Here’s your latest “Best of” list from the Lampworking Blogosphere!!

Some COLORFUL posts this time:

• Dogmaw’s been experimenting with Glass Alchemy’s Jamboree lately.
• Karolen’s playing with Double Helix’s new Pandora.
• Kandice finds plenty to love in new and old Creation is Messy colors.

We have two artist interviews:

• Lori Greenberg chats with Jill Symons, and
• Melissa Lee speaks with Sarah Moran.

In the miscellaneous category:

• Lisa Liddy compares her current studio and her ideal studio at Collective Creatives.
• Lori Greenberg’s bead designs continue to evolve at Watch Me Create.
• Luann Udell identifies her legacy in the midst of cleaning her attic.
• Finally an anonymous Etsy Bitch Auxiliary member shares a different perspective on Etsy’s “Quit Your Day Job” series.

It must be too hot to play with glass in many locales, because the blog posting has picked up. After all, it IS usually cooler sitting in front of a computer screen than in front of a torch!

The Carter Seibels feature article in Belle Armoire Jewelry’s Summer issue continues to generate reaction among the lampworkers:

• Susan Lambert takes offense at the characterization of middle-aged lampworkers and points out that the article was a put down of a very significant demographic among BAJ’s readership;
• Andrea’s scholarly analysis shows the flaws in the reasoning behind the ageist comments;
• I’m grumbling that it’s the hands, not the tools, that make the artist.

In other postings:

• Lori Greenberg has not only been busy interviewing Sarah Moran of Z-Beads, she’s been conducting more experiments of her own for Watch Me Create.
• Rachel of Inferno Glass Beads jumps into the blogosphere to try and explain the cost of artist-made lampwork beads to the rest of the world.
• Luann Udell is also blogging about the rise in prices of art along with everything else.
• At the Art Bead Scene, Jennifer Stumpf introduces us to Canary Islands artist Lina Khan.
• An anonymous Etsy Bitch reader shares why, in his opinion, having a sale in your Etsy shop is a Bad Idea (gasp!).
• Even complete flakes need to get things done. Sonia Simone has some ideas on how to make it happen for you.

During the lazy days of summer, sometimes it’s good to just take a break from that hot torch, and sit back with a nice cold glass of tea and read what’s going on in the lampworking world!

• The copying discussion continues — Mincot continues her ponderings while mixed-media artist (and sister of my lampworker friend Ellen) Nina Bagley shares her frustrations with the imitation of her own work. Incidentally, if you don’t read Nina’s blog, Ornamental, you should subscribe — I am always inspired by Nina’s words and pictures!
• Laura Sparling has been trying to make “cloud beads” for some time. Watch as she persists, and succeeds!
• That Karolen! She’s at it again, working her magic with the Triton!
• Sarah Hornik’s back from her Australia trip, sharing her memories of birds and beads from Down Under.

Stay cool and hydrated, y’all!

Happy Father’s Day to all those fathers out there! I hope you enjoyed your new ties, power tools, golf balls, or whatever came out of the ingenious minds of your offspring.
For the rest of you, we have the Best Lampworking Posts of the Week . I know it’s not a new (butt-ugly) tie, but deal with it!

• Luann Udell continues her “How to Half Wholesale” series discussing the importance of networking.
• Lydia Muell shares some stream-of-consciousness insight into her creative process as she talks about her current “House of Vettii” bead series.
• The Etsy Storque’s Open Studio Tour visitsMatt Carrigan, a.k.a. workathomedad.
• On the distaff side, Midwest Creative Collective talks with Holly Cooper.
• Finally, at Collective Creatives, Susan Sheehan shares some thoughts about texture in glass.