Monday, January 18, 2010

I made beads today!

A very fast post because I am exhausted -- not nearly enough sleep this weekend as I worked and worked and then worked some more almost all three days of the long weekend.


BUT!


I finally braved it. After my friend Kendra hooked up my propane, I went out today, took a deep breath, and made beads.





They're still cooking in the kiln, and they are just wonky spacers -- nothing to write home about -- but I DID IT. I conquered my fear of blowing up things and just DID IT.



If you know me well, you know that's HUGE. If you don't, stick around long enough, and you'll realize how terrified I am of trying new things. I want to be able to get it right the first time. I hate failure and flub ups -- I get embarrassed easily. But in the quiet and peace of my little studio, I found myself saying to myself,


"You are going to be good at this."


I hope so. I hope so.

20 comments:

  1. And now you will never look back...isn't it great?!

    ReplyDelete
  2. You know what, that is by far my biggest fear at home... when I need to solder something small, I go over turning on the tanks at least 10 times in my head before I do it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Way to go!!! I am so proud of you! I can't wait to see those wonky spacers! And remember what Thomas Edison said "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 that won't work."

    ReplyDelete
  4. Woo hoo! Yay you! Can't wait to see the finished products.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have never used my hot head or glass because of the blowing up/burning down fear. Congratulations:)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Right there with you on the "terrified of trying new things" part.
    p.s. I love your blog background! how cute is that.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yayyyy!!!! I know the feeling. I've been staring at my metal clay for months now. So, I'm playing with polymer...and staring...but, I've been playing more the last month and am very excited.

    Wonky spacers are great in a charm bracelet...I'm sure they'll be pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  8. good for you I too am setting up a home studio and soooo fear blowing up myself!!!!
    Way to go.

    ReplyDelete
  9. how exciting! I can't wait to see the finished beads. I know you're going to be great at this!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I tell myself all the time, "I can't wait to get this first time/one under my belt so I can move on to getting good at this."

    It's so exciting. You go girl!

    ReplyDelete
  11. ahh isn't it good to know that these kinds of thoughts run around in lot's of very tallented artist not matter what medium they are into.

    Pushing through...I love it! Thanks for shareing your honest feelings..I find strength in them and will use them to encourage myself.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Way to go! I am the same way, I want everything perfect the first time I try it. My mantra is "It won't be perfect, but keep practicing and it will be!" Good luck and keep trying new things!

    ReplyDelete
  13. You have to start somewhere, and wonky spacers sound like they might actually be wonderful! Congrats for walking through the fear!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lori, a little practice and you will be fine. The most important thing is that you overcame your fear, and YOU MADE BEADS!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Way to go, Lori! Bet you had sooooo much fun!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Good for you, Lori, I'm really proud of you for just jumping in w/ both feet. There's nothing better than to be able to go to your home studio & melt glass! Watch out, though...it's so easy to neglect everything else.... ask me how I know. :o)

    ReplyDelete
  17. congratulations! and, because i do know how that feels - brava! you added one more thing to your 'i can do it' arsenal... you described me to a t in your post, and i find that i now push myself on purpose... so you got some pretty beads and a boost in self-confidence, sounds like a great day to me!

    ReplyDelete
  18. YAY, you! You are in for a real treat with glass. There's a post on my blog yesterday about an amazing lampworking book. You might be interested.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Lori - So great to hear you got the torch hooked up and you made beads!! Congrats.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for commenting!