New Glass Beads for Jewelry Designs

It's been a busy month with committee work and other employment-related things taking precedent, so I have been "itching" to get to the torch more often. Isn't it funny how when you can't do something as much as you would like to...you crave it even more.

Here are some new pairs of borosilicate glass beads now listed in my Etsy shop....
Light Green and Blue Glass Beads-Borosilicate Lampwork Beads
Blue and Caramel Glass Beads-Borosilicate Lampwork Beads
Blue and Light Green Glass Beads-Borosilicate Lampwork Beads
Blue and Jade Green Glass Beads-Borosilicate Lampwork Beads

Brilliant Blues

I find that as I follow my creative inspirations I tend to gravitate towards some colour palettes, and forget about others.

I decided to have a look more closely at this habit of mine, so I searched "blue" in my Etsy shop...and I found that 14 of my 57 current listings were blue, or had blue in them.

I made a poster sketch of them because I thought they looked pretty all arranged by colour...I'm hopeless! Be sure to click on the image to enlarge it...my 50 year old eyes had to squint, LOL.

I hope you like them....now...it's off to make some more beads....hmmmm, maybe blue ones???

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

Outrageously Orange

I think it must be because my hair is auburn (well, more grey these days but thank you L'Oreal), my husband's hair is red, and three of our four children have reddish hair, ranging from strawberry blonde to medium auburn.

I LOVE the color orange!!!

I have orange pants, an orange jacket, orange shirts galore...and I'm crazy for orange beads and gemstones!

Here are some of the "oranges" in my Etsy shop...
Lions and Tigers and Bears...Handmade Lampwork Bead Set SRA
Apricot Swirls...Handmade Graduated Lampwork Bead Set of 7 SRA
Red and Orange Glass Bead for Pandora Bracelet
Red, Orange, and Yellow Glass Beads-Borosilicate Lampwork Glass Bead Pair
Orange and Violet Glass Borosilicate Lampwork Focal Bead
Red, Orange, and Yellow Glass Bead Pair - Borosilicate Lampwork
Orange Primrose...Beaded Necklace with Sculptural Lampwork Flower Focal
ON SALE - Orange and Silver-Gemstone and Crystal Beaded Necklace with Carnelian Pendant
Swarovski Fire...Brilliant Beaded Necklace with Faceted Teardrop Focal Pendant

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

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)

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.

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.