Memorial Beads: Mabel Lou

I wrote about my beloved Mabel Lou's funeral over on Creekhiker but thought I would do a post here just sharing the beads. We had a hiking funeral for her with all her favorite people and most of her favorite canine friends.

 

Mabel Lou

I made Memorial Beads for everyone in attendance at the funeral, an extra to send my mom and a few extras "just in case" as I had put off making them until the last possible day! I used temperamental Clio and a variety of under glasses to try and make pink beads... and this is what I got:

 

At first I was really upset that they didn't come out all pink like I wanted, but after just sitting with them for a while, I started to see our sky and river and the amazing sunsets we have. 

 

 The creek / wilderness where Mabel and I hiked every single day.

And I guess, they look the way Mabel Lou wanted them to look. All the friends got to pick theirs. 

I was so distraught, I forgot to take pics of the clean beads! So these were all taken as they were being worn. 

		From L-R, Top-Bottom: Atilla's Dad, Hank n Sue's Mom, Chloe's Dad, The Rottrover, Bart's Mom.

And these are the ones I ended up with:

 I chose this heart for me because of the little hole where Mabel's ashes came through.

The funny thing about these beads...they pick up what ever color I wear. The Rottrover Mom has told me the same. She's worn hers  with teal, purple, ivory and pink... and her bead works with all. I've worn mine with denim, aqua, olive, brown, pink, orange and black... and they just seem to be versatile enough work with whatever I put on! Besides the fact my Baby Lou is with me...they are some of my all time faves!

Another view, reversed,  against the sky:

Memorial Bead - Charlie

I was asked some time ago to work on a Memorial Glass Bead for Charlie. Charlie was a therapy dog and his mom is a repeat customer who places my Memorial Beads among her Chihuly's! (I'm BEYOND flattered!). As always, I like to know about the dog or person to be memorialized in glass:

Charlie was not the smartest dog on the planet, but definitely the sweetest.  He had the longest eyelashes I’ve ever seen, and was the best snuggler ever.  Charlie loved children, and was a therapy dog.  He worked at a not-for-profit literacy organization in downtown Detroit, where kids who were reading-challenged would sit and read to him.  He also worked at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, most often in the burn unit.  He had an uncanny ability to sense what each child needed and brought so much comfort to them.  And he loved to sleep, preferably in the softest chair he could find – always with pillows for his head.  His favorite toy was a very large soft fleece ball.  And I mean very large – 18” in diameter.  He would carry it around and look like a giant bullfrog.  When he lay down, he would put it under his chin as a pillow.  Mostly, he just loved to be loved.  

 

Charlie

 About Charlie's Bead

Charlie's mom wanted a blue bead to represent Charlie's calming presence. She originally wanted twisting ribbons which I do in my off mandrel work but as this was a display bead that needed a hole, that would be problematic. I did make a few attempts at getting it to work... to no avail! The bead release broke. Then we tried a few examples of paw prints on the blue to see what Charlie's mom liked best.  These are the prototypes:

 

 

She really had her heart set on cobalt and subtle paws as she didn't want to take away from the ashes showing in the glass. The color tests above where to show how different background reflect the light differently.

And here is the first shot of the Charlie bead right out of the kiln.

And here it is all cleaned up and ready to go. I love how the cremains swirl and reflect the light... and how they popped through right above the paw.

 

 

I failed to realize as I was shooting this photo that my own pup, Mabel has walked up and was reflected in the bead. The next memorial beads I made were hers. I'll tell you about those really soon.

Even though this large bead is a really straightforward design and far less complicated that most of the memorial beads I make, I just love it. Simple and elegant! These are always my favorite beads to work on....they touch my soul in such a deep way! 

Glass Beads Finding Good Homes!!

NOTE: This post was composed just before Mabel Lou passed away. I thought I would add a few more pics to it, but I have not had the ability to list since then. I was listing beads when she was trying to tell me how sick she was.... A dear glasser friend pointed out to me that I list beads to take care of Mabel and I and that forgiveness is in order. I'm working on it...

