6.17.2015 - Transmission Disks

Sometimes repetition is therapy.  Sometimes it's just a placeholder while waiting for something to happen... in itself, it was sheer beauty.  There are 63 disks here in this piece and when I hold it in my hand, I swear I can hear it's heartbeat!  They are graduated disks and spaced with tiny little perfect Japanese beads with square edges...  The disks stand up because there are so many so close together.

 

Of course, I'd love to say that I got it out of my system, but you know me better than that!  LOL - smiles, Jill

6.10.2015 - Every now and then....

This regal pile represents many separate torch sessions and my tenacious efforts to accumulate a truly decadent pile of this glass 'lust'.  I think I did it!  While the theme here is silvered glass, the 'star' is Pandora.  The first time I bought it, from Moretti & More, Bill Thornton told me that it likes to sit in a hot kiln forever and the color will blossom... but what I find is that it does what it wants to, when it wants... and it sometimes does it quite beautifully!  Maybe this rarity makes it one of those things I keep chasing after? I just don't know.

JillSymons.com

Face it, we all like to be successful.  We like to make things that turn out as they're supposed to and like to manage to do it over and over with the same results... (no, that's not the definition of  insanity...) But - some of the silvered glasses are finicky, this one in particular seems to tease and torment me repeatedly - and only gives an inch when it knows I'm about to send it to the 'do not use EVER AGAIN" pile.

Well, this week, it decided to play nicely... and I love the results.  Let me introduce you to Pandora.  I let her out of her box this week...  again.

6.3.2015 - Realization - Yes, Catie Doman - you are correct!

OMG - I think my house tilts to where my bead stash is... I make a ton of beads.  I LOVE to torch.  but, then again - you probably already knew that!!  
My pal Catie came to visit about a month ago and decided that I had way too many beads and she was going to help de-stash my stash... I'm talking about maybe 200lbs of beads I'd accumulated in the 18+ years of torching... those that never quite found their way into a set.  I am ever grateful for her efforts, but I confess - I'm at it again!!!

I was talking to my hair stylist the other day - and showed her a necklace I had just completed... (you wanna see it?)  This is a little different than the ones I make most often on the cording - without silver or a clasp... but I enjoyed making the soldered silver rings and actually wiring this up.  It's made from a set called Street Festival - inspired by my move back to Austin - and all the fun outdoor festivals that happen here.  ...anyhow...

She asked me if making beads was tedious.  What? I practically fell all over at that idea... I've been doing this upwards of 18.5 years now and I love every minute of creation.  My 'commute' to my torch is about 30 steps and sometimes I just cannot get there fast enough!  This also ties into a conversation I had yesterday with Jeremy Robinson about having extreme passion for what you do - and how if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life!  Smiles all - Jill

PS - you've got to watch this, I'll bet you've never seen anything like this!!

“Extended Cut - Jeremy Robinson on Cyr Wheel” — At Tapestry Dance Studio in Austin - weekly Friday night acro jam.

5.27.2015 - Rain, Rain... go to California!

Well, we prayed for rain - and for Texans - God listens!  Thank you for checking on me, I am on high ground here - and my worst worry was whether the electricity would cut out and reset the kiln as it was cooling down.  I was lucky, many others weren't.  Some lost all, and some lost loved ones.  I have snagged some pictures that were posted from around the area... as I didn't take any.
 

These are people who turned out to help foster animals until they could be reunited with their families.  How wonderful - in the midst of all this craziness... imagine the terror the animals felt, it warms my heart to see this long line of people stepping up. : )

This one was out near Hutto - southeast of Austin.....  look at that wall of water.  This is just north of the area that was ravaged by wildfires a few years ago.  The image below is of a stretch of I35 that I'd driven just hours before.  Yes, I count my blessings & thanks for worrying about me - Jill

5.20.2015 - Summertime Warm & Cools

OK. so I've been making beads now for over 18 years... that means some of my earliest beads would be driving if they could!  One would think inspiration would have gone out the window long ago - and I'm often asked "do you know what you'll be making when you start torching"...

The answer is a resounding "no".  Sometimes I'm guided by weather, or thoughts - or even what I'm listening to.  This week, as I sat - I wasn't particularly inspired - was "under the proverbial weather" - and was just there.  I had decided then to just play with colors... In my stash of glass to find all those that would play nicely and make them in similar shapes (same shape, three sizes) thinking how nice a necklace they'd make.

