GRAND REOPENING OF MY ETSY SHOP !

Yes indeed, it's finally open now !  I've been working hard for the last month on this and finally it's here !

THE GRAND REOPENING STARTS TODAY !  You can go directly to my shop by clicking on any picture in the mini shop just below or click on the link to the right under "Awesome Websites To Explore".   I'm trying to figure out how to add the mini permanently over there but haven't figured it out yet.  lol ! 

There are GRAND OPENING SPECIALS GOING ON AS WELL !  This week it's FREE SPACER BEADS with every order !  And always FREE SHIPPING ON EVERY ORDER unless otherwise marked in the listing. 

So come on by and check it out !  I'll be adding new listings daily !
 







Thanks again for coming by and I hope you come back again very soon ! 

Beads Make Me Smile Every Single Time :)

It's been a long, hectic and tiring week but when I get a chance to look at beads, and I mean handmade lampwork beads, it ALWAYS brings a smile to my face.  Now, I really have nothing brand new to show as I'm still not at the torch and I really have nothing new that I've learned - yet - to talk about.  
I can show some more oldies but goodies beads I"ve had stashed for some time that I just never got around to using.  Why I never used them is beyond me cause I like them - all of them.
In the first set - all those fantastic bright colors !  Ohhhh I just love them !  And the shape I used - I was into that sort of a butterfly shape back then.  That shape is very easy to make too.  Just flatten a square bead with mashers and cut with sissors.  Yep, you can actually cut hot molten glass with sissors.  :) 

The second set base color is really one of my all time favorite glass company and color.  The glass is made by a German company named Lauscha and I call the color icy blue.  It's  not the real name but it's sure what it looks like.  lol !  The frit on top is one that is no longer available and is hoarded by beadmakers or sold at a premium price.  Me, I keep my stash and use it sparingly.  :)

In the last set, another one made long ago and using that cut shape as well as some beads made in a mold.  The glass base color is opal yellow with a twistie of black, EDP and turqouise melted in.  That twistie is very reactive when added to the opal yellow base.  Love the reactions and the look !  :)      

 

Well, I head back to the doctor tomorrow and hopefully will get the "all clear" that everything is healed properly.  Then will have to wait until the darned yellow pollen and all the rest of the spring time pollen is clear from the air before I can torch again.  I sure hope we have a short pollen season this year. 

 

Thanks so much for coming by. I hope you come back again soon. :) 

Testing

I needed to check out some photo's I've been taking of beads and bead sets I have to see how they look online so figured I might as well do it on my blog.  I've been doing some cleaning up, going thru all the beads I have that are just laying around.  There's now a jumbo box that is going to Beads Of Courage later this week once I'm done adding to the box !  lol ! 
So without further ado, a few photo's that I have redone of a few sets I have.  Tell me what you think of the photo's and beads if you want.  :)  More importantly the photo's.  Remember to click on each photo to see the full size version.  :)   

 

Once I get back to the torch, I'll be posting more often.  I'm just waiting to get the "all clear" from the doc before I do that. 

Plus, the icky yellow pollen has arrived !  UGH !  That means all the other pollen has arrived as well so with that there will be no open windows until that yucky stuff has made an exit !  Hopefully within a few weeks. 

 

Thanks so much for coming by.  Please let me know what you think about the photo's and the beads if you would like.  Come back again soon ! 

It's Been Too Long......................

..........and the time has come to update, renew, revive this blog !  I had a good reason for being absent but I am now ready to get back to life and enjoy myself at least a little bit !  :)   Recovering from any surgery just takes a little time, that's all. 

So without further ado, the first necklace photo below is what I was able to "redo" recently.  Yes, this is the redo.  Much prettier in my opinon than the first necklace which is the second photo.  The redo necklace is more "balanced", not as heavy, longer and easier on the eyes.  Because it is "balanced" there was no need for a large focal in the center.   The first necklace (that's the one in the second photo) had way too many silver beads in it.  I actually didn't think you could use too much silver in a piece of jewelry.  I was wrong.  It was just too much.  Plus it just looked unbalanced.  The plain black beads at the bottom are "out of place" and didn't belong.  Yes, the redo is MUCH better.  :)  Of course, all of the lampwork beads used are beads I made myself at my torch.  :)  The black beads with the blue and white frit, is a special frit that is no longer available and has been my favorite frit for a very long time !  I am hoarding the little bit I have left.  I will use it but sparingly.  I  love the way these beads turned out.   

 

 

Soon, I hope to be back at the torch.  In the meantime, I am doing some "spring cleaning" and will be trying something new on this blog. 

 

Thanks so much for coming by !  I hope you come back again soon !