Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Time

The calendar indicates that spring should be here soon.  We still have a bit of snow but I have seen a robin so that is another sign but I still feel like hibernating.

The middle of March means that I am deeply involved in preparations for attending the ISGB Gathering.  The Gathering is the annual conference of the International Society of Glass Beadmakers and I am currently the president of this wonderful organization.

We will be converging on Las Vegas at the beginning of April and it will be a wonderful time. 

I am busy melting glass to make all the things I am taking to the event.  It has been hard to get to the torch since Kevin died and I am not sure that I am entirely recovered from the loss but I am pushing forward to regain my creative spirit and I know he would want that of me.

It is amazing how all aspects of our life can affect our creativity.  I didn't even recognize my own lack of creative energy for months and then I didn't connect it to death but when I finally understood, it explained a great deal, 

I was in Italy in September 2018 when Kevin died.  Italy was the most wonderful adventure of my life so far and I was grateful that I had my artist friends with me when the news came.  I continued my trip since it was near the end and still had some great times.  It was strange as his loss did not hit me fully until months after his death.  I was more in shock when I first heard,  although it was inevitable that he would die from the colon cancer,  we thought we had more time.

We always think we have more time don't we?  More time to be with people we love,  more time to be creative, more time to make amends.  We don't .  I am living life differently now.  I think that is the best that came from his death.  I realized that we don't always have more time and that we can still love people who we can't be with. 

I will write more about my Italian adventures as my creative comes back.  Until then this is cheaper than therapy.

Keep the glass flowing.

Susan

Monday, July 2, 2018

Summer in the city

It is the early days of July and  I am scattered preparing for the next few months.  I have been out of town for a couple of weeks and have not tended to my garden or my studio.  I am hoping to do some of that this month. My daughter Allison is getting married in August and I am going to Italy in September for some glass adventures so the current days need to be productive. If only mother nature would help me by lowering the temperature and the humidity, but such is a Michigan summer.

 My position as President of the International Society of Glass Bead Makers (ISGB)  is a great honor and a great challenge.  We are busy trying to get things lined up for the 2019 Gathering in Las Vegas.  It is going to be another great conference and I am excited for the changes we are making.

 Lately I have written a bit for the glass publications and write monthly for the ISGB Bead Release. I wrote an article in May for Soda Lime Times discussing the changes in the ISGB and am currently writing a glass review for Glass Bead Evolution.

In the ISGB - Glass Bead Evolution this month we had an article by Pam Kellett that was written about the Southeast Michigan Glass Beadmakers Guild's 20 bead glass challenge.  It was a fun exercise and quite a surprise when I saw my beads in the issue!.   The beads were made from CIM Butter Pecan, Effetre Light Topaz, and DH Echo.

The SMGBG guild does a great job of getting us to the torch.

Guess that is it for now but keep the torches lit and the glass hot.


Susan




Wednesday, October 18, 2017

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

Monday, June 5, 2017

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!


Monday, February 27, 2017

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.

















Thursday, August 25, 2016

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







Thursday, July 28, 2016

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