Warm tones and cool tones.

As we all know, women love to wear black, and when you have  pop of color like this necklace brings - it can just make an outfit.  Here she is - modeling the warm and cool versions...  I had thought I'd like the cool version - but seeing them on - I really LOVE the warm one!

You don't see more of these because, thankfully, I was sent an email asking about black & white beads - and therefore I had a target to aim towards.  But - I might mention that I love this style necklace - and have been making them for a stash in my inventory... some solid, and some patterned... they're wonderful.  Smiles, Jill

OK... so there were more... : )

5.06.2015 - Through the Rain & Hail...

It may be a little late in coming - but this week's update features all of the sparkle I look forward to each springtime.  We've had some pretty angry weather - two hail storms and lots of clouds & rain so far, but I've heard talk that maybe this moisture in the soil will keep some of the temperatures down for our impending summertime.  

These stacks are showcasing Lauscha and Czech transparent colors.  While you will often hear me singing the accolades of Lauscha for the fact that I can work hot and fast - without any micro bubbles or boiling... the Czech glass is not far behind!  Transparent is TRULY just that.
 

Are you won over yet? These on the right were an exercise in how can we shift planes and add shimmer... New design for earrings, for the strong of lobe though. : )

Lots of Impressionist sets available - with lots of angles to reflect light - and revel in the goodness of sunlight and springtime!

I handshape these tile beads, yet they're amazingly close in thickness and size.  All holes are 1/16".  These tiles are fabulous CIM colors... except for the clear... that's ALWAYS Lauscha!  These were popular last week on the FB auctions - so of course there will be a sequel!  

When the rains snuck in I got into storm cloud mode and came up with this set... I'm pleased at the stunning simple design and the crispness to the edges of beads and design.

So that's all about the weather - and what's going on in my glassy mind of late... hope it strikes a note with you!  Smiles, Jill

4.29.2015 - Do What you LIKE - LIKE What you do... : )

Yes - life IS good when you ascribe to this kind of thinking.... I bought a new cap the other day - I've always liked blue and this one just spoke to me.  You know, the Life Is Good brand? What makes it even better is the little tag that's always somewhere on the product that gives you little life instructions...  

I am grateful to live in a country that allows me to follow my passion and make a living doing it.  And, of course, I appreciate little instructions wherever they may be, my antenna is always searching.  Smiles, Jill

4.22.2015 - Joy...

I would love to say that I sell all the beads I make, but I make a LOT of beads!!  Used to be that I would accumulate enough orphan beads in a particular shape and I'd make one of these necklaces... but of late I am making orphans just so I can make more of these!

Jill Symons Lampwork - JOY Necklace $200
http://jillsymons.com

Years ago - I made a bracelet with beads and silver wire - and included many of my very favorite beads so that when I wore it I could talk (if asked) about what I do, AND show examples.  While this is sort of along those lines - the making of this style necklace is usually a place for me to go and revel in color - OPAQUE color... as I seem to work most often & seriously with transparent glass... this process gives me an outlet for whimsy.  Of late I have been on a tear - I have in inventory eight other necklaces in similar flavors!  

This shape bead is from a brass press called Spree, and I revel in being super picky about them having crisp edges - as evidenced by their standing on end in the image.  I envision two of them layered with the sparkle of a silver necklace somewhere in the mix... and they always make me think of a being out on a relaxing Saturday morning perhaps at a market, art festival or just tooling around the city.  Fun.Joy.Whimsy!! Smiles, Jill

4.15.2015 - In Retrospect...

I can honestly say that over the years I have met an amazing number of wonderful people - and many of them actually in person!  Usually friendships start through email, going to phone calls, and if I'm lucky enough an actual meeting in person.

Today, being Wednesday, I hardly leave my chair as I'm deciding what to bring forward, then I photograph, edit the images, and assemble the new pages... but.  I got an email from my friend Noël that a package she'd shipped was sitting on my front porch!!  How cool, on a non gift giving time (unless you count Tax Day)... immediately my heart was happy... what could it be???

How absolutely cool are these? And we both lean a bit to quirky - so when she explained that she wanted to be able to grind salt as well as pepper - it explained why they were both grinders!  I loaded them with the pink salt & peppercorns she had also sent, then had to come up with some formulation as to why salt was assigned to one versus the other. hmmm.

