I just got a stash of new Japanese beadmaking tools!

The two trowel-like paddles are called kote and are actually used for plastering as well as forming beads.  The wood-handled tools with the ball ends are called petal pushers and are used to form delicate impressed patterns in the glass.  The two long black tools are lakes and are used for making encased dots and for paddling the hot glass.  I can't wait to get into the studio and play! 

The Japanese bead makers use a softer glass than the Italian, German and American glass used by lots of American beadmakers.  This softer glass allows a whole cadre of different techniques, mostly the delicate, layered blossom beads like the one below made by master Japanese bead maker,  Norikazu Kogure.

Instructions for Life.

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three R’s: Respect for self Respect for others and Responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

It starts with a good camera.  There are so many choices in digital cameras!  DP Review  is a great place to start.  This site allows the reader to search for a suitable camera by features, price, or reviews.  There is a helpful side-by-side comparison chart for when you have narrowed the search to a few cameras..

I have a kiln full of new lampwork beads, three digital cameras and not one is working!  So I guess I won't be posting the new goodies until later...Stay tuned, they are beauties!