Happy April...

Hello all, hope your spring is off to a good start. Mine has been pretty nice so far. I have been enjoying the nice weather in the garden, making lots of beads & doing a bit of teaching which is always fun for me...
I have listed some new beads in my etsy shop, here is a preview of them...

In Other Happy news my beads are in the new book Glasss 3. photo below, I believe it goes on sale on April 15th.there are lots of great artists in the book.

Thanks for stopping by, life is good
Jelveh
Peace

And the Winner is...

Hi all, hope you are doing well. Happy New Year to all my friends & family out there, as the first day of spring is the first day of the New Year for Persians. here is a link to my extensive posts about this holiday at least the way I know it to be.
I have added a few new sets of beads to my etsy shop, stop by and check them out, let me know what you think of the new beads...
And the Winner of the last blog post giveaway is Leslie Crane of Canada...thanks so much everyone for playing, I will have another giveaway soon.
Thanks for stopping by, 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

Happy Autumn & New Beads...giveaway too...

Hello all...Happy Happy Autumn to you...hope all is good with you, life is good around here...I have been making some beads & finally I decided to add some more to my etsy store... Photo below of some of the beads I have been making & listing...The Etsy15 coupon code is still in effect for a 15% discount...

This week I have a focal bead for the giveaway...photo above...it is one of my ribbon focal beads with 2 bubble blue eyes, one on each side, the bead measures about 33x27mm & the blue gray green colors of it shimmer like mother of pearl here and there under the clear encasing...at times it looks like a fish...

enter to win it by making a comment on this blog post...

thanks for stopping by...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

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

Bead Soup #5 Reveal Day...

Hi every one, as you may have read in my last post, I got a yummy bead soup from Jeannette Blix...here is a link to the bead soup I got...

It is always the same with me when it comes to making jewelry or when I am melting glass & making beads, I change my mind in the middle all the time...I call this set Elusive Freedom...I will leave the interpretation of this piece to you, there are several ways to explain this set based on the name Elusive Freedom...Please make a comment about what you think it means and I will enter your name in a drawing for the set...sorry about the bad photos, I will try again later...

goddess focal & some of the ceramic & silver beads, I added the orange beads that someone told me were actually heat treated turquoise, I am not sure if such a thing exists but I liked them in this set...

The goddess focal bead,,,I wire wrapped her to the necklace...

The yummy clasp, I decided it looked great in the front left side of the necklace...

group photos, I was having the hardest time with my camera, I dropped the camera right before I took the photos...

different background and the earrings that match, but not so matchy matchy...enter to win this set by making a comment on my blog. I also added the sterling silver wire & the sterling charms, chain & rings to go with the yummy sterling silver I was sent...

After you enter the drawing here, check out my partners blog... Here is the link to Jeanette Blix's blog...

and the of course check out the rest of the blgos below...

