Trunk Show time again at Ornamentea

A couple of new shapes.

This one was well planned out and I am pleased with every aspect of it: small and dainty, easy to form and glaze, shows the bare clay on the sides and I get consistent results. This is a keeper.



This bead is another story. Many of you know how I work - think of a new bead shape, make just a couple and see how it is to glaze and fire them, then make a handful more to get a success / failure rate, and then decide if I want to make them in production. But not for this bead - I was so excited with the first flash vision in my head I didn't bother to think it through and just jumped in and made 100 in each color of clay I use (buff, brown and white). My plan was to glaze the flat side and leave the skinny edges of clay showing, sort of opposite of my washer beads. As soon as I attempt to glaze the first one of those 300 beads it hits me - this won't work! The glaze will run and stick to the wire in the kiln unless I'm super, super, super careful when applying the glaze and use only glazes that don't run. Well, I'm not capable of being that careful and most of my glazes run. Hmmmmm - I can't just toss out 300 beads so I figure I'll just glaze them same at the washer beads and say good bye to the shape forever.

BUT - now I'm loving the shape and edges so will most likely make more and more of them.

Hope you get to meet these new beads at my trunk show on March 25th and 26th at Ornamentea. Lorelei Eutro will be there on Friday teaching Designing Without Limits. Get in the class!

Time for another Trunk Show!!!!!!

I will be at Ornamentea on April 30 and May 1st and would love to see you there!

This spring I will be focusing on items that are not available on Ornamentea's web site. This will include new shapes such as the tubes pictured below, as well as many familiar shapes that are in color combination not listed on their web site.




Stay tuned - I'll be posting new pictures as I get ready for the big day - Thanks!

A new assortment of ceramic bezels

Just a quick picture of some new bezels I'll have at the show this weekend. You can see more here on Ornamentea's web site (scroll down to the bottom of the page). Looks like the weather will be beautiful for the Designers Downtown Market - make sure to stop by and support all these wonderfully talented local artists.
See you Friday or Saturday.

A whole new technique for me.

These pendants are made with old crushed bottles. This technique has been done for years and years, but these are my first trial. The most difficult thing for me is how to crush the glass easily - any suggestions?

See you Friday or Saturday at Ornmanetea,

Elaine

Lovely Lacy Lentils

I'll have a few of these lacy lentils in Old Penny glaze at my trunk show on September 11 and 12 at Ornamentea. This trunk show is focusing on items not available on Ornamentea's web site, so I'm more excited than ever to post pictures of my new ideas. Keep checking back, and I'll see you there!

- Elaine

More new twists on old ideas.

Cascade glazes on flat pendants.
So far I have been able to keep the glazes from flowing right off the edges, so I am thrilled!

I'll see you on September 11 and 12 at Ornamentea.....

It's Trunk Show time!

It is Trunk Show Time!!!! I'll be at Ornamentea on September 11th and 12th with bells on. Drop by to see the new and the old. Shown here is a old idea with a new twist. I have made ring shaped beads for quite a while, but my production error rate was quite high as it was hard to place the middle hole right in the center. Then one day it hit me - just make them off center on purpose - Ta Da! A better looking bead that is also easier to make. A twofer!! Keep checking back as I post more pictures of new ideas.

I'll see you in September!

Back Home in North Carolina

As you may know I was at the Bead Parlor this last weekend in Bloomington Illinois. Wow, I had forgotten just how much colder it is in central Illinois than here in central NC. In beautiful downtown Bloomington you need to repark your car every 90 minutes to avoid a parking ticket. My first trip outside I figured I'd just dash about - not bothering to put my coat on - opps! I defiantly had my coat zipped up tightly on my next trip out.

It was a great trip - I had the opportunity to meet many people who shop at and teach classes at The Bead Parlor. Everyone is super friendly and has enough enthusiasm about beading that one can't help but catch the fever! If you have never been there, get your coat and get going!

