Monday, September 24, 2012

Profile of an Australian bead-maker: Diana Bloomfield


Hello dear friends,

I am continuing my chats with Australian bead makers. Today I am talking to Diana Bloomfield.

For those who do not know, glass bead making or 'lamp-working' as it is often called, began many centuries ago. The techniques that are used today are a little different, the torches are more sophisticated but essentially the techniques are not too dissimilar. Hot glass is wrapped around a metal rod. The constant rotation of the rod, shapes and keeps the bead round. Decorations are added with thinner pieces of glass and manipulation of shapes can be achieved with tools and gravity. That is it in a nutshell... though of course, the techniques are many and the combinations of colour and design only limited by the artist himself.

1. How long have you been lampworking and what led you to begin to make glass beads?
I have been making beads since 2004 when I saw it being done in New Zealand when I was recovering from Breast Cancer.

2. Please describe your workplace. Do you have a dedicated studio space?
 I have a Studio which used to be my photography Studio when I did Animal pictures

Di at her workbench. She is using a Minor Burner torch. The stainless steel mandrels in the buckets are coated with bead release  and ready for use. She is also wearing special glasses which protect the eyes from flare from the torch flame and allow the lampwork artist to see the working area more clearly.

3. Which glass is your current favourite and why? 
I love the Double Helix and Tag Silver glasses.

4.  What type of torch/es do you use? Can you tell us a little about it.
 I use a dual fuel Minor Torch

5. How would you describe your style
 I don’t think I have a particular style, I experiment a lot

6. When the ‘muse’ has left the studio, what do you draw on to re-inspire you?
Inspiration comes from Nature and animals

7. If you could have a class with any well-known lampwork artist in the world, who would you choose and why?
 Loren Stump, I have already done a class with him and he is such a giving teacher, and a great person.
I would love to do it all again.

8. Do you have any other artistic interests and what are they?
Not really glass is my passion now.

'Steele Blue'


'Gold Bullion'

One of Di's pendants.

A gorgeous  'Lucia" necklace made with Di's  hand made glass beads.

 Diana sells her beads through her website, Bloomfields by Di-zyn. She also sells at markets... see her website for further information.

Thanks Di for sharing your glass passion with us,

Until next time,

Sunday, September 23, 2012

The Unfurling

Hello friends,

My beautiful Fiddleback Fig plant is finally unfurling her new growth. I am excited to see this plant grow.. I know they can grow quite tall.. which of course, is what I want!

If you wish to see what they can look like please have a look on a previous post. (The fiddleback and the Chinese pot)

Grow, baby, grow!

Today,  I am linking up to Lori's place, for those who love to take up close and macro photos... head on over for some inspiration.

studio waterstone
Click on this photo and it will take you straight to Lori's.

Have a great day,

Kind Deeds Are the Fruits

Hello dear friends,

Kind hearts are the garden,
Kind thoughts are the roots
Kind words are the blossom,
Kind deeds are the fruits

This poem was a favourite of my Grandmother, she lived her life by the sentiment expressed in these very true words.

I have joined in the fun of the "Pay it Forward" ideal that is eddying around our wonderful blogging community. Jenn from Souls Fire Designs also joined in and it was from her post that I decided to jump right in and join in with a random act of kindness of my own.

To the first three people who comment on this post, I will send a surprise gift. It may be lampwork beads, copper or silver work.. or even a dash of all three!

It will be sent sometime in the next 365 days :)   ... that way it will indeed be a surprise!

Please leave a comment ( with your e-mail address ticked ON ) I will send you a response asking for your address.. and we are on our way.


In order to complete your sign up, you MUST play along, too. This after all, is the spirit of "pay it forward" and keeps the love circulating!

Just remember,

"Kind deeds are indeed the fruits!"

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Studio additions

Hello friends,

I am always on the look out for extras to go in to my studio.

Not long ago, when I busy making chains, I vowed I would find a way that was easier and more ergonomic to make jump rings than the way I was currently making them. (a mandrel stuck in a vise and hand wrapping the wire around the mandrel... the wire starts to harden up very quickly and what starts off as an easy job rapidly turns in to quite a battle)

I discussed what I needed with a friend who is a whizz with tools and equipment and he came up with this little tool. I love it.. it works very efficiently, doesn't take up too much room on my jewelry table
and looks so cute as well!

