Hot Glass: 1st Goddess Beads

Baby Got "Back"!

I've been seeing many variations on Goddess beads around the lampwork forum where I hang out (lampworketc.com) but wasn't quite bold enough to try one out. That changed last week.

I decided that my "skillz" were coming along enough to give it a try.

I'm still quite the newbie, but I was pleased with how they turned out. They're rather addictive ~ I'm going to do some more in this design and then try out some other goddess forms, from the "willendorf" style, to pregnant, to super primitive etc, and run with it! I see these types of beads as a female empowerment statement!

Going from L to R, Top to Bottom: 1) Dark Turquoise 2) Dark Ivory, w. #1 raku frit and 32g fine silver wire 3) Trans. Lt. Amber, aventurine stringer 4) Fossil, 24g fine silver wire.

This was my first opportunity playing with the silver wire. I like the effect, but whoo! does it get away from you! I expect to be making lots of beads with the silver before I get the hang of it...

The owner of a boutique around the corner from me ("Angels and Avalon") is very interested in my Artglass Goddess Beads, so I'm looking forward to working out a deal for her to sell them in her store! More news to come on that front as it develops...

(By the way, I'm going to be heading out to go camping for two weeks this friday, with approximately "12,000 of my closest medieval friends" so look for my posts after I get back if I don't post anything before I go!)

Eye-Bead Tutorial

Well, I not only won 2nd place beginner for my blue protective eye bead in the "Artistry in Glass" summer contest, (yum, more glass supplies! I've ordered them already!) http://artistryinglass.on.ca/newsletter/contestwinners.html but I got the tutorial made up for it today too! I'm glad that my "dotting" and "raking" lampwork skills are progressing nicely.

Now I just have to keep from going bonkers because I didn't get to make any glass beads this week!

Oh well, at least I have some new supplies from AiG to look forward to, and I got the fine silver wire that I ordered in the mail this week too... My next "Hot Glass" posting should be really interesting!

(Okay, back to procrastinating about getting my garb sewing done for my impending medieval camping trip!)

Hot Glass: 8th Session

Usually I mention which glass that I used in each bead because these photo collages are for my lampworking notebook. I decided to put the notes in the book this time as I didn't think I had enough space on the photo page!

The jelly beans are for my "Eye-Candy" exchange in the Lampwork Etc. forum and they're inspired by the delicous "Jelly Belly" tm beans ~ my favourite candy!

I've been working on getting a bunch of "Norse style" beads done to Trade at Pennsic 37, this big Medieval camping Event that I'm going to.
I'm trying to base the designs and colours on actual beads that were dug up in archeological finds, but I forgot the pic yesterday so I had to "guestimate"(I know, the bubble dot bead isn't norse...it's just pretty! Every so often I try out a bubble bead. I'll probably focus on them more when I get better control of my dots).

...I've been working on variations on eye beads. I made up two dragon eye beads but one of them broke in the vermiculite. I think I was looking at it too long before I put it away! I'm going to try and re-create the design in my next session because I liked how it was looking!

D'oh! I thought that the flower turned out only "Ok" and I think I'll put flowers on the back-burner for now. I'm having a lot more fun with the eye beads!

The hollow heart was supposed to be a round hollow bead. I started out using med. amber stringer, but I didn't realize it would take more than one rod, so I didn't have one on hand to finish it with. I tried to finish it with the same colour rod. Note to self: Don't do that! It looks like it needs to be the same thickness all over! A good learning experience though... and I like the colour. That's the same tone of actual fossilized amber that I adore!

Hot Glass: 7th Session

Another productive day making beads! My bears are coming along nicely and I like the "Norse-style Trade Beads" that I got done as well...

I found the Opal-plum frit to be rather dark for my tastes, but I'm not ready to give up on it quite yet.

I've been "lurking" in the "Canadian Play it Forward Box" thread on the Lampwork Etc. chat forum since 5:30am when my cat woke me up wanting to be fed! That's a game that a group of us are playing where the first person to message the person who HAS the box gets it next. The box contains a variety of glass and supplies etc. You take what you want out of it and replace it's value with stuff that you have, then you send it on to the next person. The gal who has it right now is only 40 minutes away from me, so I'm acting like I'm hanging out, trying to get front-row concert tickets!

Here's crossing my fingers!

Hot Glass: 6th Session

Yesterday was a VERY good session...

I took the advice that I was given about turning down the flame on my HH torch and being aware of where I am working in the flame and it really helped!

I think that I might just be getting a little faster. I created all of these in about 6 hours.

Back to the torch tomorrow...

Note to self: Don't drink caffeine before trying to work with hot glass! That Ice Capp tastes good, but it's just. not. worth. it!

Hot Glass: 4th and 5th Sessions

More Flameworking to catch up on...
I'm managing to do some glass bead making about once a week. (possibly two sessions this week!) My technique is getting a little better, but I think that I will work at obtaining the bulk tank of Mapp Gas after all... An investment at the quoted $187.00
I'm not liking how the propane scums up the transparent glass when I'm trying to encase my beads. It's not too bad with the bright colours that I favour and I kind of like the "antique" effect that it gives to the beads for the norse-style beads that I'm creating.

I'm hoping to have some beads to trade while I'm at Pennsic ( a HUGE medieval camping Event that I'm attending this summer), and if I manage to get a Norse -style dress sewn for myself in time, I will wear my beads with it too!
I think that with all the bead-making I'm doing I won't have to worry about being so totally obsessed with making them while I'm away at Pennsic as I have in the past.
I'm hoping to get a bit of pewter casting done as well to have tokens to trade/give to other people that I meet while I'm there.

FacePaintings at 'Melee

Well, I've gotten behind in posting about my Creative efforts!

Here's one from a couple weekends ago.
My husband, Chris (the attractive fellow with the "woad wolf" at the bottom right) attended a medieval reinactment camping event for the SCA (society for creative anachronism) on the weekend of June 13/14/15, 2008, called "Murder Melee in the Meadow XXV"

Friday was pretty low key and we enjoyed the musical talents of Noni Crete and Eugene Rea in The Raven Tavern that night.

There was some rain on Friday night, but we didn't care since we were snug in musical heaven and looked forward to sleeping in a nice dry bunk rather than a tent.

Saturday dawned clear and sunny and I enjoyed the day nestled in the foyer of the cabin we were staying in (near the merchants) -- facepainting and playing my penny whistle. My husband (known in the SCA as "Olfus") played his mandolin and we worked on our songlist for a Saturday night performance in the Tavern ~ since sadly, Noni and Eugene were not able to return.

The performance went very well and we wandered off afterwards to enjoy some more singing and some burnt marshmallows with friends around their campfires, before heading back to our bunks for the night.