I am doing my level best to get used to my new normal. I've been working a lot...for which I'm so grateful. Income and being busy and not in my suddenly very empty home are all good things! But I made beads yesterday... Memorial beads with Mabel's cremains. I had her pics all around me and I truly felt her there. It was a nice way to say goodbye. My girl's funeral is today and all the important people and dogs in her life will be there.

I'll have more posts for you this week and I will be listing again within the week. Thanks for your patience!
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More glass bead placements to report! YAY! (Note: these were all the beads that sold the week Mabel passed... I just forgot to publish!)

Fresh Glass At Last!

These are the results of several torch sessions. I've been working on silver glass and a huge memorial bead...

Custom Work Keeping Me Busy

Good Morning! My wire work class at Glendale College was AWESOME this past Saturday! Everyone got it and made a lovely bracelet and earrings! It was such a fun group! And none had tried wire before! Eight new wire workers out in the world now!

 

These custom boobie pendants went to Sweden!

My 2nd bakery show was a bust. Zero sales. I had pre-arranged to sell an earring display, so by the time I paid my breakfast / lunch tab, I had a profit of $8. Well, I always thought my stuff was a little to ritzy for this area. But it was January...people are in shock paying off Christmas. There was almost NO promotion this time. It was cloudy and breezy. We had one less vendor so the sidewalk didn't look as full. I left early because my sinuses were killing me. It was an experiment. C'est la vie! I know I'm going to busy with weekend classes for the next several months so maybe I'll try again before Mother's Day.

I still feel good about it. I always share the show with the fan page for our local paper. This time, they showed up and took pics! And, asked me to write about my Memorial Glass Beads! So that's really good!

 Scenes from the Bakery Show

And I made significant progress on a bracelet I've been doodling with for years! 

I still have a couple of custom orders to wrap up and I'm waiting and waiting for the next steps in my "real job hunt." I'm told I just need the final hiring appointment but... no word as to when that will be. 8-/

Mind of Her Own

I've participated in the making of many glass beads that I swear have a mind of their own! I wanted to make a ghost once...she drooped into a heart every time I reached for orange transparent! And so...I cased her pink and she became one of the largest most dramatic hearts ever!

Such was the case with the 1st base for the Wardena bead! Before adding cremains, I ALWAYS check the base bead: Is it the right size, shape, is there enough glass (volume control)? And how's the bead release behaving? Can it handle all the layers it's about to receive?

The first base bead that I was hoping would be a Memorial bead had some tell-tale cracks in the release and I simply didn't want to risk it with cremains! So I strated grabbing for stringers. See??? It pays NOT to clean off your desk every year day!

I really LOVE this bead!

The way the Opal Yellow blushed...

The moody flowers

Memorial Bead - Wardena

I was recently asked to make a Memorial Bead for a dog named Wardena. She has such an amazing story! I always find knowing some things about the animal or person I make Memorial Beads for is really helpful in the bead design. Wardena was a pure breed Canaan and was born in Iraq. This is what her human dad had to say about his girl:

A friend found her, as a puppy, getting shade in the wheel well of a nearby tank. He brought her inside for food and water and before long, she was sleeping in a box at the foot of his cot. She essentially became the mascot of his unit. In fact, that's how she got her name --  _________ was a captain and his troops called him "Warden" because he was strict. So.. they just tacked on an "a" for his little sidekick.

Eventually, he wanted to get her out of there to a loving home.. so we worked with a rescue mission in Jordan to bring her to the states. Before she was cleared to leave, she was quarantined in an empty lion cage at the Baghdad zoo. Then flew to Jordan, Paris, Los Angeles and Phoenix before landing here. Picking her up at O'Hare was one of the best days.

It's funny -- she didn't bark for the first 2 weeks that we had her. That would soon change. Perhaps it was the stresses of being born into war.. but she was one heck of a guard dog. Constantly watching the neighborhood thru the front window.