I love the fact that 'bead art' turns up in my life everywhere I look... and that over the years I've had the pleasure to accumulate a wonderful assortment of amazing people to color my world.

Noël though has been with me through the years, I think we met in late winter 1998.  I've watched her grandkids grow up, we should all be so lucky!  Thank you Noël for your friendship and unexpected perfect smile makers!!!  smiles, Jill

4.1.2015 - Does Scale REALLY Matter?

While Spring usually finds me enamored with transparent glass - I've stolen some torch time to play with a newfound passion (ok, a variation).  I am loving the simplicity and graphic boldness of a single focal with raised stringer work.  Not that this hasn't been a passion for(ever) years... but these are larger (7/8" & 1") and very simplistic.  They border on a ceramic look & feel... hmmm.

I have always loved scrollwork, but usually on a much smaller scale.  Below is a necklace made from 3/8"dia and 1/2" dia beads... see what I mean?  Nevertheless.  It's fun no matter the scale. : ) Jill

JillSymons.com Lampwork

3.18.2015 - Closure

It seems that no matter how unique your work is, if you're using findings fabricated by someone else - someone else's stamp is always the finishing touch on your work.

Years ago, Jane Chouteau (my friend and designer of my very first grown-up website back in 2001) told me that eventually I needed to make every component of my jewelry - that way I'd never be at the mercy of availability - and it would lend a more professional/cohesive look to my work.  She is wise in the ways of business and I didn't doubt her suggestion for a moment.
 

I have also realized that we as people have metal allergies, affinity for one metal or another, and many other issues that could be addressed universally by rethinking findings as a whole.  I love the idea of comfortably wearable pieces - which means they must be flexible and are able to adjust in length to differing clothing situations.  Some of the satin cords don't work well because they're too slick, and the knots won't hold their position - whereas the cording that has some surface texture are excellent with regard to staying where you put them! 

I love using cording because it can address the issues I mentioned above - and with only scissors and a match I'm ready to finish a piece!  My mantra:  "...if the piece gets dusty or makeup on it - you can just put the entire thing into the dishwasher..."  I love the look on my customers' faces after I say this, and how they all eventually smile.

I found this link to help you figure it all out...

JillSymons.com Comic Pendant Necklace - $100

While I like do like chain, it's common. (Well, common chain is common... I'm all for the unusual chunky links for a more hip look - that's JUST FINE! : )  Jill

I have been known to fabricate my silver findings, but that'll have to be another day!

3.11.2015 - Online, is WYS necessarily WY(should)G?

It took me a long long time to decide to even try Borosilicate glass.  I mean close to ten years at the torch before I even thought about considering it.  Partially because I'd cut my teeth on soft glass and being the daughter of Glassdaddy.com - I felt it was almost my duty to hang firm on the side of soft glass.

But then there came that day... I had been seduced by the longer out-of-the-flame time (before shock set into the glass and your piece exploded upon reentry to the flame).  It could be really useful... hmmm.  Then there is that ethereal effect some of the colors can achieve OR even the mystery of the color 'bloom' as the colors strike due to the temperature of the kiln.  Yes, there were enough reasons - so happily off I went to "drink the Koolaid".

Over the years I've enjoyed all the end results I had hoped for - and while I still have a long way to go - I still have one major hang up with Boro versus Soft Glass.  Photography.  There it is - in type... with a good light source, Boro just is sexy - no question.  But often without this lighting, it falls sadly flat.  So with - JillSymons.com, having an online sales format - how does it feel to sell something based upon a picture... or even two pictures (as I've shown here) showing it in both circumstances?  This bluesy toggle relies more on true color and the sheen of silver in the glass for cool reflective qualities, so it doesn't have such an issue.  But, shouldn't it look its best all the time?  Here lies my own personal dilemma.

I sold a piece recently - to another bead maker who did not work in boro - and while I was certain the piece was structurally fine - I was worried she wouldn't be happy because it wasn't 'singing' its colors all the time.  Eventually I wrote to her - telling of my concern.  What I decided to do was to create another that wasn't a chameleon - still in boro - but relying more upon design elements rather than perceived color to shine...  this is where I am in the process so far - and I think we are both happy. Win-win... don't you just love that? smiles, Jill