I am a lampwork artist who makes glass beads. I work in my studio, a converted building, here on our farm in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. We live about a half hour south of Portland, Oregon. I sell my beads at shows and online. See below for links to my online sales. If you have questions or would like to discuss a special order please feel free to CONTACT ME.
Thank you for visiting my website.
Jennifer Millsap
WELCOME
MAY 2012 UPDATE
Although it has mostly been grey here, the grass is growing so fast that I have to mow it twice a week and there are many things in flower. Now that I have an iPhone, I find myself stopping to take photos of flowers as inspiration for my beads. I've taken pictures of tree blossoms, late season daffodils, bright orange calendula, and the colorful ground cover that is blooming in the rock wall in front of our house. Last weekend we went on a wine tour to taste wine at five wineries in Hood River, Oregon. That area is know for its many apple, pear and cherry orchards, along with lots of wind for wind surfing on the Columbia River. It is not as well known for it's wine production. It was a sunny day and we travelled in a tour bus, with 46 other happy people, to visit the wineries. It was a perfect time to go because we also got to see acres and acres of flowering fruit trees in a beautiful green valley. I wish I could find a way to put the beauty of that mass of flowers into a bead! The wineries were pretty, and the wine was good. It was a fun exerience. Some of us even danced in the isle of the bus on the way home.
I have to admit that I've spent more time away from the studio than in it this year. I still love working with hot glass but there have been many other things that I let be the priority in my life for a while. I think I got a bit burned out as I prepared for shows. The pressure of getting ready took away the joy and the "play time" which is what I love the most because that's when I make new discoveries which lead to new designs. I'm trying to change my perspective so I don't stress myself out in the future. I felt pushed into production mode. Now the weather is better, the studio is warmer, and I'm spending more time in there just making beads and "playing". I'm skipping my biggest show of the year (again) but will be a vendor at the ISGB Gathering in late July, in Bellvue, WA. I will be a vendor at the Bead Bazaar in Portland, OR in November. I am also signed up for two classes with teachers whom I have long admired: Kristen Franz-Orr (beautiful flowers) and Holly Cooper (incredible stringer work- drawing on glass), so I am really looking forward to learning new things and improving on my current skills.
Whatever your interests, I wish you lots of time to be creative!