She loved people, but loathed other critters and chased them at every opportunity. She amassed quite a trophy case of squirrels, mice, birds, rabbits and even a few skunks. Since she's been gone, moles have already wrought havoc on the backyard.

Later in life, however, Wardena really settled into her role as a sweet little lover. Above all, she loved cuddling, loved her certain blankets and pillows to be set up just the way she liked. The only time she would ever give kisses was first thing in the morning, right when [we] would wake her up.. she would stretch her legs and lick our faces. I miss that so much.

I just couldn't imagine this sweet pup being quarantined in a lion cage at the Bagdad Zoo! How scared she must have been and yet, she clearly hit the jackpot - finding people who loved her so and took her so many places!

The Wardena Bead:
For the bead, Wardena's folks wanted a large soft yellow base and visible cremains. Green and blue accents since she loved being outside and a touch of dichro. As I prepared Wardena's cremains, I was amazed that they were the darkest I've ever seen.... I wonder if that is a white dog trait?

I had one false start - never good when making Memorial beads! I got the long skinny bead made and was preparing to add cremains when I realized the bead release was about to get fussy with me! I grabbed some colorful stringer and made one of the most interesting beads!! (I'll show you that one tomorrow!) I was so glad I did because it was spinning on the mandrel by the time I was done! NO WAY it could have handled cremains and all that encasing!

The second bead just flowed. I got the long, thin base made and added Wardena's cremains and quickly cased with dichro. And she blasted right through all that pretty glass!  This is the 2nd time I've had that happen. I feel like the personality is just determined to show. As I worked and cased them, they added most lovely shading to the opal yellow base...it looked like sand! Finally, they seemed to be happy and I added another strip of the dichro!  I always have a few extra pieces ready, just in case now!

Wardena's cremains were also worked into the grass / leaf stringer and the top layer of flower stringer.  They just glisten in the light!

I finished the bead and made a few spacers just to clear my head. It's always a bit emotionally draining making these large Memorial Beads.... and I glanced over at Wardena's photos and back at her stringers sitting in a cup. Something told me to make a heart with her glass.

I've never felt this before and her pawrents hadn't asked for one but I did it anyway! Luckily it was well received! I just had the feeling that Wardena wanted someone to have a little extra love from her.

It's always such an honor to work on these beads and get to know the people and animals and help them along on their final journey together. They are truly the most rewarding beads I make!

Spring Cleaning

I've been a busy girl! Obsessed with my new Glass Bead Blog, teaching several classes this week, trying to expand my teaching horizons by applying  to several new schools (time consuming paperwork!). I'm also trying find more affordable health insurance as my current one is more than I make most months...this for a girl who avoids doctors like the plague! But that is MORE time consuming paperwork!

I'm also trying to start a new business venture that will actually bring in some income since it appears I won't be getting a job any time soon.... Can you tell I'm in the "Throw everything at the wall and see what sticks" phase of panicking about my finances???

I have beads to list...but no one seems to be buying beads. Buying beads motivates your bead maker to list beads... I forgot to even photograph today's "fresh glass!" And I have a couple of orders for Memorial beads...

So in the middle of all the things I "should" be doing... what am I actually doing??? Spring cleaning! I've been going through closets and washing walls and cabinets!

And then there's this project:

 I ask you, if not for my little label, could you actually READ the label on this frit jar??? I can't...

I'm not knocking any one frit maker... I love them all but... over time, the labels ALWAYS fade. And I have a hard enough time seeing anything! So out came the label maker...

It was a BIG project:

Which led to an even bigger one... but I will save that for another post!

Memorial Beads: Kloe and Kiya

Before the holidays, I had the great honor of working on two Memorial beads for the same customer. It was such a magical experience and I'm so touched to have been a part of my customer's final steps with her amazing pups!

Kloe and Kiya beads, fresh from the kiln

Meet Kloe and Kiya, inspiration for the beads:

Kloe's bead was to have a green, color-shifting base and have red and purple flowers, like the flower bed she chose to lie down in before taking her final rest.