Peter's jump ring maker.. much easier on the hands with aid of a handle. I will then cut the rings with a jewelers saw.

The other addition was this old swivel chair which used to belong to my Dad. He had it for years at his desk and then used it in the kitchen if he needed to sit down for some reason. It is sturdy, comfortable and best of all, it adjusted to a height that was much lower than my other 'office' chair... far better for my neck and back. I'm a happy girl. I also just love the fact that I am using his chair.




In memory of my father, I started a blog in his name called Jock's Stories. He was a journalist and an avid photographer.... I have started to document some of the stories and articles he wrote, hope you can pop by for a look. That is his photo on my blog side bar...

Well, that's it for today... off to the studio I go.

Have a great day,

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

My Studio

Hello friends,

As mentioned in a previous post I had spent a good part of last weekend tidying up my studio.
The word "Studio" seems too grand for this little cedar shed under the crab apple tree at the end of my garden... however it is "my home away from home" and I love it.

It is chock- a- block with a table for my lampworking torch, an area for soldering, set of drawers for storage as well as other little roll away shelves) and a kiln with glass storage underneath. Oh yes, I forgot, there is also a small bookshelf. It's amazing what you can cram in to a 3 metre x 2 metre space!
Here are a few photos.

On the left is my glass working table, the kiln and glass rod storage (under the black cover) are close by. When I make a bead I turn around and pop it straight in to the hot kiln. Behind the kiln in the corner is my soldering/jewelry making table. This table used to be where the drawers and small table are now. That was quite a difficult job to rotate those large pieces of furniture in such a small space! Oh yes, I do have a T.V in the studio, but I use it only to watch DVD's!

Soldering and jewelry making area. The main reason for the big swap around was to move this table closer to the window.

This is a new fume extractor which I wanted to place near the window.

The glass bead making area...normally there are glass rods all over this area. On the small table is a herb/spice rack which is perfect for my frit jars.( frit is small pieces of crushed glass which is added to a bead for decoration and added colour) The grey machine under the table is an oxygen concentrator which draws oxygen from the air... this is then combined with propane gas and the two mix together to make a flame in my torch. (under the plastic bag!) The propane cylinder is kept outside the studio and comes through a hole in the wall.

A collection of pliers!! I really don't use or even need all these! My husband put the power board attached to this piece of wood (Top photo) as the cords were so messy... the end part of the board was a perfect place for these.

And I hung this poster up... I think it says it all!



Monday, September 17, 2012

Profile of an Australian bead-maker: Belinda Clarke

Hello dear friends,

This is the second in my series showing the talents of Aussie  glass bead makers. 

This week I am talking to Belinda Clarke from Bellisimo Jewels.

For those who do not know, glass bead making or 'lamp-working' as it is often called, began many centuries ago. The techniques that are used today are a little different, the torches are more sophisticated but essentially the techniques are not too dissimilar. Hot glass is wrapped around a metal rod. The constant rotation of the rod, shapes and keeps the bead round. Decorations are added with thinner pieces of glass and manipulation of shapes can be achieved with tools and gravity. That is it in a nutshell... though of course, the techniques are many and the combinations of colour and design only limited by the artist himself.

Here are the questions I put to Belinda:


1. How long have you been lampworking and what led you to begin to make glass beads?
I have been lampworking for about 6 years – I started like most by making jewellery and just couldn’t find any beads that were unusual and unique, so I started researching if it was possible to make my own beads. I took a class with Pauline Delaney in Melbourne and met Marianne Bradman (Fields of Clover) I immediately fell in love with the glass and the colours and the possibilities! I took the plunge and set myself up with the basics and it has just evolved from there – there is always something new to buy to add to the collection of glass colours or tools or books etc

2. Please describe your workplace. Do you have a dedicated studio space?
My husband granted me a space in our garage between two pillars as my defined work area (tongue in cheek!) As long as I don’t encroach on his workbench all is good.  Actually he is very supportive and loves that I have explored a new creative area. I think he gets a bit jealous that he doesn’t have the time to do more tinkering at his own workbench. Here is a photo of me at my “designated workspace”





3. Which glass is your current favourite and why?
Hard question to answer Jenni because there are SO many, I love working with the Silver Glasses particularly Elecktra, Gaia & Terranova. I use Elecktra & Gaia a lot when making the tails and wings on my bird beads and I find it easy to get different colours from them in the flame. And Terranova, well it is a muddy brown glass rod that just gives divine colours in the flame

4. What type of torch/es do you use? Can you tell us a little about it?
A good old original Minor Burner – had it since day one, love it and haven’t had the need to change yet.