Here are a couple of pictures of my Trunk Show set up using Shelley's wonderful wooden props:



And here is a picture of the display Shelley has of my beads at all times at the Bead Parlor. I just love the way the wood and clay beads go together - I'm in love with that look.


Early in the day on Friday the very talented Carol Butler whipped together these earrings, using my flat bead circles and Vintaj findings found right there at The Bead Parlor. It was fun for me to watch Carol's creation evolve. She experimented with different jump rings and crystals and the result is stunning!


Also, this necklace is on display. Once again, I am loving the mix of metal and clay.



Stay tuned - I'll soon post pictures of a bracelet I made while there featuring these metal seed beads. Thanks for stopping by and say Hi to everyone at The Bead Parlor on your next trip.

A trunk show in Bloomington, IL !!!!!

Hip Hip Hooray!!! It is finally going to happen!!!! I have dreamed of having a trunk show in this lovely bead store along the renovated streets of Bloomington, IL for quite a while now. Shelley Nybakke, owner of The Bead Parlor, offered this opportunity to me long ago, but I am only now able to work it into my schedule. As many of you may know, I was born and raised in rural Illinois not to far from Bloomington so this is really a special trip for me. To get to meet Shelley's customers, who have been long time supporters of Elaine Ray beads, will be great fun and I'll get to soak in the essence of another fine bead shop.

Date: Friday November 21st, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday November 22nd, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Where: The Bead Parlor
318 N Main St
Bloomington, IL 61701
(309) 827 - 7708

Here is a sampling of what I'll bring with me - if you'd like more ideas, browse previous posts here on the blog. Feel free to post comments indicating what type of beads and pendants you'd like me to bring along with me to The Bead Parlor. Hope to see you there!

- Elaine Ray

Its a Meet Up!

Jen, from Monkeyshines, is organizing a Raleigh Jewelry Making Meetup for Saturday, October 4th. It will happen at Ornamentea (during my trunk show) at 11:00 a.m. They then plan to head across the street to check out the Purple Armchair, then go out to lunch. This is soooo exciting for me. I am honored that Jen organized this to give us all a chance to meet and say Hello - Thanks Jen!

Trunk Show October 3rd and 4th!

Good news: Ornamentea has added a class on Friday, October 3rd, the first night of my trunk show. Cynthia will be teaching Working with Waxed Linen. The class is just $10 and they will provide the waxed linen. Above you can see an example the Cynthia made in the past with a tree pendant and several assorted beads. You can learn a few knots, come shop at my trunk show, and then do a little "ta da" and show me your finished project!

Hope to see you there!

- Elaine

A Trunk Show!

I'd like to invite you to my Trunk Show at Ornamentea in Raleigh, NC on Friday October 3rd and Saturday October 4th. This is always a great time for me to get out of my garage and meet people. There is always so much creative energy bouncing around ... I enjoy trying to catch it all and bring that energy home to put into new projects.

Especially dear to my heart is when people wear or bring in finished pieces of jewelry to show me. There is soooo much talent out there, it just makes my heart go aflutter.

If you have any pictures of pieces you'd like to share with the on-line world, send me a picture to: Elaineraybeads at gmail with your name (and web link if you have one) and I'll post them all here as I move along to show day.

Thanks!

- Elaine Ray

I leave you with one of my favorite pictures. It demonstrates the beautiful difference that can be achieved by applying the same glaze to two different clays.

Trunk Show Pictures

Thanks to everyone who was able to come by my trunk show on Friday and Saturday. It was great to get to meet so many designers. I handed out cards with this blog and Art Bead Scene blog on it. I'm hoping to get lots of images emailed to me!



These are some pictures of the items I had there. Gotta run and go make some more!

Mark Your Calendar

Mark your calender for May 4th and 5th. I'll be having a trunk show at Ornamentea in Raleigh, NC. One of my favorite pieces that I plan to have plenty of is my Tangle shown here finished with a complimentary cone set:

I'll see you there! - Elaine