Hostess, Lori Anderson


Special Book Sneak Peeks, Cindy Wimmer

1.  Adlinah Kamsir (Singapore) and Hajer Waheed (Kingdom of Bahrain)

2. Adrienn Lukacs (Hungary) and Agata Grygiel (Poland)

3.  Agi Kiss (Hungary) and Carolien Muller-Genger (the Netherlands)

4.  Agnes Asztalos (Hungary) and B.R. Kuhlman

5.  Alesha Conklin and Becki Mendivil

6.  Alice Peterson and Carol Dillman

7.  Alicia Marinache (Canada) and Dita Basu

8.  Amanda Dittloff and Brandy Thomason McNair

9.  Amanda Tibbetts and Andrea Trank

10.  Amy Freeland and Kay Mallery 

11.  Andra Weber and Christine Murrow

12.  Ann Sherwood and Diane Welte

13.  Barbara Bechtel and Kerry Bogert

14.  Barbara Lewis and Cat Pruitt

15.  Bonnie Coursolle (Canada) and Fay Wolfenden (Canada)

16.  Carmel McGinley (Australia) and Tracy Stillman (Australia)

17.  Cassie Donlen and Deryn Mentock

18.  Cathie Carroll and Janel Dudley

19.  Cece Cormier and Morwyn Mullins

20.  Charlene Jacka and Christina Hickman

21.  Cheryl Brown (Canada) and Diana Ptaszynski

22.  Christina Stofmeel (the Netherlands) and Eva Kovacs (Hungary)

23.  Christine Damm and Deb Brooks

24.  Cilla Watkins (Canada) and Elaine Robitaille (Canada)

25.  Sabrina Straub (Switzerland) and Kathy Combs

26.  Cindy Cima Edwards and Eleanor Burian-Mohr

27.  Cory Celaya and Rhea Freitieg

28.  Courtney Breul and Dana Hickey

29.  Cynthia Abner and Jennifer Boreck

30.  Cynthia Tucker and Jean Peter

31.  Debbie Goering and Heidi Post

32.  Dee Elgie (UK) and Joanne Lockwood (UK)

33.  Dian Hierschel (Germany) and Eniko Fabian (Austria)

34.  Diane Cook and Lyn Foley

35.  Donna Bohler and Lisa Lodge

36.  Donna Millard and Kiersten Giles

37.  Doris Stumpf (Germany) and Eszter Czibulyas (Hungary)

38.  Elisabeth Auld and Eva Sherman

39.  Elke Leonhardt-Rath (Germany) and Marjolein Trewavas (UK)

40.  Ema Kilroy and Laurie Keefe-Cecere

41.  Erika Nooteboom (the Netherlands) and Giorgia Rossini (Italy)

42.  Erin Grant and Jean Wells

43.  Evelyn Duberry (Canada) and Gaea Cannaday

44.  Genea Crivello-Knable and Heather Powers

45.  Ginger Bishop (military, Okinawa) and Martina Nagele (Germany)

46.  Heidi Kingman and Lori Greenberg

47.  Helen Kemp and Lisa Wangeman

48.  Helene Goldberg (Australia) and Karen Vincent

49.  Jamie Hogsett and Jeannie Dukic

50.  Jeanette Ryan and Jelveh Jaferian

51.  Jennifer Cameron and Tania Spivey

52.  Jennifer Justman and Kari Carrigan

53.  Jennifer Tough and Lorelei Eurto

54.  Joanna Matuszczyk (Poland) and Julianna Kis (Hungary)

55.  Joanne Tinley (UK) and Michaela Pabeschitz (Austria)

56.  Julie Anne Leggett and Kelley Fogle

57.  Karen Hess and Linda Landig

58.  Karyn Bonfiglio and Kathleen Lange Klik

59.  Kashmira Patel and Kat White

60.  Kat Barron Miller and Kelly Morgan

61.  Kathy Lindemer and Rose Binoya

62.  Krafty Max and Sandra Miller

63.  Kristen Latimer and Pam Ferrari

64.  Kristie Roeder and Lea Avroch

65.  Kristina Johansson (Sweden) and Penny Neville (Canada)

66.  Krisztina Erlaki-Toth (Hungary) and Nicole Keller (Germany)

67.  Lara Lutrick and Lisa Suver

68.  Laura DeMoya and Lisa Hanna

69.  Libby Leuchtman and Melanie Brooks

70.  Linda Koch and Rosemarie Cowit

71.  Lisa Chapman and Menka Gupta

 72.  Lisa Liddy and Marion Simmons

73.  Lori Anderson and Marcie Abney

74.  Lori Bowring-Michaud and Mary Govaars

75.  Lori Dorrington and Maria Rosa Sharrow

76.  Lori Finney (Canada) and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp (Canada)

77.  Lynn Bennett and Mandi Ainsworth

78.  Marta Kaczerowska (Poland) and Milla Starchik (Canada)

79.  Mary Harding and Shannon LeVart

80.  Mary Jane Dodd and Stacey Curry

 81.  Melinda Orr and Molly Alexander

82.  Melissa Meman and Michelle Escano-Caballaro

83.  Michelle Jensen and Sandra Young (Canada)

84.  Nan Emmett and Nicole Valentine-Rimmer (Canada)

85.  Nancy Boylan and Suzette Bentley

86.  Natasha Lutes and Patti Vanderbloemen

87.  Pam Hurst and Rebekah Payne

88.  Patty Miller and Sara Rhoades

89.  Rebecca Anderson (UK) and Lori Anderson

90.  Rebecca Sirevaag and Sharon Driscoll

91.  Rochelle Brisson and Shannon Chomanczuk

92.  Rosa Maria Cuevas (Mexico) and Tejae Floyde

93.  Sabine Dittrich (Germany) and Sally Russick

94.  Sandi Volpe and Sarah/Saturday Sequins

95.  Shanti Johnson and Tracy Mok (Canada)

96.  Skylar Brez and Theresa Buchle

97.  Sonya Stille and Traci Zeller (Canada)

98.  Stefanie Teufel (Germany) and Tania Hagen (New Zealand)

99.  Stephanie LaRosa and Vonna Maslanka

100.  Terri Wlaschin and Wendy Blum

Thanks 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