I enjoy listening to music of all kinds, cooking and am hopelessly addicted to bad reality TV!

Ms. Buesgen’s passion for ceramics ranges from hand-built pots to finely crafted jewelry, with the jewelry being a relatively new venture. “I have recently started to work on the smaller scale of ceramics,” says Buesgen, “I enjoy making delicate things.” Also, she is well-known for her dynamic glazes and organic, nature-inspired motifs. “I’m always…experimenting with glazes, textures and styles,” she says.

Since your kid’s teacher has put a handmade touch on your child’s education, why not go with a handcrafted gift to show him/her your appreciation?

Dona Jones has perfected the art of creating delightfully whimsical items. Her line of animal and symbolic shapes in torched copper catches every customers’ eye as they’re browsing. Your kid’s teacher is sure to love them!

Check out these photos that will give you a sampling of her wonderful pins, earrings, magnets, necklaces, and ornaments…all totally reasonably priced. They’re sure to put a smile on a proud teacher’s face as they say goodbye to your perfectly-behaved genius of a child (because your kid was an angel ALL year, I’m sure!).

my name is lisa bruemmer & i happen to love lace. i live in philadelphia with my husband & pup, atlas.

at any given time i can be found doing one or more of the following things: scooting, talking to my dog, exploring the great outdoors, bicycling, eating and/or drinking, singing (for my ears only), thrifting, & laughing. if you think cheese is the world’s most perfect food or wish to have neko case as your best friend, chances are that we are soulmates.

Although I still enjoy bead stringing and wire work, I have fallen in love with bead weaving. The intricate stitches and rhythmic motion are reminiscent of embroidery, and the results are quite spectacular! I love learning new stitches, experimenting with new patterns, and I am in awe of all the beautiful seed bead colors.

My goal as a jewelry artist is to create jewelry that is beautiful, interesting, and well-made with fine attention to detail. I enjoy doing custom work and the challenge of creating special pieces that have meaning to the wearer, as well as an extension of the love felt by the giver.

My other passions are hiking and riding my bicycle. If I’m not wandering around in the mountains or speeding down the back country roads I can be found at my workbench, listening to music and creating another unique piece.

Thanks to Barbara for answering some interview questions so as our fans may become better acquainted!

OOOH:  What craft do you primarily work in?  What sets your work apart from other artists?

BS:  I primarily work in stained glass done in the copper foil technique, “Tiffany Style.”  I often incorporate beads into my designs to give them added dimension.  I have been working in stained glass now for twelve years.

OOOH:  How long have you been working with glass?  What was your first inspiration to begin?

BS:  My interest in the glass medium began many years ago after a visit to the Corning Museum of Glass, and my desire to learn how to make stained glass was DEFINITE after a tour of  the Frank Lloyd Wright home, Fallingwater.  After my youngest child was born, I signed on for a basics course at Lehigh County Community College.  This was the perfect “Mom’s Night Out” for me, I enjoyed it so much that I have continued to make stained glass ever since.  I started experimenting with making jewelry out of the glass scraps simply so I could use them up.  I didn’t want to discard any of the beautiful art glass scraps.  It was very challenging working with the tiny pieces of glass, and working with lead-free solder was much more difficult than I had anticipated.

OOOH:  What continues to inspire your work?

BS:  Coming up with new design ideas and making them work is what keeps me inspired.   I get very excited and motivated when I hear a customer say “I just love that piece I bought,” or ”I always get so many compliments when I wear the necklace you made!”

OOOH:  Within our store, your work ranges from small pins and ornaments to large glass panels.  What work are you most proud of?

BS:  What I am always most proud of seems to be the piece I have just finished at the time.  Right now I have completed a new abstract and earthy panel that is my favorite of the moment.  Mastering the jewelry done in stained glass has been challenging for me and holds my interest as the jewelry fashions change constantly.  I am always happiest when working on a new design, whether it is jewelry or stained glass.

OOOH:  Where do you normally find your glass supplies and equipment?

BS:  Most of my stained glass supplies are purchased at Warner Glass in Allentown, and I am always keeping my eyes open for unusual pieces of vintage glass to incorporate into my work.  I often travel to New York to do some bead shopping and keep up with current fashion trends.

OOOH:  Craft shows are another outlet for your work, and you are often participating in shows around the area.  What are your most successful venues?

BS:  I participate in several shows each year.  My favorite is the Hoboken Arts & Music Festival because it was my very first breakthrough show.  My favorite fall show is the Rockaway Beach Arts & Music Festival where I have many repeat customers there and it is fun to see them each year.  My favorite local show is the Bethlehem Fine Arts show that is held every Mother’s Day weekend.

OOOH:  Do you have any plans for future work?  What would you like to accomplish?

BS:  My future goals are to always progress by creating new designs and improving my skills.  I would like to broaden my business by finding more retail outlets for my work, and  teaching others the craft.

OOOH:  What would be your best advice for someone interested in working with stained glass?  Where should a beginner start?

BS:  My best advice for beginners is to find out the basics of stained glass making before paying for a class and buying all the tools on the list.  Many people I went to class with found it was just not for them after a several hundred dollar investment! If you are already sure it is for you, then a community college course would be an excellent place to start.  You can also find classes at glass shops & art schools.

We’re having a spur-of-the-moment sale during tomorrow’s Snowblast Festival  in Emmaus. There are lots of events happening in town, and we’d love it if you stopped in and peeked at our selection (we have TWO new jewelry artists to discover)! We’re offering 10% off ALL jewelry items, just in time for Valentine’s Day shoppers. But hurry, this sale will only last from 10am-6pm on Saturday, February 13th.
Ladies, you may want to pass this on to the man in your life…just as a hint, of course!

My pieces are primarily made with polymer clay which is shaped and then baked in order to solidify. I occasionally add elements to the clay such as paint and found items. The beads or pendants I create are then strung and sometimes complimented with metal beads. I incorporate classic elements into my modern styles so that they might appeal to a broad audience.

I dabble in many forms of art, and I like to incorporate my experience and knowledge into my jewelry and experiment with different techniques. I hope you enjoy wearing my jewelry!