Let me start this by saying...

Yes! I am a beginner lampworker. I've sold a few beads. I even have a little online shop that has been ignored lately by me and buyers. I'm hoping its just because I haven't been listing beads in a long while. hmmm.... time to relist? mark down?
!! So today I got a copy of Passing The Flame By Corina Tettinger!! Finally !! I've been wanting this book for a few years now but I kept spending all my money on glass.... anyway I immediately begin reading it as fast as I could - (I even started from the beginning) but as I'm going through the techniques I soon realize that alot of what is gone over (not all of it) I figured out on my own or picked up from forums. I have to say Corina has a wicked sense of humor, her style and technique is impeccable and I highly respect her.
I am still extremely happy I got the book but what I realized was that; 1) I love figuring things out for myself ! There is a real excitement and satisfaction of saying Aha! That's how you do that! I enjoy the process of discovery. Like a child figuring out something on there own rather then having mommy or daddy do it for them. Not to say that some direction is useful but I try when I can to get it on my own. 2) I'm glad I didn't get this book sooner but I know I have a lot of practicing to do!- I am far from having technical effortlessness. I think I would consider that bead making nirvana. ommmmmnnn

When inspiration doesn't come

Well I have been fortunate enough to have a handy husband to help me realize my dream. I now have a lampwork studio with the best ventilation I could ask for. Its not pretty and its in my garage but hey! I've got music and a torch and glass whoo! whoo! excitement! or so I thought. So after a seemingly long and arduous hiatus from torching I finally sat at my new work station feeling anxious to start. Well I sat there waiting for inspiration , far too long I thought, after weeks of bead ideas floating through my head and even dreaming of it and not being ableto find relief, I just sat there and stared at all the glass rods hoping for a color to jump out at me but they all just starred blankly at me. So when that didn't happen I decided that maybe I needed to get warmed up so instead of waiting and starring back I decided I needed to practice and I gave myself a few assignments to complete. Just the basics; dots, encasing, florals and then something clicked, inspiration started seeping back in and I felt like I was getting back into the swing of things.
It amazes me how quickly I got out of the rhythm of making beads, cleaning them, photographing them, posting them. It was a bit effortless. Now I have a bunch of beads that need to be inspected and cleaned and possibly photographed. Well I guess for now I'll just do what inspires me! Eventually I'll clean and photograph my little beauties till then you'll just have to wonder what I'm making...