blog

My website up and running!!!

2012-01-20T14:12:00.000-07:00

Yes!!! I am very excited.

News today, There is still room in my Feb. 5 workshop at Best Bead Show. (Just found out last night that there are still some seats, so I am pushing it to fill up!) :). Yes, I know... You are probably being bombarded by lots of emails about the Tucson Gem Show. But, if you are only going to do one fun thing this Feb. at the Tucson Gem show,... TAKE MY CLASS!!!! :0

We will be learning how to easily and safely cut bottles, how to test different colors of bottles for compatibility, and how to flamework this stiff glass.

... Here is a link to sign up!

having huge problem with my website...

2012-01-10T13:33:00.000-07:00

Yes, My website... a nightmare.....
But, my blog!!! cool! So,
My next class will be during the gem show at the Best Bead Show
click here to sign up

I will be showing my work at The Best Bead Show... Feb. 1 - Feb. 5

Kino Veterans Memorial
Community Center
2805 E Ajo Way, Tucson, AZ 85713-6217
(Intersection of E. Ajo Way & Forgeus Ave./
Across from University Physicians Hospital)

I will also be at the 'To Bead True Blue' show

Doubletree Tucson Reid Park
445 S Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ

See you there!

Happy Holidays

2011-12-20T02:27:00.000-07:00

Crazy!!! I am sitting in my living room at 2:19 in the morning, not being able to sleep. So I thought I would enter a little bit on my blog. Working on new pieces in the studio. My rain series is filling my head with lots of Ideas.

I am also working on making some family presents, and glass flowers for an architect in Phoenix, Az.

Of course, I am working on beads, Beads, BEads, BEAds, BEADs, BEADS!!! I will post some of my new ones soon on Facebook... or here, or there.

-Bronwen

cross things off your list

2010-08-10T00:23:00.000-07:00

I love lists!!! I love the act of writing them in pen or pencil onto a sheet of paper.
I love the act of crossing off items as I finish them.
lists keep me focused on what I need to get done, and what time frame I have to do them in.

If you ever feel overwhelmed, try making lists. it really helps

new website look ..... check
San Diego show .... check
small one day vacaton .... check (very relaxing!!!)
the International Society of Glass Beadmakers gathering.... check (I did a talk, AND taught a class!!!!! all very fun!!!)

now,... ship some orders and get ready for Bead Fest in PA.
Hope to see you all there!!!

This month is only 1/2 over, and my list is looking pretty good.

I was away, but now I am back!

2010-07-01T01:29:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!!!
WOW!!! Happy July 1!
I was in the middle of getting my website up and running, and completely spaced about keeping up with my blog. I even forgot to put a link to here from there!!! Boy, Sometimes you can get so tunnel visioned that you miss the obvious.
Lists.... Lists... Lists.
This is the only way I can remember to do things, on time, every time!!! I am the type of person who learns from my eye and hands. If I don't see my hands do it, (or see your hands doing it) I don't remember it.... ie, I have to write down the lists. Typing the lists doesn't always work.... but writing long hand always seems to. ie., making a bead using a new technique, I will learn the technique. Read about the technique, I can understand how it is done, but I have not learned the technique until my hands actually do the technique.
Classes... That is why classes are so popular. I don't think I am alone in this! You can read all day long about a technique, but just won't "get it" until you touch it!
Enjoy taking classes.
-Bron

website is coming!!!!

2010-04-18T23:40:00.000-07:00

I have been working very hard on getting a site up and running for everyone to enjoy. I am adding a catalog, so that you can buy beads directly from me. This is very exciting, and yet taking tons of pictures is very exhausting. I can't wait for it to be done.!!! Stay tuned! Probably in about 3 weeks. Here is a sneak preview:

She is called "The Queen"

And, this is "Flame Girl"

These are what I call "stretchy bracelets" They are made out of bottle glass, bicycle inner tubes and used 22 shells that I pick up from the Arizona desert.

very, very comfortable!!!

The bracelets I call "study in shapes". Which is exactly what they are!!!

I can't wait until everything is up and running. But, YOU don't have to wait. If you see anything on this page that you love, just email me, and receive 20% off (offer is only good until Wednesday 4.21.10. Because after that, I am on the road to Denver for the Denver Bead Society Show.

