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