Lori Ramotar aka The Royal Bead

Lori is another talented artist falsely accused on the fraud blog. She retired from lampworking when she and her husband moved to Florida. A fine art major in college, her love of sculpture has led her to designing jewelry with metal-and her jewelry is sculpture you can wear. Here is just one example of what she creates.

Lori's unique, one of a kind jewelry can be found at http://www.etsy.com/shop/theroyalbead

Her mixed media artowrk is great!! I looked all through her etsy artwork shop and every piece made me smile. It's whimsical and uplifiting at the same time. I really like this one.

You can find Lori's artwork at http://www.etsy.com/shop/artworkbylori

Today's Artfire Crazy Train rider is

a beautiful bath shop. http://www.artfire.com/users/blushie There are wonderful handmade soaps, lotions, scrubs and lip balms in this studio. My favorite has to be Cut Grass and Aloe. I love the smell of freshly cut grass and aloe is so super for your skin-how could you go wrong with this soap? It's pretty, too. After you see the picture, click the link to see this fabulous studio for yourself.

Lydia Muell aka Ashton Jewels

Lydia is one of the wonderful, talented artists who has been falsely accused on the fraud blog-more than once. Our blagging friend seems to really have it in for her. In this crusade against this particular injustice, I have grown to admire Lydia. She's got a real "stick-to-it-tiveness" and makes some jaw dropping beautiful beads. She is also the proud new grandma to adorable twin grandsons. Being a proud new grandma in March, I can relate. LOL!



This bead that Lydia created and named Moonlight Waltz Drop reminds me of a Fabrege egg-elegant and beautiful beyond time.



In a brief online bio, Lydia says, "Today provides the same challenge as yesterday and tomorrow will provide the same challenge as today. . .Evolving my skill at the torch, searching my soul for the inspiration that always seems to be communicated with strong classical influence.

Timing, rhythm, and repetition are the elements that move me most in a piece of visual art, just as they move me when I listen to beautifully arranged symphonic piece. As cliche as this may sound, if I can SEE the music playing within one of my beads, I know I've achieved something soulful."

I don't know about you, but when I look at her art, and it is indeed art, I see the classical influence and I hear the symphony playing. It may not be the same piece she heard while creating it, but I hear the orchestra and it's a beautiful, joyful tune.

To see more of Lydia's art, be sure to visit her online gallery http://www.lampworktreasures.com/focalgallery.html There you can also find other links to her work.

AGLF Update

It's been quite a while since I have mentioned the fraud blog. Nothing much was new-she kept posting flasehoods on the blog-screaming tax evader about some incredibly talented artists. The only unknown would be who the next victim or victims unfailry accused and slandered.

A lot as changed. Several of the people named on the blog filed a lawsuit in the great state of Texas and now this false accuser shall have to answer to the courts to the formal charge of defamation. She was formally served with papers to that effect on Oct.26th,'09. She has posted about (I quit counting) 60 more people on the fraud blog since then. Can we say "no respect for legalities" boys and girls? She has denied things that are easily proven-like claiming some of the beads she sold on etsy were made by her. I wonder if she thinks that the people she bought stuff from just tossed their paypal records out with the trash? I still have mine should the AGLF attorney need more ammo against her. I would say it's a really safe bet that everybody who has had any dealings with her in the last two years has the documentation to prove it.

I wonder what she feels she has gained with all these venomous attacks on these wonderful creative people. In my opinion, all she has done is ruin her own name and reputation. The lampworking community has really come together over this issue aand friendships have been forged through this ordeal. I'm sure that was not the original intention when the fraud blog started. I feel sorry for her in a way-but she has no one to blame but herself for whatever happens in the court. I seriously doubt she is going to win this.

I will be featuring some of the talented artists mentioned on the fraud blog in the next few weeks, so check back here. There is a calender that was published to raise funds for the AGLF. A calendar full of beautiful lampwork beads. If there are still any for sale, I will post a link.

The Blue Daisy is today's Artfire Crazy Train Rider

If you sew or quilt or know anyone who does, this is the perfect shop to get a present for them.

http://www.artfire.com/users/thebluedaisy

She has the cutest handmade pin cushions, pins and scissor fobs I have ever seen in her studio. I'll show you a picture, then you click the link anbd go check out her studio.

Hello again and Happy New Year

Real life kind of jumped up and demanded my attention with a family crisis in Dec. and online stuff had to take a back seat. Even though things still are not resolved and I have a case of bronchitis that wants to whip me, I am at least going to get the blog updates done. I guess real life has a way of grabbing all of us from time to time.

I appreciate the new followers and will try not to get so far off track again. Hopefully, life will settle down by the end of the month and the bronchitis will be gone by then. I'll be happy with one out of two.

I've been wanting to do some beading, but have been in a fog with the congestion from the bronchitis that I haven't messed with anything. I had started a bezel for a pendant, but ended up not liking the colors. I took it apart and haven't really done any beading since. I was going through my stone stash today and found an agate I want to work on, so maybe I can get the beads together for it tomorrow annd get it started. I do prefer natural light for picking beads for agates and stones. I don't care how "natural" a light bulb says it is colorwise, you just can't beat the sun for matching colors.

I've rambled enough for now. I'm off to checkout the Artfire Crazy Train Riders so I can get those posts scheduled and see who the featured shop is for the Af Guild-Shops with Less than 10 Sales wso I can write that post, too.

I hope the New Year brings you joy and happiness. (and don't forget to buy handmade. LOL)

Bindy Lambell-aka the Mad Beader

Bindy is another wonderful glass artist who has been falsely called a tax evader by u know who (and no, that's not a typo). Bindy has had her beads published in Bead and Button Magazine, in the gallery pages of Bead Unique, the cover of Step by Step Beads and her work is also in some beading instruction books. No wonder she was targeted by the jealous blogger. Bindy has talent and it has been seen by the beading community around the world.

Bindy got started with stained glass about 25 years ago. She then moved on to seed beads and now lampworking gives her her glass fix. All of her work is one of a kind and it's great work. Some of her pieces look like they are those fancy candy confections you see in the French confectionaries. Like this Pink on Pink Set. I can't decide if the Orange Set makes me want orange sherbert or a sliceof orange cake.

Beside the fact that there is a good chance she will show up in a jewelry making magazine, you can find Bindy's work at http://www.bindy.com/index.htm Be assured, you are buying from a person who pays her taxes.