Hope to see you all down the road.!

New Logo

2010-04-16T13:46:00.000-07:00

Take a moment to check out my new logo.

This image signifies and reminds me to think out side the box... to think in the future, beyond the now! To grab onto something in the air and make it real.
I try to do this with every aspect of my life, and I hope some of this rubs off on everyone I touch.

Cheers,
Bronwen

Christmas 2009

2009-12-28T00:02:00.000-07:00

Christmas, 2009.

We had my family over to the house, plus friends and friends of friends. This is a photo that my brother Jon took with his iphone using a pano app. Very cool. That is me on the far left sitting on the couch with a beehive hairdo. David (not pictured) made another wonderful Christmas dinner. It changes every year, this time we had Sour Brat en. Very nice and tangy. It was great. A lot of good conversation was had by all. Later that night, we skipped out and saw Sherlock Holmes. Was a fun movie. I can’t wait to see more!

What will my New Year resolution be this year? Will I keep it through out the year? Will I even make a resolution? Either way, I will lift my glass, and toast to the end of 2009, and to the beginning of 2010. To a new decade, a new beginning. May we all become wealthy beyond our wildest expectations with love, joy and happiness. May we all have a clear direction of where we want to be and what we want to accomplish. May we all reach our goals. And, may everyone be nice, not just to your neighbors, but to everyone you see and meet.

This last year was good, This coming year WILL BE GREAT!..

Class in my studio was AWESOME

2009-12-14T14:53:00.004-07:00

This past weekend, I taught a class at my studio. It was so fun. There was a street fair going on right outside of my studio, so at lunch, we would head out there, eat some vendor food, and cruse the show. We talked with a few glass fusers, and also Josh Mazet and his dad Dave was there. We talked to both of them about marbles. We were very stoked and inspired to go back to our torches.

Here are the pieces we made. It was such a blast!!!

It was so much fun to teach at my studio. I was a bit worried, but I LOVED IT!!! My students were Great!!!! We got out the Thompson Enamels and played with background enameling to go with our painted pieces. We pulled stringers to apply on top. It was very, very fun!

If you would like to be put on my mail list for classes, send me an email at bron.heilman@msn.com.

2009-11-02T00:36:00.004-07:00

I am teaching this December in my studio.... Email me if you are interested, or would like more information.

Learn Bronwen Heilman’s Vitreous Enamel Techniques.
Dec. 12 and 13, 2009
bron.heilman@gmail.com

Bronwen Heilman’s
Painting Class - painting beads using vitreous enamels.

This is an intermediate class focusing on how to work
with wet enamels and how to apply them. We will be
focusing on applying a wet enamel on a flat surface,
then after it is fired, we will roll it onto our core
bead.

Day 1: We will be creating our own, one of a
kind small glass paintings. We will learn how
different brushes create different effects, and
how to sign your name on your work.

Day 2: We will be lighting the torch, and
rolling up our sleeves, as well as our paintings,
to create beautiful pieces of art. We
will practice this and get comfortable
with the amount of heat we need to apply
the tile painting.

Where:547 N. 3rd. ave. Tucson, Az. 85705 (one block from many restaurants and coffee shops. Hotels and Bed and Breakfast’s within walking distance.)

Times: 9:30 - 5:00

Other: Fees: $375 includes 2-days of instruction and materials. Materials will include your own set of enamels to take home, as well as all the glass and other supplies needed in class. Class limited to 6 students (4 minimum).

All fees must be received by Nov. 16 to secure your spot in this class. If the class cancels, due
to the class not filling or other unforeseen issues, 100% of your class fees will be refunded.
Please email me with ANY questions.

my view

2009-09-24T15:55:00.002-07:00

I am sitting in my studio, at my desk looking out onto my house. It is a very sweet set-up. Not many windows at my studio, but the view from my desk is great. Late at night, if I am working at the computer, I can see the flickering light of the electric fireplace shine through the windows. A warmth comes across my heart knowing that everyone is home safe and sound. I just got back from the post office, and now I am about to light my torch, so that the beautiful flickering light of the torch will warm up my face. I love this view, I know it is silly to like looking at this building, but my family lives in there, and I do love them so.

