Monday, April 28, 2008

Something new!

I finally got into my workshop with my new glass this weekend, and the first thing I wanted to do was one of my 'things I'd like to try'. I used my beloved Effettre Ivory, a dollop of my new Vetrofond odd light amber and a bit of Vetrofond odd lot Cosmic Storm stringer, and I went ahead and tried my hands at my first off-mandrell piece.

Now this is something completely different from making beads on a mandrel. In stead of inventing the wheel all over again, I decided to try a heart. It is quite possible I should have made just a little bit of research, but instead I just jumped in with both feet. I heated a blob of ivory on the end of the rod, added globs of amber and twirled a bit of Cosmic Storm around it.
I squished the whole thing fairly flat, heated the appropriate area and made a cut diagonally across from the rod and halfway through the disc. This makes 2 pointy ends that when heated ends up as the 2 round top parts of a heart. The center and pointy end of my heart were a bit skinny, but it didn't occur to me to add more glass as I were ballancing the hot mass trying to avoid melting the rod too much and losing the whole thing.
I also tried to poke a hole through the upper center so the heart might be hung when finished, but when I poked from one side, the hole from the other side would close up and just show a little point where it had been. So I gave up on that, and now I have a small heart to decorate my home in some fashion.
Not a raging success, but definately fun, and definately something I will try again.


Front and back. Yup, it's tiny :)


I also made a few beads in black and white, much like this one, which I haven't done in a long time, and some more of the jupiter spacers. I think I have enough now for the necklace I am contemplating, my first planned project. Now I need to work on some teeth beads so I can have a bunch available for my shop, they always sell fast :)

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7 comments:

LazyTcrochet said...

I love the ivory color. Keep up the good work!

Profusion said...

Thanks, it's one of my favourites. I'll go with a darker amber next time though :)
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High Desert Diva said...

The colors are fantastic.

Have you seen the little metal charms that are meant to be carried in pockets? I could see you making more of these to do the same.

Simply Wired Custom Jewelry said...

Well, although the first attempt didn't work, these sure are beautiful! The mixture of colors came out wonderfully, too. I also like the peacock bead you linked out to...very lovely!

Profusion said...

Thank you both.
Diva, I don't know of those charms. Are they like a worry stone? Because I could definately do that :)
Simply Wired, I will be doing more of those peacocks, I had almost forgotten how nicely calming it is to place all those dots :)
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Sue J said...

It looks like a semi-precious stone. Lovely work - you are in your element!

Profusion said...

Thank you Sue. I loved drawing, but working in glass is so very different and inspirering. I am very glad I have begun this adventure :)
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