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!

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!!

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....

Bead Soup Blog Party

Here's a picture of my Bead Soup from Karin von Horen all the way from Germany. She made the beautiful beaded bead. Now to come up with a worthy design for the focal bead. Since I'm a seed beader also I'm thinking I should use a spiral stitch or something like that to coordinate with the bead. I already made a simple bracelet with the wreath toggle and one of my floral lampwork beads in red. August 25th is the Reveal date for these and many more designs from Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party.

Time Flies!

So much going on this time of year, I can't believe it's been almost a month since I blogged! I had the most wonderful time at the 20th annual ISGB Gathering. Exhausting...but fun. I learned alot, met new friends and reconnected with a few. The hotel was very nice, the food was fantastic and the lectures very insightful. Had alot of fun at our Lampwork Etc. bead exchange too, and got to try Vegamite for the first time....yuk! (thanks Deb!)This is a picture of my booth at the Bead Bazaar.

New Selling Venue

After hearing alot of good things about ArtFire.com I decided to open a shop with my handmade Lampwork beads.They make it fairly easy,you can upload your listings directly from your Etsy.It was kinda fun too! They have a color feature where you get to pick the main color in your item.( I just love color)I have to figure out how to make a banner,I used one from my stash,but I would like it to have my beads on it.
If anyone can help me with this,I'd appreciate it!I have professional pictures but don't know how to size it without it looking like you're in one of those funny mirrors at the circus! Here's the link:
http://www.artfire.com/users/StoneDesigns