One Glass Beadmakers' Life

It has been a long time since I posted here on my blog.  With my "two lives" it takes a while to settle back into the Ann Arbor life after spending all summer on Beaver Island (Michigan).  And then the holidays come and go....


Below is a photo taken on Beaver Island with the family:  Cary, me and Niko the dog! And a sunrise photo from Beaver Island. Almost every day I got a sunrise shot from Beaver Island - they just seem to be nicer there.

 

The photo below is taken in my studio on Beaver Island. It shows me making a bead with the gas torch. I have a mandrel in my left hand, then heating Italian glass with my right hand until it is molten. Then the glass is wrapped onto the mandrel, formed into whatever type of bead that you are making. You can add glass frit to decorate the bead, add glass flowers, etc. It all depends on your skill level how it will look! You can see the glass rods around the bench. That is what I melt with the torch. After the bead is formed it goes into a kiln for about 6-8 hours to anneal or harden it. Then you clean the bead and you have one handmade glass bead.

 

 

In Ann Arbor, I am back volunteering at the Humane Society of Huron Valley (www.hshv.org) doing dog customer care which is helping people find a dog they want to adopt.  It is great to see the dogs find a "forever home."  Exercising at my gym is also keeping me occupied and also playing tennis once or twice a week. 

We have seen some good movies this winter - Lincoln was excellent, The Hobbit and Jack Reacher.  We love reading mysteries and Jack Reacher the movie was very good. 


And below are some photos of items that I have on my ETSY site right now.  Check out my shop with the ETSY link above! 

 

Swarovski crystal earrings - love the sparkle!

 

Lightweight bangles.  Easy to wear, fun, colorful.

 

                   Leather skull bracelet.  I love mine!



Vertebra necklace.  Handmade glass bead.

GO BACK TO: http://www.BeaverIslandJewelry.com HOME PAGE

Jewelry & Shopping. (#12)

Of course one of the reasons we come to Venice is to get inspired in our jewelry making and bead making. The colors here and the ideas we get from Venetian glass makers and the way they arrange shop windows help our creations.




This was a small bowl in the miniature glass exhibit.




Handmade leather necklace




Sponge purses at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum.
















Wood carved bag!












Marbled papers.








We went to see our favorite Venetian glassmaker today, Vittorio Constantini. He is the maestro who makes, in glass, natural wonders. Here's his smile!








And as always a lovely canal shot!
Ciao!
Nancy
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Beautiful day in Venice. (#11)

Today no rain until this evening when all of a sudden we had a big thunder boomer, then a downpour and then rain! Even the big turtle in the garden below was running for cover. (we think those people eat them as there were two turtles, now one).




This morning we had some light fog. I like my photo of Salute church in a little fog!




My favorite puppy -- Mia, the Stafordshire Bull Terrier (4 months).




I wanted to show some of the different and unique chimneys here. Those have some spiral thing inside that helps to put out the cinders before they get outside. These were for the times when there were lots of wood houses around.








This chimney is across from our apartment and is practically a work of art!












This one is kind of pretty.




And who lives in this upstairs room??












This looks giant sized!




This is across the canal from our apartment on a nice building.




This is on "our" canal.




Wanted to also show how we do washing. Washing machines are small. Electricity is very expensive in Italy. No dryers so everything either dries outside on the line or inside by the radiators.




Our little washing machine is in the bathroom. We don't use it but wash by hand and hang out.




Our balcony.




When it is rainy it may be better drip drying in the shower!
Ciao!
Nancy
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Venetian food (#10)

Italy has wonderful food. Things are so fresh..the bread, the cheese. The wine is good. Since we are in an apartment and my roommates are all wonderful cooks, we have been enjoying the fresh vegetables, etc. but we do eat out and I take photos of the colorful foods.




Some kind of candy.












I had this fruit salad in Florence and it was delicious.




This was wonderful wine we had at dinner in a restaurant a couple of times. :)




At the Rialto Market there was also meats.




Yes...gelato is good!




In a store window I saw Campbell's soup in Italian.












Sharlyn savorimg her cappuccino .




Creme Carmel




Cannoli ... I love these things!








Not sure what these are?




I'll end with this photo as it is just so pretty!
Ciao!
Nancy
Http://www.beaverislandjewelry.com
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad