by lorigreenberg on July 7, 2010
We come home from vacation today. I’ve been sleeping in late while the Sugah Daddy has been with the kids in the mornings. Afternoons have consisted of lounging at the pool and reading old magazines until the sun turned to shade. Although I have been so relaxed and even though I still have all day with another afternoon at the pool, I’m already feeling anxious and wanting to get back home and to work.
I don’t live for the weekends or vacation. I love what I do (for the most part) during the week. I look forward to Mondays and getting back into the studio. I don’t remember the days when I didn’t want to get up to go to work…it all seems so long ago.
This very long weekend holiday vacation up in the cooler weather, with no tv, has made me realize though…I work hard. Despite loving what I do and the passion that possesses me, I never stop. Even when I’m cooking dinner or laying in bed at night catching up on my Tivo’d shows, the wheels are always turning.
This weekend has shown me that I need to step back sometimes. Unplug. Recharge. SLEEP. The deep sleep that doesn’t mean waking up every hour or so thinking about what I need to remember to do. This weekend found a key. Read books. I’ve read two full books in the last few days, which I haven’t done in a LONG time. Usually I read books that teach me something. Non-fiction. That part of me that’s always working loves learning more, more, more. You might be surprised when you read what I read, and what interests me. Care to take a guess first?
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Don’t forget to vote to help Beads of Courage to win a grant from Pepsi for $25,000! Vote every day in July and please pass the link to everyone you can think of. Beads of Courage is currently in 39th place and needs to get into the top 10 to win the grant.
by lorigreenberg on July 3, 2010
For some reason, this bead has provided ongoing inspiration for me.
Maybe inspiration isn’t the right word. It doesn’t necessarily drive me to new designs but it makes me smile. It’s BIG, it’s hollow, it has a 7mm hole and it’s an organic (read: not symmetrically shaped). The bright orange and yellow are a perfect contrast with the glowing turquoise/aqua dots. The added spiral of texture of clear on there gives it even more texture over the spotty frit. Lots of design elements going on that just work. But, work at what? Bringing me happiness.
I used to have it displayed for myself on a shelf in the kitchen in the Love Nest (our weekend getaway place in Sedona). We don’t get up there as often as we’d like so the last time I was there I decided that it was a shame for it to sit, unappreciated for such long stretches of time and I brought it home with me. I told myself that I’d make duplicate so I could have one in each place. Of course, I haven’t done that yet.
I’m not usually too impressed with my work but this little bugger continues to keep my attention. I have no idea what could even be done with it so, for now, it exists for me to just look at, and carry around, and think about, and gives me something to write about.
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Oh, and by the way…don’t forget to vote to help Beads of Courage to win a grant from Pepsi for $25,000! Vote every day in July and please pass the link to everyone you can think of. Beads of Courage is currently in 39th place and needs to get into the top 10 to win the grant.
Re
by lorigreenberg on June 27, 2010
Recently I challenged fellow glass beadmakers to donate/dedicate an hour of their torch time a week to make beads for Beads of Courage. I’ve committed to do it myself. This was my first hour of beads:
So, while this may not look like much, compared to the huge stashes of beads that people send in, it’s a start. They will add up. If I did this many a week for a month, that would be 40 beads. Fifty in a 5 week month.
Now, if you’re reluctant to give up your time, consider these benefits to my challenge (besides the warm fuzzy you’ll feel from donating and knowing that you’re helping to give hope to a child facing life-threatening illness)…
1. For all of you self-employed beadmakers: you get to play for an hour.
Being in the biz, how often do you really get to do that? Usually your brain is filled with what order you need to fill, what show you need to prepare for or, ‘what will people like enough to buy this season.’ Take this as an opportunity to be child-like and play again…for the benefit of a child!
2. You can try new techniques.
No silver or reduction glass on the surface, please, but other than that, what have you always wanted to do but never tried? Give it a whirl.
3. Practice your skills.
Is there something you’re not good at or would like to be better at? Repetition and practice makes you better…use this time for that. Maybe you want to learn to handshape bicones and you think, why would someone want that? Sprinkle some frit on it, put some dots, do it in a bright color and you’re bound to make a fun bead.
4. Use up that glass.
Do you have colors of glass that you bought because you thought you had to have it and it’s been sitting and collecting dust? Or a different brand that isn’t compatible, having the best intentions to work with it? Why not use it this one hour a week. It will go to a good cause and make you feel better knowing your putting it to good use. Even ugly glass can be used…make your bead, cover it with enamel and make it a new color.
5. What about all of those short ends lying around?
Fuse them together into one rod…mix and match colors and wind it onto a mandrel. You might be surprised at the new color combinations you come up with by layering that way.
6. Indulge your guilty pleasure.
What? For example, I love making dot beads but there are so many dot beads out there that I don’t use that technique in my work so much because I try to be different. This is my one hour a week that I indulge myself in making dot beads. It just feels sooooo good. What technique do you like but haven’t found a way to incorporate into your work? Use this hour to enjoy it and know that someone else will love the finished product.
See? That one hour a week can be a positive experience in more than one way. Will you give it a try?
