More on Murano.

There are few times when I feel an instant emotional connection to something—a material item… a thing.

I had one of those moments when I returned from Murano, Italy.

The trip positively changed my life. As I've mentioned before, it made me feel absolutely connected to creativity again, for the first time in years. I suddenly felt more in touch with who I am. I felt open. I knew who I was again, at the core of my being, and I was unafraid to let everyone see. I felt at home on a torch, wielding molten blobs of glass, when I’d only sat at a torch for a few short hours prior.

I’ve had similar connections before, no doubt. I’ve been a musician all my life—a pianist, primarily, and all of my emotional connection with music fed my ability to communicate through ivory keys and brass pedals.

I lost that ability sometime in college, when the idea of being graded for my emotional outlet caused me to burn out and walk away from playing.

Ever since those days, I have wandered rather aimlessly through a sea of various creative endeavors—writing poetry or essays, and designing jewelry to name a couple—but most of those endeavors have left me feeling somewhat empty or uninspired at one point or another. The ultimate connection between the core of my being and a tangible means of expression was lost upon me.

I lived in Boston for a couple of years, and I once set foot into a piano store with a Bosendorfer front and center. It was the first time I’d ever seen one, let alone been encouraged to touch it. If you’re unfamiliar with them—it’s basically the Ferrari of pianos.

When I saw that Bosendorfer—my heart swelled in my chest and I immediately froze with remembrance of my talent and ability that I’d so willingly tossed away. I couldn’t even touch the Bosendorfer. Instead, I settled upon an electric piano upstairs that had headphones already attached—so my noodling wouldn’t have to be heard by anyone or anything but my aching heart.

I can quickly attach to a piano on a deeply emotional level. But that’s rare with other things.

Which is why I was so stricken when I returned from Italy. I realized that the emotional connection I have to expression has finally changed forms. I no longer craved moments alone to play my homely upright in a rare moment of silent desperation. Oh, no.

I craved the torch, the focused fire, the molten glass oozing its way into round around a mandrel. I craved the folding of color upon color, the swirling of patterns and the plunging of dots and the sparkle of dichroic and gold and silver and palladium. I suddenly wanted to pour my emotions out in the form of glass beads.

So, imagine my surprise when I realize my own connection to glass, and what glass can mean to me.

And then, I saw the bead.

This bead, Murano Magic, made by Sarah Hornik—an homage to a glass sculpture on Murano island.

I felt the same way I felt when I saw that Bosendorfer for the first time in my life. My heart swelled in my chest, and I could feel the edges of my eyes crowding with liquid. I had to have that bead—for what it represents, for the punctuation of what I experienced, for the underlining and exclaiming of all that is Murano, Italy. I had to have that bead.

The timing was pretty terrible—my husband was unemployed, and I didn’t have any work to speak of, and of course—while in Italy, I’d spent a little too much money.

But I had to have that bead.

“It’s silly,” I thought. “It’s a hunk of glass,” I justified.

No good—I had to put a bid on it. Because I had to have that bead.

I lost the auction, but luckily I was able to acquire the bead some months later through a private sale. Lucky me!

It is, without question, a beautiful piece of art.

But it’s more than that. It represents our time in Murano. It expresses something I have, thus far, been unreasonably unable to articulate. It represents a shift in me—a willingness to rekindle my innermost ability of emotional expression. It’s a tangible totem marking my re-awakening.

Murano Magic, indeed.

My Latest Pieces

Ok. Here's the piece that I'm very proud to show you. The focal gemstone is citrine! I love this necklace and I have already decided to keep it. You can't change my mind. At least, not at this point in time. ;-)

I really pushed myself with the color combinations in this necklace. As soon as I saw this bead, though... I knew that yellow had to be the central color of the necklace, with lots of other fun colors added in.

