Sunday 14 November 2010

Cold!

Cold and damp is all very well when you can snuggle up on the sofa with a cup of hot chocolate and a cat, but it's not so pleasant in the shedio at the moment. I've just had to take my thermal vest, gloves, hot water bottle and silly hat out of their summer hibernation and I've bought a lovely warm pair of pink thermal socks!

So once more I'm cheering myself up by making rainbows...


I love these twirly rainbow pebbles so much I'm veerrry tempted to keep them!

Now on Ebay...

Sunday 24 October 2010

Falling leaves and rainbows...

Well, it's now officially autumn...misty mornings, fallen leaves and bonfires...and of course, this being England; rain, gale force winds, freak heatwaves and sub zero temperatures! :D

Naturally, with the turn of the season my beads are especially nature inspired, although not particularly autumnal.

Packed full of silver, 'Frost Moon' is actually named for December's full moon, but as it is a suitably frosty bead, I think a little artistic licence is permitted!


I just love these pebbles. They are made with raku frit and silvered ivory stringer and melted into olive shapes and the result is deliciously organic.



Last but not least, a rainbow - still one of my favourite beads to make. This one has a pretty golstone ruffle, for added sparkle. Just the thing to brighten up a miserable day!



All can be found right now on Ebay.

Sunday 22 August 2010

Missing Mojo

Creative mojos are temperamental things. Take them for granted or don't pay them enough attention and they are liable to up and leave. I know this, because mine has been off sunning itself in Italy, while I've been cursing over my torch in damp and drizzly England, unable to make anything except boring blobs of glass. I got miserable and frustrated, wondering whether I'd ever be able to make a decent bead again.

There are a few ways of persuading an errant mojo to come home. In my case, I went back to some tried and tested old favourites, like my jewel nuggets. 'Nuria' is an Arabic word for fire, which I think is appropriate for these red, orange and yellow nuggets.




I've also tried a couple of tutorials, which made me try new things and challenge myself a little. I'm happy to say that it appears to have done the trick and my mojo has now safely returned. :)




'Akasha' is one of the results...I love the energetic swirliness of this bead! Akasha, Nuria and a few others are now listed on Ebay.

Sunday 20 June 2010

Many moons and more cats

I have just made my favourite moon bead ever :)It's actually very simple, just a lovely transparent purple, silvered ivory and my all time fave silver rich glass ever, Aurae, which gives it a lovely, ethereal feel.



One of the reasons I enjoy making moon beads so much is because there are so many possible variations on the one theme. I never get tired of playing with different glasses and coming up with ways of making each moon bead look totally individual.

I also love this set - the pure luxury of the regal purple and the real gold foil. These are the first nugget beads I've made in a while, but I'll definitely be making more!




Finally, I have more cat beads for another charity auction. All of these beads are now on Ebay...hope you like them!

Monday 7 June 2010

New house, new cat, new beads...

It's all been happening lately...we've moved house and I've had to set up my new shedio, so have only just started making beads againttddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd


Ahem. sorry about that, that was just Noel, our brand new (secondhand) rescue cat making sure I didn't forget to write about him - as if! He came to live with us two weeks ago, from a local charity called South Devon Cats Rehoming and has well and truly made himself at home already. He particularly enjoys 'helping' me on the computer, as he has just demonstarted!



Anyway, Noel was the inspiration for my new Ebay auction. I have listed some cat beads, with all proceeds from the auction going to South Devon Cats Rehoming, so they can carry on helping cats like Noel.

So go on...give a home to a little glass cat, they're no trouble!

Friday 23 April 2010

Moving house

Yep, we're on the move again...I've been trying to cram in as much torching as possible, because it'll be a couple of weeks while we move and then I get the shedio (a cross between a shed and a studio!) set up again. I'll post some pics when it's all done!

So these beads are the last ones to be listed for now - yet another Multicolour moon bead...I love this one, it was very nearly a keeper!



