Handmade Spaces: Starving Artist Bazaar

Today's handmade space is that of glass artist extraordinaire, Jennifer from Starving Artist Bazaar!  Take a peek at where Jennifer gets all her good stuff done:

What do you create in this space?
I used to work in a cold depressing garage and in my bedroom, but I just moved into my sister’s house in Arizona and now I have 3 workspaces. I do all my lampwork and glass grinding outside in my Glass Studio. Kind of a grand name for a dinky workspace. Lampworking is making glass beads and pendants with a blowtorch. I love playing with organic shapes and trying out different color combinations. The 2nd space is the Craft Room. (I share the space with my sister who uses her sewing machine to create scrubs. You know, like O.R. scrubs. “Oh are they!” -Max Fischer) In this space I combine my glass with silver findings to create hairpins, necklaces, earrings and cufflinks. I also create mixed media pieces with my glass. I attach the glass to painted canvas. 3rd space is for computer stuff.  Updating my site and the occasional freelance design job.

Please describe what we see in the pictures a bit...
In the Glass Studio I use a Hot Head torch with propane gas, a kiln, marble molds, tweezers, picks, glass grinder and Effetre glass rods. I still need to find a way to organize the glass and tools. It gets messy fast. In the Craft Room I have various pliers and silver parts. On the wall is my collection of art from friends, my travels and craft fairs. I could use more storage space here too. Still need to make it more comfy. The Computer Room is the best space. I get tons of sunshine in my bedroom and I love the wall color I picked. I wanted a color to remind me of Chicago on a gray day. In this room I have my handy dandy imac, some of my art, photos of loved ones and my super duper Mold-O-Rama gorilla from the zoo.

How do you feel when you enter your "handmade space"?
I always have a hard time starting work, but when I get into it I get into a zone and it becomes fun. Working outside is the most fun. I get to look out at the garden and tortoise habitat and who doesn’t like melting things with a blowtorch? I’m a little reluctant going into the Craft Room because it doesn’t get that much sun and it’s a bit chilly in there. It’s helps to have some music on. Listening to a lot of Jimmy Cliff, The Wrong Trousers and Regina Spektor right now. By a lot, I mean that’s all I play right now. When I have it all organized and cozy it will be better. And I’m always using the computer. Computers are addicting.

Take a peek at all the wonderful creations that Jennifer makes with this colorful glass, from necklaces to rings to earrings, at Starving Artist Bazaar!