What A Week!

Sometimes your week just doesn't go as planned.... I have had THAT week. I have had kind of a comedy of errors type of week, except that it has been less comedy, more error. It took me DAYS to figure out my new photo editing software, and I have by no means, got it figured out, but I can at least use it a little now. I have been trying to get my photos right for my jewelry shop since we move, but still don't have the right spot. I may have to just finally buy a photo tent and proper lights. I prefer natural outdoor lighting, but I have yet to find a workable spot at our new house.

It has gotten cold here this past week in the evening, and since my "studio" is out in the garage, it gets cold out there. This means that my glass, once I heat it up and use it, will crack the next time I go to use that same rod of glass! I have tried several different methods for trying to keep this from happening, but so far nothing has been really successful. I have a little space heater, but... it's whimpy! I think I am going to go to Costco and get one of those big disc heaters! I am getting desperate! This girl needs to melt some glass! I keep trying to get out there earlier in the day, but so far this week, I have been plagued by pretty bad headaches which won't go away until late in the day, if at all.

I just got a shipment of new glass and a whole bunch of cool new tools from cgBeads, that I am dying to play with! I will get out there sooner or later, I'd just like it to be sooner!

Allow Me To Introduce Myself...

I am the Glass Princess, at least at my house I am. I have fallen in love with the art of lampworking, also know as glass bead making. I work in my "studio" out in my garage. It is a temporary set up, but it will do just fine for now. I work on a GTT Cricket torch with an oxygen concentrator. I absolutely love my Cricket!

I have an Etsy shop ready to sell my beads once I feel I have something worth selling, but for now it sits empty. I also have a domain name, but no actual web site set up yet. If you put in my web address, you'll just be redirected to my Etsy shop.

I have been making jewelry for a few years now and selling it on Etsy in a shop under the name Juniper Gems for the past year. I have really enjoyed the creative process and where it has taken me. It's been an evolving sort of thing which has taken me in many directions, but ultimately lead me to fall in love with lampwork beads. I just find them fascinating to look at even more fascinating to make!

I have another blog associated with my jewelry shop, which I will continue to maintain.... at least for now. I don't currently use my own hand made beads in my jewelry, but will in the near future. I will always continue to purchase and use artisan made lampwork beads from other artist, since I really like to offer variety in my pieces of jewelry. There is such a wide range of styles and techniques to explore, far more than one person will likely cover.

I hope you'll enjoy this journey along with me.