top

October 2015  

Welcome New Members! 
Welcome to all the ISGB members who joined in September:

Germany
Michou Pascale Eliane Anderson

Iowa
Robin Paul

Michigan
Jordan Valley Glassworks

New Jersey
Liza Lina Schuck

New York
Steven Cooper
Lindsay Woodruff

Ohio
Lisa Crow

Pennsylvania
Tamara Honaman

Tennessee
Colleen Mattison

United Kingdom
Karen Kelly
Karen Smart
Marlene Minhas
Ursula Mann

Wisconsin
Marilyn Browell



Rakow Research Library

A world of glass knowledge is at your fingertips. Check out the Rakow Research Library at Corning Museum of Glass! 

Click Here

 



Board Meeting Minutes
Want to keep up with what's happening in ISGB? Board Minutes are available on the forum or you can request a copy from your Regional Director.

 


Bead Release Archives
Bead Release Archives
Looking for a back issue of the Bead Release electronic newsletter? 

Click Here! 

 


 

Contact Us 

 

ISGB

Sarah Riggle, Administrator

85 East Gay Street

Suite 707

Columbus, OH 43215

614.222.2243

[email protected]

::

Find us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter 

 


Beads of CourageUse your creativity to help a child through a tough time.
Beads of Courage!

 

 

President's Message
by Jeri WarhaftigPresident

Hello Glass Friends - I hope all is well in your neck of the woods! It seems to me that September flew by in a few hours or maybe days. Here in the East of the United States most of September was HOT, and now October has decided to make up for that with an unusually chilly start. For the first time ever I now have a studio with both heat and air conditioning (instead of one or the other) and that means two things for me, there are limitless days where the indoor climate is perfect for glass work and I have lost my best excuse for procrastination, as in "I can't work in the studio, it's too cold (or too hot)"!

Suddenly, in the past few weeks, I have enjoyed a surge of creativity and bead production that is thrilling. I am always "making" things, but it is only on occasion that new designs develop and are refined. This is one of those rare occasions. After the usual post-Gathering crash, where I don't like anything I make, I have moved into energized creativity. Many ideas that were simmering on the back burner of my mind are blossoming. It is incredibly fun and rewarding to open the kiln.

I've tried to figure out why this period of creative bliss has landed on me, and although there is no one reason, I have identified some factors. First, the inspiration and fuel that I receive from any conference, and most recently from the Gathering has been put in perspective. To me that means I have mentally unpacked its influences, the lessons I learned, new materials I learned about, designs I encountered etc. Now that information is in the rear view mirror and with a little distance it fits into my approach to my work, but doesn't overwhelm me and make me feel like any direction I choose is wrong! The second factor is the events on my radar screen that are rushing toward me the way October slammed into the end of September. Some events are personal, such as gifts I hope to give for the holidays. But more pressing are the events that our glass world creates for us. I owe a piece to an upcoming art auction, in two weeks I will be teaching a workshop where I'm "expected" to have work for sale. In four weeks (or even less, ARGHHH) my photos are due for Art of Glass - Flameworking. This is creative pressure for me, the need to finally put pen to paper to use a metaphor and MAKE THINGS!! The upcoming events spur me to stop gestating ideas and get down to work.

The ISGB Board of Directors and Staff work hard each year to offer members a variety of opportunities to show their work. Traditionally, many of these opportunities are juried shows. Looking back over the years, and my show applications (both successful and not successful), I see that the shows kicked me into overdrive, and caused me to bring ideas and concepts to fruition. What is the significance of an upcoming "event"? Maybe it's the feeling of competition, the imposition of an artificial deadline, or the benefit gained from working around a theme someone else suggests. Some people feel pressure stifles creativity, sometimes it can spark mine!

No matter what ignites your spark of inspiration I hope that it has found you this fall and that you are able to wrestle that spark of inspiration to the ground and turn it into something glorious at your torch and in your kiln. If you need some help with this, consider a little book by Nick Bantock, "The Trickster's Hat". The subtitle of the book is "A Mischievous Apprenticeship in Creativity". In it you will find some nuggets like this: "When is any piece finished? As you near the end of a work, it grows less noisy, no longer demanding that you change this or that. Then, after its whispers have ceased and it is silent, it is complete."

Enjoy the fall, consider challenging your creative muse with a few artificial deadlines, read a good book about creativity, and torch, torch, torch.

(Shameless plug, there is still time to purchase a spot in Art of Glass - Flameworking!!) 

 
top 

Letter of Introduction
by  Patty Lakinsmith, Vice President
 
Hi everyone!  Patty Lakinsmith here, ISGB's new Vice President and Director of Organizational Support.  I am a brand new Board Member and am excited to bring my love for the ISGB and my professional skills from my technical career to help the ISGB move forward in its mission. I've been a bead maker since 2003 after one introductory class with Jackie Marr hopelessly hooked me. Yes, she warned me that night that it was addictive, but seriously, I had no idea where this passion would lead. I started my love affair with glass by taking a glassblowing class (Sweaty! Hot! Dangerous! Physically demanding!), then a fusing class (kind of a yawner after that), and then the bead making class with Jackie (back to the Sweaty, Hot, Dangerous fun!).  I had not seen a lampwork bead prior to that class, and boy did she open my eyes!  I practiced in my garage on a makeshift bench with my hothead for a few years, making all the beads in Corina's book, and practicing practicing practicing before getting my big girl torch. Then I set up a more permanent spot in the corner of the garage that I drug everyone I knew in to see, and finally, just a few years ago, my dream came true and we built my very own studio attached to the back of the garage, with a view of the woods. My Happy Place! My love for making glass beads continues and I can't imagine my life without it. I love the meditative aspect of work at the torch, and also love puttering in the studio, inventing crazy jewelry designs, collaborating with friends, and trying new things.

