Welcome to New Earth Beads

Greetings and Welcome to New Earth Beads,

I feel such immense joy and love when I am creating with glass and have a strong sense and the intention that this energy gets infused into everything that I create. I believe this is the greatest reason why people are really enjoying my pieces. Not only are they experiencing the beauty of the glass itself but it appears to me that they are also drawn to that energy of joy and bliss that comes from me creating from that space.

Although this will be a long first post I’d like to start this first entry sharing the story of how New Earth Beads was birthed. Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and relax as there is quite a bit to this story:) This new adventure in creativity seems to be generated from the initial beginnings.

First, let me start by introducing myself. My name is Michelle Hair and I live in Colorado Springs, Colorado. If someone would have told me a year ago that I would soon be considering myself a glass artist I would have thought that was as likely as telling me I was about to become a professional athlete (in other words – Um, RIGHT!). Since 1988 I have had jobs in the world as a public health dental hygienist although I have experienced and enjoyed various other types of interests as well such as working at a homeless shelter for teens, retreat center, the Boys & Girls Club, human resources, and energy work (Reiki, Healing Touch, Hakomi, etc) to name a few. My deepest passion as long as I can remember has been exploring spirituality and the profound questions about who we are and why we are here on this planet.

Due to my extensive interest and search in spirituality I have found myself drawn and resonating with what some might consider “alternative/non-traditional” beliefs. Some of my favorite spiritual teachers include the works of Eckhart Tolle, Byron Katie, Gary Zukav, Patricia Cota-Robles, and Jim Self. I have also had some spiritual experiences myself that have created a different way of me perceiving and being in the world. I feel that I am here to “Be Love”. When I know and experience that I am deeply loved by the Creator then that has allowed me to be more of an open channel to let that Love pour through me and into all that I encounter. The beauty is it doesn’t require perfection but encourages being who I truly am and being authentic in the world. It’s very difficult to put into words a succinct, clear view of what I’m trying to explain here but I hope you get the idea.

So what does this spirituality stuff have to do with you becoming a glass artist you might ask. And the answer is “quite a lot actually”. I feel that we are all evolving as human beings and part of that evolution was drastically affected and catapulted forward at the end of the Mayan Calendar on December 21, 2012. I believe this date was essentially the “dying” of the old earth and the birth of The New Earth. The New Earth to me basically means that we are beginning to “wake up” and become conscious of who we are. To explain that just a bit further is to say that I believe we are coming into an Age where we will realize that we are ALL connected to one another, the Earth, everything on the Earth & beyond, and the Creator. With that awareness and consciousness it creates an entire energy field filled with peace, harmony, cooperation, compassion, empathy, joy, creativity, unity, and freedom. Sound like Utopia? That is truly where I believe we are headed even though from outer worldly appearances it sure doesn’t look like that currently.

So with that introduction, I continue the story. My husband Chris and I took a trip to Salida, CO in June 2013 to attend their Annual Art Walk. In one of the shops we stepped into there was a lady there who had a little propane container with a torch attached and she was melting glass with it. I just had to stop and watch. She had some jewelry pieces nearby that she had created using this method. Mesmerized in watching this process I found myself thinking “Hmm, I wonder if I could do that.” I spoke with the artist about it and learned that I could check to see if anyone in Colorado Springs offered a class. Initially I found someone who teaches classes on fused glass. I really didn’t know ANYTHING about any of the varieties of working with glass so I was interested in whatever I found! In July, I took a fused glass class and made my first 3 glass fused pendants which I was thrilled and amazed that I had created. What is also important to note here is that I have always been a bit anxious about creating art as it always seemed difficult for me and I was typically not very happy with what I created (especially when I compared myself to other’s work). I took pottery classes in high school and for a couple of years in Colorado Springs. I enjoyed doing pottery but never felt the passion or that I had a real talent for it. Here are my first creations in fused glass from my class. Pendants-July-2013

I still wanted to learn how to use the torch for melting glass. Upon further searching, which didn’t take much effort, I found another glass artist who was teaching private lampwork lessons in Manitou Springs, CO (I didn’t even know it was called lampwork at the time either). I contacted her and scheduled my first lesson on August 15. To make this long story a little shorter, I had found my bliss after completing this first class and couldn’t stop thinking about how much I loved it! After that, I began working on creating my own studio space. Here are my first lampwork beads from my first lesson.

Beads-Aug-2013

In December 2013, with the loving support of my husband, I left my dental hygiene job and have been spending a lot of time creating with glass ever since. I believe the energies of the New Earth that I spoke about are what has sparked this creative adventure so New Earth Beads is the name that spoke to me.

Thank you for visiting and feel free to comment. I hope that you feel the energy of bliss that I am attempting to create here and in my glass creations.

Many Blessings,

Michelle

 


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