Kiya's bead was to be purple, regal, majestic, graceful. Dicrhoic glass was chosen for this bead.

As always, I made test beads before using the actual cremains. After all was decided and I had the cremains prepared, I had the most magical torch session.

Back side of the Kiya bead

You'll have to forgive for digressing here. Some of you will NOT get this at all. But some of you will. I am a Pisces child. It is said that Pisces are not fully present in this world as we are already partially in the next. I've had a lifetime of other-worldly experiences.  You may find that to be simply a coincidence. Or you may think I'm nuts. I prefer to be called "sensitive," thank you very much! But either way, this is my truth; my experience.

I started with Kiya's bead thinking that while it was the largest, it was the simplest to make. Build a core shape, layer in the cremains carefully, case, dichro, final shaping and metallic paws for decoration. Only, it was not easy! Kiya's family wanted the cremains to show but I have never seen cremains react and DEMAND to be seen front and center like these! I cased the bead and the cremains started coming up to the top. I cased again... all was good and I moved onto dichro and suddenly, the dichro was running across the bead! I've never seen anything like it! And there were the cremains coming through THREE layers of glass now!

By this point, I'm talking out loud to the pup! Kiya, you WILL be seen! Your bead is going to be beautiful! Trust me!

But short of making the bead even bigger, I figured I should just let it be.  I realized that this was the front of the bead and if Kiya wanted his way so badly, I'd best let him have it! Note that the paw print if off center in this final view of the Kiya bead and see just how visible his ashes are to the right of that paw!

Kiya bead on wired stand

I was spent and out of breath when I finished that bead and I was starting to dred making the Kloe bead! I stopped for a bit, soaked my hands and face in some cold water to cool down after making such a large bead and to make sure I was totally alert and on my toes.

Kloe bead wrapped and ready for hanging in a display

And I need not have worried at all. Kloe's bead was so EASY... even with all the floral detailing. I simply asked and the bead and glass just flowed... and I started to get the strangest sense that Kloe was just that kind of girl, easy and eager to please.

I finished up and anxiously wrote their mom and asked a few pointed questions about their personalities. Yes, Kiya had to have his way! He was a proud boy and liked to be noticed. And Kloe? Easy peasy. Eager to make you happy.

I truly felt I had a sense of both of them even though I never met them! It was such a blessing to work on these pieces and I'm really thrilled with the final beads!

Kloe Bead reverse side

Creative Highlights from 2012

I thought it would be fun to review some of my favorite projects from 2012. Looking over my blog posts from the last year, I'm happy to say it was fun and creative!

I was honored again to be selected for the Women In Glass issue of The Flow for one of my eye beads featuring the silvered glass eye murrini of  my friend Janel Dudley

I also won a photo contest sponsored by Archipeligo Botanicals to support breast cancer with this photo of my sister:

The bestie, her sister, a family friend and I planned our niece's wedding. I had a lot of fun making props for the photo booth and pulling off a most elegant wedding! Beading this ballerina (still in progress in this pic) for the candy table was most rewarding:

 

Which leads me to the most sentimental bead of the year:

That heart was made from the champagne bottle used to toast the nuptials. I framed it for the bride and groom with a story for them. The whole post is here.

Speaking of sentiment, I made a record number of Memorial beads... far more than shared here. For some of my customers, the memories are too fresh and painful so I don't even ask if I may share. Others...something magical just happens and I feel so blessed to have been a part of that grief process. (I have one of those to share.... but, you'll have to wait til next year!) While this work takes a lot out of me emotionally.... I'm SUCH a sensitive redhead... it is the MOST rewarding.

I found several color combinations that I simply adore this year. The Rio Party series was just plain fun and I had to make a necklace for myself:

My other favorite is from the Uptown Girl series... I just love the red and black with a little sparkle:

 

But my all time favorite bead of 2012 is this bent bead made in Kim Neely's Ether colors:

It was a challenging and creative year and I'm hoping that 2013 is  even more so and hopefully a little more profitable!

Happy New Year to all of you!