What have I done so far with the ISGB? Well, initially I was just a bystander in awe of all the incredible talent in the organization (I still am, BTW), and not really sure how I fit in. It took me a few years before I had the courage to go to a Gathering (Oakland!), but after meeting so many beadmakers in person after "knowing" them on the internet I was smitten. My first sleepover Gathering was Miami in 2009, and I volunteered there and in subsequent conferences in an effort to get to know more people. I joined SGB NorCal, a local-ish group of Beadmakers who shared all kinds of fun stuff with me, and finally in 2012 we started a new chapter right here in the San Francisco Bay area, the Silicon Valley Fireflies, and we meet one night a week every month. For the past couple of years or so I've done my best as their President to keep the chapter running smoothly and providing a way for local bead makers to get together and talk about what we love to do most.    

I'm just thrilled to be working with everyone at ISGB, and eager to dive in and start contributing.  I look forward to meeting even more new members at next summer's Gathering in New Orleans. 




National Bead Challenge Day
 
A number of ISGB members participated in National Bead Challenge Day, an annual "beadraiser" and fundraiser for Beads of Courage, a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the treatment experience for children with cancer and other serious illnesses. Two of our members share their experiences:


 










 
Tucson, Arizona
by Heather Sellers
 
The Beads of Courage Artist Challenge is always a special day. Firing up the torch, I found myself surrounded by close friends and talented artists giving so freely of their time and skills. I deeply admire their selfless gift of service.  Having a son born with a congenital heart defect, Beads of Courage is a cause near and dear to my heart on so many levels.

Courageous children, who have requested special beads, gather around the studio tables as the glass enters the flame. Skilled artisans steady their hands as they begin to bring Dream Beads to life. The molten glass starts to flow and a menagerie of one-of-a-kind beads fill the hot kilns. Happy ladybugs, alien-like monsters, smiling minions, superheroes, monkeys, and waddling ducks form a colorful parade of silliness. Sounds of laughter echo in the bustling studio as whimsical designs take shape. These beads will become unique Act of Courage beads, given to children on tough treatment days or to acknowledge milestones. 

Sheer amazement is visible in the children's inquisitive eyes as they watch the dance of molten glass. Creativity floods their eager minds as beads take shape. In this moment, the children forget about their serious illnesses and the daily struggles. Their thoughts drift away to the endless possibilities of glass.  Parents' hearts are filled with happiness as they see their child's wonder. On this day, I have watched parents hold back tears, while children smile with joy.  This is the reason why so many love the National Bead Challenge Day. The delightful scene is repeated in glass studios around the world. Artists as a collective inspire hope, one bead at a time. 

The children are full of questions. Many are concerned for the artist's safety and ask, "Have you ever burnt yourself?" In the child's eyes, the artists are brave souls who tame fire and molten glass. In our eyes, the children are the brave ones. Each bead on their elaborate necklace stands as significant evidence of their courageous spirit, a record of their story. They are gallant heroes in every sense of the word.

     











Santa Cruz, California
by Jackie Marr

   






It was a beautiful day in Santa Cruz despite the 95 degree weather. That's pretty unusual for us as we are a few blocks from the Pacific ocean. The 16 volunteers we had arrived early and had tables,food and umbrellas set up promptly. Five artists brought work to sell on the 50/50 plan. There were three torches setup with 12 lampworkers alternating throughout the day. Six dream beads were made, either before and during the event. Artists created a combined 52 beads during the event. We estimate that there were about 50 people that attended the event. We finished the day with 103 sponsor beads and will be sending 350 more donated to Beads of Courage. We raised over $1300 before the event and and about the same on the day of the event. Funds are still coming in!

 







 


top
 

top 

HOT TIPS
By Kiersten Kern

Taking Advantage of Social Media Resources
by Suzann Fine

Want to try something new? A class?

Find it on social media!

What you say?

Yes, social media- Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, etc.

On Facebook there are groups that post nothing but links and information on tutorials, paid and free, as well as tips and techniques. You can find pages for studios all over and their calendars and classes.
 
Pinterest lets you look at pages that lampworkers have created with links to lampworking tutorials.
 
Youtube lets you actually watch the tutorial! Here you can even leave questions and comments under the video and most of the time the presenting artist will answer you. The Corning Museum of Glass has posted many videos and segments including Kristina Logan and Heather Trimlett on their Youtube channel.
 
This is just a beginning of the wealth of resources available where you can network and interact with the instructors all in one place! ( and much of the time, totally free!!)
 
Take a look and see what you can find! 

top