Ebay anyone?

2009-09-19T23:40:00.003-07:00

I have decided to try Ebay once again. I am still in Denver and enjoying the fantastic warm weather here. I am all bundled in a 2 shirts, a bra, a wool sweater and a sweatshirt, plus a scarf, jeans, knee socks and boots, just to stay warm in the convention center. Outside it is a lovely 77 degrees. Last night, I took pictures of a few tiki's but only had time to get one up on ebay. Please check it out, I didn't have a ruler to measure the piece, so I a timely method of measurement by money size. I didn't have a quarter (the normal method of measurement) so I chose a dime. Enjoy
the link is
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250501178565&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Trip to Denver. My view through coffee stained eyes.

2009-09-17T20:08:00.012-07:00

Yep, I am on the road once again. This time to Denver. One exciting thing about Denver, is that you never know what the weather will be like. It can be hot (1 mile up, closer to the sun), or freezing in feet of snow. This trip has been wet

and cold

and fun. Here are a few of the stops I made along the way. Enjoy!

Ft. Craig, NM

Raton, NM

Trinidad, Co.

Near Pueblo Co.

And the Convention Center in Denver.

Outside my window

2009-08-01T21:59:00.001-07:00

This morning I saw this beautiful helicopter just outside my window. I was snapping pictures while in just my underware. I could see the guys inside the cab very well. I am now guessing they could also see me. …

I am on the 9th floor

Road trip day 3

2009-07-10T08:36:00.001-07:00

A bit late posting, sorry folks
L. A. …… People know how to drive here. They are pretty friendly on the road. The highway was slo-go for awhile, but not bad. Once out of L. A. It is a different story. CRAZY ! Ah-Yes, freeway driving is always an experience. One might say, an out-of-body one. But, stay alert... You never know what might happen. Waaaaaa! ( I am sounding like the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland....the happest place on earth)

Road trip … day 2

2009-07-08T23:08:00.001-07:00

Disneyland … wow!!! ! We went on California screamin 5 times!!! How crazy! Who thought that I love roller coasters! Crazy!

Road trip

2009-07-07T22:36:00.001-07:00

We just started our yearly road trip up to Portland, or. Us in our Jett tdi (diesel

Road trip day 1

2009-07-07T22:34:00.001-07:00

We left Tucson at 12:30. I will miss our cat "Smokey". But my mom will be there feeding him and loving him. We are off in our VW Jett tdi stationwagon. Filled to the brim. We are all happy and ready for a break.
I did see a small part of Michael's furneral. So sad. It is ever so sad to have your children die before you do.

flame - on design

2009-06-28T00:09:00.003-07:00

Flame - off, Flame - on... all the same, the work made by flameworking artists usually get donated for a good cause. The last one I was in was at the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee. The pieces were donated, and auctioned off. The money went to breast cancer research. My approach to flame off's is ... "work on the edge" Find your confort zone, and step away from it. Do something that is new, different and exciting. I was asked to be in the "Flame-On" once again this year, and I didn't have a preconceived notion of what to make. I have gotten bit by the steampunk bug awhile back, so therefore I happen to have a bunch of watch gears. I asked the suppliers (Arrow Springs) for some enamels, and they stepped up and gave me some. I started exploring with enamels, glass, steel and gears. The end result was exciting. While I don't have any images of the ones I created at Bead and Button, here is one I finished just the other day. I will be making more of these. This is just one way of how I go about breaking through boundries... and yes, reaching a new boundry but haven't yet finished exploring this space yet, so I will stick around for a while.

"If you don't live on the edge, your taking up too much space"

etsy post #2

2009-06-23T23:39:00.005-07:00

Pretty excited. Just uploaded my second piece of work into my etsy store. These are a green pair of 'Calder' earrings. I call them "Calder" because of the way they make me feel, and their graceful motion, almost like a mobile. These earrings are just so beautiful and elegant.

The beads in this earring is made from recycling glass bottles. In this case, the green color is from a Jameson Whiskey bottle. A very nice rich green. Pretty neat... Please visit my earlier blogs on how I make these beads.