5. How would you describe your style?
 “Eclectic” – probably organic but then in the past twelve months I have been making little bird beads and “Carmen Miranda Faces”. Since completing Leah Fairbank’s floral class in April this year I have started doing more florals beads which I always thought was beyond my capabilities

Little bird with copper nest.


'Carmen Miranda'

6. When the ‘muse’ has left the studio, what do you draw on to re-inspire you?
When the “muse” has left I like to go back to my books and sit quietly reflecting on all the wonderful skills and designs from all the artists or I like to meet up with my bead buddies and have a beadmeet – I always find it inspiring to talk to other like-minded people and to see what they have been doing.  I am a great procrastinator – it drives me nuts! But when I get down to the workbench I love it and wonder why I took so long to go back to the flame.

7. If you could have a class with any well-known lampwork artist in the world, who would you choose and why?
I would like to do a class with Hayley Tsang as she is renowned for her work with silver glass – I really don’t have any other ONE person in mind, I have enjoyed the 4 classes I have taken so far – Jim Smircich, Andrew Guarino, Corina Tettinger & Leah Fairbanks – all really different glass bead artists and I came away with new skills from each of them. I would love to spend a day at the torch with a friend in our bead group – Carli Hunter Hall – Carli makes such beautiful floral beads and really colourful beads, she is so skilled I think I could learn a lot from her.  I will have to convince her to start teaching!!

8. Do you have any other artistic interests and what are they?
I did dabble in glass slumping at one stage but it didn’t “push my buttons” so to speak! In the past I have done basic patchwork & folk art but nothing has compared to lampworking.

Terranova drops.

Thanks Belinda for sharing your glass passion with us. 

I also must tell you that Belinda also makes wonderful rosary bead necklaces and bracelets combining Swarovski crystals/ pearls and cultured pearls which she sells all over the world.

You can also see more of Belindas  work on her facebook page (business) as well as at her main site Bellissimojewels.com.au

That's it for today folks,





Sunday, September 16, 2012

Sunday Macro

Hello friends,

I have had a busy weekend tidying both house and studio. Just managed to take some quick shots for 'I Heart Macro' while the sun was still peeping from behind the clouds.

At least the Gazanias were still open for the day!

The white iris has finished and now the coloured ones are appearing.

The 'blue' bells under the crab apple tree are opening.If you look closely you will see they are mauve with blue stripes, so pretty.

And the apple tree is getting ready...

Today as usual on a Sunday, I am linking up at Lori's place.

Please click on the photo below and it will take you to see photos by those who love to take close up and macro.

studio waterstone

Until next time,

hope you all having a great weekend,

Friday, September 14, 2012

A Glass Bead Trip

Hello dear friends,

I am so excited to show you this gorgeous book "A Glass Bead Trip" by Claudia Trimbur- Pagel. It arrived this afternoon all the way from France! (very fast too!)

Claudia's beads are really unique... they combine a wonderful sense of quirky with precision and such style.
She also combines her beads with hand - made made silver clay embellishments and settings to make her jewellery so beautifully elegant and arty.

Here are a few photos taken from the book, which by the way is written in English, German and French.
There are HEAPS of photos and step by step info ( including the silver clay work) in this gorgeous book for bead makers.


Look at all that beautiful silver clay work!

The girl's eye is a murrini  - how to make this is in the book.

Wonderful colour and stringer work.

Cute dogs.. I think the white ones look a little like Schnauzers.. must have a go at making one of those seeing my dog, 'Pepper' is a Schnauzer.

So, have I got your interest piqued?

Here is a link if you wish to look further.

