Making Beads - Reasons Not Excuses

I still enjoy it.  Love it.  Have fun with it.  Want to do it.  Need to do it. 
I guess it's always going to be in me or a part of me in some way, shape or form.  Even though I can't be at my torch every day because of weather or just plain ole life happening in other ways - it's there.  I tried to get away from it years ago.  Sold everything I had.  That lasted about 2 years.  Had to come back.  Been back now for a while - on and off.  Can't do a lot of things I used to be able to do.  I no longer have steady hands.  I can no longer sit at the torch for hours on end.  My body doesn't allow me to torch when it's 30 degrees outside even though my fun spot is inside.  Still have to open a window to bring in fresh air and that sure can't happen in winter or when it's 90 degrees outside !  lol !  So many factors that want to interrupt or disrupt my torching time.  So, I go with the flow as it were.  lol !  Lately, even though it's the middle of winter and suppose to be at least in the 40's where we live, it's actually been in the 70's !  So I've been at the torch as often as possible.   Yes, making beads - melting glass - lampwork - torching - flameworking -  whatever one chooses to call it - will be in my heart and probably my soul for a long time to come !

As for not being able to do what I used to be able to do at my torch:  So many issues but here goes.  Shakiness.  Yep.  This is my main culprit.  I was lucky for many years though.  I use to be very shaky as a kid and up thru my young adult ages.  Somewhere along it eased up for a while.  Was able to do those minute details in beads.  Then somewhere along the way it came back.  Not nerves just shakiness when doing anything that requires details.  I keep trying things and once in a while I get lucky but usually not so much.  So because of that I no longer make those beads that require tiny eyes or anything that is tiny detail wise.  Straight lines are the worse so far.  sigh. Oh well, I keep trying.  

Sitting at the torch endlessly.  Can't do it.  Haven't been able to do it for a long time.  My muscles become extremely tight and hard to move if I do sit endlessly.  I've actually gotten up from my chair bent over I sat too long !  Can't do that any more.  So my torch sessions are no more than a total of 2 hours at each session and I get up at least 2 or 3 times during each hour.  It gets painful !  lol !  Age does that I guess or at least maybe lack of exercise ?  Maybe both.  Even sitting at the computer or watching tv too long will hurt. 

Weather - Well, no control over that so what can one say ?  lol !  You REALLY have to go with the flow here.  lol ! 

Ok so now that that's all out - I have been at the torch lately.  One day I thought I had run out of oxygen but turned out I had enough to make 11 beads !  lol !  The photo below is that result:

 

These flowers were made prior to running out of oxygen.  I absolutely LOVE how they all turned out.  They are all headpins.

 

 

Just finished up the ones below 2 days ago.  I LOVE this mix of glass and silver.  Two layers of glass and 2 layers of fine silver ! 

 

 

Thanks so much for coming by.  Please come back again sometime.

 

 

 

 

     

A New Year

Indeed it is -  a New Year.  Glad it's here and hoping for the best.

Making glass beads is still my #1 all time favorite thing to do.  The torch was and is my salvation from a frustrating year.  I can't help it.  I feel alive when melting glass.  Kinda how I use to feel when going to the ocean.   It's true that my designs have gotten "easier" as others might think.  I have no choice.  As I get older, my hands and arms have gotten shakier as it were which doesn't allow me to do much, if any, detail work perfectly.  I've accepted that fact and do what I can.  I have all the necessary tools to try to help "fix" that problem and some of it helps somewhat but it is what it is.  I will continue to enjoy playing with and melting glass in whatever methods I can muster.  I mean, what choice do I have ?  lol !  It's sorta in my blood.  :)  

That said, I haven't posted anything related to the actual making of beads in a long time.  I've been at the torch on and off quite a bit lately.  So many other things happening with the holidays and all sometimes there just wasn't any time.  Now, I intend to make up for that no matter how chilly it gets.  lol !  Today will most likely be the day I start.  It tends to get pretty cold in my "fun spot" as I call it, during the winter months even though it's not really very cold where we live.  Anyway, it requires I prewarm some of the glass so there's no shattering or at least less of it.  Sometimes that's a pain but for the most part it's not so bad.  I just don't like exploding glass rods.  Who does ???  

All that said, I've made a few things that are simple, pretty little beads.  Things I like to do.  I plan on trying a few new things as I've recently gotten 2 new molds.  Those always take a little time to work through.  In the meantime, here a few sets I've done over the last couple of months.

