A bracelet from Samma's Tutorial

One of the really wonderful things about my lampworking journey is the number of friends I am making along the way.

Samma is a regular on 'our' not so little Newbie thread over at the Wet Canvas forum.  It's a place where we share ideas, praise each others achievements and offer support when things aren't going quite as well.  I don't think a cross word has ever been posted in that thread, which is really something to be amazed about.  Don't even try and read it from the start!  If you visit, jump in at the end!

I noticed that Samma had published a tutorial over at Beaders Showcase for a fun bracelet made with seed beads.  Since it's been cold and I haven't been able to torch as much as I'd like I figured I'd give this tutorial a try.

I have a habit of not following things to the letter, which can sometimes get me into trouble, but this time I think it worked out quite well!

Here's my Monkees in The Jungle bracelet that is the result of Samma's Tutorial!  Thanks Samma!

[caption id="attachment_1132" align="alignnone" width="425" caption="Two By Two Bracelet - Monkees in The Jungle"][/caption]

At the moment Bob is wearing it, because he thinks he's Lord of the Monkees!

[caption id="attachment_1131" align="alignnone" width="425" caption="Bob, Lord of the Monkees"][/caption]

Inspiration from other Glass Artists

One thing I have found since I started this wonderful journey in glass, is how generous other Artists are with their inspiration and guidance. I do believe this is how Art can truly flourish.

For example, this morning I've been doing my usual rounds of blogs and forums and have been particularly inspired by two things.

Samma's Vessel

Samma has shared a tutorial on her beautiful blown glass vessels over at Beaders Showcase.  This reminded me of a wonderful blown Pod bead that she created, and got me thinking I'd like to have a go at blowing some glass.  I loved the organic shape of her Pod, but also am intrigued with blown vessels I've seen that have holes blown out of them, leaving the inner cavity wide open to the imagination!

And then I visited Studio Marcy's Blog, where Marcy has created a bead based on a work of Art.  Instead of playing it safe with something relatively simple she's really stretched herself and put a very complicated image into a bead.

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Marcy's inspiration and bead!

Making Monkees can get repetitive, and it's starting to feel safe and comfortable, these two Artists have given me food for thought this morning as well as planting seeds of inspiration for ways in which I can stretch myself in my beadmaking endeavours!

Thank you Samma and Marcy!

On a less thrilling note our weather forecasters are saying that we are about to get hit with our first Winter Storm of the season.  WHAT!!??  It's still October and they are predicting as much as 30cms in some areas!  I don't like Winter at the best of times, and this evening is supposed to be our last bead meeting before the show in November, I'm beginning to feel as though Fate is conspiring to keep me away from these meetings.  Hopefully it will get rescheduled.