Need an advanced Lampworking class? look no further than right here!!!

Hello all, its been forever since I blogged & or sent an email to you. I hope that you are all doing well. I just got back from the Gathering in Houston, I have a post about that too, but not yet as I am gearing up for my workshop at The Glass Furnace in Istanbul, Turkey. Which is coming up really fast. From 9/16/14 to 9/27/14.

I have some exciting news to share with you about the up coming classes at Graceful Customs Studios in Gilroy. First up, Kim Fields will be teaching a workshop on her Bird Sculpture beads, the weekend of September 13 & 14, 2014. 

Followed by JC Herrel, who will be teaching a one day class on her Enamel beads & a one day Stringer class the weekend of October 11 & 12, 2014.

Wesley Fleming will be visiting us the weekend of March 21 & 22, 2015 to teach a class on Sculpting with Soft Glass, off mandrel. 

Joy Munshower will be teaching a class on her Sea Life Sculptures the weekend of May 2 &3, 2015. 

I am bringing back the weekly bead giveaway, make a comment on this post here or on facebook and you will be entered in a drawing to win the bead in the first photo above.

thank you so much for reading my blog & for all the love. Life is Good.

Jelveh

Peace

Bling Fling Workshop

Post by Jelveh Jaferian.

New Beads & Events...

Hi, hope your summer is going well...ours is off to a fantastic start with lovely days full of sunshine...I have been having a great time this past week teaching lampwork bead making to a class full of school teachers...I love them all...Maureen is the ringleader, with the best smile, she brings with her my favorite nutcase, Patty another great smile...then comes Pat, the quiet ones are always trouble and funny, last but certainly the first one to class, always the crazy math teacher, Kim with a great sense of humor & smile, they are all having fun with their new addiction & I am lucky to have them as student/new bead buddies...

Don't Forget this Friday June 21,2013 is our Meet the Artist event, Glass Lampwork Artist Mary Lockwood is teaching a class at our studio, Graceful Customs, this coming weekend. Class is full but if you are in the area this is a good opportunity to meet her. She will be demonstrating some of her techniques & will have her beads on Display. Refreshments served. Contact me or Grace if you have any questions.

On to new beads...I have added lots of new beads to my shop in the past few weeks....


Bead Giveaway of last time went to Paula Smith, you can enter to win the bead above, which is one of my favorite Zen-Doodle beads, by making a comment on this post about your favorite summer jewelry...

Thanks so much for stopping by...Life is good
Jelveh
Peace

New Beads & A Coupon...

Hello all...hope you are doing well...I held a contest for a new name for my zentangle beads, Soiux G. won a bead for coming up with the name ZenDoodle for this series. Hope you liked the bead Sioux. Today I have a bunch of new yummy beads for you plus a coupon code, good for 15% off of all your purchases in my shop. Just use ETSY15 at checkout to get the discount. below is a sampling of all the beads already listed and ready to go...

Bead Giveaway: The set of 4 beads 2 focal and 2 rounds, in the first picture on my blog post today, are the giveaway beads. you can enter to win them by making a comment on this post about what colors you are working on in your jewelry designs these days and or anything you like to share...

Thanks again for stopping by...sending a ton of love and prayers and good wishes to all of my friends in the Boston area and Texas and for that matter all my beady friends & family everywhere, stay safe & keep on keeping on...Life is good...

Jelveh

Peace

Long Time no Beads....

Hello everyone, long time no beads from me, things are super busy here, so I will just get in to it...
* I have lots of new beads & have been listing them in my Etsy Shop...

I got a very yummy soup of beads and components from Jean A Wells my very talented partner for the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party . I love her work and the soup she sent me, photo below.

* Join us on Wednesday March 6 at 7pm for the March meeting of Silicon Valley Fireflies. Talented artists  Carmen Martinez & John Rizzi will be doing some demos of their lovely art work. Bring a snack and your Dydiums...

* Graceful Customs has a new tool, its called Jelveh's Tiny Masher its a fun tool, with lots of potential. You can make lovely flowers & other small mashing jobs with it...

* Mary Lockwood will be teaching her yummy Dragon Fever 2 day workshop at Graceful Customs June 22nd & 23rd 2013, contact Grace for more information. There are 2 spaces left. The will be a Meet the Artist reception on Friday June 21 at the studio.

