Southwest Summer Beads

Welcome to my first blog tutorial! This is a simple design, using the Zoozii's Chunky Crystal Trio press.

A popular color combination, these beads have sold extremely well for me. You will need: CIM Celadon #511402 Effetre Coral La Mesa #591420 Effetre Apricot Orange #591419 (the batch out now is much more orange, so if you can get any of the older batch it's more yellow, and Effetre Orange Zucca might be a good substitute) You will also need some silvered ivory stringer and fine silver wire, 28 or 30 gauge. Pull some 2 to 3mm stringer with the Celadon.

Make a small bead out of the Coral La Mesa, about 8mm. TIP, *The glass you use first uses more* Next add right next to, and overlapping the coral, the Apricot.

Melt together and press in the 14mm cavity of the press. Remember, you are going to be adding more glass, so it should not fill the cavity yet.

Apply the Celadon stringer around the center of the bead, melt in and press again.

Next apply silvered ivory stringer on both sides of the Celadon, melt in and press. Your bead should now fill the cavity. if it squeezes out on the corners, you have too much glass. If it's not too much, you can warm it a little and repress. Sometimes that works to smooth out the edges. Also, remember not to press too hard, let the weight of the press do the work.

Now you are ready to add the fine silver wire. Holding the end of the wire and the bead just under the flame, position the wire where you want it and bring the bead slowly up the the flame until it catches on the glass. Your bead should be pretty warm too. Wind the wire around and melt off the end, then melt on the rest of the wire at the top of the flame. Make sure you melt it in good so the drops of silver won't fall off. If your bead gets too roundy for your taste, you can give it another press. Pop it in the kiln to anneal.

Sorry that last photo is blurry! This combination makes a great focal bead too! Here's one where I added a section of EDP. (Effetre #591254)

Facebook Sale!

A quick blog this morning before I hop off to the dentist! I am having a Facebook sale on some beads I just listed in my Etsy shop. Be sure to Like my business page to get in on marked down NEW beads! For FB only! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stone-Designs-Lampwork-Glass-Beads-and-Art-Jewelry/288413853646

More Soup!

Since I didn't have time to finish everything before the reveal date for Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party, I'm adding to the post below...if you scroll down you'll see the finished designs for the party. I made a bracelet using the round sterling beads in the soup. I had originally made the lampwork glass disks to incorporate into the necklace but it just didn't work out like I wanted, so this bracelet was the result...(sold already too!)

The second necklace needed a pair of earrings and the copper triangles were perfect!

Meanwhile, I have some more hopping to do!

Ramblings

Every time I check in on my blog to share something, I can't believe how long it's been since the last time I blogged! Where does the time go? It's been a busy summer, what with canning and freezing food out of the garden, bead shows, keeping up with Stone Designs on Etsy, and the day to day routine. Even though I am "retired" I am busy as ever. But Fall is definitely upon us! We went for a drive yesterday and the Fall colors are beautiful right now. Very inspiring for a bead maker! My bead fans will be happy to learn, I bought a new camera! It's a Canon Rebel DSLR. I am just learning how to use it but the pictures are so much more clear. Until next time....

Jewelry Displays

The best things in life are free....or cheap! For my upcoming show in Fresno, The Heart of California Bead and Adornment Expo, I found some vintage silver trays to display beads on. Some of these I already had since I am a junk store junkie! I think they will look so cute with my lampwork beads in them and add a continuity to the table.

I am also so excited about my new earring cards! ( I know...it's the little things!)I was surprised to find how little selection there is for earring cards. Some of the best choices are on Etsy. I found these at Julry Partz. She was very easy to work with and a very reasonable $4.00 for a digital download that I can print as many as I want. I would recommend a heavy cardstock for these. I use plastic earring card adapters from Rio Grande, cut them in half, because I'm frugal...and punch holes for the earrings. (Always use earring nuts to keep them on the cards. I couldn't believe a recent thread on Facebook about whether to use them or not!)