 

Thanks for coming by.  Come visit me on my Facebook page at:  https://www.facebook.com/AllMyBeads  for beads or at my Esty shop:  All My Beads Etsy shop  for silk cords/strings, kumihimo braids, jewelry and some Mykono's greek beads.

     

AUTUMN IS TORCH TIME !

Yep, it's that time of year when the cool morning breezes, falling leaves and the smell of autumn is in the air !   Which means - torch time for me !  In the early mornings, when it's the coolest temps I can take advantage and finally be at the torch again !  Which is what I did this past week !  Yay !  It also means the temps will keep falling (hopefully) and I'll be able to torch no matter the time of day.  Still, my most productive and favorite time of the day IS early mornings.   As far back as I can remember early mornings have ALWAYS been my best time of day. 

Since it is autumn I decided I needed to make some leaves again.  The set I made took me a few days to put together.  That's because I only torch no more than 2 or 2 1/2 hours a morning.  It's a HUGE set that can be divided.  Just need to figure out how big the sets need to be.  Anyway, I have made this set before and enjoyed it a lot so have wanted to make another set since.  Just never did it - til now.  Of course it's not exactly the same.  A remake never is.  Still, I like it a lot.  I'm putting up photo's of both sets to compare.  The only way I can compare since the first set is long gone.  :)  So here goes:  Photo #1 is the new set and photo #2 is the first set.  I used the exact same colors but used a little bit of a different technique in applying those colors.  Plus, the newest set does not have spacers.  I have given up on making spacers simply because they are a pain in the hand (and butt ! ) to clean !  Easy to make but a real pain to clean.  I have enough hand problems as it is without adding more !  :)  Anyway, there you go. 

So this morning, as I sit and type this post, I am thinking what I want to do today.  Specifically, this morning.  I have had a busy week up to this point with my typical "stuff" including torching but also including reading again.  Oh yes, reading some books that have grabbed me by my heart and won't let go !  lol ! 

OUTLANDER baby and if you haven't seen the show yet or read the books, I suggest you do !  If you like a great love story that includes a bit of "fantasy", romance, a bit of World History, war battles, intrigue, murder and everything in between than these books and the show are for you !  I am so badly hooked that, in a months time, I'm already on the 4th book in the series !  Yep.  I haven't read that much in DECADES !  I use to read ALOT back in my younger day.  lol !  And back then it was not novels so much as biographies and such.  The outlander series is a novel but also has a bit of history in it as well.  It grabs you from the very start, holds on to you and you don't care one bit !  lol !  It's soooooooooooo hard to stop reading.  And that is my "problem" these days.  Deciding do I want to read or get other stuff done ?  The reading has been winning out pretty much.  The nice thing about that is that it's a way to make up for waiting for the new season to start next year.  Yep, it's one of those shows that you literally have to wait a whole year to come back.  Much like Game of Thrones.  Another post for another day.  :)  Anyway, I highly recommend reading the books and watching the show.  The first season is on dvd with the second season soon to be released I think.  The show will begin it's 3rd season sometime in the spring on the Starz channel.  With GOT on Sunday nights and Outlander on Saturday nights, my weekend line up is complete !  lol ! 
  
A little something to entice you to watch Outlander !  :)
A photo that was the cover of Entertainment Weekly about a year or so ago I think and the second photo is the latest from the upcoming Season 3 out next year.  I found them online so figure I can post them here too.   

 

 

 

 

Thanks for coming by.  Come back again soon !

 

 

 

 

This post is going to be all about advertising.  Not any lessons to learn or ideas I've come up with.  Just about advertising my "stuff".  Why not ?  Everyone else does it in one form or another.  Whether it's on a blog, their website, Facebook, Twitter and so on.  There are SO many ways to push yourself and your talent (or lack there of) on the public it's hard to keep up with all of it.  Some of us are old school and opt for the old methods but most now days go for the new fangled ways of the world.  I mean, when was the last time you saw a phone booth ?  And if you actually did find that phone booth, was the phone actually in there and working ? 

So this entire post will concentrate on my stuff and the new fangled ways of advertising it.  I have a lot of "stuff" that needs to be advertised too.  Since I have literally eliminated jewelry designing/making entirely from my creativity everything must go one way or another.  So far, it's been hit or miss.  Like everything else at a Garage Sale, if it's not marked down, it's not gonna sell.  Period.  Doesn't matter what you paid for it or the value you may perceive it has.  Cheap is the common denominator with Garage Sale/Destash items.  So here goes.  Like it or not, it's all about - DESTASH. 

