Tuesday 29 January 2008

Heart Gallery

My new jewellery website has been launched. It features my new necklace, pendant, earring, bracelet and bangle designs. These pieces are soon to arrive in the Heart Gallert in Hebden Bridge, where my work will be on show / sale. If you live near the Gallery, why don`t you take a look.... it would be great to know what you think.

Monday 28 January 2008

Valentines Hearts...

I`m having a bit of a change around on my jewellery site.
At the moment I have my beautiful lampwork glass hearts on a Sterling Silver Beaded Chain.

Especially for you.....

Friday 25 January 2008

Fantastic News! All systems go!!

I`ve been SOOOOOO busy this week. I feel like a total bead rep!

Firstly, I went to a beautiful Gallery in a Hebden bridge near Huddersfield to see a lovely lady called Alison. It is such a gorgeous quirky little place with an amazing amout of talented people`s creations being sold there. I walked into the gallery and thought it was completely the right place - exactly how I`d have a gallery if I was lucky enough to own one. You know when you just get a good feeling....

Anyhooo..... My work has been accepted! So I`ve been working FLAT OUT getting my pieces ready to send out early next week..I`m nearly there!!

Secondly, I met the owner of a bead shop in York. Another lovely lady.... She loved my beads and wants to stock them in her shop. Guess what I will be doing early next week....!! EXCITING!

Tuesday 22 January 2008

Odd Lot III!


Decided to put my 'Volcanic' Bead knowledge into good use! I thought I`d use some Vetrofond Odd Lot Painted Desert and Smoke Circles, melt some co-ordinating transparent glass - and hey presto - this is what occurs - I kinda like em!


Volcanic Beads and Lava....


I have made a few more 'Volcanic' Beads. (Oh and a set of lava!)
These beads are left un-etched as they turned out quite metallic because of the silver, I didn`t want to lose this beautiful quality.







Sunday 20 January 2008

Get Your Rocks Off!



I had some great feedback on my 'Volcanic' Beads. Sooooo, I decided to take it one step further. Rock-like beads. The contrast between the etched stone and the transparent windows is so beautiful.

Friday 18 January 2008

Volcanic!

I am a huge fan of the reactions caused by silver foil burnished ivory effect. It has produced some amazing colours on this bead. Purples, greens, browns and blue can be seen. The Bead has been heated and the foil pulled through the ivory to give the peaks. A little dot of Vetrofond 'Jupiter' as been added to the peak then encased in clear to look like a bubbling volcano. The dots on the focal bead have been plunged before adding clear - to produce little trapped air bubbles!
Large Lentil and 2 tube beads.
If these beads havent sold by tonight, I`m SO making them into a pendant and earrings!

What An Odd Lot II

Ok, so I finally managed to list my new gorgeous glass!

I have listed them in sets of 5 large spree beads.

If you prefer pillows in the same glass, or even etched sprees or etched pillows? Let me know.

I have made a pillow shaped bead of each colour which I have etched. Just to experiment! Glad I did, the result are amazing. The colour is so striking and the swirls even more visible.

Painted Desert / Cosmic Swirl

(For anyone that doesn't know what etching means - to etch a bead involves dipping the bead in an acidic solution for approx 10 - 15 minutes. This removes the shine, mattifys the surface and depending on the glass, you can see the detail much more. I LOVE the organic feel to these beads, although it is personal choice.)

Smoke Circles / Light Jasper

Thursday 17 January 2008

Deepest Elektra

Just cleaned and photographed.... Deepest Elektra..... Beautiful Dark Red Encased In Crystal Clear, Trailed With Elektra by Double Helix. Yum!

What an 'Odd Lot'

New glass arrival! Yay! Vetrofond 'Odd Lots' - so called because they are in short supply.

It really is unusual glass - producing different shades, colours and depths - all in one rod of glass! Makes me feel pretty lazy, I`m not doing much in the way of artistic-ness!!


Here is a pic using this gorge glass

Sprees made with (starting from the upper tier) Smoke Circles, Painted Desert, Light Jasper, Cosmic Storm (Think I got the names right?!)

They will be up for sale soon.

