Julie Miller Glass

Step by Step Wire Jewelry - Earring Evolution

2012-01-22T10:21:00.000-08:00

I'm thrilled to have my ear wire design featured in the latest issue of Step by Step Wire Jewelry!

Step by Step Wire February/March 2012

with hollows...

with solid disks

My Etsy store is full of beads and supplies to complete this design.

Thank you!

Shards by Avenue Glass

2011-08-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

I picked up some beautiful Italian Marble shards from Avenue Beads while I was at Bead and Button but I kept putting off playing with them for various reasons. I’ve worked with shards before and I’ve even made my own but I never really saw the appeal of them. The technique is just to wind glass off the end of a hollow mandrel and then blow the glass “balloon” steadily until a thin-but-not-too-thin sphere emerges. Kind of like a light bulb body. Applying them takes a little effort and technique but…still, no big deal to me.

I finally played with them a couple of weeks ago and after I saw what came out of the kiln, I ordered two more colors.

Take a look!

Italian Marble

Lunar Rainbow

Borealis

Please note, I don’t think I did justice to the Borealis. I read the instructions on striking after I made the beads but I still think they are beautiful!

Take a look at Joe’s work at http://www.avenuebeads.com/ or on Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/AvenueBeads.

How Fragile Is It?

2011-02-24T08:57:00.000-08:00

The most common question I am asked about my work is "how fragile is it?" It's a valid question for a person thinking about designing or wearing a piece of jewelry with lampwork beads. Even more so since I work with hollows and vessels.

My simple answer is that it is as strong as glass can be made to be through annealing and annealing is the process of heating the glass, in a kiln, to the highest temperature without causing the item to melt or deform and then slowly cooling it down to room temperature. In the process, any stress in the glass from the lampworking process, is removed and the glass molecules settle into their strongest configuration. Glass that is not annealed can crack or shatter at any time and with the slightest pressure or temperature fluctuations.

Annealing is also the difference between artisan lampwork and imported lampwork. "Lampworked" beads sold by jewelry supply catalogs and "trading" companies as well as online resellers are rarely annealed and that is one of the biggest factors that allows them to sell their beads at such a cheap rate. I could talk about the cost savings they enjoy by not bothering with ventilation, safety, fair wages, etc. but...

So when I'm asked "how fragile is it," yes I rattle off the simplest explanation I have about annealing but sometimes the visual works best. Not every piece I make is a winner that I'm proud to sell and it's these homely pieces that I end up using for myself. One of which was a cute weessel made from a metallic glass that had one handle just a little too skinny. I decided to attach it to my cell phone just to see how long it would last given how rough I am with my phone. Three years later and the cell phone lanyard has broken before the vessel. Some of the metallic sheen has worn away and, well, it wasn't that pretty to begin with so I am retiring it and starting a new experiment with one of my hollow beads.

If you are interested in a more technical explanation of glass annealing, Wikipedia has a decent article here.

One World One Heart Winner is...

2011-02-18T09:18:00.000-08:00

Pea of Ontario Canada!! Visit Pea's Corner to meet her!

Thank you to all who participated, it was wonderful to meet everyone and I look forward to being a part of the first annual Our World Our Heart event next year:

Until then, I will resume a regularly scheduled blog next week! Stay tuned!

One World One Heart

2011-01-31T08:04:00.000-08:00

Hello and Welcome! On your journey around the world you have now landed in Indiana in the Midwest of the United States. I am your hostess, Julie Miller. I’ve been lampworking, that is making glass beads and beadie type things, for about 6 years now. I used to have a day job. I used to serve 9 to 5 in a cubicle but an early recession liberated me from that and when the next job was just not to be found, I took it as a sign that maybe it was time to take a leap of faith and do something else. I have been working full time in glass every since!

I make glass vessels, wee vessels I call weessels and I make glass globe pendants. I also make hollow beads and other lampwork beads as the whim and muse nudge me. I mostly enjoy working from my studio in my home. I’m a home body and I like to be able to torch when an idea hits me or go visit with friend on the computer. Sometimes, it’s good to just take a nap with cats and go back to “work” later. For the business end of things, I mostly sell online but I also participate in some local and national shows.