I haven't made any rainbow beads for a while, I guess I'm finally feeling in a cheerful Spring sort of mood!



These beads are on Ebay now, auction ending on Sunday.

Thursday 8 April 2010

Eggs and pebbles



I have to say I'm struggling to part with this little beauty...it was one of those beads that starts out not knowing exactly what it wants to be, but then a Dragon's Egg was born! It feels lovely to hold and it looks pretty from every angle. Hmmmm, maybe a new style to play with, methinks.




Keeping with the organic theme, these pebbles are something I've been wanting to try for a while. I must admit to being a bit of a rock geek (and I don't mean rock music - although I'm a bit partial to that too!) and I'm fascinated by rocks and stones. I have been known to exclaim over the patterns in a rock and inform any disinterested person who happens to be with me that "this is red sandstone, you know"! So it was logical that I'd want to recreate this in glass. I am happy with these pebbles, they look like something you might find on a beach.

So, if you're on a quest for dragon's eggs or glass pebbles, take a look at Ebay now...

Sunday 28 March 2010

Multicolour...

This week I have mostly been playing with a glass called Multicolour. It has been a frustrating experience, as it has mostly been staying green. It is another of those glasses that only does what it is supposed to do if the phase of the moon is right, your legs are crossed in a certain way and you are wearing pink knickers!

I seem to have cracked it now, though (not literally, of course!) and now have a few multicoloured beads, including this moon, 'Psamathe'...



I have also got back into using my silver rich glasses, for the first time since getting my new torch in December. In some ways, it felt as though I was starting from scratch with my beadmaking, because the torch is so different to my old Hothead. I think I've got the hang of it now and this beach bead is the result:



And finally, more etched nuggets - 'Honey Nuggets'.



All on Ebay right now!

Monday 1 March 2010

Moons and flowers

I was woken up last night by the brightest full moon I have ever seen, shining in the window. It was so beautiful, I lay awake and watched it as it travelled across the window and disappeared out of sight. I love the moon...hence my many moon beads! I am about to make another moon bead inspired the the waxing moon the other night - my cousin Helen called it an 'Elvis Presley moon', because it looked just like a crooked smile! :)

Anyway, I do have a moon bead on Ebay at the moment - Moonflowers - which also has a couple of flowers on it, because I'm putting flowers on all my beads at the moment. I think I must be trying to bring Spring here quicker!

I've also put some more etched nuggets on Ebay. I love these beads - they are so simple, but really pretty.



Sunday 7 February 2010

Winter snuffles

Not happy...I've finally succumbed to the cold that has been going around. Thought I was going to get away with it, but my generous husband decided to give me his cold as an early birthday present! I'm not going to let it stop me making beads tomorrow though, I'll just bring lots of tissues and Vicks out to the shed with me.

On the plus side though, evenings are getting lighter and I've seen some snowdrops...looks like spring is on the way! :)

I've just listed some new beads on ebay, including a lovely moon bead made with gold foil and this pebble set. I read a tutorial a while ago by Heather Webb of Bumpy Beads (at least, I think it was...) and loved it so much I've made these beads in lots of different colours!


Wednesday 20 January 2010

I must be mad...

Snow, ice and temperatures of -5, and what am I doing? Sitting in a shed in the garden with the door open, melting glass! Everyone else is indoors in front of the fire, drinking hot chocolate and toasting marshmallows or whatever it is people are supposed to do when it snows, and I'm outside freezing my bits off.

In my defence, I don't get a lot of time to make beads, what with the day job and reminding Chris every now and then that he has a wife, so I like to get out to the shed every opportunity I get. Even if that means wearing a thermal vest, jumper, fleece, padded gilet, tights, thermal socks, legwarmers, jeans, furry boots, gloves, silly hat and hot water bottle.

Anyway, I think it's worth it and the weather has given me some great inspiration, so here are some of the latest beads, all on Ebay now...