Links listed below and a few photo's of what's available. 

FB Jewelry Destash Group

My FB Jewelry Destash Page

Other People's Beads Destash Album

ALL MY BEADS FB PAGE

ALL MY BEADS ETSY SHOP

 

If you see anything you'd like to have, contact me on Facebook, at my Etsy shop by sending a convo or leave a comment here. 

Thanks for coming by.  Come back again soon.  I hope to be back at the torch soon.  In the meantime, shop.  :) 

Whoa ..............

.............  I just didn't realize it had been sooooo long since I posted here.  Good thing I finally visited my own blog.  lol ! 
   
                 So here we are in April now and I'm still not at my torch.  The pollen is still flying but I think the numbers are coming down a bit now.  Can't open windows to let in that stuff until the numbers are almost nil.  It's been a rough season for us allergy wise as it is.  I am anxious to get back on the torch too not only because I LOVE it of course but also because I have some new equipment, tools and most importantly IDEAS !  The ideas have been coming fast and furious and I should be keeping notes.  Alas, I am horrible at that thinking I'm gonna remember.  lol !  

                With no new beadies to show, I'll cut this post short.  Been going thru my bead stash organizing, destashing and listing some of the beads I've had but never listed.  Mostly 2 pair sets for making earrings, that sort of thing.  I have about 10 sets so have been listing a little at a time.  

                 I do have something to say about a blog post I recently read about shipping costs and destash items.  The blog post was about how the writer disagreed with paying what they considered pretty high prices for shipping destash items.  For example:  Say I list something for destash and charge $5.00 for it and shipping of $3.95.  The writer disagrees with that amount.  Says it's too high.  The actual shipping cost is $2.54, which in many cases is true.  Not all as some are higher but the basic small item that weighs a couple ounces costs that amount.  That said, that is ONLY the post office charge for postage.  That price does not include the bubble envelope needed to protect the item or the extra wrapping used or the box used or business card included or ink and paper a receipt is printed on if being used.  The writers costs for these items are very different from my cost of these items.  The writer says to use what you already have like bubble wrap you've saved from a purchase of something or small boxes that you've saved from previous purchases, etc.  All well and fine - if you have them.  If you do not have such items, you must purchase as cheaply as you can.  Everyone that sells jewelry, glass beads, etc  have these issues.  The writer says these high cost shipping charges is a HUGE "turn off" to potential buyers.  Well then those people need a lesson in such things or at least a reminder.  Yes, selling destash is meant to be a way to eliminate items you don't need or want or use anymore so you offer at discounted pricing.  That said, the post offices charges don't change nor do your shipping supplies costs. 

All of that said, of course everyone is entitled to their own opinions.  I bear no ill feelings  or whatever however others need to remember - what you spend or have in shipping supplies may be or is probably quite different than what I may have or have to spend.   If I could afford to give free shipping, believe me, I would.  Would certainly make things a lot easier that's for sure.  :)    

So if you are buying destash and feel the shipping is too high - please please please remember, we are only charging what it is costing us.  At least I am.  :)  Ok maybe I shouldn't say "we".  lol ! 

For a little eye candy, here's what I've been listing lately.  Pretty little earring pairs.

                                 

Check out my Facebook page sometime.  ALL MY BEADS  
          
Thanks for coming by.  Hope you come by again.  Hope you're having  a great Spring ! 

Pollen and All It's Glory

Yes indeed.  It's arrived and in full force !  Yellow, white, invisible.  Whatever the case may be - it's here !  And it sorta happened overnight one night last week.  Got up one morning and our silver/gray truck was green !  lol !  ICK ! Yes, I know, the yellow stuff is actually too big to get up in your sinuses to cause you trouble - that is of course if you're NOT allergic to it.  That said, all the rest of the pollen IS small enough to get up in there and THAT'S where I live.  UGH.  So, this time of year, I REALLY hibernate and only go outside when I must.  I know that's how I am in the summer too but moreso now.  No windows open so that means - NO TORCHING !  Whaaaaa !  And I'm in the mood too.  Figures but it's gotta be that way for several weeks.  At least til the actual count goes back to "normal" whatever that might be.  Yesterday the tree pollen count was in the thousands.  We live in a wooded area.  lol !  LOTS of pines especially but lots of hardwoods too.  Awful.  The other day, as I was looking out the window, I saw a couple of cars just moving along down the street and behind each one - a cloud of yellow, et al, pollen flew up behind the vehicles.  No joke.  It was so thick even on the road it was visible in the air when disturbed.  I remember once when we lived in NC, we got home late one spring night.  I turned on the outside light and literally saw a "storm" of yellow pollen falling in the glow of the light.  I was amazed at how thick it was. It looked like falling rain.  I had never seen such a thing before being from the north.  Amazing. 

