New Beads on Etsy

Just a quick heads up to let you know that there are a few new beads listed in my Etsy store this afternoon!











And here is a little more glassy eye candy to share, these are sold or gifted, or just not listed yet.









Thanks for looking!!

Finally! New Beads!

Well, don't fall over in your seats or anything, but I have new beads! I know, I know, it's been a very long time. But I made it out to the messy studio and melted glass and had a blast doing it. And! There are now 8 new beads on Etsy, and few more will come soon once I photograph them.

Here, have a look, handfuls and handfuls of them!

My Precious

I just wanted to share with you the bead I'm selfishly keeping for myself. Isn't it pretty? I think it might be the closest thing to perfect I've ever made. Not counting my kiddo.

Work in Progress

If you know me at all, you know this sitting around at the homeschool resource center waiting around for the kid to get an education is driving me nuts. Nuts. It's such a waste of my time, and he doesn't need me there. But rules are rules. (If you know me at all, I also hate rules, but I follow them when required.)

Some of my friends suggested learning Viking Knit as a past-time.... and I have to say, they were right on. I love making it, I love how it works up into something so nice and rich, and I love how I can just put in my ear buds, blast my playlist, block out the crazy school stuff and create something. At school, while I'm sitting around waiting.

Today, I got started on this necklace, an idea I've been holding on to from the beginning (but I had to do that Bead Soup and OWOH thing first!), and I'm very happy with it so far. It needs a clasp, and a bail. And it has a secret little function that I'll tell you about later once it's done. Assuming it works the way it's supposed to. I'll find out next.



This is the bead:



Completed necklace coming soon!

New Tigers

Messing around with my tiger design, not that it needs it, but I feel the need to try and shake things up sometimes.

This first one, I put some amber glass over the tiger twisty, not sure that it adds all that much, but it does make it shiny. The center is reduced helios gold glass that came out looking like a mirror almost.

The second one is, hmn, looking rather snaky. Perhaps the snake is wearing tiger's clothing? I don't know, but I do like the effect, it's organic and animal all at the same time.





What do you think? Don't mess with the original?

Bubble Blues

Remember the green beads from a few posts ago? Well I tried that glass (ST-382) again with a different clear encasing... and it came out much more like the color it was when fresh out of the flame. Unfortunately, it has an air bubble, right smack in the center of the bead - one that worked itself up to the surface of the bead while soaking in the kiln and now has a dent in it... so darn, I guess I'll have to keep this *flawed* one for myself. No problem!

The Green Beads

Here are some beads that were supposed to be aqua/teal/blue-green but, when I opened the kiln this morning, they were forest green. Ah well, sometimes you just never know what the magic glass kiln fairy is going to give you! These are Double Helix ST-382 - a test batch I got from the 2010 Bash.

Frit Diva Testing Part 5: Petulant Petuntia

Frit Diva's Petulant Petunia - now here is a frit to be reckoned with. Probably my favorite name of the bunch, and she lives up to it. We have not yet made friends, she doesn't seem to like my hot torch... or the colors I put her on. I will try again though. I think I will try encasing her next time.

Anyway, here she is over Opal Yellow and Ink Blue - I was sure she was going to be a great floral garden background, as you can see from my theme...

Frit Diva Testing Part 4: Arielle's Odyssey

This is a sweet frit in wonderful ocean blues, called Arielle's Odyssey. It doesn't seem too reactive, at least from my first experience with it - over light transparent blue:

Frit Diva Testing Part 3: I Like it Like That

Back with more Frit Diva frit test beads. This one I like - a lot - it's called "I Like it Like That" and it plays oh so nicely with Kalypso - look how it spreads and makes little halos on this first bead:





And this one, compliments the sliced Kalypso edges perfectly, I think. On Ink Blue.

Frit Diva Testing Part 2: Don't Worry Be Happy

I really like this Frit Diva color - Don't Worry Be Happy - and want to explore it some more on a non-reactive base.

Here is is on CIM peacock, with enamels and stringer decorations:





And this is on Double Helix Gaia - I don't know what possessed me to try this as a base... but it's a nice bead even if the frit can't be seen well.

