"My
family is the most wonderful,
supportive family a girl could ask for,"
shares Jettonne.
"They
are happy I found something in life that brings me so much
pleasure, and they stand behind my efforts 100% of the way."
Currently, Jettonne uses 2 types of torches, The Minor Burner
from Nortel and The Wildcat from Carlisle. So far, she has
worked with Moretti/Effetre, Vetrofond, Lausha, Reichenback,
ASK, Bullseye soft glass, and Borosilicate hard glass including
Northstar and Glass Alchemy colored hard glass.
"I
am curious about all other types of glass, and plan to try them
all in my future accomplishments,"
she says.
"I
am intrigued by all techniques I discover in my lampworking
journey,"
says Jettonne, who enjoys variety, and includes all aspects in
her creations including focals and beads sets.
It was hard for Jettonne to pick one particular tool as her
favorite, she says,
"I
love all the different products so much... Each and every
product available has its own unique benefits within its own
structure, and they compliment each other in so many different
ways. My recommendation to the lampworking community is to try
anything and everything once. Maybe thousands of times if you
find the outcome appeals to you."
The tools Jettonne values and uses the most are as simple as
simple can be. A kitchen butter knife is one; a simple pair of
thin scissors is another; a pair of eyebrow tweezers; a pair of
small hemostats; a single edged razor blade; the graphite pallet
and tungsten pick.
Of her signature beads, Jettonne muses,
"I
would have to say, at this point in my self-taught adventure,
that mermaids, mermaid purses, and seaweed grasses are my
signature beads, because they are my most unique creations thus
far. But again, I must say that variety is best for me. I get
bored easily with the same ole thing and I love to try new
ideas."
Finding the beach which she lives near as tranquilizing and
natural, Jettonne planned to make ocean themed creations.
"I
also make my mermaids because they are mythical;
and fantasy is a beautiful thing.
I guess you could say I live in a dream world most of the time,"
she says.
Jettonne likes the
"finished
look"
her beads now have. Of course, her mother still has her very
first buckets made out of borosilicate hard glass. Her studio
is in her home garage, where she does lampwork for about 12
hours every day. She mentions,
"As
long as you have good ventilation, you can pretty much set up a
torch blowing area anywhere that wont create a fire."
"Making
beads is my hobby and my full time job,"
Jettonne says. Her beads are currently available for sale on the
internet (The Auction Boutique, and ebay). She also does custom
orders for family and friends and,
"anyone
else who has an interest in her work."
She is grateful for the interest this has created because
appreciation means a lot to her, and she feels blessed to have
met many very wonderful people along the way. Jettonne also
uses her beads in her own jewelry designs and is thinking about
creating her own website.
Claiming to be her own worst critic, Jettonne says,
"Nothing
in life is perfect. However, I strive for the perfection I know
I will never accomplish, but it keeps me going in the right
direction."
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