So with all that there is no new beads to show at all.  I have some that need to be listed but have been so busy with destashing that those beadies just sit in wait.  lol !   Yep, the destash of jewelry making supplies continues in a big way.  Letting nearly everything go as I just can't get into making jewelry anymore.  I have a few places these items are listed.  Some on my own Facebook page and others in a Facebook group you need to belong to sell or buy.  It's easy and free to join.  I'll post links at the bottom of this page.  But I'll show a few photo's of what I do have available.  It's all good stuff but there are a few outstanding items - I think anyway.  lol !  Like:  

                                   Beautiful Butterfly Pendant of wood and shell.

                       Karen Hilltribe Handmade Fine silver butterfly pendant.

                  2.5 pounds of Czech Fire Polished Crystals - Sizes from 3mm up to 10mm with MANY colors .

                           Just a sampling of the Mykono's Greek ceramic beads I have available.

     

My FB Page Destash Album

Other FB Group My Destash Album

Click either link to go to the albums however as I mentioned, to see the album in the FB group you need to join up.  It's free though and easy. 

My Etsy shop is still open as well.  Just click on any photo or the link on the right of this post. 

Thanks much for coming by.  Come back again soon. 

Links and More

Not much in beadie things to show cause I haven't been able to torch this past week.  :(  Life can just get in the way sometimes.  It happens and we all do the best we can. 

I decided to post some links to some really cool pages/websites that I've come to know recently, are brand new pages or have been around for a while that I visit often.  Some are quite helpful, others are just for fun while others can be dangerous.  Dangerous because money is spent at these places.  lol !  No matter they're all places I enjoy, relax to or again just spend money at.  So let's get started.  And in no particular order except for my pages.  It is my blog page afterall.  lol ! 

ALL MY BEADS FACEBOOK PAGE

MY FB JEWELRY SUPPLIES DESTASH ALBUM

MY PINTEREST

LAMPWORK BULK BUY FB GROUP

GLASS BEADS DAILY

LAMPWORK ETC.

http://www.sodalimetimes.com/

http://www.web2pdfconvert.com/

http://www.beadsofcourage.org/

http://www.pogo.com/

AMAZING GLASS ART

DESIGN SEEDS - COLOR ! 

http://www.commentsyard.com/

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/eagle-cam

Thanks for coming by.  Please come back again soon. 

Need More Glass ?

Did not realize it's been that long since I posted last.  Geesh.  Where does the time go ?  I know, it just goes and there's no stopping it.  Sometimes I wish I could.  Don't we all ? 

So the last post I showed all those leaves I made.  I made more after that too.  Finally figured out what colors I wanted to use for that special project.  Had to order more glass.  Sigh.  That's usually the way it goes.  I really didn't want to but needed 2 more colors I didn't have.  Problem with needing only 2 more colors, when we, meaning glass melters, beadmakers, lampworkers only NEED 2 colors, it doesn't stop at just the 2 colors when we order.  Oh no.  We find "excuses" to "need" this other color or that other color.  lol !  And ooooohhhhhh I've never seen that color before !  lol !  Never fails.  Plus, if you're gonna order glass anyway, might as well make it worth the cost of shipping.  Oh wait, this place offers FREE shipping !  lol !  Can't use that excuse for ordering more glass.  It's a matter of justification in the end.  Sometimes it can be - sometimes not so much.  lol !  Justified that is.  Still, in the end, if you do need that certain color for a certain project, it's a must have so gotta do it sort of thing.  The only other thing I can think of is if you live near a glass distributor or dealer.  Then MAYBE you can go in and get just what you need.  That said, I live no where near one of those places so I can't know what I would do.  lol !  I do admit though that getting those boxes with all that glass in it !  It's like a kid at Christmas at my house.  lol !  For me anyway.  It's always fun getting those boxes.  :) 