Wednesday 16 January 2008

Elektra Planets

Cleaned and ready for action .... Elektra Planets. I love this glass. I love reactions. Simple.

In Chains....

I didn`t get round to putting these on my blog yesterday.....

Sterling Silver Chainmaille Jewellery

Necklace - Scherzo weave

Bracelet - Helm weave

Well, The lovely George at designedbygeorge sent me some beautiful Sterling Silver jump rings in exchange for my lampies. If anyone would like to take part in the great Jump ring exchange just contact me....!

Bracelet - Helm weave featuring my lampwork beads :)


Bracelet - Scherzo Weave

I made a few pieces in less than a day.... Oooops!!

Monday 14 January 2008

I Don`t Know If I Can Let This Bead Go....

I decided to keep this bead, so I turned it into this pendant, the matching beads turned into earrings.

After much consideration, I have put them up on my website, so I can share them with you.

I have also made a new Sterling Silver Core Bead....in one of my favourite glasses 'Elektra'. The reactions are immense.

Friday 11 January 2008

Shopping!

This morning I set up my jewellery in a lovely little shop near where I live. Its the first 'outlet' I have for my beads. Thought I`d take a pic to show you... exciting huh!

Thursday 10 January 2008

I`ve been busy....

A fair few beads for you today... I seem to have a bit of an earthy feel going on. Sorry I can`t really chat... I`ve got soooooo much to do! I really hope you like them.

Tuesday 8 January 2008

Organic Bicones.....

A few dramatic focal organic bicones. They are so much more beautiful in real life - the raised dots in the top and lower left beads are amazing. There are little rainbows trapped inside each dot. They are so beautiful.


The bottom bead is made with silvered ivory. One end has been melted into the bead - the other end is left raised for added effect.

I used Psyche glass (again!!) which has produced beautiful colours in one tiny dot.
The photographs just dont do these beads justice :)

Monday 7 January 2008

Thought you might like to see...

I told you I was thinking of making something with my new nuggets - so here you go... its a necklace! I am quite pleased with it, there's lots of Hilltribe silver in this design - I cant get enough of it.

The Mystery Of The Glass.....(Thankyou Julie!)

......has been unfurled!!

Can you remember me saying I had received some free glass..... (the organic psyche and deep red focal is made from it)
You know... the glass I havent been able to find anywhere?!!!!
Well...... it was a surprise prezzie from my lovely friend Julie! I couldn`t believe it! What a complete star!
Thankyou ever so much Julie (the choccies and sweeties were more than enough!)

Check out Julie`s website - Ruby`s Jewels for her beautiful jewellery and of course hancrafted lampwork beads.

Saturday 5 January 2008

Nugget Nuggets Nuggets!

I am completely in love with making these beads. The way each one is so completely individual, but when I make a set, they look amazing together.

I think I might make a matching bracelet and necklace soon just for me (if I get chance - because you all seem to love them as much as I do!)

As you can probably tell by now I prefer creating something a little quirky - I think I have hit the nail on the head this time!

Friday 4 January 2008

Pop Art Montage


I made this montage today. I have a cold. Boooooooo. I made the necklace initially with beautiful red beads then used photoshop to alter the colours. I think it`s pretty cool! But then again.... maybe a little odd!

New Year Beads

Today....Well, yesterday to be completely correct... I created some nuggety textured beads. I love them....they are sooooo strokeable! Some great beads to kick start the year. they are quite different. I loooove making them.
They are made with my glass of the moment - Double Helix. The top ones are 'nyx' randomly encased with clear. The metallic sheen of the glass can be seen where the glass hasn`t covered the base.
The lower set is ivory,'psyche' and clear. Again, randomly encased. These have more of an organic feel.
I wish you could see the beads in real life - they don`t look their best in the photos.

New Year Beads II

My first focal bead of the New Year.
I was lucky enough to receive some free glass from a supplier in Belgium. (He bought some beads from me - I felt bad about making him pay!!) So, i thought I`d have a bash. It is an absolutely beautiful deep deep red, a colour I have been trying to find for such a long time! Some ivory and my favourite silver psyche glass creates the mirror like shine and adds to the magic of this bead.