A blog dedicated to the creativity and the challenges of making and designing with handmade art glass (lampwork) beads.
About This Blog
This blog reflects the thoughts, passions and struggles of a glass bead artist whose day job is manufacturing food safe rubber stamps. I share the joys and challenges of making lampwork glass beads and rubber stamping. ALL images here are copyrighted unless otherwise stated and may not be used without permission!Contact Holly
Several amazing sales venues have popped up on Facebook expressly for artisan lampwork! I always share my current sales on my fan page there. But you can usually find me on any of the following groups:
NOTE: My blogs have all been hit by spam bloggers lately and as of this post, all comments will be approved before posting.
Sometimes, when I make a piece of jewelry, the silver that I love suddenly looks garish next to my bead. That was the case with my Art Bead Scene project. When this happens, I love to blacken my silver to make is disappear into the project.
I use chunks of Liver of Sulfur: I microwave a cup of water for about a minute and drop in one chunk. I stir with a wooden skewer or chopstick.
Here's all my silver bits: And here they are drying off. I ended up not using them all. As always, the jewelry takes on its own direction as I work.
I KNEW it was gonna break! But did it have to break in such a nasty way???
Lots of glassy bits STILL in this cut!
I'm talking about a bead, of course. I was working on a base for a bead for my ABS entry (due today! Silver parts drying off after a sulfer dip, waiting...on me!) and I was reverse encasing. I knew I wanted a white base but the bead was so large and required so much stringer work, I had to reverse encase white over a clear core.
And suddenly, I noticed that new rod of white was not turning clear in my piping hot flame. WTH??? I added a bit more... and then super heated it.... still off white. OFF white???? I started to suspect what I had done and threw the bead in the kiln to run a test.
I keep my Bullseye rods on the left side of my work space; 104 on the right. I must have grabbed a Bullseye rod of French Vanilla. I grabbed a rod of Bullseye opaque pink, heated it and placed the suspect rod on top in the flame. I carefully pulled a stringer, cut it and waited.... absolutely nothing happened...which means that yes, I was using 90 on my 104 bead. And it was now doomed to break.
Why, oh why, didn't I pull it out of the kiln and toss it in the water??? Maybe, I just thought it would be cool to see HOW it broke the next day.
Only, when I opened the kiln, it was not broken. So I whacked on the kiln.... STILL not broken. It was pretty warm - around 200. So I plunged it into water around 40 degrees. It did not break.
Thinking I may have used so little 90, I started fussing at myself for not finishing that bead. I put my pliers on the rod and grabbed that bead in my hand... and it shattered to bits with my index finger taking a direct hit...I'm still picking little glass bits out three days later!
I'm gonna go finish that ABS project and nurse my cut finger some more. Tomorrow's post will be about jewelry and sulfur dipping. See you here on Holly's Folly Bead Blog.
I'm grateful for a lot of things this holiday season....you can check out my Creekhiker blog for more on that...but this is about beads.
And when it comes to beads, I have to say I'm so thankful for my beady friends. The wonderful, supportive and kind people who help you work the kinks out or just lend a ear.
I'm blessed to have many beady friends and two groups of them in particular. The Southern California Flame Surfers are real life friends and a super talented group of artists! And then there are the Fire Divas, my online bead group that I hope to meet in person someday!
Last month, my heart bead came in 2nd in a Fire Diva Challenge and I won this gorgeous bookmark from Lauren of Maybeads. While I'm very fond of all the Divas, Lauren holds a special place in my heart. She's always helping out with something and she makes all of us laugh! And she obviously understands my weakness for pink hippos! She also understands my weakness for a certain temperamental rottie / greyhound mix. Check out Lauren's version of Mabel Lou:
Be sure to check out Lauren's shop for great beads and the cool bookmarks (fabulous gifts!). And I can't resist adding a photo of the real girl. My partner in crime, my sanity, my drama and my comedy.
