Pismo Fine Art Glass

May is known for a lot of things.  It's the Merry Month, May Day, Mothers' Day (and my birthday too!).  But if you are a glass art bead lover, it's also the month which Pismo Fine Art Glass in Denver has their annual Bead Invitational.

This is my second year of being a part of it. And it's an honor to be invited.  A lot of my friends show in it too and I am so happy to be among them.

I'm showing one of my Beach necklaces here.  Last year I sent Bobbleheads to show and this year, after being sick a long time, it seemed like Beach and Ocean related beads needed to come out of my hands.  I think I was dreaming of a warm, sunny vacation.  If you look in their Bead Section under my name, Marcy Lamberson, you'll see my sea horses and a fish on my new colorful and detailed bead stands.  I really like those a lot too!

So stop by Pismo Fine Art Glass in Cherry Creek for some amazing glass bead art during the month of May.  You can also see the work on the website here.

My StudioMarcy Etsy Shop Is Being Re-Stocked

I am starting to restock my Etsy shop! Hooray.  I will be starting with some of my favorite beads which are in stock and then as I finish up some of my show deadlines, I'll be adding more new ones.  Here is Serena the Seahorse.  You can find her if you go to www.StudioMarcy.etsy.com (and see my other beads too!

My Glass Seahorse Demo Video

Awhile back I did a flamework glass Seahorse demo for FlameTree Glass.  Well, it's up on their website and you are welcome to take a peek.  (and if you haven't shopped with FlameTree or taken one of their classes, you're missing out.  (I am teaching Holiday Bobbleheads there on November 5th, for one day, if you can join me.  It will be fun.  I promise!

And at this time, also wanted to give a shout out to Brad Pearson who taught me.  I made one in his class and of course changed it up, but you know, it's nice to give credit to our influences.  (Now, if I could just make awesome marbles even a quarter as well as he does!)

Demo Daze at FlameTree Glass

Thursday night, Sylvie Lansdowne and I had a great time demonstrating some of our whimsical glass art at FlameTree Glass in Roswell, GA.

I went first.  Yikes, that tanked oxy and phantom torch were quite a difference from my small concentrator and Minor that I generally use.  But what fun!  I could make such different and much larger pieces using that great set up.  I chose a one of a kind seahorse focal bead to demonstrate.  The gooey dark ivory Moretti glass combined with the heat, made it both a challenge and a delight.  I'll post a photo after I pop by FlameTree to pick up my work.

Because my allotted time wasn't up, per request,  I also made a little spotted dog with his long tail extended and a bird sitting on the end of it.  I love playing with heat control and seeing what I can do to stretch the glass.

Sylvie entertained us with funny comments as she made one of her gorgeous multi part mermaids.  Oh they are so pretty and she is generous with her tips and tricks.

Maureen and Lance McRorie were the consummate hosts too.  Food, drink, and lots of air conditioning were offered along with the free demos.  You can find more dates, topics and presenters for future Demo Daze on their website, http://www.flametreeglass.com.

Size Does Matter

Yesterday I received a convo, (that's Etsy talk for conversation or private email), from a customer who had seen this bracelet in Bead Dreams Magazine January 2009 issue and wanted to make her own version of it.

Could I make her a mermaid and a seahorse that are .5" tall? That's just under 13mm. I measured the mermaids on this bracelet and they are about .7" or 18mm and remembered how hard it was to make the wee complicated beads.

She explained that she wanted a more delicate bracelet and the smaller charms would better fit into her design.
Needless to say, the seashells, sea glass and other less detailed and rounder beads would be so much easier to reduce and she did choose a starfish and palm tree in the diminutive size too. So today, part of my studio schedule includes attempting a half inch mermaid.

Charm sized beads are a great way to use up stringer and other little bits that are hanging around your bench. I love making sculptural miniatures which make great charms, earrings or dangles. I keep a small section, (ha, ha) in my Etsy shop.

If anyone else wants to join me in trying this, I'd love to see your efforts. The colors of her hair and tail have been left up to me. I'm smiling thinking that yellow could be interesting. That way I could make her wearing an itsy bitsy teensy weensy yellow polka dot bikini, that she wore for the first time today. (Please note, the last line is only amusing if you are about my age and know this song. But if you do, it will probably be stuck in your head for the rest of the day. My apologies.)

Meet Marabelle the Seahorse

Meet Marabelle the Seahorse.  She's a feminine seahorse who has all her curves and maybe a few extra details.

Brad Pearson taught seashorses in his class last week.  His was quite different, and of course, each time we learn something, we need to change it and make it our own. 

So his "boy" seahorse example, which had a black body with white enamel over the stomach and red details, morphed into my girly one with two toned transparent fins and pink lips & cheeks by me.  She also is a bit curvier and was built differently  on the mandrel.  I made her go straight up with the hole going through her head.

What is interesting to me, is that each one fits with each of our personal beadmaking styles.  I would have loved to see his include a little of his masking technique that is so beautifully done.

For another view of her, visit Marabelle and her other friends in my Etsy shop .