I was able to torch just a bit the last couple of weeks.  We had a cold spell there for a while.  But it's been warming up this past week.  Spring is just around the corner which means POLLEN and NO torching at all. sigh.  At least not until the nasty yellow stuff disappears.  So I have made a few things here and there however some of it was just experimenting.  As I mentioned, more leaves but did get a couple others things done.  I'm making at least one bead per session for BOC again.  Need to keep this up as they are in need of beads.  If every beadmaker would make just one bead for BOC every torch session it sure would help.  Anyway, I've added a few photo's below of a few things that I made so enjoy the eye candy.  :) 
 
This first photo is another in the line I call Ancient Artifacts I LOVE playing with.  Want to add more beads to this set. 

This little dollie bead set will go to BOC.  I haven't made a doll bead in ages.  Can you tell ?  lol !  I think some little girl might like her though.

 

Of course more bell flowers.  The difference here - they are made on .999 fine silver wire !  Yep.  Those are really shiny wires too !  :)  All of the others were made on German silver wire which is NOT pure silver.  These wires are .999 pure silver. 

 

That's all for now friends.  Thanks so much for coming by.  I hope you come back again soon. 

 

Please come by my Facebook pages for a visit.  I show all of my beads and projects there. 

 

ALL MY BEADS Facebook

Winter Beads

I really don't know what that means !  lol !  I just needed a "title" for this posting and couldn't think of anything real clever.  So because it's winter and I am still making beads, why not Winter Beads ? 

I really don't have any "winter" beads per say to show, just beads, bellflowers and such.  Probably mainly bellflowers and "such" since that's what I've been making lately.  I did receive a new press last week and made one bead with it but won't show it until I'm a bit more familiar with working the press.  It's a bit of a tough one so will take more practice. 

I also received a new tool to use when making the bellflowers & other headpins.  I ordered and received it along with the latest size bellflower press I purchased.  The tool is the wire holder you use when making bellflowers or whatever sort of headpin using a wire.  It's the Carlo Dona slider wire holder and may I say I LOVE IT !  Yes, it's a bit costly and yes there are MANY other ways to hold the wire that's cheaper or can be made at home but believe me when I say, this handy dandy tool is the best !  I've used all of the methods I just mentioned including what was probably easiest for most (pin vise) but this way, is a thousand times better and SO VERY EASY !  Here's a photo of the tool and it can be purchased thru the only Carlo Dona distributor in the US - Spiral Arts If you make these pretty little headpins on ANY kind, I highly recommend this tool.  Photo below.  I borrowed the photo from Spiral Arts website and enlarged it so it's a little bit blurry.

 

Since receiving this new wire holder and the newest size (to me) bellflower press, I've been making bellflowers and lots of them (see photos below).  Also some more leaves and what I'm calling "do-dads" or little extra's to go along with some bellflower groupings I've been putting together.  I got some new leaf presses some time ago and am finally giving them a go too.  Anyway, photo's below of some of the bellflowers and etc. I've made this past week.  The newest size press is 16mm with 6 points and that's what most of the flowers are.  It's a really nice size.  The two groupings shown in the other photo's below have several size bellflowers in them.  I LOVE making these pretty little flowers.  :)  The last 2 photo's below show the sizes of the bellflower presses I have.

 

This grouping of flowers and so on are only a part of what I made.  There are a bunch more.  lol ! 

This pretty grouping of bellflowers, leaves and etc is made with corals, pinks and peach.

 
This grouping is made with Cranberry or gold pink and pinks with leaves and do-dads.

 

These two photo's are the sizes of the bellflower presses I have.  Yep, I have 4 of them and they are ALL the original Carlo Dona presses.  These are the presses that have been made for a very long time by the original designers family in Italy.  These presses make THE BEST flowers out there.  There are other so called bellflower presses out there but the quality just does not compare by any standard. 

 

 

I have a couple sets of beads I made as well but will keep those for another time.  I have so many of these bellflowers that I need to either sell them or make something with them.  :) 

My Facebook page -   ALL MY BEADS

Thanks much for coming by.  Come back again sometime.  :)





 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !

Yep, I know I'm late with the Christmas part - couldn't be helped.  At least I'm on time with Happy New Year !  lol !  Anyway - I hope everyone has a happy and prosperous New Year in 2016. 

What I'm looking forward to - Seeing our new grandson again, colder weather soon,  making beads and more beads, learning and practicing new techniques at the torch, a less stressful year. 

