New Beads

I know, they look alot like the old beads. But more transparent, I think. Yeah, this is the summer version of my Wyvern Brook beads. :-D

More turts

I've got a few of these cute little flower turtle beads up in my etsy shop now. I like the loose skin wrinkles on the legs and the neck, eh? I've also named them, which probably makes me certifiable, but it's all in the name of cuteness, so don't judge me too harshly.

I've also stocked the shop with a set of cool water beads. I'm calling the set "Aqualith" (aqua=water, lith-stone). It's been a while since I've used this faux dichro effect with the silver foil. It has been hot here and the cool wet look of these beads is very refreshing.

Precious Turtle Beads

I'm working on some really cute beads lately. My neighbour keeps pet turtles and asked if I could make turtle beads for her daughter. It seems that I could. This is one of the first ones I made, and it is terribly precious. They've gotten a little bit bigger since this one, but they are still sweet as can be. I realized that I need to consider how folks might use these turtle beads in jewelry, and so future turtle beads will be tail-weighted a bit so that they will hang predictably as a pendant. The bead shown here would be lovely as a one-of-a-kind charm in a girly bracelet or an earring. Look for these cute beads to enter my etsy shop in the next few days.

Out of the Kiln

Going out to the workshop and getting my beads out of the kiln is one of the first things I do in the morning. The beads aren't quite finished and ready for lives as part of jewelry or accessories until they've been annealed. So when I pull them out of the kiln it's like a Coming Out Party. They are ready for presentation.

This is what came out of the kiln this morning. Delightful.

Exciting Grey

Is that an oxymoron?

No matter, I think these, the latest beads to be added to my etsy shop shelves, are pretty exciting. The nugget shape feels nice and natural and substantial, and the gleams of silver and gold over the placid transparent grey glass are very interesting. And the diagonal undulating lines keep your eye moving along them from one bead to the next.

I've also been working on some very spring themed beads: cute little lady bugs! Pic coming up...

Best Wishes for Farrah

You may have noticed that I use a photo of Ms Fawcett to represent myself in the profile corner... I don't think she would mind, if she knew... It's just that I have no pictures of myself that I care to share. And everyone likes attractive people. And when I was younger, I was compared to Farrah once or twice... Or maybe they were talking to someone else... In any case, Col. Austen and I are thinking of her today.

Yesterday while playing at the torch, I came up with a couple of bead designs that I planned to spend today making sets out of. But I ended up being busy dealing with some really nice orders that came in, and didn't get the new beads made. So no eye candy today. Oh, how's about I put up a picture of this funky fish bead that lasted all of 5 minutes in the shop before someone caught it!

Jars o Beads

Spring on the high plains: marauding tumbleweeds that drift up against any fence or alcove. We practically have to dig ourselves out of the house these days.

I've put a couple of jars of beads in my etsy shop, and I don't mind if they don't sell. They look like really cool little works of art as they are, catching the sun on my kitchen window sill. But I can always make more if someone else wants a bunch of beads to play with.. :-)

[I would like to thank my hand model, Olga.]