* Holly Cooper will be teaching 2 one day classes on different surface details of her lovely art glass beads at Graceful Customs September 7th & 8th contact Grace for more information. The will be a Meet the Artist reception on Friday September 6 at the studio.

* Wes Fleming will be teaching a 2 day class on his yummy Soft-Glass Sculptures at Graceful Customs October 12 & 13. Contact Grace for more information. The will be a Meet the Artist reception on Friday
October 11 at the studio.

* Bead Giveaway: The yummy bead above is the new giveaway bead for today. It is one of my most favorite Focal beads I have made in a while, I just love the blue hues that shine with mother of pearl brilliance under the crystal clear encasing. This bead measures about 36x14mm. Enter to win it by making a comment about anything you like on this blog post.

Thanks for all the love and emails these past few months. Life is good
Jelveh
Peace

Holly's Class & New Beads...

Hello everyone...as you may know Holly Cooper was here last weekend teaching a class at our studio in Gilroy...Graceful Customs Studios hosted a great class, as always Grace, Frank, myself & Carol were delighted to host this class for such an awesome teacher with a truly lovely group of students...all kinds of fun was had by all & we all learned a lot of new glassy things, most of all we learned that the reason Holly's beads are so amazing, is that she is a very amazing person...with a lot of patience & elegance Holly gave us all the little tricks that make her art glass so yummy...blow are some photos of the class & the beads we made...

Holly at the torch...with day two beads...

Demos on Friday at meet the Artist open house...

Day one beads, including the photo of the red dog bead, there are 3 beads in this collection that 

Holly made, can you guess which ones?

Thanks again to Holly and everyone that made this class wonderful...I have added some new yummy beads to my etsy shop...use this coupon Etsy15 code at checkout for a 15% discount on your purchase.

Thanks for stopping by...life is good...

Jelveh

Peace

She made us...The Beads

Hello all, hope you are having a wonderful summer...I have been kind of slow this summer, this blog post is actually from 100s of beads I have made that are still on the mandrel and need to be cleaned and photographed & listed...but I have listed a whole bunch of new beads in my etsy shop for you to check out...

About the giveaways...the last bead set of giveaways goes to Lori Anderson of Pretty Things...thanks for playing...I am looking for new and exciting ways to have bead giveaways, most people seem to be bored with the way I am doing it now...So please leave a comment on this post about a cool way to hold giveaways on my blog...if I pick your idea, you will get your choice of a set of beads or focal bead from my etsy shop...
Other than that life is good...there has been so much going on from our pretty garden my friend helped me put together to taking a great class last month with Joy Raskin at the studio... Dont forget the awesome Holly Cooper is teaching a lampwork class at the studio this September 8 & 9th. I think there is one space left in class...
Thanks so much for stopping by...
Jelveh
Peace

Happy Father's Day New Beads...

Happy Father's day to all...I added some new beads to my etsy shop...check them out...

Thanks for stopping by...life is good

Jelveh

Peace

June, New Beads, News...

Hello all, how are you doing? how is your summer shaping up? hope all is well with you...things are great around here. Although I have not updated the blog for a month. No worries all is good here, I have been battling & winning against Psoriatic Arthritis. I had to cancel my class in Istanbul & I am sorry to all the students who had already signed up, but I had to take some time to heal. In general life is good. Last month for my birthday we went to Shell Beach for 5 days. Photos below, we had a blast, just enjoying the ocean & relaxing. We live in one of the most gorgeous areas of the world, I love when we take a moment to really enjoy it all...

In Bead News: I have been making some fun beads this past week, I have listed them in my etsy shop. Here is a photo of the new goodies. Use coupon code ETSY15 for a 15% discount on your next purchase from my shop.

In Studio News: We had an awesome time at our last open house. Grace was so sweet, she got me a cake for my birthday & gave me all kinds of cool gifts, handmade by her, a gorgeous new apron with my name on it & several bags & some metal punches. She is the best Creative Partner anyone would want. Photos below. There are a couple of places open for Joy Raskin's class in late June. I am taking one of the one day classes. Contact Grace for more information on Joy's class, Carmen's Soldering class, Ed's next chain maille class, Holly Cooper's class in Sept. & intro or advanced lampworking classes with me. Don't forget to check out the new Graceful Customs tools.

Giveaways: Last months bead goes to Lorraine, send me your address girl. For this post I have the yummy set up top. enter to win it by making a comment on this blog post. Perhaps you can tell me what colors of beads you are in to these days & how your summer is going...

