It's Not Autumn but I still LOVE Leaves!

My husband is red-green color-blind and has great difficulty distinguishing between reds/greens, greens/browns, browns/yellow, and blue/purple. It's an X-linked genetic trait, and his brother has the same (dis)ability.

There is a tremendously good book written by Dr. Oliver Sacks, Neurologist, entitled "The Island of the Colorblind", which discusses the trait in wonderful, compelling detail.

One thing that is very apparent is that despite the fact that we see color differently, my husband has much better night vision than I do...he can walk around in the dark and see quite well, while I'm stumbling into things.

The vibrant reds, oranges and yellows of the autumn leaves is one thing that he doesn't see as being very different than the green of summer.

I've been making borosilicate glass leaf pendants in all kinds of colors...and have solicited my husband's input for colors that he can distinguish as different.

Here are two that are currently for sale in my Etsy shop...
Green & Vibrant Blue Glass Leaf Pendant

Pink & Amber Purple Glass Leaf Pendant

Pretty In Pink...

I went for a bike ride at lunch today, down by the river, and all the wild Redbud (Cercis canadensis) trees were in bloom. I think they must be my favourite tree in the early Spring, with tiny, beautiful flowers which emerge directly from the stems before the leaves appear.

It put a smile on my face all afternoon, thinking of the bright splashes of pink hidden amongst the other trees.

I thought I'd show you some "Pretty In Pink" Spring earrings...on sale on my Brilliant Beads website, for only $7.00 each pair! That's sure to make you smile too ;-))

Pink Glass Drop Earrings

Soft Pink & Crystal Silver Earrings

Alabaster Pink Glass Drop Earrings

Pink Glass Bicone Drop Earrings

Horse Pendants for the Equine Lover in your Life

These horse pendant necklaces are perfect for the horse lover in your life! Equine jewelry makes a great gift! They are available in my Etsy shop.

These glass tile pendants are made from actual postage stamps mounted beneath a piece of clear glass and hang from a 24" silvertone ball chain necklace. The length of the necklace can be shortened at no charge at time of purchase.

As a young girl I loved collecting stamps from all over the world...and I was "horse crazy", so this is the best of both!

Beautiful Arab mare and foal
Handsome Morgan horse

Jewelry Designers are using MY Beads!!!

I've had just over 1100 sales in my Etsy shop, and I'm approaching my 3rd Etsy-versary.

I've met so many talented and wonderfully nice people through Etsy, and I thought I'd show you some of the lovely pieces of jewelry they have made with my glass beads.

Don't forget, if you would like to keep up on all my new beads, hot out of the kiln, why don't you join me at Brilliant Beads on Facebook?

This is a beautiful necklace in heatherann's shop...she calls it "Aqua With A Twist"

Pegg, whose Etsy shop is called fiveforty, made this lovely bracelet that she calls "Chocolate Citrus"...now doesn't that sound yummy?

Carol-Ann, whose Etsy shop is called stringmealong, made this beautiful spring bracelet, and she calls it "Giverny". (Edited after posting: Woohoo, congrats Carol-Ann, it sold!)

New Glass Beads for Jewelry Designs

These are the latest borosilicate glass bead pairs in my Etsy shop...beautiful and unique glass beads for your jewelry designs.

If you are not a jewelry designer yourself, and would like me to make a pair of earrings for you, just let me know.

(Edited April 22, 2010: the bottom pair is sold)

Pretty Earrings for Spring Fashions

There's nothing I like better than to tie my hair back in a ponytail once Spring and Summer arrive...easy to care for, keeps it out of my face, love it!

That's one reason I like to wear earrings...a little bit of adornment when my hair is back, a little flash of color around my face.

Here are some lampwork glass bead earrings that are available for purchase on my website.
Look under earrings in the left-hand column for these, and other, earring designs!

Stoma Covers for Throat Cancer Survivors

As a jewelery designer and dentist who's primary focus is Head & Neck Cancer patients, I recognize that there is a need for people who have had a laryngectomy, or who have a tracheostomy stoma, to be able to have a decorative covering for their stoma.

These vintage filigree silver-plated stampings are available on my website in a variety of shapes and styles, all measuring between 1 1/4" and 2" in diameter.

I have designed the necklace shown to be interchangeable with other custom-made necklace materials...notice how the lobster clasps attach to either side of the filigree stoma cover. This is so you can have different colors and materials for the necklace, and to allow for easy cleansability of the stoma cover itself.

As these are custom made necklaces, I can use wire, beading, or organza ribbons to accent the filigree focal piece.

Sizing and colour choices are also custom chosen. Please contact me for details.

Handcrafted Glass Beads for "Pandora" Size Bracelets

Italian Silver bracelets are all the rage right now. There are several brands available, Pandora, Biagi, Troll, Camillia, as well as "replicas". You can design your own, add or remove beads and charms, change your color palette to suit your mood, or your outfit...and have a lot of fun with them!

I am having a great time making glass lampwork beads that fit these bracelets. Here are some that I have designed, and are available now in my Etsy shop.

Beautiful Glass Leaf Pendants...Perfect for Focals in Jewelry Designs

I have some new glass leaf pendants on my Brilliant Beads website...

...this leaf is made with "seeded" glass so it's full of tiny bubbles

...and this leaf is full of rich, earthy tones of deep reds and forest greens


...and this leaf is a spectacular blend of deep caramels, with jewel tones...and it developed a beautiful metallic sheen in the kiln! (Edited April 22, 2010: This leaf is now sold)

Lampwork Art Glass Earth Goddess Bead

A woman that I work with asked me to make an earth goddess glass bead for her...she and her husband have been trying to have another baby, and she was hoping that this would be a "fertility" bead for her...

I'm so pleased how she turned out...she's made with German Lauscha glass and some special handblown glass shards that I made.

Lampwork Glass Bead Bracelets

Do you know how the feel of a smooth stone between your fingers can soothe you? I find that the feel of lampwork glass beads against my wrist do the same thing...and you can fondle them with your other hand.

I love the tapered shape of lentil beads...they lie nice and flat against the wrist, and go well with other round or oval-shaped beads.

Here are some bracelets that are available on my website. (Edited April 22, 2010: The top blue bracelet is now sold)

Lampwork Bead Necklaces

I love to use my handmade lampwork beads as focal elements in necklaces...they really stand out and are one-of-a-kind.

Here are some examples...these are available for sale on my website.

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!