Making these beads and this series of jewelry is just so cool, and I am so very hooked on recycling.

enjoy!

I am now on Etsy

2009-06-23T01:19:00.003-07:00

I just spent the last 3 hours figuring out how to list on etsy. I think i have it. I posted 1 pair of my recycled earrings. A nail pair with light blue recycled glass beads. Yes, the Bombay Sapphire Gin bottle beads. (scroll down to see other posts about those beads).
Please check out my etsy site. More will be posted daily.
Thank you,

Bronwen
(my site is http://bronwenheilman.etsy.com
you can click the title, and it should take you there.)

Craftcast!!!

2009-06-05T23:37:00.001-07:00

Well, I am so excited!!! I was interviewed a couple of days ago by Alison Lee of Craftcast. She is so sweet, and warm. She is the type of person that you feel like you have known her for a very long time. And when (in my mind) she comes over, you don't have to clean anything up, and you don't feel like you have to entertain her. She makes you feel that comfortable.
Check out our discussion... and learn all about how I cast my glass bottle beads, where my painting inspiration came from, and when I first fell in love with glass.
Check it out at www.craftcast.com

Thanks for listening

In Las Vegas

2009-06-01T10:49:00.001-07:00

GeoTagged, [N36.12918, E115.15282]

Well, I'm at a trade show in Las Vegas. It was my birthday. We had a great time. Good food, my family was with me. AND it was also my daughters birthday!!!!! How cool is that! AND it was my dads birthday! ... All on the same day!

Here is a shot of some dancing water. It was at Ceasers Palace.

More Green today

2009-05-26T00:49:00.003-07:00

David and I ground beads all day. We finished a small hand full of beads made from Jack Danial's bottles. The glass is curious... After making frit out of the glass, and washing the glass, letting it dry, then putting it in a mold to cast, ramping up the kiln and then,... the glass goes milky. Yes, milky. not clear, but a white translucent color. Very unexpected, but very pleasing. Here is an image of the beads.

Bombay Sapphire

2009-05-22T10:17:00.002-07:00

What we all have been waiting for..... Here is a new piece with the recycled bottle....Bombay Sapphire Gin. The color of this glass is so beautiful. And I only have 2 bottles. So, if any of you want to trade a bottle (Bombay Sapphire Gin bottle only) for a bead, please respond to this post with your email, and I will send you my address.

nails

2009-05-18T10:07:00.003-07:00

The recycling project is going like crazy!!!
I picked up a bucket of old rusty concrete nails from Habitat for Humanities. I am forging them out and then flameworking glass on to them. Here is an image of some of the single pieces i just finished.

The saphire gin beads are still being ground to shape. These do take a little while.
But I have not forgotten to post.

Monday came and went

2009-05-13T23:17:00.003-07:00

OK... I said I would have some images of beads for you using the Bombay Saphire gin bottle..... But, NO!!!!!! sorry about that. I will have some images of the beautiful blue beads cut up into cubes, before I start grinding them. That will be tomorrow. OK... tomorrow never comes, but really I already have them cut, and I just have to take a picture and post it here. easy right? Yes! I have a new goal in my life, and that goal is to try to say something here more often. I won't promise every day, because I really hate breaking my promise. But I will promise to write here more often than before. (scroll down to see how bad I was...) I also updated this profile, so you can now click a gadget (to the right of this verbage) to follow this blog if you are interested. And believe me, you may be interested... because if you are reading this, you will probably want to read more.
till later,
Bronwen

Bombay Sapphire

2009-05-07T23:40:00.004-07:00

Yahoo!!!
I finally got a bottle of Bombay Sapphire. That color is beautiful.. Here is a picture of me crushing the bottle. Beautiful Casting it tonight. Cutting it up tomorrow... Beads by Monday!
Can't wait!

Recycle, recycle, recycle

2009-05-07T08:21:00.002-07:00

Glass from glass bottles. A bar down the street named 'The Hut' Tucson Az. donates weekly to our effort, as well as friends and family.
After we receive the bottles, we wash off the labels. Break up the glass and then cast the glass in a slab. After the slab cools, we cut it up into cubes, and then hand grind a roundel shape out of them. At this point more grinding is done until the final shape is acquired, and then a final polish in the tumbler.

