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?

Lampwork Glass Hearts for Valentine's Day

Well, we're right in the thick of the Christmas season, but as a lampwork bead artisan and jewellery designer it's always necessary to be thinking ahead. I've been making glass hearts for Valentine's Day designs, and I'd like to show you some of them.

They make wonderful pendants for necklaces, paired with some Swarovski crystals for added sparkle.

Each heart is unique...they are hand-shaped with love at my torch bench. These are currently available in my Etsy shop.
Tie A Ribbon Around My Heart...Lampwork Puffy Heart Focal Bead
Red Passion...Handmade Lampwork Puffy Heart Focal Bead
Pink Paradise...Handmade Lampwork Puffy Heart Focal Bead

New Silver-Foiled Lampwork Glass Beads

I ran out of fine silver foil last week, but my supplier came through for me, and I'm stocked up again!

I made more of the silver-foiled beads, and quite a few of them have sold already (thanks everyone)...here are three pairs that are still for sale in my Etsy shop.

Butter Pecan, Browns, and Blues Glass Beads - Handmade Lampwork Pair
Butter Pecan & Silver Blue Swirls Glass Beads - Handmade Lampwork Pair
Butter Pecan, Blues and Greens Glass Beads - Handmade Lampwork Pair

New Glass Beads for Jewelry Designs

These glass bead pairs are fabulous for earring designs...they are a nice size to use as accents with Swarovski crystals, sterling silver, copper findings, and pearls.

The borosilicate glass lends a mysterious quality to the beads, and is best viewed in natural daylight...they really sparkle!

These are all currently available in my Etsy shop...but don't wait too long, they go quickly!
Blue and Black Glass Beads-Borosilicate Lampwork Beads
Red and Pink Glass Bead Pair - Borosilicate Lampwork with Microbubbles
Blue and Jade Green Glass Beads-Borosilicate Lampwork Beads
Blue and Amber Glass Beads-Borosilicate Lampwork Beads
Blue and Violet Glass Beads-Borosilicate Lampwork Beads
Pink and Purple Glass Borosilicate Lampwork Bead Pair

What does a Glass Studio Look Like? Here's Mine...

Have you ever wondered what a lampwork glass studio looks like? Here are some pictures of mine....propane/oxygen torch, kiln for annealing beads, and LOTS of glass rods!
My glass studio
My glass workbench, with torch in the centre, and kiln to the left.
SOME of my glass rods...my dear hubby built the storage unit for me.
My waxing and casting workbench
My annealing kiln...gets up to 2000 degrees. I can use it for precious metal clay, fusing, and melting precious metals.

One of my oxygen concentrators...takes room air and filters out the oxygen, which is then pumped to my torch.
That way I don't have to have an oxygen tank in my house.
....note TWO fire extinguishers...gotta be safe!
Broken arm casting machine, for casting gold and silver pieces.
Me making a bead...melting a rod of glass in the flame of the torch.
My Nortel minor propane/oxygen torch, with graphite marver on top.
I also have a Nortel Midrange torch, with a Minor mounted on top...it's much bigger.
Me making a bead...melting a rod of glass in the flame of the torch.

Borosilicate Glass Leaf Pendant...Look What Came Out of the Kiln!!!

Well, you can imagine my (pleasant) surprise when I opened the kiln yesterday...

...I had sculpted this leaf pendant and when I finished it was a rather dull brownish colour with some bluish streaks running through it.
I thought...sigh, I'll probably have to melt it down and start again...

I was astounded to open the kiln this morning and find this vibrant beauty inside...thank you kiln fairy!!

This beautiful leaf is in my Etsy shop now...goodness, no it's not. It just sold!!

I Just Can't Get Enough....Boro Beads

Well, I can admit that I have a serious boro (borsilicate glass, aka Pyrex) addiction going here!

I go to bed thinking about it, and wake up thinking about it...planning my next torch session.
Sunday was busy with all things Easter, and we had 21 people over for turkey, ham, and lasagna...and during supper what was I thinking of? ....you guessed it, boro, and the next beads I wanted to make.

Here are some pretty boro beads from Saturday's torching session....they are available in my Etsy shop.

Pretty Sculptural Borosilicate Glass Leaves

I just can't believe how versatile borosilicate glass is....time-consuming, but well worth the effort.

I'm making the foray into off-mandrel work, and I'm happy how these leaves turned out!
They're listed in my Etsy shop as pendants...you can use them with up to a 5mm cord, chain, or beaded necklace.

Going To The Dark Side

Just before Christmas I decided to upgrade my lampworking torch to give me more heat and power. I bought a Nortel midrange torch with a minor torch mounted above it. I tell you the first time I fired up the big torch I almost singed the back wall of my glass studio, LOL.

I bought some borosilicate glass, aka "Pyrex", and decided to practice. Well, as anyone who uses "boro" can tell you, it's a whole different beast than Italian "soft" glass, or soda glass.

It's much stiffer, uses WAY more heat, takes more time at the torch and in the kiln...
...but you can sculpt with it because it can get cool without cracking, just like your Pyrex casserole dish (from refrigerator to oven).

Here are some of my beads that are made with borosilicate glass...they have a real "ethereal" quality to them, and the colours in natural light are just amazing!

I've been listing these boro bead pairs in my Etsy shop, and they have been selling very well!

Digital Scrapbooking....how fun is this????

Well, those of you who know me, know I do not need another hobby/addiction/compulsion...but I have to admit that I'm just a bit "over the top" since I've discovered digital scrapbooking.

Now of course, this is only new to ME....(I tend to be a bit slow picking up on new trends, LOL).

I've done some family photos....but I want to show you some pages I've made for my lampwork beads.


Both of these are currently available for purchase in my Etsy shop.

TOONIE TUESDAY...ONE DAY ONLY!!

Woohoo!!

Today is Toonie Tuesday in my iCraft.ca shop!!

I've listed 9 lampwork focal beads, each at $2.00, buy one, buy them all!!

I don't discount my lampwork beads any other time of the year, so stock up today!

Sale is only for Tuesday, June 16....once they're gone, they're gone at this price!

Have fun!

Working with Seedbeads.... A Love Reborn

I've rediscovered my love of seedbeads. These tiny little marvels were my introduction to jewellery making when I was a mere 8 year old at summer camp, back in the 1960's when Flower Power ruled. We would make flower bracelets with thread and tie the bracelets on each other's wrists.

Over the years I've come back to seedbeads, first as an embelleshment for the bodice of my wedding gown, which I made with pewter grey satin, overlaid with organza on the bodice.

Then it was beadweaving in the Ukranian Mesh style...this necklace is still one of my favourites:



Lately I've been working with a spiral weave in the form of a rope, and I love the texture and flexibility of this technique.

Here's a necklace I just finished. The spiral weave forms the "chain" of the necklace and I used a bronze and ivory palette for it....tiny little 15/0 delicas and 10/0 metallic bronze seedbeads. The pendant is a bronzite rectangular cabochon set in a bronze-finished polymer clay frame, made by the very talented Nathalie Girard of Canadian Rockies Art.





I've also been combining my lampwork beads with seedbeads, as in this gorgeous aquamarine blue bracelet listed in my Ruby Lane shop.





Tomorrow I'll post a tutorial with instructions to make a spiral rope using the spiral weave pattern...it's so versatile.