back in the saddle...

Last month I brought out a new style of bracelet, one that is easy to wear, adjust and is pretty darn amazing! Above are pictured two of the later styles - what do you think?

Meet Steel Blue - it's a Glassdaddy color that has been waiting patiently to be discovered. All I can say is that it was the first set to jump off the pages last night. It plays wonderfully with copper green and violet - I'll be playing with it more - but seriously need to put a little distance between myself and this shape bead. SERIOUSLY.
The challenge for me this coming week will be to keep in the forefront of my mind/intention to steer myself to beads as I used to make them. Hand Shaped. No presses. PERIOD
We've grown accustomed to using them almost without a thought - and it'll be fun to see what comes of this. I see a few sets of hollows - maybe even shaped hollows, a revisit to hearts

on a side note: I will be doing a demonstration this month at BlueMoonGlassworks' September Fireflies meeting on how to make my hand-shaped hearts. Time to get some practice in, eh?!!

OH... my - how time flies.
I love the smell of newly sharpened pencils and Scotch Tape... for it means school has started - and now - I can torch to my heart's content - and not feel terribly guilty!

The updates are in full swing again - as I've weathered a cross country move... been unpacking boxes for the past few weeks - and life is finally settling back in... LIFE IS GOOD. What exemplifies that - other than hollows... it's sort of like stretching after exercise... it just feels good.
Look for more of a regular presence here - as I've missed you guys too.

I have to tell you. Glassdaddy's Steel Blue has finally been paired up with it's perfect match. I've got a set that will go on the update tomorrow night on the website - that will have you crazy... they're wonderful. I can't wait to use this color combo again - and show you what else it's capable of! Tune in tomorrow - and I'll post a picture.

Tiny canvas for art!
Reminded once again - how I love creating on a background of black... I revisited this
style set, and wasn't disappointed in the least. If you click on the image - you'll see the
larger version. I love this style bead for its simple almost childlike scribbles.. and the fact
that the design has been flattened in the same mold as the base bead - same curve exists.

Although I like elegant encased beads - sometimes the inner child just needs to sing her song!

This picture was included in a book by Jeri Warhaftig last year - I chose it tonight because, it'd been such a LONG time since I'd seriously made hollows. I sat down and started to refresh my technique... better stated. I dusted it off. Layers of dust. I had a few failures - as in I didn't get all the holes sealed up and the hollow deflated. BUT - then hit the zone.
How long do you think it should take to make one? I don't know if I've ever talked about the self-imposed time limit I have.

OK, here we go.
I don't believe that a bead should take me longer than 20 minutes to make. I'm not all rah-rah on beads that I hear take people a couple of hours... how can they do that??? My attention span is roughly twenty minutes. YOU have a good 'read' on whether the bead is turning out as planned after about 10 minutes... I figure you're half-way there.

IF after 20 minutes - you've made a huge mistake or absolutely hate it - you can bail, and not feel too bad, as not that much time was invested. I don't like to prolong failure. *or for that matter - repeat it* I learn pretty quick what I did wrong and make note.

Oh... the time on the hollow was 2min. 55 sec. but I got it down to 2 min 15 sec. that's pretty darn amazing.