Hey where did the summer go?

The best of intentions sometimes have the worst of outcomes. The frequency of my blog posts has not improved!  lol

It is nearing the end of October and although Michigan is being blessed with some warm days the turning leaves are saying a different story.  Pumpkin Spice is everywhere and I just finished chairing the Bead Bonanza booth for SMGBG.  It must be fall!

My position as President for the ISGB is taking up some time and I am learning a great deal.  Just like any other large group being on the BOD is less artsy and more business but I am enjoying learning about the group and want to help it continue to grow and thrive.

The big Glass Act show 'Winter Wonders' is on November 4th and my beads will be there with my daughter Samantha running my table.  This is my favorite show of the year because it is about old friends and great art.  We have a steady stream of glass lovers at the show and in between the business we spend time with our friends.  It is a great time.

Lately my attempts at making great glass art had resulted in some less then beautiful pieces but I am determined to master some of the techniques I admire.  In September I took a class with Corina Tettinger  and I am inspired to work on some fundamentals. 

Hoping to sell a bit more next year as my daughter Allison is getting married and we have a wedding in August to pay for.  :)  These are happy times indeed.

Hope that if you stumbled upon this post that you are have a creative and happy fall!.

Susan

Hey what has Susan been up to?

It has been a very busy spring and the summer promises to be just as fabulous.

In March I attended the ISGB Gathering in Las Vegas.  It was a great week of glass and friends.  The presentations were awesome, the classes great, and the location worked well for the merging of Glasscraft and the Gathering.   I was a lucky duck and won a bunch of glass and tools from Mike Frantz in his Lucky Duck raffle.  I was the luckiest of ducks.  :)

In April I ran in the ISGB election for president?  I won the election in a landslide (unopposed :))  and became the president elect until I take office as president in September.  So much to learn about this great organizations operations but I am up to the challenge.  :)

I spent as much time as possible in May making beads for the Bead and Button Show.  My beads are off to the show in Milwaukee with the GlassAct guild.  Stop by our booth if you are attending the show.    http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/


Doing some traveling this summer but have intention of getting to the torch as much as possible.  I hope you do the same.


Yours in Glass,

Susan

Below is my lucky duck treasures.  Thanks Mike!

The groundhog was not kidding.....spring in coming soon.

Time really does fly,  I certainly thought that I would have written to this place sooner then now but given the state of all things in my life I guess I should just be thankful I am doing it now.


Life can change in a heartbeat, I have experienced that of late with people in my orbit. 


One of my favorite sayings is that "we can only count on the moments we pursue'.  


I am going to pursue this art and the people that do it.  I am striving to find my voice and in the process create great moments with people who love creating with glass.


 I will make time for this.  Hope you do too.

So recently I had the pleasure of presenting to the Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild at their August 2016 meeting.  They are a sister guild in the Southeast Michigan region that is focused on making ornament with beads and other jewelry type mediums.  I have been a member of this guild for around 3 years and have taken classes with them on seed beading, wire wrapping, and other metal work.  They are a wonderful group and I am proud to be a member.  My presentation was a introduction to lampworking.  


I lugged in a few torches, tools, glass, and other assorted lampworking necessities and spoke to them about the wonders of glass bead making.  We laughed about some adventures I had when getting involved in this hobby such a kiln fear, exploding glass, and burning my arm but saving the bead.  All and all we had a great time and I finished by showing a short YouTube video of bead making.  I think everyone came away with a better understanding of the process and why buying artesian beads over mass produced Chinese beads would be a great way to support local glass bead makers and use quality glass beads in their creations.  :)


The GlassAct guild had a trunk show following and we saw quite a few happy bead workers finding new treasures.  


I love to share this art with others and hope I get the opportunity to speak again about the love of all things glass.


I have added the bead workers link to my links page.  Check them out. 


Glassy adventures await.


    Susan

So much for keeping up with the blog.  :)

We are nearing the end of July 2016 and honestly I have not been to the torch like I had hoped.  I have made beads from the glassact guild challenge glass and I made trade beads for the gathering.  That is the extent of my time at the torch.

My glass excitement did increase by attending the ISGB Gathering in New Orleans last week.  Had a great time traveling with my glass loving friends.  The gathering was a great event and I got to spend time with many of my favorite people.  I bought too much glass and ate too much good food.  It was awesome.  Hoping to get inspired and make something soon.  

Back here soon.

Keep those torches lit.  xx  Susan

Sunset in NOLA

January is almost history......February is a mystery

The first month of the New Year has flown by.  Hard to believe that it is almost February.   I am trying to line up my glass life so that I can get some time at the torch.


I will have beads in several shows this year with my guild Southeast Michigan glass Beadmakers guild.  www.glassact.org


I will have beads in the Bead Bonanza show On March 13th at the Southfield Civic Center in Southfield Michigan.


I am sending beads to Bead and Button in Milwaukee in June


I hope to send beads to the Michigan Glass Project at the Russell Industrial Center in July  and I will also participate in the Fall Bead Bonanza in October.


Hoping to take some of these wonderful things I've learned in classes and incorporate the techniques into my beads.   Until next time  keep the torches lite.


Susan

Welcome to Northern Mermaid Beads - Now a Blog

Hi and welcome.


This site has been dark for several months but now I have converted it to a blog and hope it remains alive.  :)


I am hoping to get on the torch more and post it here.  In the meantime have a great day and again welcome to Northern Mermaid Beads!


Susan