We were in Missouri for the holiday's and witnessed the flooding caused by all the rain in about a 4 day period.  It rained continuously for at least 3 days where we were visiting and obviously in other parts of the state.  As most know, I-70 was closed at Hwy. 79, in both directions for about 12 hours due to water over the road !  That just doesn't happen !  It didn't happen during the '93 floods even !  We lived in Missouri in 1993.  As we found another route to the airport, we passed MANY rivers and streams that were at the road, ready to go over the road.  One did, on Hwy. 50 at Union, Mo.  going west.  Thankfully, we were going the opposite direction on 50.  At the Arch, the river is at 44 feet we heard and in 1993, it was at 49 feet and at the Arch's steps.  This is ALL from rain.  Only rain in just a matter of days.  In 1993, it was from several months of snow melt and rain.  Incredible.   

This past month has been an interesting one.  I did get a new press.  A cute little guitar press and I love it and had a lot of fun playing with it the first week I got it.  That was what seems like ages ago but in actuality was only a few weeks ago.  Am ready to play some more.  :)  Photo's to come just below.  It took some searching to find this press but finally did.  So far, the guitars are simple with no real designs added but that's coming.  I just wanted to practice using the press so that's what I did.  I also found a little elephant press I had forgotten about so tried that as well.  The little critter really is cute !  Will explore more.  :) 

That's all for now.  Time to get my day started and get some more catching up done !  Thanks very much for coming by !  Come back again sometime.  :) 

Come on over to my Facebook page at:  ALL MY BEADS  to keep updated.  You can also find beads, OPB's, silk cord and jewelry all for sale.   

I still have a sale going on in my Etsy shop.  Come on over and check it out.  Click on the photo's to the right of this posting.  Will take you directly to my shop. 

Since My Last Post...............................

It's been a long few weeks with no torching and still I can't breath out of my nose.  Feeling better, just can't breath.  Ugh.  Since no beads were made, I have no brand new photo's to post - except a few of beads I "re-did".  Photo's below. 

Since my last post, the time fell back and it took everyone a week to fall forward !  lol !  Time for that tired tradition to end.  No need for it to change at all anymore. Leave it at Spring Forward.  More sunlight in the day means healthier people. 

Since my last post, I noticed not as many folks have stopped in here.  I am guessing that has to do with my removing old, outdated posts about Kumihimo.  Can't help it.  That "art" has moved far ahead of where I was when I made those posts.  So, bye bye. 

Since my last post, I got a couple new "toys" to play with.  I did try one out last week and LOVE it.  Can't wait to use it more.  It's a masher that mashes absolutely perfectly  parallel compared to any other masher out there.  Pricey but worth every dime.  Second toy is a press or mold that came from Germany.  Can't wait to use it either.  

Since my last post, I I've cleaned up/out my bead stash.  It was a long time coming.  BOC got a nice box full of almost 300 beads and a nice person overseas got a nice boxfull of beadies !  :)   

Since my last post, the weather is changing dramatically however not like it should be.  Instead of getting cooler and STAYING cooler, we are getting temps in the 70's !  For pete's sake, it's NOVEMBER !  The leaves are covering the ground and still falling and it's still in the 70's !  Very little color in the leaves I'm guessing because we had very little rain all summer.  Yet, we have been getting TONS of rain the past 2 months.  Go figure.  

Since my last post, I've cleaned up my desk, my torching area and my silk cords are better organized.  

Since my last post, I've added OPB's (other peoples beads) for sale on my Facebook page.  Destash Beads For Sale  I've had these beads for MANY years, never used any of them so they need to find new homes.  Send me a message over there if interested in any of them. 

Promised eye candy photo's.  Enjoy ! 

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


 

Beads - Beads - Sick (you know like, " Duck, duck goose ! )

I know it's the same ole' same ole' but it's what I do and love doing.  Still, the last week and a half it's been no beads, no torching I should say, nada.  Sick and more sick is the way it's been at our house.  Yuck.  Still feeling it but starting to ease up.  What bothers me is within 48 hours of going to the doctor, who INSISITS everyone MUST come in every 6 months whether or not we need to, I was sick.  Yep, went in healthy and 2 days later, sick.  This is just ridiculous.  I need a new doctor.  Hard to find one that's even likable where we live.  Anyway, that's the last time I do that.  It's happened before.  After going to the hospital once for a mammo.  Within 48 hours, sick.  It's crazy.  Doctors offices and hospitals are for sick people.  We need places to go to if we are NOT sick and just need an xray or bloodwork done, we can go and not have to worry about what strain of flu we're going to catch or when will the cold kick in - or worse.  No, I'm not a clean freak or sterilize everything freak, I just want to be able to go into a doctor's office and feel at ease that I won't get sick.  lol !  Yeah, I know, it ain't gonna happen.  Oh well............