Y, hello there

2009-02-21T21:16:00.001-07:00

I just happened to come across my moms phone (Bronwen) and decided to post a blog for her. Ya for technology!

-maya hawk

2009-02-06T13:16:00.001-07:00

Working on my web sites

2009-01-26T10:06:00.002-07:00

Yes, I am working on updating my awful, awful website. I have two. www.ghostcow.com and www.bronwenheilman.com. Ghostcow is more bead orientated, while bronwenheilman is focused on jewelry. I decided that a cleaner look is needed, and also i need to keep it up daily. MY new year resolution is to get a better control over my time. You only have so much, and when it is gone, you can not get it back. Use it wisely. a preview will be done soon.

Wish I was there

2009-01-20T09:07:00.001-07:00

Just watching it on tv... It is still exciting as hell!

I am so excited. We are on a path of recovery.

way too much Penicillin

2008-12-01T00:21:00.000-07:00

First, I must apologize to everyone who checks out this blog. I have not updated it in quite awhile. Sorry about that. I will try to do better, even if it is to talk about my teeth.

OK... 2 weeks ago, my bottom left tooth (#19) was just killing me. I went into the dentist, and sure enough it is infected. It already had a root canal, so the next best thing will be to pull it and get an implant put in. Thus, I need to take penicillin... 10 days later, (after my full dose was consumed) my cat bit me while i was brushing him. He totally hates being brushed, but his fur is rather long, and it helps with the hair ball issue. Anyway, after my finger grew twice its size, i went into the doctor, and she prescribed more penicillin. Day 5 in this batch. I truly hate taking this stuff, because i think makes your natural fighting ability weak. (And I hate being weak). This dose is only for 7 days....

test

2008-10-22T14:21:00.000-07:00

i just linked this blog to my facebook... thanks Grant, glad somebody is watching out for me.

life getting busy

2008-10-22T07:10:00.000-07:00

Just got back from NYC. The weather couldn't be better. The air was crisp, and the people were fantastic, Bustling everywhere. I had to go to Times Square, just to feel the energy. I am in search for a new pair of eyeglass frames, since mine got destroyed during the robbery (see earlier blog). Susan and I visited a couple of eyeglass frame stores on Sat.... then I visited a few more on Monday. Geez, all the glasses styles are starting to look the same. Here in Tucson, the weather is dry, and warm, and very cool in the evenings. Perfect for Oct. The smells here in downtown are very close to the smells in NYC. People, pizza and urine. Ah, the life in a city. LOVE IT!!!! people are beautiful! But people need to stay in cities, and not sprawl into the wild. The wild, (yes, the desert is wild) needs to stay wild. The people wanting to buy a big lot, and build a big house in the far areas of town, should reconsider, and buy a fancy, fancy condo downtown. We all need to rebuild our downtowns. Make them safe and fun to be in. Shops should be on the ground floor, while fancy and non-fancy condos above. Restaurants should stay open past 6pm and should be everywhere.... all sorts of food, all sorts of flavors, and shops that are not scary for the non-city people to visit. We need to rebuild our downtowns!!!!!

ok, i regressed.....

I am packing again, this time for Austin, TX

Obama Rally

2008-09-27T23:59:00.000-07:00

photo by Maya

Just got back from Armory Park in downtown Tucson. It was a rally for Obama support as well as to get people registered to vote. There were speakers, and 3 bands playing. It was great. I picked up a couple of bumper stickers, as well as some pins. I went there with Maya and her friends. We walked to the park from my house. It was about a mile and 1/2. Today was so beautiful outside, that it felt wonderful just to see and be seen. I had owen with me. Owen is .... Daves dog. He is very cute, and if I was looking, I would have had my pick of dates tonight. So many single people with small children came up to me to play and pet Owen. WoW.... what a magnet.

steel and glass

2008-09-23T22:51:00.000-07:00

I am donating a piece of jewelry to the Sonoran Glass Art Acadamy. They are having their Annual Glass Art Auction and Wearable Art Show on Friday, October 17. I can not make it out that eve. since I will be in NYC at the Soft Flex show, but I am sure this Auction will be a blast.

