Hello, ISGB Members!

I'm having a really hard time believing that we're already moving into September.  My dogwood tree is already changing colors, and I'm loving the cool, foggy mornings we've been having here in the mountains of Tennessee the last couple of weeks. I love the fall season here...school is in session, yardwork is slowing down, and I get a little more time in the studio. But I'll readily admit that I'm NOT looking forward to the cold winter that I know will soon follow.

We are very excited to be showing off our first edition of the newly re-vamped Bead Release newsletter this month! Our first article is a brief history of the organization's Hall of Flame award, and I hope you guys will find it as interesting as I did. I'd like to give a quick thanks to our District Director, Kris Schaible for overseeing this "facelift" of our monthly newsletter. Kris and her team have some terrific topics and features planned for you guys. If there are specific article themes or any volunteers or groups or individual artists that you think deserve to be featured here, shoot Kris an email. She and her team are always happy to hear your suggestions and ideas. And as always, all of your regional happenings and announcements can still be found on the regional pages of the website.

Just a quick deadline reminder: If you're interested in submitting a proposal to teach or present at the 2015 Gathering in Albuquerque, New Mexico, those submissions are due by September 15, 2014, and all of the information can be found on the ISGB website.   

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Angie

Angie Ramey, President
International Society of Glass Beadmakers
  

The idea for the "Hall of Flame" Award was conceived in May of 2002 by the Executive Board of the ISGB after a grueling five day meeting.[i] At 9 pm on the last day they finally gave up on going to dinner and instead ordered in pizza and a round of drinks to celebrate finishing the meeting.

Truly relaxing for the first time in several days, they started talking about the history of the ISGB and telling stories of past Gatherings. The story telling soon evolved into a discussion of how grateful they were to certain members who had put so much of themselves into creating and shaping the ISGB.

As they discussed ISGB history many names emerged and someone suggested that they should make a list. They were having a wonderful time reliving our history and it became obvious as the list grew, the number of people that had helped create the soul of the organization.

There were times when the only thing that kept the organization going was the nurturing, determination and love that was put into it by a few people. The reason that they were there was because of those members' time, work and vision. The board realized how grateful they were that these members had been the pioneers of the organization.

One member's name came up repeatedly with many stories that swirled about that person. This member's contributions had been at many levels. Many of which were buried deep within the heart of the organization; others were about good deeds that were done that weren't visible but made lasting impressions upon new and emerging artists. The board decided to establish the Hall of Flame Award to recognize this individual and in the future, others. That first recipient was Jim Kervin.

When making this choice and future choices the board recognized members whose contributions deserve special recognition, whether for support of the ISGB organization through leadership or volunteerism, advancement of the glass beadmaking movement through education or glass and tool development, support of beadmaking artists and a positive representative of the beadmaking movement. The Hall of Flame Award sets a standard of excellence in the world of glass beadmaking.

Since then, each year as the Gathering approaches, nominees for induction into the Hall of Flame are made, discussed and, voted on. From the very beginning current members of the Hall have been active participants in choosing new members. Until 2007 they voted alongside the board but since then the board has turned over the honor of choosing new members to the current members, with suggestions from the board. 

Each recipient of the Hall of Flame Award receives a glass plaque and a lifetime membership. But don't expect them to just sit back on their laurels. Most remain very active in the ISGB helping to shape its future. The current recipients of the Hall of Flame Award are:

2002 - Jim Kervin (photo by Greg Fuchs)

2003 - Cindy Jenkins with President Susan Silvy (photo by Greg Fuchs)

2004 - Craig Milliron  (photo by Greg Fuchs)

2005 - Kristina Logan (photo by Jim Kervin)

2006 - Mike Frantz (photo by Greg Fuchs)

2007 - Cathy Finegan (photo by Greg Fuchs)

2008 - Lewis Wilson (photo by Greg Fuchs)

2009 - Donna Milliron (photo by Greg Fuchs)

2010 - Lisa St. Martin (photo courtesy of Lisa St. Martin)

2011 - Greg Fuchs (photo by Jim Kervin)

2012 - Peter Norton & Jean Robichaud with President Terry Hale (photo by Doug Baldwin)

2013 - Leah Fairbanks (photo by Derek Lusk)

The newest inductee into the ISGB Hall of Flame is Heather Trimlett. She first started making beads in 1989 and was one of the group of glass beadmakers that met in in 1993 in Prescott, AZ at what is now recognized as the first Gathering. There it was decided to found what was to become the ISGB and meet again in the future. She taught her first class in 1994 and has packed classrooms in San Diego and across the United States and Canada ever since inspiring hundreds of new beadmakers. Her work has been featured in a multitude of publications. She is a problem solver who has shared her solutions through her tools, tutorials and teaching. She believes deeply in the art form of glass beadmaking and is dedicated to preserving our history, glass culture, and techniques.

We love what she wrote about herself on her website. "You would think I was inspired by color when you look at my work, but often my biggest pleasure comes from the technical challenge. I strive to push the envelope in shape and form. As with most things, simple is hard to do well and I am a perfectionist. Every bead I make has some little thing in it I've tried to do better than the last bead I made. I love the bright energy of primary colors and hope I will always be as vibrant and enthusiastic as those colors are."

2014 - Heather Trimlett (photo by Carlos Bazan)

A Note from Heather:

I'm SO honored!

Going to the Gathering has always been important to me. This year I was especially ready to be in Houston surrounded by people who understand what I do. To my TOTAL surprise and delight I was chosen as the recipient of the ISGB Hall of Flame award this year!! Those of you who know me will be surprised to hear that I was speechless, my heart was pounding and hands were shaking when the announcement was made. I could not be more proud and grateful for this honor.