Ruth Nichols aka Hillside Gradens Art Studio

Ruth is another talented lampworker who was falsely accused on the fraud blog of being a tax evader, among other things. Let me assure you, she is not.

Ruth is a “Jill of all trades” in the glass field-at least in my opinion. When you are done reading this post, you will understand why I say that.

Ruth's dad was an artist and teacher and she found herself following in his footsteps and becoming an artist in her own right. After spending time creating with oils, acrylics, charcoal, acrylics and more, she discovered the world of polymer clay. She began making small things, like buttons and sculptures with poly clay. Then, “I soon started creating on a larger scale, making 18 inch to life size Santa's and old world inspired father Christmas's, angels, elves, political figures & fantasy figures. I found that creating almost all of the items that went with each Santa or Father Christmas was worth it in the time spent. Her polymer clay obsession lasted 18 years. Then, she discovered glass.

Glass was able to feed her addiction to color and being able to blend and fuse colors like she could with the polyclay. There was just one small hitch-she wasn't really happy with the tools available for shaping and working with glass. So, while she was torching, she was thinking about tools and what would work. After searching online and not being able to find what she was looking for, Ruth made a drawing and asked her husband to make it for her. Well, since it was made from graphite, it created a bit of a mess, so they decided to contact somebody who had experience with graphite. They found Leon Good at Weaver Industries and soon, The Perfect Tool system was born with Ruth doing the tool designing.

So, now you know why I called Ruth 'a Jill of all trades in the glass field”. If you look at her website, which can be found here, you will see just how talented this lady is http://www.hillsidegardensartstudio.com/

Desa Elliott of Gothic Glass Jewelry

Desa and her mom Marilyn, are the creative forces behind Gothic Glass Jewelry. Desa was also targeted on the lying fraud blog as being tax evaders. We have all seen how well the lying blogger checks her facts, so rest assured, Gothic Glass Jewelry is in no trouble with the tax people.

Desa and Marilyn are relatively new to the world of lampworking, having started a little over a year ago. You would never know it from seeing their work. It's beautiful. In their "about me" page, they talk about the struggle it was to learn lampwork. I love these statements Desa made.

"Repeat, and redo and critique and make improvements the next time. Try and try again.Besides, both my mother and I love to play with fire, so practice is no problem. No problem at all". Now those are some folks who really love learning their art. LOL!

You can find the wonderful art and jewelry that Gothic Glass Jewelry creates http://www.gothicglassjewelry.com/. Just to show you that clicking that link will not disappoint you one bit, I'll show you one picture of some glass that I love they created.

Riding the Artfire Crazy Train today is.....

a super cool glass studio http://www.artfire.com/users/classyartglass If you don't know by now how much I love glass, you just haven't been paying attention.

There is some incredibly beautiful stuff in this shop. This husband and wife team create some real beauties to behold. Eye candy extrodinaire!!!! So, I will tease you with a couple of pictures, then you click the link and check out this fabulous studio for yourself-but don't buy it all-save some for me. LOL!

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.

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.

Selling for a cause

Today's post is going to be about people who are making things to donate to the AGLF. That's the legal fund that is being set up to fight the slander that someone has been blogging about on the internet. I will also post links to those who have been wrongly accused of fraud by this very same blog.
I have a Copper Seed Bead Choker I made that will go to the fund when it sells.Yes, those are real copper seed beads.


Now, on to the links of other goodies for sale for the fund.
First on the list is Gothic Glass on artfire.http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=25153
Here is a smashable blogger which can be found in munkinartsshop on etsy
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5529439b I've been informed that this has sold already.
HiloBeads on etsy has some Job's Tears http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29167354
Valentine Photograhpy on etsy has a beautiful print for sale for the fund. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29186042

Bad Moon Beads on etsy has this beautiful Pandora style egg Bead http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29171032
Another beautiful lampwork bead is from Tracidawn on etsy for the fund http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28983156
This Chintz Heart bead by Aricketts on etsy is really neat. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28564879

Secret sale continues

If you haven't checked out the etsy secret sale being sponsered by the sateam-StarvingJewelryArtist team-you need to. There are all kinds of deals happening. For example, I am offering a free pair of color matching earrings if you buy one of the Silky Swag Necklaces. I've lowered my shipping costs on the swags and the earrings will ship free.. You do need to know the secret code, though. How do you get that? Just click on the sateam blog link.
http://starvingartiststeam.blogspot.com/ Better hurry, tomorrow is the last day.

Freebies available in a secret etsy sale

The Starving Jewelry Artists etsy team-sateam-is having a secret sale on etsy. There are all kinds of freebies from earrings to lampwork beads and shipping. Tons of discounts, too!! How do you get to the secret sale? It's easy-all you have to do is click this link to the sateam blog.
http://starvingartiststeam.blogspot.com/ You just might want to consider signing up to follow the sateam blog, too. Why would you want to do that? Because this is just the first of many team sponsored secret sales. So come on, what are you waiting for-follow the sateam to find great sales!!!

A gorgeous stop on the artfire crazy train today

Besides being addicted to seed beads, I am also addicted to all things glass. I love glass whether it's beads, vases or stained glass windows. Our stop today is the wonderful glass work studio of DerondaDesigns.

It's improtant to know when buying lampwork beads that they have been kiln annealed. This process keeps the beads from cooling too quickly which makes them vulnerable to breaking easily. DerondaDesigns kiln anneals her beautiful beads.
After looking at all the great beads she has in her studio, I decided that these beads are my favorites. I love the translucency of etched glass and these beads fill the bill.

So, if you love lampwork, and fused glass pretties, be sure to stop in at DerondaDesigns on artfire.