Go To The Door Laughing

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning is a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness
Some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.

Welcome, and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows
Who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture.

Still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice
Go to the door laughing
And invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes
For each has been sent
As a guide from beyond.
~Rumi

For Stewart, thank you Duirwaigh for bringing me this poem.

My latest and favouritist

I love this little bead! I'm extremely happy because the pattern is even all the way round, the encasing is about as good as I have managed so far - it goes pretty much to the holes AND this little baby is so perfectly round! Usually I seem to end up with thicker encasing on one side of the bead than the other, but this bead was born pretty close to perfect :oD

It's one of my unboroboro beads.  I had trouble photographing it, but this pic is pretty close to how it looks.





Look at how nice and round it is!!!

February Ottawa Lampworkers Gathering

Our group of Ottawa area lampworkers is growing, on Sunday we met at Evelyn's house. Seven of us were there, Evelyn, Jen Muise, Jennifer Jakobs, Virginia, Charlie, Carole and myself. It is such fun to see everyone's creations, as we are all doing different things. We exchanged some beads this time and here is the stash I came away with. I've numbered them so that I can say who did what.

Numbers 1&2 are Evelyn's beads, she uses lots of frits in different sizes and colours and builds layers upon her beads - aren't they something! 3 is one of Jen's, I really like this bead, it makes me think of a very fancy cake when I stand it on end, 4 is one of Charlie's 'rejects' - I would be so happy to make something that looked like that, 5 is Useless Eustace the bull by Jennifer Jakobs, she's taken one of Sharon Peter's classes and is making beads that ooze with colour and fun, and 6 is from Carole - this one makes me think Jackson Pollock, it really is a miniature work of art. I think I did pretty good! I'm excited because I'm starting to get a little collection of other people's beads and they're very inspiring to look at and hold.

The Dark Side is Calling....

The dark side? Yes, borosilicate or boro glass. I keep seeing the most wonderful beads and vessels made from this glass. I am totally in love with the colours that swirl and create universes of such depth and beauty in these creations.

Here is just one for example -



This stunning vessel is made by Samma - see all the colours at play in the different angles of light - I am dreaming about this stuff at night! Samma is creating amazing vessels, if you like this one you should visit her blog by clicking here I am going to add it to my links.

Since I am using a hothead torch at the minute, boro is off-limits. I don't have enough heat to melt the glass. In order to work borocilicate glass you need a torch that uses both gas and oxygen. I am so obsessed at the minute I've gone back to experimenting with my unboroboro beads, they are looking quite pretty, but they are not the real thing...







Valentina, if you are looking at this I AM SORRY!! I KNOW I am supposed to be making you some silvery drop beads, please forgive me! I'm in a very dark place at the minute, I am trying hard not to let the Dark Side win! (yeah right!)

Wet Canvas Calendar 2008

Here's the Wet Canvas beadmaker's calendar for this year. I have some of my faces in the bottom right.  It is a beautiful thing, so many different styles and colours - many of which have been created by my friends in the 'newbie' thread there.  I have to say I don't see much that looks like 'newbie' work, except for one sweet blue bead that is someone's firstborn.

You can click on it!  Go ON!!  You know you want to!!! :o)

Upcoming meeting of Ottawa Lampworkers

This Sunday we are having the second meeting of our local lampwork group. Evelyn - ShebaMakeda has kindly invited us all to her home. I'm looking forward to it! If you are an Ottawa area lampworker and are interested in joining our group let me know! We're a pretty relaxed bunch, just getting things off the ground with no great plans other than to be able to share and learn from each other.

Waiting

I feel like I'm waiting. Waiting for March, waiting for milder weather, waiting until I can really get back and at it. Waiting for my kiln, waiting for my big girl torch, waiting, waiting, waiting to use borocilicate glass. I'm pretty patient, but sometimes I get tired of waiting.

No beads to show at the minute, it's been too cold, I've had a couple of sessions at the torch but am not sure about the fruits of my labours, I'll post them later.