Bead Star Competition

Jewelry Stringing magazine is hosting their annual Bead Star competition. The deadline for entries is Friday, May 24. I would love to see my lampwork beads in a winning entry! Speaking from past experience, take the best photos you can, even if you have to have someone else photograph your pieces. You can have up to 5 photos for each entry this year. They have totally changed the rules, for the better! There is over $4000.00 in cash prizes this year! There is also an Emerging Artist category, so if you have never had your work published before, now is the time to strut your stuff!! There is a fee to enter this year too, but I think it makes people take it more seriously. The judging is handled by the staff of Jewelry Stringing and Beadwork magazines, not by popular vote....much better. I'm off to photograph my two entries!

A new blog site has opened up in the last couple weeks that features daily lampwork bead posts by lampwork glass bead artists. It's called Glass Beads Daily Be sure to check in often as artists post different beads everyday. Here's a little eye candy of mine!

Inspiration

Someone recently asked how I can put together such asymetrical sets (or maybe they were referring to jewelry!)I've always loved monochromatic color schemes. When I had my flower shop, customers would come in just for one of my bouquets made in all pinks, lavenders or peaches. So when I'm looking to create a set of not so matchy-matchy beads, I look for a color palette that will make a pleasing to the eye set of beads for jewelry making. Not all the glass is the same and sometimes even diggerent shapes go into the set. I look for color inspiration in magazines, Google images, clothing catalogues and of course...Design Seeds.

Cabochons

I was fooling around with some new necklace pieces on my bead table and came up with this great use for my lampwork cabochons using a filigree component from Filigree and Me Gently bending the edges of the metal around the cab, secures it in place and adds a beauitful backing to the piece. I just slipped a jump ring through the back and it's ready to use in my new necklace.

New Look

After reading alot of blog posts in the recent blog hop, I decided to change the look of my blog. What do you think? I still can't get the lettering on the right hand side to change color..but I guess it looks okay. I think it will make a better background for my beads and not so hard to look at as the black! I've been busy working on a trunk show for my niece and sister-in-law's bead store, but I'm done now so will be posting lots of new beads this week...especially now that the weather has warmed up a few degrees, I can work out in my studio without freezing!

New Components

Some new components have been coming out of my studio this month. I love making these and there are so many design possibilities. A hole at each end provides inifite design ideas. Attach a wire wrapped dangle to one end and hang from the other end in a necklace. Use as a bead frame, or an interesting focal in an asymetrical necklace.

New Beads

I've made a few more of my vase style beads in an antiquities style. I love this look! Inspired my Google images of ancient vases and jugs...Google images are a great place for inspiration.

Marketing Savy

There's been some talk about naming your beads and jewelry for online sales. Some are strictly referring to search key words, saying it's not neccesary to name them. I think a name can sell a product also. Imagine a set of beads listed as Lampwork glass beads, Pink, gold, green, set of 12. Or...Set of 12, Handmade lampwork glass beads in pink champagne, iridescent golden shimmer and olive green 'Autumn Dawn' Which would make you want to purchase this set? (assuming the pictures are top notch) Names and descriptions can help sell your jewelry and beads. People love to be romanced and since online shopping is strickly visual, the right name and description is very important. This set sold the day after it was listed.

New Bead Show

This coming weekend I will be selling my wares at the Heart of California Bead and Adornment Expo in Fresno, California. The event is on Saturday and Sunday, September 22 and 23 from 10:00 to 5:00 both days. I will have LOTS of beads including sets and focal as well as unique glass jewelry components like clasps, bead cones, head pins, slider rings, disks,glass leaves, bobbins, vintage skeleton keys with a bead on them and adorned with Swarovski crystals, Auntumn leaves, pendants and more! Here's a link to the Facebook page for this event: https://www.facebook.com/HeartOfCaliforniaBeadExpo See you there!