November 2024 Recap: Beads, Beads, Beads

On November 27, 2024November 27, 2024 By ccglassartIn Photos, What's Happening NowLeave a comment

We had our first rain of the season this week… After such a long and hot summer, we really needed it. It won’t be long before the dry, brown hills all around us begin to turn green again!

In the meantime, I will be enjoying more time at the torch experimenting with some brand-new glass colors I recently received… and, of course, making more beads! 😀

Here are some photos of recent beads I’ve made. I’ve also included links to a couple of my most recent YouTube videos as well…

Thanks so much for subscribing to my blog and for your interest in my glass work!

Christina 🙂

P.S. For the latest updates, BTS videos, photos & announcements follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccglassart_ or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ccglassart

October 2024 Recap: Beads, Murrini & Latticino

On October 31, 2024November 27, 2024 By ccglassartIn Photos, What's Happening NowLeave a comment

Thanks to my amazing husband, who installed a mini air conditioning system in my studio this year, I was able to torch all the way through the hot summer months. Including this month, which brought us record breaking temps that hovered around 100 degrees most days in October! 😛

Lately I’ve been focusing on my favorites… Encased murrini beads! I’ve also spent some time creating new murrini designs and latticino. I’ve even added a new DEMO video to my YouTube channel. 😀

You can catch up with everything I’ve created this month through the photos below:

Thanks so much for subscribing to my blog and for your interest in my glass work!

Christina 🙂

NEW XL Marble-Style FOCAL Beads

On September 6, 2024October 31, 2024 By ccglassartIn Photos, What's Happening NowLeave a comment

After my disappointing experience attempting to make paperweights, (which I will get the hang of eventually!)…. I am back to making what I know and love –> encased murrini BEADS!

This time, instead of small bracelet sized beads – these are nice BIG FOCAL-size beads with LOTS of embedded elements including handmade murrini & latticino. PLUS, sparkly extras like color-shifting dichroic glass, shimmering goldstone and real GLITTER!

Focal sized handmade encased murrini glass beads.

The goal with my encased murrini beads is to create TONS of visual interest so there is something new to look at from every angle. I want my beads to be a kaleidoscope of color & design that look just as good indoors as they do in full sun!

You can view additional photos and learn more about these beads on Etsy.

Thanks for looking!

Christina 🙂

Broken Glass & Lampwork Challenges…

On August 22, 2024October 31, 2024 By ccglassartIn Photos, VideosLeave a comment

The learning curve never stops – even after being a lampworker for over 17 years!

For a long time, I have been wanting to take my encased murrini bead designs and turn them into paperweights.

But when I tried to do this….it was like learning to ride a bike all over again!

The MOST challenging part has been learning how to transition the large gather off the punty (glass rod used to hold the gather while creating the design) and transferring the paperweight safely into the kiln to anneal.

The main reason the paperweight you see in this video is broken is because of thermal cracks. This happens when the glass cools off too quickly.

It’s a delicate balance between the final shaping of the glass and soaking it with enough heat to handle the transfer from flame to kiln – but not so much heat that will distort the glass during this transfer.

I’ve ordered a few more tools which will hopefully help me manage this part of the process more successfully… I will keep you posted! Wish me luck! 😀

NEW Beads – 9/10/2020

On September 10, 2020 By ccglassartIn Photos, What's Happening NowLeave a comment

Hello! It’s been a few weeks since I last posted so I hope you are doing well and that you are safe and sound.

Hot temps in L.A.

With a searing heat wave in our area for the past couple of a weeks it has taken me a while to be able to find cool enough days to make some beads.

So, while I don’t have too many to show…I am happy to share a popular design that I’ve brought back from the past; My Neptune’s Net Series with real, embedded copper mesh!

I used to make these beads in the traditional ’round-donut’ shape. But this time I’ve tried a NEW barrel Handmade Embedded Copper Mesh Barrel Shaped Big Hole Lampwork Glass Art Bead shape which allows for a little more surface area of the glass and fits more copper mesh.

I also have been enjoying making a larger version of my round marble/paperweight style encased Handmade Marble Paperweight Style Encased Murrini Glass Art Bead murrini beads with a small hole.

These are about 1″ in size and perfect for wearing as a necklace (a 30″ stainless steel ball-chain is included!)

Or, you can just display the bead on your desk or dresser. They’re so much fun and fascinating to look at since there’s a different view with every angle (especially in direct sunlight!) 🙂

These beads are currently available for the next 24 hours in the Facebook Group: Lampwork Bead Market and will be in Handmade Embedded Copper Mesh Barrel Shaped Big Hole Lampwork Glass Art Bead my Etsy shop after that.