More Murano Beads

I just found a little baggie of old Italian glass beads...

I kept a pair for myself to study and listed the seven above on Etsy.

I like 'em and think I will try to recreate them.

Yesterday was a great day at the torch and this morning when I unpacked my kiln I was not disappointed. Time to go downstairs and get to reaming beads. I should have some pics to share here on the blog soon that are not of dusty old Italian beads.

Vintage Murano Beads

A couple of inspiring additions to my collection of vintage Venetian glass beads.

I almost didn't keep these. The color combination of green tinged yellow with aventurine sparkles is so nasty.

This next pair is very intriguing.

The quality is lacking, there is a ton of crap in the glass and they're pretty sloppy.

But, oh, that shape!
A lozenge with bulbous side wings. I've been thinking about how to re-create these - I am thinking that using a pair of tile nippers might work for squeezing them into shape. Any ideas out there?

Kissy Face

Miss Kiki P. Oodle sends you a big wet one.

Ice Balls Rolling Along

It's time to share some photographs of the progress I've made on the 'ice balls" bracelet.

All the headpins that I've made for it, so far, have been shaped and hammered into a chain.

Like I've said before: I like my jewelry to look like something that just fell off a plant.

I thought I had fabricated enough for a bracelet. Not even close. Gotta go bang up a couple dozen more spiral tip wires and make some headpins at the torch.

Ice Balls

Still working on this project.

This little pile of headpins will be wound and shaped into links, hammered, and then made into a chain - that will become a bracelet.

It seems the crappier the clear glass, the more bubbles form on the encased brass spirals.
Which is good! I am using up all the clear short rods in my stash and most of them are not "super clear."
I know, finally a use for that nasty Moretti clear.

Hello Torch

Big, big sigh.
I am back in my studio and making glass.

Some weird mist swirling around outside my studio window - not unlike the nebulous, big ideas I have for new glass pieces.

I should apologize for the bloggy absence. The holiday sales completely fried me this year. I very much needed the time I took off once the making and selling madness was over. Thanks to all of you who made it far and away my best jewelry year ever, especially the last minute shoppers who begged me until I raided my own personal collection to find them some trinkets to buy. Your procrastination was rewarded with some of my most favorite things. Cripe, I need to make myself some baubles - I have almost nothing left to adorn myself with. Not an option for this old magpie.

Yesterday I swept, dusted and tidied up my 300 square foot studio/nest. Getting it ready for 2012. I also spent some time today getting my glass sketchbooks in order and they're bursting with new ideas. It's time to take a deep breath and jump back into the fiery pool. The next few days should be a wonderful, wild ride on my torch!