Congratulations Dini Bruinsma, August's Artisan of the Month! 

Dini started lampworking in 2008 on a Fire Devil.  After 6 months she bought a Bobcat, and wow, does she love that torch!  During the years following she discovered that she's a bit more a jewelry designer and maker than a glass bead maker when it comes to ‘counting working hours’. 

Dini participated in the Book Glasss, the first one that was published! http://www.glasss.eu/shop/book-glasss-p-1.html?zenid=h5qkrp5c8gvj65401e9mf0hr24

She's fond of working with silvered glass and frit of course!!! Especially the reactive frits…  The combination of my glass beads with semi-precious stones is always surprising.  Stones are a great inspiration to her for her bead designs, and she's always looking for special combinations.

Dini lives with her husband in The Netherlands. They retired in 2003 while they were still young. Since 2004 they ran a foundation together: Stiching Changes http://www.changesforbarakafarm.info. They worked  there for a 10 month term, divided over 4 periods in 2 years until 2006. After their time there was completed they decided to start sales to support the home. The profit of their sales goes to the Lewa Children’s Home in Eldoret in Kenya.  Nowadays they have sales in Art Fairs, lovely gardens and lots of other beautiful and special places all over the year. Dini has lots of fun with this.

She and her husband love travelling around the world, which is also very inspiring to her for making glass beads and jewelry! She's fond of taking photographs, painting and cooking and she volunteers as well. She loves to work with people! 

Last but not least let's not forget her blog, although writing in English is not so easy for her. "Sometimes I sound like a dictionary I think…"  And challenges… on Facebook, and now as a frit tester for That Frit Girl.  There’s still a lot to explore, and she's happy to still be able to! 

Both Dini's work and adventures can be found at either http://www.angaza.nl 

or http://www.angazabychanges.blogspot.nl/ and are well worth the follow!