This very special glass gets its name from the gemstone that has the same unique characteristic. Both have a tendency to change color right before your eyes depending on the lighting conditions.
This Italian imported glass can shift from a light lavender to a pale violet when taken from natural/incandescent light to florescent light.
Sweet Dreams focal bead
As a bonus, Alexandrite glass will also fume beautifully when it comes in contact with silver glass.This creates a rich, deep honey color on the surface.
This set and focal both begin with a base of magical Alexandrite glass.
I have been a busy bee making lots of murrini lately. I really enjoy making the canes – I think it’s the excitement of layering color after color, anticipating the ‘big pull’, and then the final ‘ahhh’ moment when I snip the long cane for the first time to see my miniaturized design inside.
Here is a new murrini design in neutral sheer black and ivory with striking silver glass stripes. Both variations are made from the same formula but offered in a starburst pattern, or twisted swirl (available now on Etsy).
After enjoying some time off, and taking a creative detour for a while, I am finally back to making lampwork bead sets just for jewelry makers and collectors.
I have had so many new ideas and designs in my head just waiting to become a reality in glass. Here are some of the recent results:
This is something I’ve been working on for a while now – after much experimentation I have successfully combined my love for graphic arts/photography with my love of lampwork bead-making.
By bringing these elements together I’ve created a unique line of jewelry…something I never thought I would actually get into doing. But now that I’m in, I have to admit it’s quite fun and I’m very pleased with the results.
There’s something about seeing my lampwork glass beads go beyond the ‘loose and lonely’ stage into a completed, wearable piece of art. It is very satisfying!
This week’s beads feature designs in varying shades of one of my favorite colors – pink!
This “Black Opal” bead uses a fantastic technique generously shared with the entire lampworking community by Amber of Naos Glass. It uses fine silver foil and silver glass to create amazing colors like rich orange and honey with bright flashes of intense cobalt blue and violet.
"Black Opal" Large Hole Bead
In “Rosewood”, I used Rubino Oro (which gets its fuchsia hue from real gold!) over dark silver plum creating a lovely, soft mauve-rose shade. The hand blown, reactive silver glass shards layered on top add a unique organic element with the webbing effect created in the flame.
"Rosewood" Focal Bead
“Ruby Storm” is a large hole bead that has multiple facets of a deep rose-red colored glass with specially treated ‘Stormed’ stringer on top which creates the floating swirls.
"Ruby Storm" Large Hole Bead
With “Pink Dew”, fine silver mesh is encapsulated beneath a thick layer of crystal clear glass. Once the glass is super heated to a molten state the mesh pulls apart to create all the tiny silver beads you see in the photo. A great effect – and a stunning bead to have as an addition to your Pandora bead collection.
"Pink Dew" Large Hole Bead
All beads are available now on eBay – just click the images above to visit my store 🙂
CCGlassArt 