In my spare time, I am a rabid movie fan particularly sci-fi. I also enjoy dabbling with jewelry making. I mostly stick with glass and my glassy friends at ISLAGA our local lampwork club and chapter of ISGB.

Thank you for taking time out of your tour to visit with me! If you would like, please leave a comment below. I will add your name to the drawing for this lovely sea shell globe necklace. I know it’s an odd keepsake from the Midwest but would you really want a globe full of corn or soy beans? The globe was blown at my torch, filled with sea shells from Florida, and sealed with a handmade sterling silver cap and wire bail. It’s strung on brown greek leather cord with a sterling silver C clasp.

To win, you will need to leave your name and email address or a way to contact you if you win! I will choose the winner and contact them on February 17. (If you do not respond with a mailing address within 5 business days, I will choose another winner) This opportunity is open to everyone around the world. If you win, you win, no strings attached and no shipping charges apply.
Good luck and happy journey!

My Favorite Glass: Devardi

2011-01-14T10:06:00.000-08:00

I love getting my hands on new glass and playing but I think I could benefit from being a little more constructive and methodical in my testing and experimentation. So, to put me on that path, I am going to post, a couple times a month, about different types of glass and my results; a virtual journal that I can share (and not misplace).

I stumbled across Devardi glass while browsing on the ABR Imagery website. Some of the colors looked intriguing and others looked like the standard effetre colors.

To begin, Devardi glass is from India and, per the website http://www.devardiglass.com/) it is hand pulled and lead free. Their goal is to provide a more economical glass option for lampworkers and given that most of the glass is $6.00USD or less per pound, they seem to have achieved that goal. I bought a couple of rods of colors that I thought looked interesting and here’s what I found.

Overall, the rods are hand pulled and not very consistent in diameter. This doesn’t pose much of a problem to me and I can work with it. I do recommend inspecting each rod before use for inclusions. I’m not sure what these are, some look like kiln brick, but these are foreign objects, not glass, that will cause the rod to explode when heated. These tend to appear at one end and can be nipped out or carefully heated and tweezed out.

Examples of the hand pulled nature of the rods

Examples of inclusions

The transparents are stiffer which makes them ideal for hollow beads but a little tricky in blowing out for vessels.

Then, there are the bubbles. Some rods seem to bubble up like seeded glass and others less so but I think if you are using this glass, you should count on some bubbles and just work around it. I love bubbles so I’m a happy camper!

In summary, I bought a good stock of some of the interesting colors and look forward to adding them to my permanent palette but the colors that are similar to effetre, well, I’ll stick with the devil I already know.

Now, the fun stuff, the colors:

Dark Rose and Rose (I didn’t try pale rose). Can you see the difference, not much of one is there.

The dark rose rod is on the top with examples to the left and regular rose rod on the bottom with examples to the right.

Ink Blue. I really like this ink blue better than effetre not only for the price difference but for the fact that Devardi Ink is much lighter.

Devardi Ink

Effetre Ink

Ice Blue. The photos that ABR and Devardi have for this glass are criminal! This may be my favorite find of them all! This light blue is more aqua than effetre light blue and unlike the transparent pale and light blues and aquas of effetre, Devardi Ice blue does not scum up when worked hot.

Ice Blue

Dark Purple. This was OK in a hollow but the heat involved in making even a small vessel caused it to devitrify.

Examples of Devardi Opaque Dark Purple

Cranberry. This has the same problem as any other transparent red by any other manufacturer which is that the color burns off if it’s pulled too thin. However, the color is great and it isn’t cloudy like effetre transparent red.

