trying to increase my inventory so that I can set up shop at the Heritage Village Farmers Market next Friday morning. More notes to come on that.

I also want to give a special thanks to my friend Jodi! She designed this wonderful new logo and has so generously agreed to work on my marketing and all the things I dread! Very nice to have a professional look at things from someone that understands me and my art and all that I put into it. More from Jodi soon!
If you see something you like just send me an email. I have nothing on etsy right now as custom orders have taken over my life! If your local, just give me a ring!
Thanks for looking, Kari

Purse Jewelry

 
What girl doesn't love jewelry and purses? These seem to be a favorite! Custom orders accepted, just send me a picture and I'll make one up to match your favorite purse. The beads are easily removable and can be moved to your bracelet or necklace when your purse (or you) need a change. I get a lot of my insperations from fabric, so this has become a favorite of mine to create.

A little touch of nature

These funky mushrooms and beads were so much fun to make! I think the big shroom might go into a jury piece, it is definitely meant for up-close looking as it is full of little surprises. The picture does not show its full beauty and color range and I will admit, even if I did create it, I love it!

Mix and match beads

I have heard customers say I don't know what to do with your beads or how to wear them. I'm on a mission to fix this! My main jewelry componet and final way I want my line to look is a slow work in progress. I have been listening to those that buy and wear my jewlery and trying to find a happy medium between creating beautiful jewelry that is affordable and versatile. My goal is to create a system where you can interchange your beads from bracelet, necklace, earrings and rings that is unique from the rest of the jewelry lines. After a few test runs and remakes I hope to launch this by the end of the summer. Till then I will sell my handcrafted lampwork beads seperately or by sets. I do have bracelets and necklaces that are interchangable with the popular charm bracelet lines. They are affordable, durable and pretty. I have traded in my Troll bracelet for my own chain and I love the way it feels and lays on my wrist.

Mix and match lesson #1: My opinion...your bracelet does NOT have to totally match your clothes! Most of us prefer one color. Look in your closet, what color do you see most of? For me its blues, greens and browns. I start with a favorite bead in the middle and then work off of it. As long as the one next to it has a little of the main color go for it.

Any suggestions for the final take on Newman Designs would be wonderful! We want to have a line that makes people happy! My glass beads will always be the main componet of our jewelry, but so much more to come in the future. Patience is the word I must learn during this process. Thanks for visiting my blog and checking out my creations! ~Kari~

Summer Time Beads

When I sit down to torch I make any orders and requests then it becomes a free for all. Whatever I'm in the mood for is what I make, no rhyme or reason in my process. This session I picked 6 colors (opaque and transparent of each) and stuck with them. They all match in one way or another and look great together. I love these colors, so bright and cheery! They are going into inventory for the art festival on June 12th (unless someone requests them first). Hope you enjoyed looking! ~Kari

Beads from last night

A few new beads for looking. I am so happy with how my first vessel turned out, I wish it was mine for keeping. I had never used frit (crushed glass) before and it is so different than I imagined, I can't wait to use it again. I guess it pays off to try new and different things. You never know what you might be missing.

The bright blue pod turned out better than I thought it would. As I was looking at it this morning, I thought I need to make a mamma pod...you will see what I'm talking about in the next post.

The brown one you see is a dissapointed. I made it with one of my new glass colors called Pandora, it is suppose to change into all different blue, green, purple iridescent colors. Not sure what I did wrong, but it did not turn out like that at all. Try again, thats the way it goes.

The other beads.... just a mix match of some of my favorite summer colors.

Now to decide, which beads for gifts, which to sell, and what to keep for myself. Decisions, decisions....what's your favorite?

Thanks for looking! ~Kari

Bright, Funky Glass Beads

I had so much fun making this batch of beads over the weekend. I decided to take a day at the torch and make some fun beads in my favorite colors. I was on such a hot streak when my power went out for the evening, bummer!

The next few days are torch days for me, any special requests from locals will be ready for Mother's Day. I feel like I can't even talk about what I've created for this special day, because then my mom wouldn't be suprised! Drop me an email or give me a call if you are curious.

I'm taking full advantage of the last few weeks of school before the house is filled with little people again all day, every day. This should be interesting...trying to figure out how and when to work while keeping the kids happy this summer. A juggling act for sure.

Hope you like my new beads. If the time ever allows I will be putting these on etsy, if they don't sell first. Ooh, I forgot my big news, my beads will be available at the Red Caboose Artisan Center (heritage village) next week.

