my studio
UPDATE: 1.9.12
Over the next two weeks I'll be moving my studio room from its current location (our fourth bedroom) to my dining room. A decision we made earlier this year because our oldest daughter is going into middle school and would love her own room. We realized that in the last six months our dining room has been used less than five times and it seemed silly to waste the space. So... I decided to change it up and take one for the team, giving up the space that I have used for the last six years. I'm sad to let it go but excited that my daughter will have a space of her own... so, look for new pictures to come soon. I better go, I have lots of painting to do! :)
We are planning a move from our current home sometime this year. I am looking for my own space outside of the home.
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Welcome to my workshop. I've never really thought of myself as an "artist" so the idea of having a "studio" was something foreign to me. Usually I call this my workshop because I'm like Santa, spreading cheer to those who love glass. :) ::giggles::
This is my "building" area. I use simple child plastic lunch trays I snagged at WalMart for .99 cents. I purchased them in various colors to help me know where everything is. I try not to keep a lot of "inventory" as the market is continually changing, but I do stock all the favorites and make sure I have plenty of the popular colors.
My light is a 100 watt bulb that gives me warmth in the winter ::laughs:: but can make me sweat in the summer! Thankfully I have air conditioning to keep me cool. It's usually about 50 degrees in my studio during the warmer months.
When I am not working, I keep everything covered with a thick bathroom towel. It keeps things from tarnishing, dust from gathering and little hands from touching. Since I've been designing for roughly 9 years now, my kids know not to bother any of my things...but you just never know about friends who stop by. :) Thankfully no one has ever lifted the towel to peek at what's going on underneath. lol
Jack-Jack was a puppy when I took this photo and would sleep on my work table, but now he's 4 pounds and sleeps on the floor next Claire (my other yorkie). :) I miss his puppy face.
Jeff built this shelf for me to house all of my glass frit. I love LOVE frit and I really only purchase it from two vendors. My dear friend Candy at Bead Goodies and from Val Cox. You can never go wrong with frit... especially if you encase it...my favorite thing to do with frit!
What is frit? It's basically chopped up glass...think of chunks of rock candy. :) You take molten glass and roll in the frit, melt it in, and watch the wonder appear. It's a lovely thing, frit.
It's also a place where I put up important things like free entry to my favorite Bead Show, tax ID, BFF's birth announcement, pictures of my first doggie who has passed on, kids awards and their wonderful art. I am thankful for this sweet corner in my space.
It might be a small room but a lot goes on in here and I love all my natural lighting. It makes for such a fabulous place to work everyday.
Believe me, it is RARELY this clean. It's usually covered in glass rods and frit jars. :) But for you, I cleaned up my space and snapped a pic.
The long clay-covered "sticks" are called mandrels. I heat those in my flame and then begin the lampworking process. The clay keeps the glass from sticking to the mandrel when the beads are cooled they'll slip right off and are ready for cleaning.
I love glass. 'nuf said.
There's so much to learn about glass and I love how it's an endless art form where you can constantly come up with new and beautiful designs.
If you ever want to find out more about lampwork beads, pick up a copy of Passing the Flame by Corina Tettinger. It's considered the Bible for Lampworkers.