Now, I am off to give it a proper read!
Have a great weekend,

Jenni


Monday, September 10, 2012

Profile of an Australian bead-maker: Marianne Bradman


Hello dear friends,

Today I am starting a new segment on my blog. Each week or thereabouts, I aim to talk to an Australian glass bead artist and show you some of their work. I am starting the series with an interview with Marianne Bradman from Fields of Clover

For those who do not know, glass bead making or 'lamp-working' as it is often called, began many centuries ago. The techniques that are used today are a little different, the torches are more sophisticated but essentially the techniques are not too dissimilar. Hot glass is wrapped around a metal rod. The constant rotation of the rod, shapes and keeps the bead round. Decorations are added with thinner pieces of glass and manipulation of shapes can be achieved with tools and gravity. That is it in a nutshell... though of course, the techniques are many and the combinations of colour and design only limited by the artist himself.

Here are a few questions I put to Marianne and she so kindly sent me her response and photos.


 1. How long have you been lampworking and what led you to begin to make glass beads?
 I had my first lampworking class with Pauline Delaney at the end of 2005 but didn't really do any lampworking at home until about 1 1/2 years later, so really, off to a slow start. A girlfriend (Sue) and I took the class together. Sue had already made some beads at home but I'd never attempted lampwork before.I was petrified that I would get burnt or the glass would drip off the mandrel.  Trying to keep turning the mandrel was a bit of a challenge too. As for making a round bead, what can I say except that I had quite a few wonky beads. The class was good fun though with lots of laughter. It's really funny how everyone was making the same bead but they all turned out totally different. Then after the classes finished and I bought a Hothead Torch, the hardest step was lighting the Hothead for the first time. It was fine lighting a torch in class because there was someone else there to help. But at home, you're on your own.

2.  Please describe your workplace. Do you have a dedicated studio space?
I work in the garage, having a space dedicated to lampworking and other warm glass work. My torch sits on a small table that is cluttered with glass rods, presses, tools etc. Natural light isn't the best so I have a table top lamp to give a bit more light. My kiln sits next to me but as it is often filled with other glass being fused or slumped, I put my hot beads into a hot slow cooker filled with vermiculite. At the end of my lampwork session, I turn the slow cooker off and let the beads cool down slowly before removing them from the vermiculite at the start of my next session. My beads are batch annealed at a later stage. The only problem with batch annealing beads is that when they are done, I have a lot of beads that need cleaning, not one of my favourite tasks.  The picture below shows my glass storage using hollow plastic fence posts.

3.Which glass is your current favourite and why?
I really like Effetre 'Kiwi'. ( as the name implies, it is a green colour) It's one of their cool colours. I just love the streaky effect of it. Dark ivory is also one of my favourites, you can get lots of lovely effects out of it by super heating it.

4.What type of torch/es do you use? Can you tell us a little about it?
I now use a Minor torch and oxy concentrator. My first lessons were on a Minor and I was very happy with it. Initially I bought a Hothead Torch (pretty cheap way to start) but it was very noisy.  Once I bought my Minor, I started to do a lot more lampworking. The Minor suits my needs - I'm really not interested in Boro glass for which I'd probably need a more powerful torch.

5. How would you describe your style?
I like organic beads. I've never really been a person that likes abstract art but find that with beads, I love the organic, abstract effect. For quite a while, I was making small beads but have now started to make larger focal beads. Part of making smaller beads was that it allowed me to stay in my comfort zone and not experiment with other techniques. Earlier this year I attended a Leah Fairbanks workshop and really enjoyed 'painting' flowers onto beads. I have been practising this style recently, making lots of complex twisties to use for flowers and stems.

An organic, raked tabular bead with silver glass.


6. When the ‘muse’ has left the studio, what do you draw on to re-inspire you? 
When the muse has left the studio and I am stuck sitting at my torch wondering what to do, I make twisties. I make up lots of different colour combinations and find that as I am making a twistie, another colour idea comes to mind. I also get inspiration from looking through my lampwork books and will often revisit a bead style I have tried a long time ago but forgotten about.

7. If you could have a class with any well-known lampwork artist in the world, who would you choose and why?
This is a difficult question - there are so many great lampwork artists around.  I'm really glad I did the Leah Fairbanks workshop as it took my lampworking to another level. I tend to learn best from watching demonstrations, not just reading about techniques in a book. I'd like to work more with silvered glass - perhaps do a Hayley Tsang workshop one day. At the moment I'm not really interested in fine stringer work so wouldn't take that type of workshop. That could change in the future though.

