High Faluting Jewelry

2009-07-27T11:38:00.002-04:00

Wow...it's been a long time since I posted on my blog. Life sort of fell apart in June, and I didn't do a very good job of following through on the contests and things. But, I want to recreate myself.

Today, I just wanted to mention my friends, Lydia Muell and BetsyMN, lampworkers of the highest rank, who are just great people.

And the Winner is

2009-06-07T21:58:00.002-04:00

Laura Bracken....

There were some lovely entries...and I am thankful that I don't have to make any decisions at all!

Go see:http://www.lauriebyrnesmith.com

The Winner will be Chosen Today! last Day to Enter Necklaces~

2009-06-07T09:39:00.004-04:00

I can hardly wait. The voting is going well, and we've had about 15 or so people from my FaceBook friends who went to the site and saw lampwork for the very first time. Isn't that amazing? They were tremendously impressed and all of them voted. So, we've touched a few more people. I hope that the entrants spread the word as well.

Now, about the necklaces.....I only have ten entrants! that's fine with me, I guess, but it's more fun with more people! So, enter!!

After all.....how can you resist $5?????

http://www.LaurieByrneSmith.com

The Semi Finalists are Up on the Site And Friday

2009-06-03T15:49:00.003-04:00

OK! The semi-Finalists are up on the site and I'm excited. They are simply lovely. This is really a lot of fun for me, I enjoy it.

The necklace contest starts on Friday, that being the submission date for pictures of necklaces featuring lampwork. The style is up to you. They do need a title and I find it interesting that people aren't sending in their full names. Please give me your whole name.

I'll accept submissions through Sunday evening, and plan to have the voting starting by 9. (Life might get in the way, but that's my plan.)

Remember tell your family and friends to enter, and then tell them to vote. And then you enter and vote too.

I've found that many designers ignore lampwork, and I think it's because they just haven't seen it at its best. After all, a bead is beautiful, but a piece of lampwork jewelry is a beautiful bead that beautifully dressed.

Come on, let's show them!

Web Site Two

2009-06-01T10:17:00.002-04:00

The voting is going pretty well. Don't forget that you can vote again today......and tomorrow!

I worked all day long yesterday on another web site. This one is an indulent site that will feature my writing! (yes....indulgent....) I want to try my hand at writing web site content for me. I'm writing it for other people, so why not for me? This one will be fun and funny....

the focus of classicinksmith.com will life and living.

Now, go vote....47 entries! And all of them worthy of your votes!

VOTING IS OPEN!

2009-05-31T22:02:00.002-04:00

There are 47 lovely bracelets in the contest.....please go vote. There are a total of four pages...and you can vote on each page. One vote per page per day.....Please....go support your favorite bracelets!

Http://www.LaurieByrneSmith.com

Twenty Six Entrants and They are Wondeful

2009-05-31T13:20:00.003-04:00

Well, the time is drawing nigh to close the submission process....and then I'll be placing the polls so every one can vote. There are 26 gorgeous entries. Every one of them is different. And they are all beautiful, imaginative and inspirational. Please go look.

http://www.LaurieByrneSmith.com

The Contest is Going Slower than I'd Hoped

2009-05-30T09:40:00.003-04:00

Well, I am one of those people who gets so excited and anticipates things so strongly, that I can get let down easily.

We have some lovely entries....I couldn't choose a winner if I tried.....but I'd love to see a few more...a lot more....up to 50...heck, I'll take any entries that come along between now and Sunday evening.

So, enter....be a part of my contest.

http://www.LaurieByrneSmith.com How to enter is in the rules and guidelines page.

Today! The conest starts today

2009-05-29T11:05:00.003-04:00

I've done it! The contests start today ...check out the web site http://LaurieByrneSmith.com for the rules and the contact information.

Tell your family and friends.....

Vote if you don't enter....

I'm scared....

Lampwork Jewelry Contest --Getting Closer

2009-05-25T11:39:00.002-04:00

I am working hard on the lampwork jewelry contest web site. The site builder software I bought, on the advice of Shawnette Panckey, is wonderful. Or just easy, but either way, it's what I need. I've got the rules up and some of the pages. I'm trying to figure out search engine and ad stuff right now.

Some volunteer friends have been all over the site for me, checking it out, voting in the dummy polls and emailing me, even sending attached files so I can be sure that they work. But, I'd appreciate it if you'd do that too. I'll put in a link at the end of the blog. Don't abuse me, but if something doesn't work, I need to know now. Especially since making a change takes me ten times longer than it does anyone else.

Here's a link (I hope): http://www.LaurieByrneSmith.com

Too Many Pictures, Not Enough Brain

2009-05-23T10:30:00.005-04:00

Ian Graber and Tom

Alan Promendus

Ray Olson

John Wagenhals

Brent Graber and Will Menzies

Sean Hegeman

Over two days, Saturday and Sunday, my daughter and I took 450-500 pictures. I've worked on them daily ever since. I've deleted a lot of them, the backs of hairy hands, blurry to the point of useless, no one in them at all (Karin took those..not me). But, I am left with a lot of photos I don't exactly know what to do with in terms of organizing.

