Monday, November 30, 2015

Flower Chain Earrings

































Hand hammered sterling silver earrings with art glass beads.

Working my finger to the elfin bone trying to replenish my stock after a great weekend of sales.
Thanks to all who came out to the More Fire Glass Studio holiday studio open house!

Monday, November 23, 2015

'Glo Pod' Necklace

































I wish I could capture the iridescence in this glass. It just glows from within.

It has a core of black, wrapped in sterling silver foil then bands of Double Helix Clio were added. The whole mess is encased in clear.

































I cut the bead cap from an old sterling silver plated tray.
It's a lot of work for a bead cap, all the cutting, filing and doming but they're so worth it.
The chain and findings are sterling silver.

































(sold)

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Lady Di & Prince Charles Earrings
































Lady Di & Prince Charles Skull Earrings

Stone skulls, sterling silver, lampwork glass beads, rhinestone rondelles and tin spangles hand cut from a royal wedding cookie tin.

These will be available starting Black Friday at the annual More Fire Glass Holiday Open House and Sale. Come visit and see the free glass blowing demonstrations.

Twilight's Last Gleaming
































Twilight Earrings - hematite skulls, vintage milk glass rondelles, lampwork beads, bronze, sterling silver and tin spangles cut from a collectible Twilight card game tin.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Keep It Simple

































I tend to make my earrings big and dramatic.
So I have to really rein myself in and remember to make some pairs that are petite and elegantly simple.

Just a pair of matching beads with sterling silver.

































The bottom pair is made with a new favorite color of glass - Cim's 'dirty linen.' A lovely grayish, warm white. The cool ridged shape was done with a CGBeads graphite bead roller. A very cool toy.

The top pair is transparent olive glass, wrapped in fine silver foil and rolled in Val Cox large size purple rose frit.

I will be making these in about a bazillion colors for the holidays.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Tag You're It

































What's the latest crackpot idea here is beadsville?
Making my own jewelry tags.
I am NOT a natural at stamping metal.

Another fun necklace made with orphans, misfits and sample beads.
This one all wired together with 18g sterling silver.


Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Waterbabies

































'Waterbabies' necklace - glass & sterling silver

































Made with Cim's 'peacock' glass.

Monday, November 16, 2015

Craftacular! 2015


































Ready or not, here it comes.

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Disco Is Dead

































Skull earrings with tattered metal mesh from an old pair of disco earrings.
Like hearing the ocean inside a shell, when you wear these you can hear Donna Summer.


Friday, November 13, 2015

An Elephant Never Forgets - Love

































A love charm necklace.

This one has some really lovely vintage chain and a tiny, vintage cloisonne elephant charm.

































One of my big glass heart beads.
This one with transparent olive as a base, rolled in fine silver foil and decorated with Val Cox's 'purple rose' frit.

































Never forget to love.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

1966 - Was A Very Good Year

































A love charm necklace.

































A 1966 English half-penny cut out charm.

































A fragment of a Victorian mother of pearl necklace and some vintage chain.
































One of my glass heart beads.
(Cim's Commando, light ivory, raku frit and black)




Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Hat Lover

A new love charm necklace.
That top hat is a vintage Monopoly game piece.

The big glass heart has a big eye bump.

A dot of black then a dot of raku melted on. The dots get spot heated and plunged, finally a wee air bubble gets trapped inside with clear.


Friday, November 06, 2015

Gold Rush


































'Gold Rush' Necklace - lampwork glass beads and vermeil.



































It was a commission and was a very happy birthday present.



Tuesday, November 03, 2015

Gold Water Beads
































Inspired by a vintage Murano candy dish.
Beads with 24k gold leaf trapped inside crystal clear glass.

Here they are still on their mandrels.

This technique doesn't have to be done
with gold leaf. Silver foil works too,
and is much, much easier to handle.

To make these you start with a core bead that is a cylinder shape. Roll it in metal leaf and then encase. Don't let the flame touch the leaf or it will vaporize.

Try variations!

Start with a colored core bead.

Or, encase with a transparent over the metal leaf.

I left the encasing on this set all watery.
You could round them, or facet them, or
roll them in a ribbed bead roller...

Have fun.

Monday, November 02, 2015

Hippy Chick Necklace

It's such a simple necklace.

One continuous chain of beads without a clasp.
Links of hand hammered 18g jewelers bronze.
(not bronze colored crappy metal - real bronze like classical statues in museums)


I make one, or two of them, whenever my jar of single, mismatched, experimental and oddball beads gets overly full. Some ribbed, some round, some faceted, iridescent, tumbled and rolled in silver - all kinds of beads. So much fun to wear.