Bead Chat Magazine Winter 2014 | Page 100

Numinosity My work setting here in Alaska that I call the Garaj Mahal is spacious and has a majestic view of the Granite Mountains and large spruce trees ( that are already laden with snow). I have a separate room for sewing and mixed media and collage which pursuits largely have been eclipsed by trying to keep my shop stocked. I have an office in the house for my collections, beads, photo set up and computer, scanner and printer and packaging area. My space in Arizona is much more limited but I still have a little room downstairs to do my lampworking and the guest room that seems to be inhabited by wandering Alaskans quite often is also my office. From both of those rooms I have a view of the San Pedro Mountains in Mexico since we are so close to the border. As I had been employing enamels early on in my lampworking I decided to try it after hearing about torch firing enamels for Barbara Lewis’s book “Painting With Fire” and have found it very satisfying and I’ve enjoyed playing with different distinctive effects that I have created for my work. From time to time I have taken metal smithing classes and it’s a direction I would like to explore more but as of lately my default has been making lots and lots of beads and components to sell. I would like to explore fold-forming and hone some soldering skills. I’ve been slowly building up tools and equipment to round out my studio but unfortunately doubling up on all of that for both places is too much to take on at the moment.