I just got back from the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee this past weekend. This is my fourth year going and it gets better every year. I took 3 classes this time and thoroughly enjoyed them all. I was especially pleased with my Hippy Dippy lamp work flower bead class taught by Amy Waldman Smith.
This was only the second time I had done lamp working of any sort. The first time was a disaster, and none of my beads made it off the mandrels in one piece......the second time, I actually made beads that looked like little flowers and I felt this inescapable rush of pride as a placed them gently into the kiln. There were only 2 of us in the class so I got a lot of one-on-one time with the teacher. She stood behind me and bossed me around just the way I needed it!
I was nervous to start, but slowly loosened up as I realized I wasn't going to burn the place down or harm others with wayward bead-balls of fire that I may accidentally fling or drop. I left there with a burning (pun intended) passion to make more beads. I don't really have the set up for it at home, but I might be able to sit outside on the patio and practice with one of those little yellow tanks of gas from the hardware store. The other problem is my lack of a kiln. A very expensive piece of equipment for someone who is just dabbling in lamp working.
Since I was leaving for the airport that same day, the teacher offered to send my beads to me in the mail when the were done kilning (or whatever you call it!) When they come in the mail I will post a pic online. I hope they are as good as I thought they were while I was making them!
*So I got my beads in the mail and took a not-so-great pic with my iphone. The 2 middle ones turned out pretty good. Of course I am showing the good side! The first one I obviously did not space the petals out properly and it kinda looks like a butterfly. Can't wait to make something with the good ones so I can wear them proudly. Looking forward to learning more about lampworking.
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