Photo Copyright 2009 Isabelle Thompson
Hope you have a gratitude filled day. See you here on Monday.
I'm having a really crappy day... or three! I've spent the past few days trying desperately to photograph my entry into the AGLF calendar. And I've spent the last few days alternately cursing, crying and pulling out bits of my considerable head of hair... and still no pics.
I've often said, for any of the glass masters I would die to take a class from, I would want to study photography as much as bead making!
After over 200 photographs, countless hours and endless frustrations, I STILL don't have a calendar worthy photo! ARGH!!!!
I used a light box; I stopped using a light box; Tripod, yes; Handheld, yes; I used velvet; I used a jimmied up tent made out of cardstock; I shielded the bead with my hair; I used hairspray to cut down on the shine; I used neutral gray background; I blocked light with rubber stamps and dishrag - and STILL no decent photo!
I'm so pissed at myself... WHY did I make a hollow bead? WHY did I have to fill it with cubic ziconia and crystals? WHY do I have to work in a medium that relies on photos to sell it?
And it's the one thing I hear over and over from customers.... Wow! Your photos don't do the beads justice!
But the worst part is, I made this bead for me...something I've never done. And now, I hate it! I'm certain I will never wear this.
I became fascinated with hollow focals after taking a Leah Fairbanks class. Hollow beads are fascinating structurally and a challenge to make in the flame....talk about managing your heat control! There's nothing worst than having a bead explode!
Hollow beads are fascinating for other reasons. The way they transmit light and color... and I also love the weight. As a large bead lover, some beads get way too heavy... I've actually bent mandrels working on a large bead! But hollow beads alleviate some of the weight while still giving you a nice, large focal.
To celebrate the season of giving, the Fire Divas are having a Thanksgiving Challenge! Some of our members have made wonderful pieces for YOU to vote on. First, enjoy viewing these wonderful treasures. When you're done, please vote for the bead you are thankful for on right side of the Fire Divas' blog. The voting will stay open for one week - then the winner will receive a really cool prize!
Running really behind today... sometimes work gets in the way of beading fun!
The Artisan and Glassworkers Legal Fund (AGLF) is having a fundraiser. This fund has been created as an unincorporated association to assist in the legal fees associated with stopping Ullja Kuntze from continuing to harass, defame and libel her competition.
I will be working with the AGLF on the layout of the calendar which will have 108 images from artisans who have been libeled by Kuntze.
I'm not sure why but when I think of chocolate beads, I think of bracelets or earrings. Never do I think of a necklace. But when an Etsy customer wanted a matching pendant set for the earrings she bought, I was game to take it on.
The focal is maybe 1/3 larger than the earrings because the customer wanted to keep it smaller. And...it sort of killed me to make the leaves this way. I've grown as an artist and now would rather die than use plain old pea green for a leaf. An artist always uses middle tones, highlights and lowlights. But that's what growth is all about, eh???
Anyway, I do like the way the pendant turned out.
I do have one more chocolate that is even larger so if anyone wants it, email me or in a few days, I'll get it up on HollysFolly.com
I've neglected to mention a lovely honor I've received. I've been named to the California Flame Surfers Hall of Flame!
The Flame Surfers are my 'real life' bead group. We meet quarterly at various glass venues here in So. Cal. and the Surfers are an official chapter of the ISGB. We have some really talented members. Take a look around the Hall of Flame and you'll see some of Southern California's best!
And if you are in Southern California, stop by our next meeting at Pacific Artglass on December 5th.
Hi there. I made a new focal that I think is my brand new all time favorite...funny how the last thing you make always gets that place of honor! But seriously, this is sitting on my desk. You can't believe how she sparkles!
Her name is Rachael. She's for sale Here. She is made from light ivory and two rich, high silver content glasses. I just love when the two colors cross over one another AND the little black rings created when the silvered glass hits the ivory.
See you tomorrow on http://hollysfollybeads.blogspot.com
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