I am getting a few things accomplished this weekend.  Finally getting my bead bowl cleaned out.  Have a nice little bowl going for BOC.  It's been a long time I sent in any beads and it's about time to get moving on it.  Back to making at least one bead each torch session for BOC kids.  I know they need them.  They always do.  It also means I'll get back into sculpting a little again.  I love to sculpt the little dino's I've done in the past and teeth.  Those are fun to make.  So that is my mission - at LEAST one bead per session for the kids.  :)  The few photo's below are what I have done in the past for them.  Fun stuff. 

I am anxious to get back on the torch.  So what's new right ?  lol !  Can't help it.  Looking forward to trying something I've never worked with before - gold leaf.  Have used silver foil, leaf and powder many times but never gold.  Mainly due to the cost.  That stuff is EXPENSIVE because it IS real gold.  And we all know how much gold is per ounce these days.  So, will be very careful about using it.  First, I'm going to "build" a little tool that will help me work with it better.  A fellow lampworker posted a free tutorial on how to make this tool on her blog here Hot Glass Chick's Blog .  It will hold the gold leaf in one place in order to make it easier to use.  That stuff just literally flies away.  This tool will keep it from doing that.  So if you're a beadmaker and have never seen this, check it out.   Well worth the pennies you'll invest in it.  :)  Thanks to Shawnette for sharing this.

 

Time for me to sign off for now.  Thanks for coming by.  I hope you come back again soon !   Have a great week ! 

Cool - Crisp - Autumn Air = Making Beads !

Indeed it does !  Equal making beads that is.  This is the time of year when I can and do make beads ALOT.  At the torch most every single morning.  I love the fall weather leading into winter.  Winter is THE BEST time of year for me.  If only I could live in a snowy area, I'd be in heaven !  lol !  The colors of fall are what inspire me.  When I went to bed last night, all I could think about was making fall color beads.  And that color palette is more wide open than people might think. 

Fall and winter color palette's are truly wonderful with so many deep, rich and vibrant colors to choose from.  Think of the changing of leaves on trees in the fall.  Rich oranges, bright yellows and reds, soft and mutted browns and tans and green in just about any shade you can imagine.  Even purples are considered fall and winter colors.  There is a website that's pretty much indispensable for color combinations.  Here's the link  http://design-seeds.com/  and as you can tell it's called Design Seeds.  You can get inspiration in your email daily if you choose.  I was doing that for a long time until I took a break from making beads.  I'm starting it up again as there are times I do need that inspiration.  I am one of those people that I can try to make the same color combinations and sometimes I do however I have found that when I do, I get very bored and most of the time the beads just aren't the same.  I am no good at "production" work.  Anyway, fall and winter colors are the prettiest in my book.  I feel "at home" when making them.  Don't get me wrong, I love bright colors too.  Oh and of course blues and reds..........oh brother, I admit, I pretty much love all colors BUT fall and winter colors truly are my favorites.  

So onto some eye candy.  I have been busy at the torch lately but did manage to remove myself from that torch for a few mornings last week.  Life gets in the way of torching mojo sometimes.  lol !  The days I did torch were mostly test beads.  Trying different color combos and playing with my new toys too.  :)   I did get a few sets done along the line. 

         This first set I love !  Made on one of my new toys called the Baroque bead shaper.  LOVE !  This set has 3 graduated sizes of the baroque shape with donut spacers.  The color is actually 2 fairly new glass colors and each rod is a mix of two colors.  A good size set to be sure.  This is available on my Facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/AllMyBeads

This set is quite organic.  With chocolate brown, silver, ivory and turquoise all swished, swirled and twisted about so it has no set pattern . I like that. :)  Sorry but this one is not available but I can make more !  This one I wouldn't mind redoing at all.  This sort of  technique is always fun to do.  You can contact me on my Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/AllMyBeads if interested. 

Yes, I'm pushing my Facebook page.  It seems to be the way these days.  So come on over and check it out. 

