Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you’ll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.
This week’s winner is Soochal! Congratulations, Soochal! You’re the winner of Melissa’s word charm! Please send your postal address to the ABS Suggestion Box and Melissa will send your charm bead!
Today’s Studio Tour is with Cindy Gimbrone, glass beadmaker. Let’s see what’s going on in her studio….
Hello from my studio! Before I get started, I want to say “Happy Birthday” to my nephew, Shane who I used to babysit when he was a baby. What an adorable baby he was and he’s grown up to be a fine young man. Have some cake on me, Shane!
Now, on to today’s studio tour. If you’re a regular reader, you’ve been in my studio several times. So to mix things up a bit, I’ve decided, it’s time to try something new! I took a class with Sally Prasch awhile ago on blowing glass at the torch and working with glass tubing. I’ve written about borosilicate glass on the Cindy Gimbrone blog. I bought a larger torch and ordered glass tubing.
In the class with Sally, I pulled a few points – “points” are glass tubes with the ends heated and pulled to a thing blow tube. You decorate the middle of the tube, heat it and blow through the small ends. It’s time to make more points and practice, practice, practice.
So, that’s what I’m doing today – setting up the bigger torch that I need to melt the tubing and cutting the 4 feet tubing to shorter lengths to make points.
That leads me to today’s question. What new thing have you tried lately?
One random comment will win a two-chain glass link. I look forward to reading what you’ve tried that’s new!
Emma Todd
June 28, 2008 at 2:39 pmI’m still so new at my craft, polymer clay, that almost everything I’m doing is new to me. Sometimes I’m maybe a bit too cautious. Like turning down an outdoor show, since I don’t have the budget for all that type of gear (Next year though!)Othertimes I’m glad that I have bought up oh so many supplies because I have what I need when crativity strikes. I’m happy you ladies all share so much in this blog it is very inspiring to just keep pushing forward and try. Thanks!
LampworkDiva
June 28, 2008 at 2:51 pmHi Emma,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It’s so exciting when you’re new at your craft. It’s exciting when the ideas are flowing. So many ideas, so little time,right?
Keep at it – next year you’ll do the outdoor shows! smile!
Cindy
Suanough
June 28, 2008 at 3:10 pmI embarking off in an entirely new direction for me, Kumihimo…
I am a bead weaver and designer but have found Kumihimo to be the most relaxing, medatative, serene pastime. I have been using lambwork for pendants to hang from the braided neckpieces. I love learning new artways.
Suanough
LampworkDiva
June 28, 2008 at 4:07 pmHi Suanough,
I’ve never tried Kumihimo although I’ve seen it and it’s lovely! What a great new skill you’re developing and it’s relaxing too. Can’t get any better than that!
Thanks for sharing your own “something new.”
Cindy
LLYYNN
June 28, 2008 at 4:09 pmI’m battling my torch fears with a puny little butane torch (starting small, gotta start somewhere) to do fine silver fusing. Just looking at your setup makes me shiver with awe! Now that’s some torch going on there, I’m thinking.
Heather Powers
June 28, 2008 at 5:40 pmcan’t wait to see what comes out of your creative weekend in the studio Cindy!
I want to try the fine silver fusing like Lynn, but I’m even more of a baby when it comes to the torch! I have been playing with cold connections, hammering and texturing wire for findings.
LampworkDiva
June 28, 2008 at 6:05 pmHi Llyynn and Heather!
Believe me I had torch-fear myself but I wanted to melt glass and found I bled too much trying stained glass. I tell people I realized I’d rather burn than bleed! LOL! Took me a long time to get over the fear and even now I check the connections religiously!
I’ll look forward to your silver creations and seeing if you end up taking the torch-plunge!
Flame on!
Cindy
Andi
June 28, 2008 at 8:01 pmWhat I’m trying that is new is embracing the idea of work that doesn’t have to be saleable. I spent way too much time trying to figure out the most efficient way to produce items for sale and instead found the fastest ways to kill my enthusiasm for everything that I made. So now I’m just making and enjoying. I don’t get enough studio time anymore to have to worry as much about what to do with the volumes I’m producing.
LampworkDiva
June 28, 2008 at 9:05 pmHi Andi,
What a great comment! As beadmakers we can get so caught up in the business end and needing to earn a living we can forget to foster our creativity too. I’m glad you’re working at getting your enthusiasm back – the world needs a talented artist like you!
Thanks for sharing!
Cindy
star
June 29, 2008 at 12:09 amworking with fire absolutely terrifies me! so very brave. 🙂
something new for me….i’ve been drawing. i don’t draw. i just don’t think i’m very good at it. so i figured it was time to get better.
Tina
June 29, 2008 at 12:14 amGreat post! Glass is one thing I’ve got on my ever growing list to try out 🙂
I’m relatively new to beading & jewelry — obsessed for the last few months now lol This week I make a watch for myself – first one ever. You can view it at my blog at http://tina-stephen.com/kcrystina
Lorelei
June 29, 2008 at 12:52 amI’ve been trying my hand at stamping polymer clay. Some of them turned out “okay”. I’d love to try some basic silverwork- so I can start stamping silver charms. It’s on my short-term goal list!
LampworkDiva
June 29, 2008 at 2:10 pmHi Star,
It’s awesome that you’ve decided to draw – it’s such a great way to express yourself. I’m sure you’re much better at it than you think! It’s brave to try anything new! 🙂
Cindy
LampworkDiva
June 29, 2008 at 2:11 pmHi Tina,
Welcome to a new addiction – beading! LOL! Lovely watch – thanks for sharing!
Cindy
LampworkDiva
June 29, 2008 at 2:13 pmHi Lorelei,
What did you stamp in poly clay? I know you’re an owl fan – did you stamp owls? Basic silver work is a great goal – a piece of jewelry can always use a charm or two!
Cindy
Andi
June 29, 2008 at 3:59 pmSummer is a great time to embark on a new adventure. I think that we have such strong associations with the season and a change of pace (school’s out… time for fun) that we just naturally want to do something a bit more fun, a bit less work-like.
rosepostcards
June 29, 2008 at 4:57 pmHi,
I am just starting to work with some new molds for creating polymer clay base beads. It is harder to cut out the molded pieces just right, so I just need practice, practice, practice. LOL. It’s fun. I just love the Studio Saturday and all of the tips, comments and ideas you share.
Beth
LampworkDiva
June 29, 2008 at 5:34 pmAmen, Andi! Summer is the time for fun and doing something more creative! Hope you’re enjoying it smile!
Cindy
LampworkDiva
June 29, 2008 at 5:48 pmHi Beth,
Sounds like you’re going to have some great beads once you get the hang of it. It’s great you’re enjoying the practice end of it. We at ABS love the Studio Saturdays! Thanks to Melanie of Earthenwood for suggesting it!
Look forward to seeing your new work!
Cindy
Valerie
June 29, 2008 at 7:17 pmI am know starting to work with silver and Gold clay but first I have been practiceing with polyclay. I have been using it for a while now but am trying out knew ways of combining different mediums with it. I have been making filigree cages to put gemstones in. So far it has worked out very well. I seem to be a natural at just about anything I put my mind to and I love to make beautiful jewelry.
I think I’ll start my silver and Gold clay next weekend. I plan on combining them together for a more dramatic look. Any suggestions?
LampworkDiva
June 29, 2008 at 8:01 pmHi Valerie,
Sounds like you’re very talented! Silver and Gold clay is a great medium to work with. As for suggestions, why not try chain? I’m working in glass links and short chains in glass why not try that in silver and gold clay? The filigree sounds lovely too.
Keep trying new things 🙂
Cindy