Dreaming of Summer

Here in Southern Canada we are still firmly in the grips of winter. Lots of snow, wind, and frequent bouts of freezing rain.

As you can see there's still lots of opportunity for fun with family during the winter!

However, sometimes one's thoughts do turn in anticipation to those hot summer days. When that happens I head down to the torch...it's warm!

I tried to conjure up a pair of beads that evoked hot summer days...coral red and transparent blue...with just a bit of white.

I love this blue opalino glass...it develops tiny bubbles in the flame!

I then added some Swarovski crystals and sterling silver accents to make a pretty pair of summer earrings. If you would like a pair please visit my website...

Are you dreaming of summer yet?

New Boro Beads....It's Been A While

Borosilicate glass, aka boro, is so different to work with compared to "soft" glass, or soda glass.  Most glass beads are made with glass from manufacturers like Effetre (Italian), Lauscha (German), or Bullseye (American).

Borosilicate, or Pyrex, glass, was developed by Corning and is the glass that "Corningware" used to be made from...it can go from cold (refrigerator) to hot (oven) without cracking.

Coloured borosilicate glass yields beautiful, ethereal hues and is a very different palette when compared to soda glass, where most of the time WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get).

Here are some new boro beads I have listed in my Etsy shop:

 Deep & Hazy Blue

 Dark Amber Purple & Hazy Violet

 After Midnight

Deep Purple & Hazy Blue

Boro beads are wonderful design elements in jewellery...here's a bracelet using shades of violet with copper.

Violet & Copper Bracelet

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!

Love is in the Air....Valentine's Day

I have to admit that I always forget about Valentine's Day until the last minute.  It's not that I don't want to do something special for my wonderful husband, but we do loving little things all year long for each other. 

For example, I'm really not "gaga" over chocolate or roses, I'm much more of a practical gal.  I make my own jewellery so he doesn't buy it for me.  A new, cool tool, or a wedge of really nice cheese is more up my alley.

I like to make red jewellery but I don't really want it to scream "Valentine's Day", I want it to be worn year 'round.

Here are some pieces I currently have made up...see what you think.

 Genuine Garnet & Antiqued Silver Chandelier Earrings

 Red & Black Handmade Lampwork Glass Beaded Bracelet

 Deep Red Lampwork & Swarovski Crystal Hummingbird Earrings

Candy Apple Red Enameled & Silver Beaded Necklace

Trend Alert: Chan Luu Style Wraparound Bracelets

I'm seeing these double-wrap bracelets everywhere and decided to make some up and see how they look on the wrist.

Well, I LOVE them!  Of course I've now purchased 15 different colours of cording to coordinate with the beads I'm using, and I'm making lampwork bead toggle closures for them.  So much fun to make!  The beads need to have large enough holes to accommodate at least two passes of the C-Lon cord, plus the needle eye...so gemstones don't work as the drilled holes are too small.

Here are some that I've done recently...

 Natural Wood & Leather Chan Luu Inspired Wrap Bracelet with Lampwork Bead Closure

Caramel & Copper Chan Luu Inspired Wrap Bracelet with Floral Lampwork Bead Closure

The added bonus is that they work out to be about 15 1/2" in length for two wraps of the wrist...so they can be worn as a choker-style necklace too!!  I love this look.