Long time, no beads!
It has been one long, hot summer here in L.A. – and unfortunately, for us, it’s not over yet. In fact, we’ll get many more 100+ degree days until October or so.
Because of the heat, and because I just needed a break, I have been on a beadmaking hiatus. But, I have been inspired to get back to the torch lately so I was very lucky to catch a tolerably warm morning and make some new beads!
Here is the start of a new series of beads in a lovely new shape, a rounded bicone.
Now that I’ve finished writing my newest tutorial, Making Beautiful Encased Murrini Beads, I have time to get back to the torch and make more beads! 😀
I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of making these…
I’ve also started making lentil focals again! I haven’t made them in quite a while, (as I was completely obsessed with making encased murrini beads for so long!), and I’m having so much fun with them all over again. I have more of these to come…;)
All beads are available now in my Etsy shop ~
I made a few more of these in pretty colors of peridot green, and fuchsia pink (which comes from Rubino Oro glass). I also made one that is swirled with different silver glasses for a more opaque look but with multiple colors running throughout the design. I even embedded some sparkling cubic zirconia stones to catch the light! 😀
All beads currently on Etsy:
Learning new techniques then mastering them is what keeps me having fun with glass! 😀
I’ve been involved with many crafts and hobbies over the years, from soapmaking to acrylic painting, and while I’ve enjoyed them all there was a point where I felt I learned all there was to know about it.
For me, I love the challenge of learning new skills then practicing over and over till I get great results. Working with glass, I feel like I haven’t even scratched the surface of learning all there is to know in this medium. There is so much to it and so many different places you can go with it.
I recently learned a new technique which combines swirls of transparent and opaque glass with hair fine stringer and multiple layers of crystal clear glass which greatly adds to the inner illusion of the twisted core.
Of course, I couldn’t help myself by adding some murrini to the surface of the beads 😉
All beads are now available on Etsy:
I also made a couple encased murrini beads which include some of my new flower shaped murrini (to be listed on Etsy soon):
One man’s ‘rut’ is another man’s ‘obsession’ – I can’t tell which it is for me, but I am loving making these encased murrini beads!
When I started making these beads a few years ago they were just a way to test my murrini to see how they’d look under a clear encasement. Now they have developed into little colorful kaleidoscopes of varying shapes and designs which I just can’t get enough of.
Opening the kiln the next day after making these beads is truly like Christmas morning because only then do I see all the true colors and reactions from the glass come to life. It is quite addicting 😉
Here are this week’s encased murrini beads:
CCGlassArt 