Thanks so much for stopping by & for all the kind emails you sent to see how I was doing. I have a great attitude about this whole illness (temporary inconvenience) teaches me to take care of myself more. I have been taking more naps & reading more & enjoying the summer movies like my new favorite Prometheus. 

Life is good

Jelveh

Peace

Awesome beads & Soup Winner...

Hi all, hope you are doing well & your spring is off to a good start...we have been getting some much needed rain in these parts...which is a great time to see movies, we saw The Hunger Games, which was good but not so spectacular as folks are saying & we saw John Carter, which I have to say was much more fun than reported...goes to show you we all have different tastes...in all life is good...

Bead News: I made a ton of beads the last couple of month, I have listed many of them in my etsy shop...

Teaching: I will be teaching a class at the Glass Furnace in Turkey in June...email me for details or click here...

In Studio News: Graceful Studios is hosting a ton fun classes this year, just to mention a few of my favorites Jennifer & Jim will teach a Lapidary class on April 7, the very talented Silversmith & Jewelry designer Joy Raskin will be teaching a week of different class in June & of course the amazing  Holly Cooper will be at the studio in September... I am also always available for 2 hour or 5 hour classes on any level of lampworking you are interested in...just for fun we are having Free torch time Fridays Through out April...bring your tools & glass & join me for some fun...have any questions contact Grace...

Winner Announced: Remember my 5th Bead Soup Entry for Lori Peterson's Bead Soup Blog Hop, well I entered everyone who commented in to a drawing & the winner of my "Illusive Freedom" necklace & earrings is Cindy Cima Edwards, thanks so much to everyone for your great comments, I have a great time with Bead Soup & will play again.

Bead Giveaway: The bead above is up for grabs, it is a yummy 33x27mm focal bead, enter to win it by making a comment on this blog post...

Thanks so much for stopping by...life is so very good...
Jelveh
Peace

Cherry Blossoms...

A couple of days before the rains came, we saw a whole lot of cherry blossoms on the trees, a promise that spring is right around the corner...they looked sweet...after the rain, my car was covered with little pink petals... I love cherry blossoms...check out these cool tiles I found on etsy from artist Marieanne Cavaciuti

Hope you are having a Cherry Blossom Day...

Have a great weekend...Life is good...

Jelveh

Peace

So Now I know, New Beads & Winners...

Hello all...so where to start, short & sweet is the best way to go...I have been under the weather (= lot of pain for a long time in Jelveh speak), for a while now, skin, bones joints hurting, so now I know, its Psoriatic Arthritis, just like my brother, he has had it for years, poor thing...me, I went from skin issues before the fertility drugs to full on Psoriatic Arthritis, with a cherry of Fibromyalgia on top... so I am on drugs, a few weeks now...feeling much better & better everyday...
life is good, I have bead news & bead soup news & winner announcements...

New Beads: I listed a bunch of new yummy beads if I say so myself...click here to see & of click on one of the items below...

            Bead Soup: I was lucky to be in Lori Anderson's 5th beads soup blog hop party. And lucky again when I got paired up with Jeanette Blix...so click here to see what I made with the yummy Jeanette sent me...click here to see the awesome necklace Jeanette made with the bead soup I sent her, she really is one of the most talented artists out there...thanks again for Lori for having this party & I will be playing again in the summer... indecently the necklace and earring set that I made with my soup is up for a drawing enter to win it by making a comment on this blog post...about anything you want or how you liked Jeannette's & my results...

Speaking of winning: The winner of this bead from the Feb 2nd post is Leslie C. of Canada...Thanks everyone for playing...

Thanks so much for stopping by, life is good...
Jelveh
Peace

2012, Here we Go...

Happy New Year everyone, hope you had the best of Holidays...we had a blast...since time is such a fleeting thing & short in supply in many of our lives, I thought I would start the new year with a quick blog post/newsletter...

Beads: I have tons of them, been listing them in my etsy shop...photo below of some of them...

New Class: Check out Graceful Studios blog for info on John Rizzi's one day Fish class on Feb 4th.

Your Design, My Beads: Check out this cool ring that my friend Ros made with one of my beads...mark your calendars The 2012 Spring Beauty Contest will start on March 1 2012...

The Flow: My Zentangle beads made it in to the 7th Annul Women in Glass issue of The Flow Magazine.