Devardi Transparent Cranberry

"Opaque pink". Devardi currently has two colors that they call opaque pink. One is called lipstick pink and the price is $10USD per pound. I didn’t try that color but I did try the other “opaque” pink. I would be hard pressed to tell the difference between this color and medium pink alabaster. It has that semi opaque/opalino/alabaster quality in rod form and at every stage in the flame especially when it shocks and shatters into a pile on your bench. If you choose to bother with this, preheat it in the kiln first.

Devardi "Opaque" Pink

I hope you enjoyed a brief tour of my experience with Devardi glass! I have a list of glasses to explore like this so stop by again soon!

Tease n Run

2011-01-09T15:51:00.000-08:00

Here are pictures of what I will be posting on Etsy for the next week or so. I will be talking about the glass I used for the beautiful honeysuckle pink and violet purple in a new post and feature coming this Friday: My Favorite Glass Color!

Merry Christmas Kitties!

2010-12-22T07:45:00.000-08:00

Left, old tree Right, new tree

My fur kids have their Christmas present already. Actually, they've had it since I bought it on Black Friday. I'm not a big shopper and certainly not a Black Friday shopper but this year, for them, I was. I had had my eye on this colossal kitty tree for awhile. The one they had (on the left) was woefully inadequate since the second, lower bunk isn't even at window-gazing height. This left poor Buster to sit with his front paws folded on the window sill like Oliver Twist begging for seconds.

Gracie "Hurry, take the picture, I can't keep my gut sucked in much longer!"

There was a little problem though. No, getting it in the car and in the house was a struggle but I managed. The problem was the top bunk was a little too high. Gracie is, well, a tubby tabby, a portly puddy tat. She manages the lower bunk of the new tree but that is probably the extent of her abilities. So it was up to Buster to claim the top bunk but he just hadn't been up to it, yet. A couple of nights ago, he finally, and with less grace than normal, clawed his way to the top. He's been insufferably smug every since. He now sits proud and high, flinging stuffed mice and toys off to their plummeting doom and gloats over Gracie and me equally.

Buster "That meecie wasn't pushed, he jumped"

I like it too. Positioned in the front window, in clear view of the street and all who pass by, it clearly states that the neighborhood crazy cat lady lives here.

Buster, Gracie and I wish you as much joy and contentment this holiday season and in the year to come!

Etsy Preview: Beads

2010-12-14T07:47:00.000-08:00

Hello!

I am currently running a sale on several jewelry items here and offering Priority shipping for the cost of first class shipping (on jewelry items only). Gift boxes and bows are included as well.

Listings coming up are bead sets. Some bright colors and some earth tones as well. Take a look:

Creek Stone - 2 sets

Pomegranate - 3 sets

Salt Flats - 1 set

Super Green - 1 set

Fun Mix - 1 set

Thanks!

Etsy Preview

2010-12-08T07:06:00.000-08:00

Hello!

I have a few more jewelry items left to post before I go back to bead business as usual for 2011.

Here are 4 pair of hollow bead earrings that will be posted before the weekend. Enjoy!

Sale!

2010-12-07T09:19:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who stopped by my booth at Winter Market at the Eiteljorg this past weekend. Lisa and I were overwhelmed by the number of people who braved the snow to support local artists and buy handmade for the holidays!

I'm currently offering some of my jewelry and other gift items at sale prices for the rest of the gift buying season. Stop by the SALE section of my shop for items already priced 20%. I can ship via priority mail upon request and include gift boxes with upgraded shipping.

Here are a few goodies:

Happy Holidays!!

Last Roller Coaster of the Year

2010-11-22T08:40:00.000-08:00

I usually step up my jewelry offerings this time of year for the holidays and I decided to make this work for me in another way by vending at the Eiteljorg Museum Winter Market December 5th. I will be sharing a table with my friend Lisa Atchison of Touch of Glass Designs.

I will be working to get plenty of items made for the show and have a nice selection beyond what I have listed in my Etsy store right now. While I'm working on jewelry for the show for the next couple of weeks, I will be listing bead sets to help give my Etsy customers a start on their Spring and Summer jewelry designs.