So, here's my plan....let me know what you think....I'm going to make a file for each of these guys and pull out the pictures that either focus on them, their work or on a collaboration that they participated in. Then, I will save those files to a CD, and give them to each one. And a master CD or two or three to Jessica to be a part of the record for the Reef. Does that sound like something that makes sense?

Or if you have a better idea, especially if it's easier, let me know. Because when I finish that part of it, I want to get the shots of the work ready. Help!! Who's coming to my house to do this? I'll cook....steak?

Saturday-Reef Day 1

2009-05-16T20:57:00.008-04:00

It's been a long, fulfilling, fun day in Boca....I'm trying to think how I can tell you all about how much fun it was, how rewarding it was....and how much there is left to do.

Since I can't, I'm going to post about a dozen of the 129 pictures I took.....and I'm not going to label tonight...I will someday....not tonight. In fact, some day I'll put the best ones on a gallery page, so that everyone can see.....

Here you go.....Reef Day in Boca...

2009-05-13T13:38:00.004-04:00

How the heck I missed adding this Octopuss, I don't know.....I think that thought I already had, when I hadn't......clear as mud?

Can you say WOW!?

Shannon at work.....

More photo that I got from Jessica's FaceBook. Another case of not being sure if I didn't see them, or if they are new, but here they are......and aren't they lovely???

Shannon's Reef-Glass Artists at Work

2009-05-12T10:43:00.015-04:00

I am trying to make up for torturing the good people on LE by discussing photos that they couldn't see.

These are photos, many taken by Bonnie Weiss, that I removed from Jessica's (Boggs) Facebook albums...with her permission. If one of these photos shows an item belonging to you, and you would like the picture removed, calmly email me at classicink@aol.com. We are in no way trying to violate anyone, we simply want to show off the beautiful glass work that has been donated for Shannon's Reef.

Contributors, so far, include Rose Leslie, Tara Roberts, Robert Mickelson, Marcy Lambertson, Laurie B Smith, Chico Roberts, Jennifer Umphress, Lea Zinke, Ofilia Cinta, Dawn Scannelle, Mickey and Madline, Josh Mazet, Lewis Wilson, CDMA, Cathie Roberts, Jeff McDougal, Shelia Morley, Josh from Lucid Visions, Paul Labrie and David Walker. I hope this list is complete, at least for the photos I have posted....and the list is not in a particular order either.

If you sent in work for the reef, and the photo is not here, that only means that I missed it, or that it hasn't been posted on FB. If you sent more than one piece and only see a single photo, then that's because I didn't want to show everything. After all, there should always be some mystery.

Last Saturday, I delivered my pieces for the reef and saw most of these pieces in person. And there's no photo on earth that can touch the beauty, the sincerity of the work or raw emotion that this whole project invokes.

The first photo is of Shannon and Jessica in happier times....2007 at a benefit to raise money for endangered species.

And here are Shannon's parents, Wayne and Jayne Hill

And now the reef....or its components....in no particular order...

OK, More ideas

2009-05-10T10:10:00.000-04:00

Like I said, the cash prize will be small....very. But, I'm thinking that if we make this contest interesting enough, that a certificate or blue ribbon or some sort of display-able award would be a good addition.

I mean, showing off an award at a show is a good thing, right? Of course, I've go to think of something I can mail without damage.....But something that would show up on your table.

And a name....I need a name for this contest.....

Ideas?

Bracelets

2009-05-08T18:07:00.000-04:00

I think we will start with bracelets. They are my personal favorite piece of jewelry and I love to make bracelet beads.

So, one decision has been made!

A Little More Information

2009-05-07T10:52:00.000-04:00

You know, this is beginning to sound like a lot of fun, but I probably ought to tell you all what I am thinking!

First, I think I will divide the jewelry into categories, all containing artist-made lampwork. Bracelets, necklace and earrings....Three different contests.

The finished piece must contain lampwork, and no imported, production lampwork is allowed. BUT....if the creator doesn't lampwork themselves, and has purchased artist beads, then that piece of jewelry is eligible. Lampwork created by artist who don't live in the US are completely eligible too. Just no production line beads ...

The voting will run for one week....

BUT...I haven't quite figured out how to limit the entries and yet, not limit them too much, because I want everyone to have a chance. Maybe take them in order recieved and have more than one contest separated by catagories?

I'd love some ideas.....

Lampwork Jewelry Contest

2009-05-06T09:32:00.000-04:00

Frankly, I am bored with my at-home job and not being involved in lampwork very much any more. So, I thought I'd juke up my life and run a lampwork jewelry contest.

So, vote in my poll and tell me what you think.

Yes, there will be a prize! In fact, I'm thinking that it will be a cash prize....a small one, but real cash!

And the winners will be chosen by votes.

I'll have to create some "rules" to keep it organized, but I'm looking forward to it.
So vote and tell me what you think.

Showing Off Some Glass

2009-05-04T18:04:00.000-04:00

It's time to post some beads. These are all sold. But, they've been some of my favorites.

Show-off time!

Beads, beads, beads.....