NEW STYLE...

I'm exhausted... I've been cramming for the last couple of weeks or so getting ready for an art show that is happening the Saturday after I get home. It was a last minute decision... It's going to be fantastic! (click on images for detail view)

I'll be doing the show w/ Jennifer Ionta at Woodland Hill Winery in Delano, Minnesota. It'll be my first outdoor show... I'm so excited about that, too!! LOL! (how can I stand it all???) I need FINISHED pieces for this show. I've been working on some new jewelry styles...finding my JEWELRY VOICE. Trying to figure out what I want to do that'll represent & be uniquely ME!

I've mostly been working with Vintaj Natural Brass findings... they look FANTASTIC w/ my beads & they're a fraction of the price of sterling silver!

I've found Double Helix's Terranova 2...

& what's even better, I found that I can actually get some color out of it! :o)

It's changed my world. Sam (my 13 year old) says that he doesn't even recognize my beads anymore! I'm just growning.
I CANNOT imagine what I'm going to be able to do after I get home from this crazy trip!!

I've also been having fun electroforming. I've had the kit since after the Gathering last summer, but had yet to set it up to use.

I decided, when I started making stuff for this show, that I needed to pull it out & start making some acorns. They'd be perfect for this show. I made my first electroformed glass acorn in May last year (2007) when our local group got together @ Julia Lund's. That's mainly why I wanted my own electroforming kit. It took me a while... but they're so worth it. So cute. PERFECT for this show.

...I need to take some pictures of my acorns... but here's a bead that I electroformed
Anyway... I've also been making some serving pieces... bottle stoppers & openers, cheese knives that I'm pairing w/ beautiful bamboo cutting boards, etc... they'll be perfect for this show @ the winery, too.

I'll take some pictures of those when I get home from Glass Stock, before I sell them all ;o) & will show them off here.

Till then...

GREAT NORTHWEST... HERE I COME!

OMG...OMG...OMG... I'm so excited. I'm leaving for Seattle on Wednesday morning. I'll spend the day w/ my aunt & cousin... then my friend Deb will be flying in on Thursday & we're going to wander around for a few days. We'll be going to the Frantz Glass Bash on Saturday... camping in an RV w/ several other crazy glass people for the weekend. Can't wait to meet all of the people that I see online on Lampwork Etc.

From there, on Sunday, we'll be heading to Chinook, Washington for a 2 day (pre Glass Stock) class w/ Jennifer Geldard on Monday & Tuesday... staying in a 2 bedroom apartment above the studio where the classes will be. Jennifer will even be staying there w/ us... it'll be great to get to know her!!

Then on Wednesday morning, we'll be heading for Newport, Oregon for GLASS STOCK!! I'm going to pee my pants, I'm so excited. Maybe I'll hurl first, I'm a nervous wreck as well.

Did I already mention that I'll be taking a Michael Barley class at the end of October??... holy crap... I'm going to be FABULOUS!! LOL!

Makes me emotional, actually. It almost feels like it's going to be life changing. Seriously. Everything that I am today, as a lampworker, is all me. After my initial basic lampworking class got me started, everything that I do... all of my style & creativity comes from ME... all of my bad lampworking habits, too... all me. :o) I can't imagine what I'll be able to do after this experience. It's a whole new journey for me.

Anyway... it's been a crazy, busy time for me. Need to find more time to blog... I'll have all sorts of things to say when I get back.

Till then...

Julie