This is another with a Sarah Hornik bead, named Fantastico! as the centerpiece. Isn't it a lovely one? 
I also used peridot and shiny Swarovski crystals, with sterling silver wire. This necklace makes me feel happy and light. It reminds me of my time in Italy, which is fitting, since Sarah made the focal just after we all got back to our respective spots of the world after Murano Magic.

Now, for my next piece... this one uses gorgeous Peruvian Blue Opal as the main gemstone, with a couple of pieces of citrine, and Swarovski crystals. Another Sarah Hornik bead as the focal. I love this necklace too, and have also decided to keep it. I always end up keeping my best pieces!! Even when I don't mean to!

Check out the matching earrings, too.... this glowing Peruvian Blue Opal is magical, isn't it? It's even better in person, too!

For Lampworkers and Jewelry Designers Alike

For all my fellow jewelry designers and lampwork artists (or, anyone who uses lots of color on a regular basis!), I'd like to pimp out my friend Sarah for a moment. She's made a pdf and a calendar of her 12 favorite color schemes and why they work. You can buy the calendar here:

Alternatively, you can order the pdf by going to her blog post, here.

One of the most frequent compliments Sarah receives is about her color combinations. And, they are spectacular. She experiments and pushes the envelope with color combinations more than any other glass artist I've seen. I think it's because she's fearless. She has certainly helped ME push my own envelope when it comes to pulling colors together for jewelry design. I see color combinations in a whole new way because of her beads. And, as most of you know... her beads are often my favorite ones to use. ;-)

Two quick announcements

Two things...

First, I have updated my holiday craft show post with a new show! I am going to be in a show in December. All the info is in this post as well as the sidebar (on the right) on my blog.

I'm hoping to get into one other show, which would be in November, but I won't know until sometime in October. I'm going nuts with the shows this year... well not totally... but I am trying to get my name out there a bit more.

Second... I'm hearing multiple rumors about Murano Magic 2!!! Here are a couple of sites to peek at... seriously, if you have ever contemplated learning how to make lampwork beads, I highly recommend taking a beginner class and then GET THEE TO MURANO! You better believe I'm going to go back for #2!!!

Sarah Hornik's quickie blog post about it here.
Read all about this year's Murano Magic in March/April here.
Go to the Murano Magic blog site, here.

Color me psyched!!! :D

The rest...

ACK is it ever hot. I'm so sick of the heat and we're just now hitting August. Oh no. Not good. *sigh*

So, in my last post, I referenced a flash card that I conveniently erased photos from. So... recently Q sent me the flash card (YAY!!) and I finally went through the photos and uploaded them.

I miss Italy, so much. It shook me alive! I think it gave me the wake-up call I needed.

Anyway, here are a few photos I'd like to share. The rest are here. I hope you enjoy looking at them!

There was just something about this house... I think it's the way the steps down into the water, the tree, and the placement of the house appealed to me. For some reason, it just... warranted me taking 20 zillion pictures of it. I think this is the best one:

I love taking night shots. And Murano had some true beauty to offer in that department...

I can has giant hunk of goldstone plz?

Ah yes, something else I miss about Italy... the divine cappuccino...

*****

I'll be debuting a line of jewelry with MY beads-- the ones I made in Murano-- this fall. I'm going to be debuting them at my home show first, and then whatever's left will be available on my Etsy site as well as the other craft shows I'm doing this fall. Here are some of the necklaces...

*****

Finally, I'd like to take a moment to pimp my friend Sarah, who has created the most fabulous e-book!!! I went to Italy to take classes from her... and I was fortunate to learn much of what she has shared in this book! It's absolutely phenomenal, with step by step instructions, very awesome pictures, and excellent detail. She claims that this e-book is not for beginners, but I was a beginner when I took her classes (I still am!). She's such an awesome instructor, both in person and in this e-book... I think that even if you are new to lampworking, you will save yourself a LOT of heartache and grief with this e-book!! I can't wait until she releases her next one! Click the image below to go to the site and download it. It's only $22.50!!!