I am having a sale in my Etsy shop.  EVERYTHING expect the hand dyed silk cords is on sale for 15% off !  Come on over and do some shopping !  The link to my shop is on the right.

Time to start my day.  Thanks so much for coming by.  I hope you come back again soon !

Information Please

Hello to one and all !  This weeks post is simply put, all about information about this and that.  Probably not going to be very long post but hopefully some fun and info about my little corner of the world.  :)

First of all, I am hosting a giveaway over on my Facebook page.  Click All My Beads Facebook  to go directly to my Beads page and LIKE my page.  Once I reach 100 LIKES on the PAGE (not on a post) then I will be hosting the giveaway and will post what the giveaway prize will be and the rules.  Don't worry, the rules won't be a hassle to deal with.  lol !  Some fun little game or something.  :)

My Etsy shop listings are finally dwindling down.  Slowly but surely.  Just an FYI - If you want anything over there, please shop now.  As all of the listings expire, I am not and will NOT be relisting any of it EXCEPT for the hand dyed silk cords and bellflower beads/headpins.  You can check out my Etsy shop HERE or click on any picture to the right in my Etsy shop.

With the heatwave still in full force with temps in the high 90's and with heat index temps of over 100 degrees, I'm still unable to sit at my beloved torch and make glass beads.  sigh.   Even very early in the morning it's still in the 70's with 100% humidity (we live near a huge lake).  Just can't justify opening that window to draw in back up air and heat up my work area anymore !  lol !  With a kiln set at garaging temp of 950 degrees to 960 degrees and the heat of the torch PLUS humid outside air, UGH !  Really not worth the impending heat stroke it will cause me !  lol !  So, I sit and wait for the cool.  sigh.  It'll come.  :)

Still no inclination what-so-ever to make, design, create jewelry.  Not one iota of creativity either.  What's up with that ???  lol !  Usually summertime, when I can't torch, is the high point of my jewelry making.  Not this summer.

Very soon I will be updating some posts I've made in the past.  One in particular, tips and tricks for using the bellflower press.   If there are any other posts you'd like to see updated or revised, please leave me a comment below.  :)  It won't show up immediately but it will be posted.  :)

Below are just a few of my favorite photo's saved from the web. 
I don't know the photographer or even remember where I got the first photo but isn't the color amazing ! 

Just for fun.  I LOVE Snoopy.  One of my all time favorite characters.

Think Snow !  :) 

Ok that's it for now.  Thanks so much for coming by !  I hope you come back again very soon. 

 



 

Summer Days

Ohhhh man is it HOT and humid out there !  I hibernate during these hot days of temps in the 100 degree range - with and without heat index !  Today's high - 105 with heat index.

Because of the heat, no torching.  It's just too hot to melt glass.  I'd melt right along with the glass !  lol !   With the torch going and the kiln parked at about 950 degrees the torching area is almost the same temp as it is outside plus the hot air coming in the house.  Nope, can't do it.  So the beads you will see are ones that were made before this Hades heat set in.  :)

Jewelry - well, it's just not there yet.   Such is life.

I do have a few bead pictures I can show so here goes.
This first set is more fun with that new press I have.  I love making beads with it !  This particular set is made with some new frit I have and includes a few donut shaped spacer beads with it.  Love the fun colors in the frit and I really have fun cutting !  lol !
This press is one reason I can't wait to get back to the torch when it cools down.
White base with fun colors in the frit. 

These round beads are fun to make too.  Round with sparklies added in then lightly encased in clear so the sparklies have some depth to them.  All transparent colors except the lilac which is almost transparent.  ;)  More of these will come about too later on.  

I finally bought some glass to add to my supply.  I haven't bought any glass to melt in a very long time so there was a bit of sticker shock involved.  Prices have increased dramatically compared to the last time I bought any which was probably a year or so ago give or take.  And honestly, there's just no reason prices need to be so high.  It's a total ripoff but nothing any of us can do about it - if we want to melt glass.  That whole scenario is for another day.  All I know is, my glass will last a bit longer since I don't torch during the dog days of summer.  Think SNOW !  LOL !

I can't remember who took this photograph but it was taken in the Smokies and posted on the Great Smokies National Forest Facebook page HERE.  It's so gorgeous and perfect to help one cool down on this nasty summer day.  Go to their page if you're on Facebook and check out all of the fabulous photograhers that post there work.  Amazing stuff.

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