I generally just use single colour frits and mix my colours myself but this time i decided to try a sample pack of pre-blended frits from Val Cox.
She just makes the prettiest colour combinations don’tcha think?
lampwork flamework
I’m officially BACK!
yippee!!! got my laptop back from repair and i’m good to go! i’m now back to surfing wirelessly from the comfort of my living room couch, wrapped in my fave blankie with a cup of tea rather than being stuck in that subterranean teenage hellhole i’ve suffered through over the past few weeks.
I have lots of old posts to catch up on so to begin: here’s one new beadie i’m particularly proud of – my first successful encased floral!! It’s about 1.5″ long and has 3-4 large red and yellow flowers and about 6-8 tiny yellow flowers.
this is my 4th attempt (i’ll have to take a photo of the very sad three previous attempts, lol) and other than the clear encasing being a little burnt it came out pretty good. the flowers are nicely defined and they didn’t smear even when i pressed it so all in all not too shabby.
Generally speaking i’m not really into flower beads but encased florals are such a very classic lampwork technique (they require a certain amount of skill and mastery of heat control) that just about every glass beadmaker attempts to master them at some point. Being able to make one (in my opinion) serves as proof of a certain level of skill development i’m happy to see i’ve finally achieved. My motivation to make these is a floral bead exchange on LE – it was just the push I needed to force me into trying something out of the norm. I’ve challenged myself to make at least three error-free encased florals by the exchange deadline (May 31st).
Here’s a close up of the other side. I added a navy centre to the big flower this time in addition to the bubbles. As soon as i get time to torch again i’ll be making some more…
Got a package. Wanna open it with me?
Since i only torch part time, I don’t get to order glass supplies very often. But when i do it’s soooooooo exciting when the package finally arrives – almost like Christmas!
Now this particular box is four, yes FOUR months late in arriving (don’t ask) so my emotions are a bit mixed: on one hand i’m like a kid in a candy store cuz i just LOVE getting new glass stuff but at the same time i’m extremely ticked that it took this long to arrive. aaahh well, time to move on. (sigh)
Let’s open this sucker up!
oooo… styrofoam, exciting stuff that. i’ve got a garbage bag full of these bits in the basement cuz i can’t bring myself to throw them out. reduce, reuse, recycle, right? (or am i kidding myself?)
I didn’t order this, the supplier sent it as an apology for being so late with the shipment. What do you think, should i accept the apology? (And i wonder how they knew my dots suck?)
Look at those rods. Aren’t they scrumptious? i keep stroking them, they’re so delicious i almost want to lick them. my imagination is going wild thinking of all the cool things i’ll do with them… They’re a special type of Italian glass called alabastro – supposed to give a translucent effect similar to alabaster. (duh?) Sounds fantastic doesn’t it?
some longer bead reamers (yay!) and square cubic zirconias.
I can’t wait to try these. the trick is to embed them in the glass without causing the bead to crack – sorta like a faux diamond. sparkly glass and diamonds. can a girl ask for more?
These Corina Spotlights are classic technique booklets in the lampworking community. I’ve heard great things about them and after a quick run through i’m quite impressed at how much information is stuffed in those few pages. I hope she starts making them again…
30 gauge fine silver wire. crap. i forgot i’d purchased these and ordered a pile from somewhere else last month.
Haven’t watched this dvd yet, but lots of people recommend it on the forums. You’ll be able to judge for yourselves over the next few weeks if it really does help me improve my stringer control…
just another gratuitous alabastro rod shot. side view this time, just cuz i love them so much. i tell ya, completely, utterly, deliciously lickable…
This is a highly recommended, two-volume collection of probably everything i’ll ever need to know about lampworking. I quickly scanned through both volumes and there’s such great info it’ll be a while before i get fully through them.
one last thing…some boutique silver glass frit. cuz really i can’t justify paying $100/lb for glass rods (yet). If i can get this to do its magic, maybe then i’ll reconsider…
and just cuz i can, a random kitten shot. That’s my kitty Busta. He’s just so cute – dumb as post and worst hygiene of any cat i have ever owned but still so darned adorable i can’t help but love him to death.
Ode to Effetre Copper Green
Copper green, you are my bane
Copper green, you’re driving me insane!
You spit, you pit, you crack, you shock
Mixing you with certain colours just makes icky schlock
I love you! Why can’t you love me back?
Why must each turn in the flame coat you with gunky black?
I know i can etch you but i want you to shine
and avoid using chemicals that reek worse than turpentine
You’re pale green in the rod, so light, so pretty
But when you come out of the kiln you’re a weirdly deep, bluish verdigris??
Wassup with that, you crazy colour?
You make me want to scream and holler!
You’re making me late with my custom order
The fuglies you’ve given make me want to scream bloody murder!
I start out each time thinking i’ve found just the right blend
then incompatibility, weird colour reactions – you’re driving me off the deep end!
And then just when i think i’ve conquered your tricks
What’s that i hear? Oh noooo, it’s cracking! “snick”
You screwed me, so now i must start again
I hate you! i hate you! you’re no longer my friend!
Oh, I’m kidding, I still love you. I just needed to vent
Let’s go dance in the flame once more seeking mutual contentment…
© ShebaMakeda Glass Art
😉
Tales from the torch: Jan. 26th/08
Results from my last few torch sessions – a goddess and two pendants for a couple custom orders:
Hades Goddess: (sold) Sometimes simple is best. This is just black glass and silver leaf passed through a reduction flame to bring out the iridescence. I had originally planned to tart her up with some frit and a latticino or two but once i reached this stage, i realized she’s perfect just as is.
Tempest: (sold) Ever been on the beach during a thunderstorm? As the wind rises and the sea slams against the cliffs, the water, foam, seaweed and sand all swirl together wildly. And if you’re lucky enough to find a good vantage point, you can enjoy this spectacle of nature from a safe distance but still be close enough to feel the salty spray hit your skin with each crashing wave…
Spring Bloom: My first serious attempt at a traditional raised floral. Every single colour is custom blended – from the base to the premade latticino’s used for the branches and the flowers. The branches have a bit of sparkle as i used green adventurine in the twist, then i reduced the bead lightly at the base to give it some depth. A lot of work but i’m pretty happy with how it turned out.
And if you think it looks familiar, you’re right. It’s inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s 1890 painting Almond Blossom.
Evelyn Duberry - Glass Artist 