Free Tut Friday!

The second in my Free Tut Friday, we'll explore making headpins. This is a style and technique I cam up with that has been very popular.

You will need: Reichenbach Iris Orange #RL- 6208 (aka Raku) CIM Stone Ground #511251 Effetre Black Transparent #591064 20 Gauge copper wire. Pliers Clamp tool Wire cutters. Make some twisties with the Iris Orange as a base and Black lines. I pull them about 3mm. Cut the copper wire about 4" long.

To hold the wire, I use a "Broach Holder" from Arrow Springs, but you can use hemostats or even make one of these with an alligator clip. Some people also use a pin vise, but I find it cumbersome to get the wire out and into the kiln.

Heat a gather of Stone Ground and barely heat the end of the copper wire. Apply the gather to the wire. This takes several applications. Remember, hot glass does not stick to hot glass, so take the bead out of the flame to apply the new hot glass. It should end up about 8 to 10mm. Be sure you keep the wire out of the flame or it will burn right though it.

Next apply the twistie in a sort of back and forth "S" around the bead.

Heat to melt in still keeping the wire at the edge of the flame, only the bead should be in the flame.

Don't let it get too drippy either! When the twistie is all melted in, hold the bead upside down so the gravity will form it's shape. Sorry for the blurry photo, the camera phone does not want to focus on the bead!

Last step is to slowly heat the bead for about 5 seconds at the top of your flame. This will help bring out the colors in the raku. They will develop more in the kiln too, so don't overdo it! Pop it in the kiln by unlatching it from the clip. After annealing, I swipe the wire with steel wool, then polish with Renaissance wax to prevent further rusting.

I hope you enjoy making these, they can be addicting!

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)

Art Bead Scene Blog Winners Announced

Winners have been announced for the December 2014 Art Bead Scene blog monthly challenge! Congratulations go out to Sharyl McMillian-Nelson for her beautiful necklace that won a $50.00 gift certificate to my shop towards lampwork beads. You can view her beautiful necklace on the blog. Other winners are announced in the blog and you too could win beads or advertising for your business if you are a bead maker. If you would like to view all the entries, visit the Pinterest page that Art Bead Scene has. Meanwhile, here's some eye candy for you!

Happy New Year!

And now let us welcome the New Year Full of things that have never been. ~Rainer Maria Rilke

It's kind of odd how we mark one year into the next when in reality, it's just another day. Without clocks or calendars we would never know and probably wouldn't care. But in our busy lifestyles, we are constantly reminded of time. What do you dream of for the coming year? Your dreams can come true...write them down and create a plan. Follow your heart, do what you love and find your passion! I have been fortunate in my life to have found glass. I hope to bring you many new beads in the coming year. I plan new classes and shows, learning from my peers while finding inspiration in my constant love of nature, art, textiles and not to mention, Google images! Happy New Year!!

December ABS Challenge

Meant to post this sooner, but it is a busy month for everyone, I'm sure! Art Bead Scene Blog has a monthly challenge and the December one is a very nice palette to work with, very neutral. I love working with a neutral color palette like this, there are so many options, especially in gemstones. Lampwork beads also offer a wide variety of neutrals. Bead makers can enter this challenge also and win a months worth of free advertising! Just make a bead in the color challenge tones and enter on the Pinterest page. I hope to be blogging on a regular basis next year, so keep an eye out for lampwork and bead design tips and tricks as well as some of my own glass recipes and free tutorials.

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

Art Bead Scene

On a whim, I entered the monthly challenge for October from Art Bead Scene blog, one of the most popular bead blogs. The inspiration was a painting from Milton Avery. I made a bead for the challenge as they now have a "bead only" category as well as the jewelry category. You can view all the entries on their Pinterest board. http://www.pinterest.com/artbeadscene/jewelry-monthly-challenge-entries/ I love a challenge so this is the bead I made inspired by the painting. I entered my bead and received notice that I had won the random winning bead! I am excited to have won 2 months free advertising on one of the largest bead blogs. Thank you Art Bead Scene! Congratulations are in order too for all the entries and other winners in this challenge. November challenge painting is right up my alley...a gorgeous floral with soft lighting and botanical feel. I love it! We'll see how this one comes out...