I know it sounds odd that the first snow hasn't even hit the ground outside of my studio here in Indiana and I'm thinking about warmer seasons but jewelry designers are going to be starting their works for the next seasons just after the holidays and are probably already thinking about supplies and colors.

Listings for the next few days will be mini spacers (12mm or smaller) and glass ring/links. Here's a preview:

Preview

2010-11-16T11:48:00.000-08:00

I've been making some super small hollow beads, small for me anyway, and they are working out to be fantastic earrings! I have some purple sets and another denim set to make up after I tumble the earwires.

Matching necklaces for the pink and denim are also next up to be listed. These are simple and beautiful! I have purple versions of these in the works as well.

Enjoy!

Etsy Preview

2010-11-10T13:11:00.000-08:00

Hello!

I tend to have batches of items to list on Etsy but to keep myself at the top of the categories or searches, I list a couple of times a day rather than list all at once. This works for me but I was thinking if it's really the best for my customers.

So, I am going to try an experiment in which I blog a preview of items I plan to list in the next week or so. If you see something you like, you can ask me to list it now or reserve it for you. Now, instead of just shopping from what I have listed, you can see what I will be posting in the future and you don't miss out on anything!

Up for listing this week, more or less in order:

Orange Etch Earrings

Plain Black Spacers

I will have about 5 sets of spacers, in varying sizes made from "earthen" glass.

Yellow Transparent Vessel

Peach Transparent Vessel

I have more I'm loading into the kiln which I will need to wash and match up for next week. Stay tuned...Thanks!

New Jewelry

2010-10-04T18:46:00.000-07:00

Just an update, the studio is coming along nicely. So nicely that I've been enjoying making some new jewelry. The new bench is amazing; trade off of surface area for stability was worth it.

I have a few things to finish before I post pictures but I will...unless I get distracted by small shiny objects, again.

Give the Lady a Cigar (box)

2010-09-21T14:27:00.000-07:00

Today, my box of boxes arrived!!!! Yep, I’ve been looking forward to receiving my box of boxes since I ordered them last week. And some women get excited about ordering shoes?!?!

As I’ve mentioned, repeatedly, I’m redoing my studio. By the way, it’s almost finished (the big stuff is done; paint, floor, new cabinets, work bench) and I will be posting lots and lots of pictures within a week or so.

Anyway, about my boxes. I was trying to think of a good and relatively inexpensive way to store frit, foil, enamels, and other lampwork stuff as well as beads, findings, etc. You know, all the junk that seems to pile up. I looked and looked but everything I found either wasn’t right or cost-prohibitive. Stupidly, the answer was right in front of me, on my desk, next to my computer.

Years ago, I lived near Tampa Florida and Tampa has a little incorporated city to the south, and I believe, east of it called Ybor city. This was, at least at the time, the trendy, artsy-fartsy district that became a one-stop boozapallooza at night. Ybor had other attractions including an old cigar factory in which was now housed a cigar shop. They had gobs of wooden and cardboard cigar boxes that they were practically giving away. I stockpiled a bunch and I think sold most of them when I moved back to Indiana. But I do still have a couple and I use them all the time.

I knew you could still buy them especially since the cigar box purse craze from a few years ago but I didn’t know where to look around Indianapolis so I looked on the internet. Etsy and Ebay had listings but Thompson Cigar Company had the best deal; 10 boxes for $10. They have a listing for “premium” boxes 10/$20 but I was thrilled with my “bargain” boxes!

I’m not sure what to do with the two Italian cardboard ones that have the satin over foam troughs…I mean they just scream bead storage and the Criollo box has little drawers, how freakin’ cute is that?!?!?! That one might have to be for show display. The rest are as cool as I expected, just not quite as unusual as those three. I can’t wait to start unpacking stuff tomorrow!!!!

Cool Stuff from BeadFest!

2010-08-23T11:10:00.000-07:00

BeadFest Philadelphia is over for 2010 and, thankfully, so is the 12 hour drive back home to Indiana. I rolled in at about 5:30a and have had one or two cats sitting on me since then.

