I've been busy...Mucho Lampwork Beads.
I've been busy on the torch. I guess I know that the time is coming that I might not be making beads for a while. I've got to break down and finish packing sooner or later. I keep putting it off...me, thinks that I might be dreading the entire process. I hate moving...I really hate moving huge amounts of heavy glass.
Anyway, I've had several people ask me if I was going to make more of the 'Robin's Nest' beads. I knew that I was going to revisit the color combo but they wouldn't be duplicated like the first set.
So here's a couple of sets that I've flamed...all in the Kulgar leaded crystal clear. All in barrel form...still one of my favorites.
I also made several different sizes of strands. I have to say, that this will be my last beads for a long time in this color combo.
The below...turned out well. They look much better in person than in the pictures.
Here's an a strand of 'sky nuggets'...hand shaped with texture. They are lovely accents in jewelry because when the light hit them, they just sparkle.
These are a bit different than my normal encased beads. They more like plump disks. I've been experiment with the shape for a while. They work great for trapeze necklaces...great as stackable pendants...great for accents beads in bracelets. I've added huge amounts of fine silver to give these beads an organic look. They look great with both metal and gemstones.
Here's some more...
And more...these are extra lovely. (can ya tell that the below are my favorites?)
Most of these beads will be posted up on Etsy in the next couple of days.
Anyway, I've had several people ask me if I was going to make more of the 'Robin's Nest' beads. I knew that I was going to revisit the color combo but they wouldn't be duplicated like the first set.
So here's a couple of sets that I've flamed...all in the Kulgar leaded crystal clear. All in barrel form...still one of my favorites.
I also made several different sizes of strands. I have to say, that this will be my last beads for a long time in this color combo.
The below...turned out well. They look much better in person than in the pictures.
Here's an a strand of 'sky nuggets'...hand shaped with texture. They are lovely accents in jewelry because when the light hit them, they just sparkle.
These are a bit different than my normal encased beads. They more like plump disks. I've been experiment with the shape for a while. They work great for trapeze necklaces...great as stackable pendants...great for accents beads in bracelets. I've added huge amounts of fine silver to give these beads an organic look. They look great with both metal and gemstones. 
Here's some more...
And more...these are extra lovely. (can ya tell that the below are my favorites?)
Most of these beads will be posted up on Etsy in the next couple of days. Every once in a while I take the time to ponder the week’s events…yep, kinda scary isn’t it. Yesterday I was on the torch for over twelve hours so I had the time to ponder.
I’ve had several people ask me why lampwork beads are so expensive though the years. (twice this week alone) That comes with, isn’t only glass? My response is normally, ‘well yes, it’s glass… just like an emerald is only a rock’.
I’ve come to the understanding that no question is a bad question…it’s just that some folks just don’t present the question well. I think it has to do with tone of voice; maybe even it’s the lack of polite curiosity when the question is posed. It also depends on who is asking the question.
If it’s a jewelry designer, I think I will take it on a case by case manner. My rule thumb here is that is someone is selling something, anything, they should know what they are selling. Most jewelry designers are at the mercy of the raw materials that they are using, so if you don’t know, find out. It’s really not that difficult in this age of information. Try plugging in ‘lampwork, how made’ in your favorite search engine. You just might be amazed at the amount of information that is out there. When it comes to the fine details…I will always explain how I do a certain technique or why ‘something’ takes me so long to make. So don’t let me scare you away from questions.
If it’s a person from the general public, a non-jewelry designer, I take the time and will continue to do so. I just consider it a form of public education. Now they might get that polite smile, a nod of the head, and even a neutral ‘that’s nice’ or ‘I understand’ from me…but I will continue to do my best to explain. There are just some folks, no matter what I say, really don’t want to know the answer. They are asking just to poke fun, maybe they are trying to make a point, or for some reason that I really don’t have time for.
Translation…’that’s nice’ translates to ‘that’s stupid’ and ‘I understand’ translates to something I can’t say in public.
The other thing that I’ve found a bit odd when a fellow lampworker takes the time to ask me a question regarding how I got a certain color reaction or what type of glass I used to make a certain bead. Them I take the time out of my day to answer their questions. Then they don’t take the time to even say ‘thanks’. Which happens about 50% of the time. Every time this happens, I wonder why I even answer questions like these. I took the time to experiment and work the glass, then the time to answer the question…sometimes takes me a while because I’ve got to go find my notes or think back on how I did it in the first place. It’s not that I need a ‘thank you’, it’s just polite.
I’ve had several people ask me why lampwork beads are so expensive though the years. (twice this week alone) That comes with, isn’t only glass? My response is normally, ‘well yes, it’s glass… just like an emerald is only a rock’.
I’ve come to the understanding that no question is a bad question…it’s just that some folks just don’t present the question well. I think it has to do with tone of voice; maybe even it’s the lack of polite curiosity when the question is posed. It also depends on who is asking the question.
If it’s a jewelry designer, I think I will take it on a case by case manner. My rule thumb here is that is someone is selling something, anything, they should know what they are selling. Most jewelry designers are at the mercy of the raw materials that they are using, so if you don’t know, find out. It’s really not that difficult in this age of information. Try plugging in ‘lampwork, how made’ in your favorite search engine. You just might be amazed at the amount of information that is out there. When it comes to the fine details…I will always explain how I do a certain technique or why ‘something’ takes me so long to make. So don’t let me scare you away from questions.
If it’s a person from the general public, a non-jewelry designer, I take the time and will continue to do so. I just consider it a form of public education. Now they might get that polite smile, a nod of the head, and even a neutral ‘that’s nice’ or ‘I understand’ from me…but I will continue to do my best to explain. There are just some folks, no matter what I say, really don’t want to know the answer. They are asking just to poke fun, maybe they are trying to make a point, or for some reason that I really don’t have time for.
Translation…’that’s nice’ translates to ‘that’s stupid’ and ‘I understand’ translates to something I can’t say in public.
The other thing that I’ve found a bit odd when a fellow lampworker takes the time to ask me a question regarding how I got a certain color reaction or what type of glass I used to make a certain bead. Them I take the time out of my day to answer their questions. Then they don’t take the time to even say ‘thanks’. Which happens about 50% of the time. Every time this happens, I wonder why I even answer questions like these. I took the time to experiment and work the glass, then the time to answer the question…sometimes takes me a while because I’ve got to go find my notes or think back on how I did it in the first place. It’s not that I need a ‘thank you’, it’s just polite.
Anyway, if you got this far...feel free to comment. I really won't bite your head off. Maybe I'm just getting old and cranky.
Anyway, I'm off to upload a bunch of beads on Etsy!
Have a happy, creative day,
~Moon