Merry Christmas!

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Originally uploaded by Delana Loevbak

2009 has been an excellent year! And this Christmas has been wonderful...we all enjoy being together as a family 97% of the time at least ;-) I count myself very lucky to have a lovely family, plenty of good friends and a growing number of people who appreciate my work. I wish everyone a Magical Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."
-- Charles Dickens

Beads with Personality

Well....I haven’t posted in a while. I do hope you haven’t missed me ;-) Of course it’s a busy time now with Christmas right around the corner. I’ve had plenty to keep me occupied. Right….on to business!!

I’ve had the odd chance to wander around Etsy and some other websites and look at other people’s beads. Some of these people I know well thanks to the growing community of Lampwork artists here in the Benelux. Some people I don’t know at all….never even heard of them before I stumbled across them online. While intruding on these peoples private bit of cyber space I don’t just look at the beads but I notice the website and most important if there is a profile or bio page I always read it. The point I’m getting at here is that there is a personality that goes with the bead. How many bead-makers have you heard say that they put a part of themselves in their beads? Beads made by independent or self-representing artists have that extra edge….an extra facet to what they are. Every lampwork bead has a character of its own and the person who made it is reflected in the work.

Two recently viewed bios that stick in my mind are from two artists I don’t know personally…

Hagit Lahav from Israel http://www.etsy.com/shop/CelebrationOriginal

Ayako Hattori from Japan http://www13.ocn.ne.jp/~shiro-ya/indexenglish.html

I love their work and I like the short personal bios they share with their online visitors.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Never pass up an oportunity!

My new motto!! Last night I went to a small market in Tervuren. I was a bit pressed for time and wanted to get in and out fairly quickly. Someone I knew told me that there was a jewelry designer there who might be interested in my beads. My first thought was 'I don't have time for networking tonight.' I almost left...then the thought occurred to me that I have not been in the habit lately of turning down opportunities to promote my work. Well I went back to the market and found the designer and we had a lovely chat. She was a really warm girl. We talked for a good time and she confessed she loved making finished pieces….I confessed that I just wanted to make beads and not too much jewelry (finished pieces)….she works with metals…I work with glass…we both feel that we can complement each other’s work. She was excited about the idea of coming to my studio for a visit and a demonstration…I was intrigued at the thought that we could work on a special piece together. New Contact…possibly a new friend….opportunity dually seized!

I’ve said it before, beads bring people together. So…whether you are a jewelry designer, lampwork artist, shop owner etc….Never pass up the chance to make a new acquaintance….you never know what kind of doors will open up to you! One more thing….competition is NOT a negative thing!! I really mean it! The work that other people do is different. Not better or worse. Make friends and take yourself lightly. Life is meant to be enjoyed. It shouldn’t be a slog.

O.k….I’m climbing off the ‘soap box’ now…sermon over ;-)

Good help is NOT hard to find.....

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Originally uploaded by Delana Loevbak

.....when you have a very nice family! My family is always willing to jump in and lend a hand when I need it. Emil (my oldest) came along to help pack everything away for the Montessori Market. He even lent a helping hand to some other market vendors. He's a really nice guy.

Thanks Emil!

Well, my last market of this Christmas season was yesterday. I can say that I really do enjoy meeting people and getting to know what kind of home my beads are going to. I have plans to sell more online but I think I will miss chatting with people too much to sell online only! Feel free to view the latest market photos and more on my Flickr account

I'm wondering now if I shouldn't hold one more (small) open door before Christmas....I'll keep you posted

My Musings About Beads!! (and other nonsense)

I'm busy preparing for markets this weekend and next so I'm posting a little letter I have available on my table at markets and shows. It is kind of a 'meet the artist' thing. I hope it lets you get to know me and my passion for beads a little better:

I’m quite chatty and I never miss the opportunity to rave about glass beads! So I thought I’d take this chance to ponder the mystery of beads with you.

For most lampwork artists (myself included) making glass beads is a passion. I’ve thought a great deal about this and I just marvel at the important role beads have played in human history. Beads have been used as currency, to assert social status, as talismans and to express personal and religious beliefs.

Throughout history various cultures have used beads to protect children, win lovers, and buy livestock. We have decorated ourselves, as well as our spears, bows, horses and homes with them. We’ve even buried our ancestors with them so that they can pass comfortably into the afterlife.

When I went to India in 2008 and 2009 I took a big bag of my ‘practice’ beads with me. It was truly amazing how they helped me connect with people. I actually traded them for souvenirs and trinkets! But the main thing they brought was human interaction! Magical!

What is it about a little piece of stone or bone (or glass for that matter) that you can string on a bit of…something…and wear? What is this connection? Whatever it is and whoever you are; fellow lampwork artist, jewelry designer, equipment supplier, or fellow human with a bead interest, I’m very happy to make your acquaintance.

For me making friends and building a network of like minded people is an important part of my work. So you can keep an eye on me (some would say I need watching) on Facebook, Blogger and Etsy. (links are available on my site www.bydelana.com.) You can also request to join my email list.

Wherever your interests in beads take you I wish you an enjoyable journey!

Delana

International Montessori School Christmas Market

Savoorke, Bergestraat 24, 3080 Tervuren

Saturday 21 November, 2009 10.00 to 17.00

A Christmas market with the emphasis on beautifully handcrafted presents. Feel free to invite your friends or pass this information on to anyone you feel may be interested.

I have uploaded a whole batch of photos on Flickr. Enjoy

I'm still playing around with the new world of 'blogging' so I thought I'd post a link to my first ever interview..In the Brussels Bulletin

Also: In case you weren't aware, dear reader.....I also have an online shop and a facebook page.

By Delana on Etsy

By Delana on Facebook

The muse is calling me but I have no time to get down to the studio because my dear mother-in-law is visiting....sigh....I just can't work when I have house guests! I have tried to think of it as 'going to the office' but just can't concentrate...I've made one bead since the Flame-On. That was this morning and I just can't get in the groove....I have all of these ideas floating around in my head but just can't sit at the torch.....GRRRR!

Rant over....back to enjoying the moment and looking forward to next week when I can get back to my usual routine!

The Flame On was an absolute blast!!! It was great to meet fellow lampwork artists as well as jewelry designers, bead shop owners, glass suppliers etc. I will certainly do my best to be at the next one in 2010.

Hello and welcome to 'My Blog'. To be quiet honest with you I'm still not sure (a) what a blog is and (b) how it is suppose to help me promote my glassy creations. However, if you're here and if you are interested enough to follow or at least have a peak in every once in a while don't forget to say Hi will you....Those of you who really know me know how gregarious (and chatty) I am ;-)

Now about what I am doing: Today is the last possible day for me to get myself ready for the Flame-On in The Netherlands. I still have a lot to do so I'll just end this first and somewhat unimpressive post by saying that I hope to see you there and if you can not make it I guess I'll post photos soon....after all that's what you're supposed to do with a blog....right?