Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Holiday Shows

I've been super busy putting the finishing touches on my offerings for the holiday shows I'm doing this year and the first is this weekend!


Eiteljorg Museum Winter Market

Show Date: Saturday, December 7th, 2013
Show Hours: 10am-5pm
Location: 500 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204

 

Next weekend Samma Parcels and I will be at...

Trader's Point 6th Annual Christmas on the Farm

Saturday, December 14th from 9a to 2p 
Traders Point Creamery
9101 Moore Road
Zionsville, Indiana 46077
 
Here's a peek at few my offerings:
 



 

 
 
 
 
 

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Pot Melt Class

I've been interested in pot melt technique since I saw the equipment in the Delphi Glass catalog so I was pretty excited when a weekend workshop was listed in the Fall class catalog for the Indianapolis Art Center. 

The instructor, Kelly Jenkins, has been doing pot melt glass for about 13 years and really knew the ins and outs of the process.  Basically, it involves putting scraps of fuse glass (90 COE) in a ceramic pot, ramping up the kiln and allowing the glass to flow out the bottom of the pot into a puddle.  There are a variety of hole-configurations in the bottom of the pots which can affect the outcome and choosing the right combination of glass is an art form onto itself.  Once the puddle is cool, it can be cut with a saw or broken with a hammer.  The edges of the pieces then get ground smooth and the piece gets re-fired in the kiln to soften the edges.

We spent the first day filling our melt pots with glass and then and shaping pieces of melts that the instructor had ready made.  Kelly fired our finished pieces and the pot melts at her studio because the Art Center kilns weren't large enough to hold all of them.  The next day, we had the raw result of our pot melts and the finished pieces.

Here are my results:

The raw pot melt I created.  It's about 6 inches in diameter.
 
Here are pendants I made with a pot melt the instructor had.  I love how these look like agate!
 
I almost passed on these until I saw how the bubbles made them look alien!
 
 
The class was fun and I'm glad I was able to try this technique.  I might try adjusting the firing schedule to use lampwork scraps and shorts.
 
If you are interested in more information, go to delphiglass.com and enter "pot melt" in the search.  They have a variety of tools and YouTube videos on the subject.
 
If you are local, keep an eye out for another class at the Art Center (it's listed under jewelry, not glass).

Friday, September 27, 2013

5 for Friday

I got a late start today.  I think my body is already on daylight savings time trying to get that extra hour.

Things have settled down enough that I can play hookey on Fridays and while the weather lasts, I'm going to be outside.  Here are a few from today's adventure.  I'm still getting the hang of my camera but I think I have mastered the "auto" setting; only a bazillion settings left to go!  I'm taking a photography class at the (Indianapolis) Arts Center next month so hopefully quality will improve.

The leaves are just starting to turn!
 
Need to master the macro.
 
 
Chicory
 
I love the worm marks on this piece of driftwood.  It looks like an alien language!
 
Sunny yellow flowers giving it the last hurrah of the season.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Back on the 'bay

I am dipping my toe back into Ebay waters beginning today...
This beauty is up for sale now!
 
 
I'm going to list some larger vessels, discontinued colors, and past series here and see how it goes and if it goes well, increase and expand my offerings.  Etsy just hasn't been the fountain of sales it once was so I'm moving around a little.  
 
 
Listings will be once a week at first and I think I will stick with Sunday afternoons.  Since I'm doing 7 day auctions, ending on a weekend might be more convenient.
 
Click the link below or find me as JulieMillerGlass.
 
 



Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Shifting Gears




With the "big" shows out of the way, this is the time of year when I change focus.  I do a few local art shows but otherwise, it's time to reflect, redirect and recharge.

I'm taking an art marketing class at the Indianapolis Art Center right now hoping to learn some new and better ways of presenting my work and communicating with those interested in it. 

from my favorite website, ever despair.com
They also have a couple of photography classes that I want to take.  I ended up getting a different camera, a Nikon D3200 right before Bead Fest and I haven't learned half the buttons yet so that will be a big focus this fall.

My next event will be the 2nd Annual ISLAGA Bead Show on Sunday, September 30th.  The super nice folks at Rings and Things let us hold our show in conjunction with theirs for the ultimate in local bead shopping nirvana.  Details are on my EVENTS page, come visit us!

Of course I will be getting back to the torch soon and working on some new design ideas but my immediate focus will be to get more wee vessels and focals in the Etsy shop.  If you need something you don't see listed, just let me know and I will move it to the front of the line.

Cheers!
Julie

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Bead Fest 2013

This time next week I should be setting up my booth at Bead Fest Philadelphia.  They moved me down the isle a bit this year so I will be in booth 557.  Please stop by and say hello!  Here are a few discount passes to get you in the front door for $5 instead of the $15 regular admission.  That's $10 to spend on beady goodness!


or you can go to the link here:

Friday, June 14, 2013

5 for Friday

I have finally picked out a new camera and today was its first field trip!  "Red" and I took several pictures while getting to know one another and I learned a few things about nature photography; birds are really fast, flowers aren't and all deer seem to know about what I accidentally did to their kind on the way to Milwaukee a few weeks ago.




Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Bead & Button Preview

I am winding down and packing up for Bead and Button!  I will be in booth 2, my usual spot so stop by and say hello!  You can print a discount coupon here.  Below is a preview of some new items I will have with me.  Enjoy!