Frit Diva Testing, Part 1: Santa Fe Cowgirl

Frit Diva's grand opening was today - remember I said I was going to be doing some frit testing for her? Well, I only just got started... and I only tried Santa Fe Cowgirl, so far.

This one is CIM stone and pale trans blue:






This one is on... either Khaos or Echo, I can't remember what the tag said. One of the silver glasses, a brown rod.



This one is half maple and half pale trans blue:



And this is opal yellow, super heated, reduced (turned all dark) and then back in the neutral flame to clean it up a little, trying to keep the dark edges.

Some Hearts

Love. I love melting glass. And I love it that my husband traded places with me yesterday so that I could "go to work" and melt glass. And that he got to experience a full day of "homeschool" which actually means, not a whole lot of time at home, strangely enough. And I'm almost caught up on custom orders now, which also means, I have photos to share.

I'll start with some hearts. Hearts = love, after all.

It's the time of year for hearts, isn't it? Actually, I like hearts all year round, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. I enjoy making them too, and especially enjoyed making this first one, which you can see front and back. It's a very special bead with a very special story for a very special woman. I'm happy with the way it turned out, and I know she will treasure it for always and forever. And that makes me feel extra good about it.





And then there are these two, which are made with veiled Gaffer glass - they turn out looking like a watercolor painting, I think. I hope one of these is "just right" for my customer because these are the only two "blue" glasses I could find for them. I love it that they are not traditional pink. But then anything blue makes me happy.

2011 5th and Final One World One Heart (OWOH) Event

One World One Heart. It's that time of year again, one of those fun things that really brightens up these dark dreary days. I'm excited to play again - but sad that it's the last year for it.



Do you remember the rules? According to Lisa Swifka, the creator of OWOH:

One World One Heart is a worldwide event for bloggers only. It gives all those who blog a chance to meet and mingle and form connections with those they may not have otherwise met from all over the world. In the past 4 years this event has grown to over 1,000 participants with lasting friendships (and even one love connection) formed along the way. Think of it as a GIGANTIC open house allowing you to travel without ever leaving your home........going from blog to blog(in various countries) seeing the wonder each one has created and meeting all the fabulous people behind those blogs. As a bonus each blogger participant will offer up a "door prize or prizes"....just for dropping by, saying hello and seeing their world. It's really that easy.

So basically,

1.) Look around! Get to know people a little. See if it's a blog you'd like to follow all year... or maybe connect with them on Facebook? Whatever!

2.) Leave a comment in this, OWOH, thread to qualify for a chance to win,

3.) Go visit the rest of the participants and do it all over again!

Make sure you have a link to your own blog so that I can contact you if you win! I'll pick names randomly on February 17th.

Let's see, what would you like to know about me? I'm Pam. This is my third year playing OWOH. I'm a lampwork glass bead maker, sometimes jewelry maker, sometimes painter, sometimes gardener, sometimes home decorator (or fixer-upper)... always a mom, to Luke, my adored son, who is 10 and has taken me in directions I never expected or imagined (for example, we are homeschooling this year!), I'm also mom to Zoe the black dog and Tyger the silver tiger cat. And wife to Frank, of course, I wouldn't be here playing if it weren't for him... he's my biggest fan. Oh, yes, I am head baker of the Leo Bread Making Company, have you seen my loaves? I've only made 3, but they are going to get better and better! (Maybe I should stick to beads?) Well anyway, that's my intro, of sorts. Now it's my turn to get to know you!

OK, then, lets get to the goods. What will I give away this year? It looks like I have three offerings, giving three people chances to win. All three are handmade lampwork glass beads that I made. Big ones... over an inch tall, each of them. One is a sweet whimsical bird that I love, her name is Poppy, one is a graffiti peace bead, and one is a purple heart.








NEW!! ONE MORE BEAD ADDED!
Since Poppy the Bird Bead has been such a hit in my OWOH thread (I love all the comments!!), I've decided to offer up another bird - for a total of four prizes. Meet Claire:




OK, game on! I look forward to meeting some new bloggers, winning something for myself, and making three lucky people happy over here!