Cheat Sheet

I made a lot of headpins this afternoon - and a handy cheat sheet to keep me on track and not making the same shape over and over.

Homeward

Taughannock Falls - Ithaca, New York

I was back in my hometown last week for some very sad family time.
But no matter how heavy your heart, the place heals you with its over whelming beauty.

Etsy Freakout

I've never been one to sell my beads on line -
but with a gentle nudge (more like a snarled what's your f'n problem) from some gal friends
I am jumping into the Etsy bead fracas.

There's a handful of things up already in my "Belvedere" shop and I am planning to diligently add to the mess all week long.

Want something special?
Just ask.

Glass Salad

Big, tasty leaves are on the menu.

Off mandrel pendants inspired by leaves and the promising smell of spring in the air.

I had a selection of these at my trunk show earlier this week and they flew off my table, so be ready for this shape to show up in my shop in all sorts of delicious color combinations.

One of my silly ipad drawings.

Venetian Seed Pods

Ooh, these are tricky to make, especially since I make them two at a time on the same mandrel.

Why two at at time?
It's much easier to make a matching pair, for earrings, ya know?

I used commercial rods of encased aventurine (the sparkles), the same as on antique venetian glass beads.

These are the 'prototype' earrings I made years ago.
I still wear them all the time, nasty brass wires and all.
It seems I can put anything in my ears, no problem.
I should make myself a deluxe pair with sterling silver wires and fancy decorated glass pods.

Here's a close-up of the construction, in case you want to have a try at making yourself a pair.

Orange Blossoms

Orange centers, with off mandrel applied leaves made of "Kiwi" glass, the little white blossoms are dots pressed with a nail setter.

What's a nail setter?
Check out this prehistoric blog post of mine from 2007.

Droppings

I'm always saying that I don't like my beads to look machine made, I don't even like them to look handmade, I want them to look like they just fell off a plant - and these new large pendants are what I am talking about.

They were each sculpted on the end of a mandrel and then the wire loop was epoxied in place.

Here's a page of notes from my sketchbook on how I made the bails.
If it's too "sketchy" feel free to ask me to explain it in more detail.
p.s.I used 16g wire.

Trunk Show

I made postcards for my upcoming trunk show.

I think it's going to be a blast.

We'll talk more about it later because, right now, I need to get to the studio and chain myself to the torch.

Golden Leaves Bracelet & Tutorial

Golden Leaves Bracelet - lampwork glass and sterling silver

Pale topaz glass decorated with Double Helix's "Aurae" looks a lot like old carnival glass.

It's was a birthday present and yes she loved it.

Once upon a time I made a mini-tutorial for these leaves - you can view it here.

Old Glass Buttons

I lugged home a gallon glass jar full of buttons, from a household sale, on Friday.

What a sucker I am for old buttons. Especially glass ones.

This sweet pair are a ruin, they're all scratched and pitted from use and banging around in a jar with a thousand other buttons, but I adore them.

They were made on 1/16" mandrels. Yes, I am going to attempt to make some. I think you should too.

* I tagged these 'vintage venetians' and if you look to my right sidebar and scroll down you will see that listing in my categories (flavors). If you click on it all of my postings that focus on old Italian glass beads.will come up*

Water Babies

Beads, fresh out of the kiln, ready to be made into a necklace.

For all you lampworkers out there, who are curious, the core beads are Cim's "Peacock" and the lobes are "Blue Sky Opalino."

p.s. If you don't have any "Peacock" in your glass stash get some immediately - it works like a dream and is beyond beautiful.