Interview with Intuibead

First off, please tell us a little bit about you.

I have been called eccentric not because I'm a looney tune (that is perspective), but because I follow my own path and not the path followed by the masses. Being a farm girl I had responsibility growing up and often times had to entertain myself with my animals. Because if this I have a great imagination and don't believe in limits but how to overcome an obstacle before me. Obstacles often lead to greatness. As for where I live, I have a hobby farm that indeed has animals on it whether they are mine or the neighbor's. I am married and have 2 dogs, 4 cockatiels and a pasture of critters. I am a sock knitting fiend and love to cook, bake, garden, and am working towards a black belt in Kung Fu.

My professional background is a Medical Laboratory Technologist and shortly after I got my training I was bored and job jumped for a while until the ecomony tightened here in Alberta and I ended up staying at a particular job for a while. After 10 years I was burned out so I decided to venture out to challenge different things: network marketing, personal development, acting and ended up back at the same job for a couple of years. This led me to apply at a technical institute for a teaching position in the Medical Laboratory Technology program. I was successful and therefore crossed from the bench and into teaching not only in the human field, but in the Veterinary field as well. But as evolution has it, this is coming to an end in June as there is a life to live and I am going to live it.

How would you describe your current glasswork?

I am obsessed with necklaces. I do not know why but I just love them. I have, recently, started creating plates, bowls, platters, etc. I have a few different stained glass panels that I am currently working on. Most of my stained glass is given as gifts or installed in my windows throughout the house.

When did you begin working with glass, and why?

In 2000 I had picked up a pair of earrings in an airport and thought "I can do that". This led me to various techniques of beading where I heard about lampwork beads and how fabulous they were. Of course I didn't have a clue what they were so I had to investigate. I took a couple of courses to see what this was all about and in 2005 I took a 5 day lampworking course to see if I actually liked this lampworking gig enough to get into it. The answer was yes and the rest is history.

Where does your Glass inspiration come from?

Inspiration comes when and where it comes. The Lee Valley catalogue gives me ideas, but so do a lot of other things and people also give me ideas as well in the form of a request. I think of inspiration as a spontaneous tap on the shoulder never knowing when and where. If I am not paying attention at the time I eventually get a "whack". My husband is great in the idea category and also makes/invents/builds my tools and studio.

How would you describe glass?

Glass is an living entity that has it's own voice and expression. It is my job to listen to the voice and to bring out the expression of that glass with the tools that I have (torch, kiln, tools).

Is your studio all you want it to be?

For now and I continuously evolve and so does my studio. My husband also contributes to the evolution through his ideas as well.

Do you listen to music while working? If so, what type?

I like it quiet so that I can pay attention to my surroundings. My torch faces large windows in my studio so that I can watch the animals and the train that goes by. If there is music going on, it's in my head as a thought process.

When things don't go quite right in the studio, what comforts you?

The obvious answer would be chocolate, wine and a hammer, however I truly believe that there is no such thing as a bad glass day. If something is giving me attitude it's because I haven't figured it out yet or I wasn't paying attention to what the glass was telling me at the time. I have a PhD in stubborn so when something isn't "working" I will figure it out regardless of how long it takes. Plus "bad" is only a perception and I do have the wine and chocolate anyway.

When you have a really good glass day, do you celebrate?

Damn, I'm a genius!! I capture the moment and the beauty of the piece and get really excited about doing this again. Then I move onto the wine and the chocolate. Of course I have to show off my artistic genius to anyone within 30 feet of me with the excitement of a kid in a candy store.

What is the best part of working with glass?

I work with boro and with soft glass and I am constantly figuring out how to apply techniques to both types of glass. Glass is a challenge and is unpredictable (especially the colors in boro). Plus I make one-of-kinds so that each piece has its own personality. There are endless possibilities and growth when working with glass and it's pretty and shiny! Oh yes and the response of "get out, you made that??!!" is always a rush.

What is the worst part of working with glass?

The patience part of waiting until it comes out of the kiln. And of course there is the custom order that cracks and I have to do it again.

Do you have any tips/advice that you would feel comfortable sharing with other glass artists?

Enjoy the process!!! Make all of your ugly beads first. Ugly is a perception: what is ugly to you is beautiful to someone else. Only you know how the piece is "supposed" to turn out. Glass is playful and it's playing a game with you to see if you can figure it out. Glass pieces turn out better when you are in a good mood. :)

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