Thanks for looking! ~Kari
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One full kiln... just like my life!

Life has been so busy! My schedule has been just like the kiln....full to the rim, without room for anything else! Trying to get a business going and completing the requirements to become a registered artist has been crazier than I ever imagined. I can't even list all the things that I have neglected around the house and the things I need to do, besides this. I also must note I have been a bad friend, daughter and not so good mother or wife. This journey I'm on is truly all encompassing and I hope those in my life understand.

I ordered some new specialty glass and so far, I love it! Fun new colors like tequila sunset, mango madness, orange tango, and black cherry. After I made this bead, I knew there would be more to come. Dreaming of drawer knobs, ceiling fan pulls, bottle toppers to match some of my favorite Fiestaware colors.

Glass that looks like metal. Some manly beads will come from this,for sure. Can't wait to play with the rest of my new specialty glass.

I'm working on some Mother's Day items and will be taking a few specialty orders. I have a few things up my sleeve that I will be posting soon. Thanks for stopping by and taking a look. Kari

Cupcakes baked at 965 for 8 hrs....how good can they be?

Yesterday I joked with Kylie that I had some cupcakes baking...she never imagined what I meant. I love her reactions to what I make, she is my biggest fan. Her exact words..."these are the best cupcakes I've ever seen, they look good enough to eat and it's ok that I can't, because now I can wear a cupcake".

I also made a few new easter eggs and regular beads. There is a funky owl that I attempted as well. I like the colors, but will try again to get him shaped better and get my "feathers" more consistent. I will say, this one is going on my purse (the colors couldn't match any better).

Plans to fill the kiln up this weekend with lots of goodies to match this springs trends and my typical browns and blacks that I wear all the time. It's bad when I find myself looking for clothes to match my jewelry, should be the other way around!

More than just bunnies and eggs

A few new beads for looking. I will tell you, the bunny has not been my best friend. She was much harder to make than expected, and I'm still not in love with her. A few bright eggs to add to the Easter theme are also pictured here.

I have also created this cool sculpted glass toggle clasp that I love! It is so versatile, I don't even know which way I like to wear it more. I wish I would have taken more pictures! I sent it off for judging, but I am making more, so more will be posted on this. I was just playing around with an idea and seeing if I could make it and I ended up loving it so much that I sent it away with my other pieces to be judged. Basically its a sculpted lampwork glass toggle clasp and a piece of deer skin leather and is just knotted on the ends to secure your beads. Undo the knot and viola you can change things around..wear it just round, as a dangle or 2 dangles. I still haven't explored all that can be done just by using this toggle. More to come!

There is also this pendant...they are great, just slide them on and off any narrow ended necklace you have or a piece of leather or deer skin suede. I find myself liking these more and more to make. I'm going to work on a few more special ones for Mother's Day, that look like flowers.

And to end the post, my red cardinal. The pictures are not the best..I was in such a hurry to get them packaged that I didn't even think about it till it was almost too late. All of these items have been sent away to Mountain Made in Thomas, WV for artist judging. Crossing my fingers that things go well. If anything, it has been a wonderful journey.
Kari

Getting caught up

I have finally made my way back here! Life has been so busy and I have found myself just wishing for more hours in the day. There is so much to do when trying to get things ready to launch a business. With that said, I have finally gotten an etsy account set up and added my cute little birds to sell. I love making them and cant wait to do more in bright cheery colors.
I have more items to add. Anything you see here (or a close twin of it) will eventually make it to my etsy shop. All of my beads are now annealed in my very own kiln! It was like my birthday when the ups man finally arrived. Another addition is my soon to be new studio, as I type it already has 2 full walls finished. I love my handy hubby! When I can move into the studio, I have a bigger and better torch waiting for me. I cant wait!!!!
So much going on here. Hope you visit again soon.
Kari

Welcome!!!

This is my first post to my new blog! First off I would like to say thank you for stopping by to check out my story. I hope you enjoy looking at what I have been creating and will stop back by to see my progress along my "bead journey".

My etsy store will be linked to this soon so that all you bead lovers can go shopping! I am currently putting together my first selections to be released. I know Valentine's Day is creeping up on us, so I've been making some cool hearts and using lots of pinks and reds.

I hope this blog thing works out and I am able to keep up with it. Every morning when I get my beads out of the kiln it's like Christmas for me....now I can share that with you! Please come back and visit again!
~Kari~