New lampwork

Having recently aquired a new but 2nd hand lentil press I have set to experimenting, after getting my torch set up that is.

Starting with the lush turquoise and ivory effetre glasses I made a few beads and then got to work with the press. First one is on the bottom left of the picture - and I think it must have been beginner's luck!

Then moved on a bit to try some other techniques. I have got myself some murrini and some brass mesh. I have been practising using the mesh as an inclusion encased in clear, and the idea is that when heated enough it creates bubbles that look like champange bubbles. This worked best on the one that cracked - sod's law. I guess I just didn't get the others quite hot enough. I will get the hang of this sooner or later!

Other than that I have been busy updating my Etsy shop, adding new stock and posting much improved photos. Go on over and take a look.

Back soon,

Terri

Experimenting going well.

Here are the lastest beads. In the first pictures is a big pile of porcelain beads that are straight from the biscuit firing this moring. They are destined for various finishing techniques including glazing with under glaze colours, coloured without glaze. A few are going for a special test - I am going to attempt to silver them - just the the Greek Silvered beads. Watch this space.

Also featured in the bottom photo is the latest batch of Egyptian Paste or Faience. Turquoise and creamy tan. Still needs some work - but we are getting there.

And last but not least - lampwork. Following the tutorial in the current edition of Making Jewellery Magazine these are my first attempt at scuptural lampwork. Not having any lampworking mashers to hand I adapted some stainless steel tongs and they did the job in the flower petals just nicely. They have not been cleaned yet so ignore the dark stuff in the hole. I will be making plenty more of these in the near future and listing them on my Etsy Shop.

Shop is not live yet - but will be by the end of the month.

Any comments and feed back is always welcome.

Till the next time

Terri

The beginning!!!

Here we are, at the beginning.

The beginning of what? - I hear you ask.

The beginning of my adventures in the land of bead making. This blog will chart my progress through my experiments in bead making. Glass, ceramics, silver and polymer clays are my materials of choice.

I hope you will enjoy following this blog through all the ups and down of my progress, and get to enjoy the beads first hand. I will record the failures and celebrate the successful. As things progress I will offer the beads for sale via my online shop (when I have set it up) and there will be regular competitions and offers as well. So come by regularly and get your friends and colleagues to follow as well.

I have already made a start. I am practising my lampworking 2 or 3 times a week and making decent progress and I will soon be offering my glass beads via my online shop. So keep an eye out for news of that.

Porcelain beads. I am working on several ideas with these and will have some ready in the very near future - hopefully by the middle of next week.

The more technically difficult Faience or Egyptian Paste is still very much in the experimental stages. The first trials had mixed results and a second batch is on it's way to the kiln. They should be ready by the end of this week. Fingers crossed.

Polymer clay. Have been working with Cernit polymer clay that I bought from Emma Ralph at EJRBeads. Much softer than Fimo in the making stage but is making some very nice beads indeed. I have made a bracelet which has been entered into the Making Jewellery Forum - February competition. This was made of Cernit polymer clays, sterling silver wire and finished off with a Tibetan Silver toggle clasp. I have loaded a picture of said bracelet here and would welcome all your comments.

Cheers for now

Terri