Bead Giveaway: The last bead giveaway of 2011 goes to Sioux. from CA. The bead on the top of this page is the new giveaway, I love this bead, its organic, yummy & tactile. Measures about 34mm. You can enter to win it by making a comment on this post about your beading habits these days...

Thanks for stopping, life is good...
Jelveh
Peace

Happy December & New Beads....

Hello all, hope your December is off to a good start...ours has been good so far, on Sat we gave my dad a big happy surprise 75th birthday party, it was so much fun & we saw a great movie called Hugo...it was awesome, great story, well acted, well told & directed...so far December has been good to us...
In Bead News: I made some new beads & other goodies & have listed in my etsy shop...check them out below, click on the one you like & it will take you to that item & my shop...I have 52 items up & there is more coming...

Quote of the week: “Worry pretends to be necessary but serves no useful purpose” by Eckhart Tolle

New Tool: Graceful Studios has an awesome new tool called Ripples & Ridges, I have made a few angels & fish with it & its a great tool to use for all your ripples & ridges needs, such as angle wings, fish fins...

Weekly Giveaway: Last week's yummy pair of golden red earrings goes to Designs By Dawn Marie, please send me your address...I will also email you...also the winner of the tree bead Julie T. of Sparks NV, please send your address, I could not fine it...sorry...OK on to this week's giveaway...I have a encased organic flower pot bead with a metallic rim...I love the way it came out, its about 25mm tall...enter to win it by making a comment on this post, maybe about what kind of gifts you will be making by hand or purchasing that are handmade this holiday season...

Thanks for stopping by...life is good...
Jelveh
Peace

Wow, Happy Thanksgiving 2011

Hi all, I thought 2010 was a fast year, 2011 feels even faster, does this mean life is good...? I am having a good life & that's why the years seem to pass by fast...in any case I am so very thankful for my good life...hope you have a great safe & happy Turkey day & weekend...

New Beads: I had made a ton of Christmas Ornaments & brand new design of rings for our Holiday Boutique at Graceful Studios, which went very nice by the way, our 3rd year was the best year so far, we had a very nice group of artists of all kinds showing their art, lots of local guests visited us & we had a great time, we hope you had a good time too, we shall see you next year...I will be listing on Friday before Noon California time in my etsy shop all kinds of yummy items, from brand new beads to earrings & ornaments. Use the coupon code HOLIDAY20 at checkout for 20% off of your purchase from my shop...

Quote of the week: "Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance." by Echhart Tolle

Bead Giveaway: Last blog giveaway of the yummy Tree bead goes to Julie T of Sparks, NV. For this week I have a gorgeous pair of earrings for you, my lampwork golden red beads with Sterling Silver findings...enter to win them by making a comment on this post...

Thanks so much for stopping by, Life is indeed good...

Jelveh 

Peace

Twice in Two Weeks...wow

Hi all, yes its true....I am actually blogging twice in two weeks, don't get used to it, may just be a fluke...hope you are having a good week. All of a sudden all the leaves got orange & fell off our tree, its obviously finally fall where I am... earlier today there was a crisp wind in the air too...so its official, cold weather is coming...I have to say I like the weather like this...not so hot that we are boiling & not so cold when you have to wear a blanket to leave the house.

This week I had some fun making beads & a few items I don't usually make, like jewelry with my beads, trying to get ready for two shows. But now I am thinking I may just do the 3rd Annual Holiday Boutique at Graceful Customs Studios in Gilroy on November 19th from 12 to 6pm...check out the studios blog for more information contact Grace...or me...

Oh I will also be doing an online craft show at Pretty Things with Lori Anderson...Nov 26th to Dec 3rd

Bead News: I listed some new beads this week as well, you can find them in my shop, photo below...you can get a 10% discount if you add the coupon code Weekday10 at check out...

Quote of the week: "The past has no power over the present moment." by Eckhart Tolle

Bead Giveaway: Last weeks bead goes to Fireborn, please send your address...for this week I have the pair of yummy pumpkins for giveaway...they are almost small enough to be a great pair of earrings, or you can use them in other ways...enter to win them by making a comment on this post...

Thanks so much for stopping by, life is good...

Jelveh

Peace

Bead Soup, New Beads...