Photo, design and findings by Hip Chick Beads

I was next to Amy of Hip Chick Beads again and it was great to see a familiar face. Besides making sweet, hand-cast, sterling silver charms, she pelted me with chocolate whenever I looked sleepy. I bought a nice assortment to work into jewelry for the holiday season and a few goodies for me. Please check out her designs!

Photo, design and product by SilverSilk

One of the coolest items I saw was SilverSilk! This is a super-fine metal mesh available in Agentium and copper. The photo above is of the 8 needle flat version which I bought to stitch around my vessel necks. I'm kicking myself now for not buying some of the finer, round knit. Becky Machinski had herds around her demos and lines out of her booth every time I walked by. This is a really new product and I think they are just now getting it out to bead and jewelry artists but I think it's going to be one of the next trends in jewelry making because of all of the possibilities! Their website has a great explanation of how SilverSilk is made, some beautiful finished jewelry and some tips and techniques from Becky herself. Check it out!

Photo, design and product by Easy Earring Cards

Last but not least is Easy Earring Cards. I don't make much finished jewelry and I haven't used earring cards in years but that didn't matter! These punches make perfect, even earring holes in any cardstock or business card you choose. The kit includes both post and leverback/hook style punches as well as 25 blank cards to get you started. You can order a variety of pre-cut blank cards from their website as well as cards that stand up for display (trifolded) or fold into a gift package. I can't wait to make earrings now!

I'm exhausted but what a blast!

Studio Pre-do

2010-08-16T13:00:00.000-07:00

I'm a fairly organized person and I like to keep things in order so I think I can say with an amount of experience that organization is a journey not a destination. Anyone who says differently is probably selling something, like a really expensive organization system. Things don't tend to stay organized for long especially in a space that is used for creative purposes because a person's skill level and interests change as they advance. So, yes, I'm re-doing my studio again this Fall. Last year really doesn't count. I reorganized the closet but mostly I just cleaned.

I have finally had it with the floor in my studio. When I first converted the spare bedroom into a studio, I tore out the carpet and painted the concrete. This might not have been bad but I added no-slip silica to the paint. Let me recommend that, before you choose flooring, you give more than a passing thought as to how you are going to clean it. For instance, a painted floor with silica mixed in is going to be impossible to mop since it will shred any kind of mop like sandpaper. Vacuuming only goes so far especially if you forget to blow the bead release out of your hollow mandrels over the bottle and instead leave aboriginal foot outlines everywhere.

So, new flooring (lineolum) is going in and that means everything has to come out. Since everything has to come out, why not make a few other changes too. I need a second tower for glass, specifically Bullseye. I caught a great sale on it earlier this year and 20lbs of it has been sitting in the box since then.

The potting benches I've used for jewelry work have, well, never really worked. They're too high to sit at and too delicate for hammering so I will be taking those two out and replacing them with one solid workbench. This is also time to separate the bead stringing from the wirework. Wire tools and stuff will stay but the stringing has been moved out into the new desk (above) in the livingroom. Ann (Mom) is getting into seed bead work and really needs a better place to store her supplies and projects. Yeah, if you want to look at it that way, I'm kicking her out.

I will post pictures as soon as everything is finished but for now I need to focus on BeadFest in Philadelphia. We're leaving before the crack of dawn on Thursday. If you are attending, please visit me at booth 1237. If not, wish me luck!

New Identity

2010-08-06T09:48:00.000-07:00

It's time to merge all of the acquired personalities into one! Jewelry by Jules, IndyJules will now be Julie Miller Glass!

I will be changing everything over during the next couple of months. Facebook has been changed, and I have my Etsy store ready to switch when I return from Suburban Bead Encounter on September 13th.

I will be leaving the old entities up for a year or so to give everyone a chance to switch their favorites or links. I will also be offering incentives for customers to follow me through this change. I hope the new name will help with any confusion and give me a new start.

WELCOME TO JULIE MILLER GLASS!!