8. Do you have any other artistic interests and what are they?
I also do a lot of other glass work including fusing and slumping, making functional items as well as decorative items. These include plates, pendants, earrings etc. For my warm glass work, I use Bullseye glass, layering the glass into the desired effect before fusing it into one piece in my kiln. Then depending on the item, the fused piece might be put back into my kiln and then slumped into a mould.

I also have alpacas and have recently learnt how to spin their fleece. Evenings in front of the tv are spent spinning or knitting alpaca fleece into simple, small items such as beanies and scarves.

An organic lentil-shaped bead.

Floral bead inspired after a workshop with Leah Fairbanks.

A selection of large lentil- shaped beads. ( all photos property of Marianne Bradman.)

Thank you Marianne for your time and those very comprehensive answers. You can also see Marianne's work on her facebook page.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

I Heart macro - This Week!

Hello dear friends,

In front of my very eyes.. almost on an hourly basis.. it is just all happening in the garden!
Yes, you know what I am talking about.. Spring has arrived in Melbourne!

Last week it was rain and more rain.. the last few days strong winds.. but today is GORGEOUS and the flowers are agreeing.

Two of these beauties opened up this morning ( "Rock rose"? )

The flowering Crab Apple has started to open in the last few days.

Rich red growth on my "Wife of Bath" standard roses.

And even the little succulents are looking for the sun!

Days like this just make me feel so grateful to be alive and in the midst of such unfolding beauty!
Today I am linking up to :
studio waterstone


- a place for those who enjoy up close and macro photography... head on over for a look!


I hope your weekend is wonderful, too.


Saturday, September 8, 2012

Flame on Glass - 2012

Hello dear friends,

Yesterday some bead-making friends from our small group the "Flaming Matildas" went to the 'Flame on Glass 2012" exhibition at Kirra Galleries, Federation Square, Melbourne. ( Last year's post is here )

This wonderful annual event (this is the 10th) showcases a lot of very talented Australian contemporary flameworking artists including those who work on the larger torches making larger sculptural pieces and also artists who use less powerful torches to make glass beads.

There were torches set up in the atrium outside  Kirra Galleries... a wonderful shop which sells and promotes glass in Australia.

There are many items on sale by featured artists:

Christian Arnold, Barbara Ashbee, Sally Balfour, Susie Barnes, Wendy Bergamin, Jemma Clements, Richard Clements, Cas Davey, Pauline Delaney, Kristen Dibbs, Cindy Durant, Mark Eliott, Matthew Farrell, Sally Green, Marilyn Hayes, Terri Kraehe, Len McFadden, Carol Marando, Raymond Mifsud, Peter Minson, Anne Oberin, Helen Peake, Lisa Simmons, Alan Ussher, Kathryn Wardill and Laurie Young



I was taken by the wonderfully complex work by Richard Clements who was showing these "animals of unknown origin" The eyes in these weird and wonderful animals (to me they looked like prehistoric/ fantasy birds) were astonishing as was the depth and glimmer in the menacing beaks.... a bow and lots of almost old-fashioned-looking decoration gave them a slightly comical and  'granny'-like appearance and took away the danger factor from that delightfully confusing piece. I'm not too sure if I would like to come across one in real life though!

Pictured: -  "Animal of Unknown Origin"by Richard Clements. ( photo from Kirra galleries )

Yes, that is a very powerful flameworking torch!

Kathryn Wardill working on a smaller torch and making a glass bead. Peter Minson (partially) is next to her. Coloured glass rods used for making beads are on the table.

This is a corner of the Federation Square complex.You either love it or hate it. Many Melbournites feel very strongly about it. Personally I love it, but I have always liked a juxtaposition of old and new together.

This is the iconic Flinders Street Railway Station on the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets, Melbourne. Behind is the very tall Eureka Tower... the tallest building in Melbourne at 91 storeys above ground. In the foreground is one of Melbourne's trams.


If you wish to see some glass artists at the torch, they will be in the atrium of Federation Square, Melbourne over this weekend of the 8th and 9th of September 2012 from 11am to 5pm. Hope you can make it!

Have a great weekend,




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