This piece is lampworked glass on steel. The steel is hand forged. The small colorful elements between the main elements are enameled copper beads.

Issues with the robbery from an earlier post. My right eye is still weird. All red and a little bit out of focus. My eyeglasses were smashed, so I will have to get another pair.

Also, yard work!!!!. The days are cooling off, so the yard is calling, or should I say screaming!

Robbery

2008-09-23T00:26:00.000-07:00

Robbery Sat. Sept. 20, 2008

This afternoon, my daughter and I came home. My daughter (Maya) noticed a couple (in their 30's) on the porch, so we thought we would wait about 10 minutes before going home to let them go on down the street (we get solicitors all the time). We did not see them after 10 minutes, and we assumed they went away, I also checked the street looking for them, could not see them anywhere. We walked over to the house. I picked up some garbage from the front yard (a plastic juice bottle). The front door was locked, Maya unlocked it, and we went inside. Maya headed towards her room, and saw people in my bedroom putting items in bags. She ran over to me and said very quietly, “Mom, there in here”. I yelled at them to get out, they ran out the back door, that they had cut through. I chased them out the house and I caught up to the woman in the street in front of our house, where I grabbed her and tried to hold on to her. She was much heavier than I, but I held on to her for about 2 minutes or more. The man meanwhile kept tugging at her trying to pull her away from me, but I wouldn’t let go. He left for a second, then came back with mace and sprayed me point blank in my right eye and face. I started screaming, and as my grip loosened, he pulled her away. She ran for a plastic bag that she was caring but somehow I grabbed the bag and threw it to Maya and yelled for Maya to take it in the house. The woman and man then turned and ran down 5th street towards Euclid.

The burglers broke into our locked house by cutting their way through our security door from the back yard.

During the scuffle, Maya called the cops. They came in about 6 - 10 minutes. I think they were there a bit earlier, because they were driving around the neighborhood looking for the robbers before they came to the house.

It is 5:30 AM now, my face and eye still burns. My nerves are shot, and I am tired, but I won’t sleep until the morning. People are going to work. I think I will watch the sun rise today.

Bra Burning

2008-09-09T10:01:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine is having a breast reduction today. Yesterday she had a bra burning party. I couldn't make the party, but I had a small ceremony in my studio to celebrate her decision.

"I will now and forever have a plastic melted mess on my flameworking bench... always to remember this historic event"

My cooler died in my studio today. Good thing summer is almost over. I am in Denver till monday, so probably no blogs until then.

Keep your torches lit and bras burning.

-Bronwen

Marbles

2008-09-08T23:33:00.000-07:00

Well, I am hooked. I made a marble the day before the isgb gathering. I wanted to do something new and special for the gathering to show off. Well, I did make a marble, not the super one I was intending. This one broke off the punty 3 times (once almost in the water bowl). The last time, it broke off, fell to the wooden floor, and rolled....and rolled. flames were coming up behind it, burning the oil off the the hard wood, as well as the dust.. the marble finally settled, burning a nice spot in the floor. I finally was able to scoop it up into the marble mold and toss it into the kiln. The next day, I pulled it out of the kiln, and it wasn't too bad, but then again, not too pretty. I showed it to Jennifer Wilson and she told me I should enter the 'World Flame Off" in Tucson Sept 5,6 and 7. I did...... ....... ....... I was so nervous. I practiced 7 more times, each one a little bit better. I was learning every step of the way. I still have a lot to learn, and a lot of practice needs to happen. My day for the flame off was Sat. at 10:00 am. I was sitting low into the torch, my eyes were focused, I forgot to drink water, but it didn't matter.... i was one with the glass... If I drank water, I would crack. I did not drop the marble (much to Dougies dismay), and I put it in the kiln with about 30 sec. of time left.

When I get a picture of this marble I will post it, but in the mean time, above is an image of my very first marble .

Oh, and the 'WORLD FLAME OFF'... I won 1st. place in the soft glass marble category. I am so was hooked on marbles.