Hi all & a happy September to you...just got back from visiting Grandma & Grandpa for their 90th birthdays & 70th wedding anniversary which is on the same day as ours...Drove from California to Montana & back with Mooshi, she did really well & was a hit with the Grandparents. Save for the time that she jumped in a fast moving river after her ball & did it again right after hubby fished her out...this dog has no fear...had a great time with Grandma & Grandpa, they are so cool, the stories they tell. Lets face it they lived through a lot more than most of us, so far they have made it through a few wars & a few recessions & all kinds of fun stuff in between...I asked Grandma, what has been the best times & the worst times so far in their life, she said The Best Times were when were together & The Worst Times were when we were apart...brought tears to my eyes,so sweet & honest...love them...

In BEAD News: I have only made one set of beads since we got back, the rest in the photo I made before we left...Check out my shop on etsy...The Drum Roll Beads in the photo is my new set & I hope you dont mind, I am making them in to a bracelet for myself, I love them so much...I made them with Grace's Disk Shaper...  Also you can now purchase my finished Jewelry at a lovely shop in Morgan Hill California called Carta Luna, check out their facebook page for more information...Its a great store, with tons of cool things from their clothing boutique full of timely fashions to their handmade gift cards & gifts, lots to see & enjoy...

Bead Soup News: My very lovely & creative Bead Soup Partner Jenny Davies-Reazor sent me this (photos below) awesome collection of beads & findings including not one but two of her great ceramic focal beads, I am so inspired, I am hoping I can make the design that is swirling around in my head with this collection...I am going to use all of them in one large piece, its a lot of out of the box thinking for me, even theough she does not know me, to send me two focal beads one a tree and the other a face with the word vision, you would think we were best friends, as these are exactly the themes I love & I identify with...thanks so much Jenny...come back on the 17th of September to see what I came up with...Click here to check out Jenny's Blog

 A lovely box & note...

An amazing collection of handmade ceramic beads by Jenny, sterling silver, fresh water pearls, mother of pearl, several different kinds of yummy gem stones & even a heart locket, I have decided to use them all in one piece, wish me luck, come back on September 17th to blog hop...Check out Lori of Pretty Things Blog for more information on the Bead Soup...

Bead Giveaway: The yummy focal from the last post goes to Kiersten, please send your address so I can ship the bead to you...for this week I have a yummy set of 3 beads modern shin mixed with organic feel...love this mini set, hope you do too...enter to win it by making a comment on this post...

I am getting ready for my trip to Turkey for my workshop...there is one space left let me know if you are interested...Thanks so much for stopping by...Life is good...

Jelveh

Peace

New Beads & Workshop in Turkey...

Hi all, hope your summer is going well, ours has been very nice so far...not as hot as it usually gets which is kind of cool...

NEW BEADS: I have made a ton of new beads the last few weeks photo above & have been listing them in my etsy shop, including some very yummy disk beads made with a brand new tool from Graceful Customs the above photos shows off some of my new beads...

WORKSHOP in Turkey: I am getting ready for my next class in Turkey at the Glass Furnace, from September 10 to the 17th, six days of Intermediate to advanced glass bead making from 9am to 5pm, for this workshop you stay at the school in the dorms, and see all kinds of other glass work in person, from their stadium seating hot shop to their 18 seat lamp working studio, cold-working, fusing,  kiln casting & any other glass technique you can think of, the Glass Furnace is a great glass school run by a very nice group of people who go out of their way to make your stay at their school and in Istanbul great...contact me for more information, there are 2 spaces still open, I have students coming from as far away as India & Australia & all over Turkey, not only I have the best time teaching at the Glass Furnace but I have made life long friendships & met so many nice people from all over the world...below is just a taste of some of the beads I will be teaching in this workshop...

In other news: I am told some of my beads made it in to the new Fire Mountain Gem Catalog...have you seen them? I am so proud as they are for a good cause, to raise money for the fight against breast cancer... I ordered a catalog as soon as I get mine I will post photos...

Silversmith: This last weekend I took an awesome silversmithing class with a the lovely Carmen Martinez, I made a yummy sterling silver ring with a mother of pearl stone, every student walked out with a finished product & most of us had never done any silver work...Contact Grace to get information on Carmen's next class...Here is the link to the blog post about the class...

Quote of the week: Forgiveness is a virtue of the brave. by Indira Gandhi 

Bead GIVEAWAY: The yummy fish goes to Katie D. of Northern California, please send me your address...for this week I have one of my yummy golden organic ribbon beads for your beading needs up for the giveaway...enter to win it by making a comment on this post...

Thanks so much for stopping by and for all the love, life is good...
Jelveh
Peace