Two New Floral Glass Lampwork Beads

Two new florals for the Fraser Valley Bead show.  The first one is a Sunflower on a base of Reichenbach Antique Green - a very expensive glass, with not much to show for itself.  I like it, but not at the price they are asking - it has what looks like minute bubbles and a sparkle of some sort inside.  Pretty, but I think I will just stick with a pale green Effetre glass next time.

The second flower I can't remember the name of - someone help me.  For some reason I keep wanting to call it an Echinacea flower?

New Beads

The first two sets are made with a lovely odd lot aqua colour glass by CIM (Creation is Messy).  I love how it has paired so well with the pink roses and white dots. 
The third set is one of my French Tablecloth series.  So named because of all the blue and yellow tablecloths I saw when I was in the south of France several years ago visiting a friend who lives there 10 months of the year.
These three sets can be found in my Etsy shop.
Thanks for looking!

Definately Obsessed!

Yes, I would definately say I am obsessed with making these floral rounds.  Since our glass group challenge, it seems like I have done nothing but florals - and can't seem to stop.
I think my favourite so far is the front one in the middle picture.  It's very pastel with pale pink flowers and pale blue accent florals - I may have to keep it for myself.
Some of these will be cored, and others with smaller holes will be wire wrapped.  I am trying to get stock together for the upcoming Kitty Coleman Woodland Gardens Art and Bloom Festival, http://woodlandgardens.ca/index.html  held two weeks from now in Courtenay, B.C.  It is an outdoor show, so I hope the weather gets a little warmer, or we will all be wearing our winter woolies.  It usually coincides with the blooming of the rhododendrons, but this year it has been so cold that everything is late - so I don't know if we will be seeing many blooms.  If you happen to be in the area, drop in - it is a fantastic show (if the weather cooperates).

Giveaway over at Pretty Things - and a new bead

Lori Anderson of Pretty Things http://lorianderson.blogspot.com/ is giving away the above book (she is so very generous!).  You must leave a comment on her blog and a way for her to get in touch with you to enter  the give away.   If you blog about it on your blog, then you get another chance - sounds good to me!
The winner will be drawn on Tuesday May 10, so get on over there.

I just can't seem to stop making these new florals (new to me anyway).  I love the soft spring like colours that I am doing them in.  After making so many bright and vibrantly coloured beads over the winter, I am enjoying working in a softer pallet for a while.  I am sure I will change back in a few weeks - I'm so fickle!

PS - this bead is sold.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Challenge - Encased Florals

Our glass group here on Vancouver Island is called Island Fireflies.  At the last meeting, (which unfortunately I was unable to attend), the hostess gave us our monthly challenge, which was encased florals.  I have not done these for a few years now, and never was able to do them very well at all.  So I got out my class notes and class beads from a class I took wth Alexx Cheng, just after I started beadmaking.

All the beads start with a layer of filigrana (just like Alexx showed us).  The first bead at the top is one of the first I made this last week, and is made with just a single layer of 4 petals.  I got bolder (2nd picture) and then made the flowers with two layers of 4 petals each.  Then (3rd picture) I threw all caution to the wind and made the flowers with 5 petals on the first layer, and 3 on the 2nd layer - and just for good measure I added small plunged accent flowers - whew!!  This last bead I made on a large mandrel and have put bead caps on and cored it, so it just slips onto a chain.  I am really pleased with my progress with these encased florals, and am definately going to be making more.  These will not be for sale in my Etsy shop as the shipping will be more than I allow for in Etsy.  They are quite big beads - focal size - and will not fit through the 2 cm slot allowed by Canada Post for the inexpensive Light Packet shipping.  However if anyone is interested in purchasing one, please email me and I will give you the particulars. (jperala@shaw.ca)

Well, I am off to the studio - have a great day everyone!