Sunday, June 30, 2013

Are you ever stumped?

I sat with this set on my table for ages, and just couldn't come up with a name.
I knew the theme I wanted - something to do with moss, woods, trees, etc.  I ended up with "A Mossy Path" - eh, just doesn't really turn my crank, you know.  Anyone have any other suggestions?
 
They were another go at Heather Trimlett's 40 bead challenge - I got to 21 before I got bored.  The base glass is Pale Opal Yellow, and the accent is Fast Striking Terra.  It struck a little too fast, because very few of them kept some colour other than the mossy green.  A good thing I like green!  These will be split up into 2 or 3 sets and listed on Etsy after our glass group meeting on July 13th.  They are part of the monthly challenge for our group, so I want to do the "show & tell" thing with them.

Pale Opal Yellow & Fast Striking Terra

Pale Opal Yellow & Fast Striking Terra

Then while I was on the dots theme, I made up some nuggets.  I looked through all my glass and chose as many creamy type pastels I had, other than ivory.  A lot of them are CIM uniques.
Again I had trouble with a name, but the one image that kept running through my brain was "dice".  So hence we have "Shake, Rattle & Roll" for the larger set, and "Snake Eyes" for the smaller one.  That last name will probably put off a lot of customers - lol!

Shake, Rattle & Roll

Snake Eyes
These two last sets will be going into my Etsy shop shortly.

Hope you are all having a great weekend - and to my fellow Canadians, "Happy Canada Day" tomorrow!

Friday, June 28, 2013

New Peacock Feather Style Hearts

Wow - I didn't realize it had been so long since my last post.  Not a whole lot to report I guess - other than putting my back out 3 times in 2 weeks, travelling to the mainland for a doctors appointment, only to have it cancelled when I got there, and having to travel back - a whole day just wasted on ferries.  Also I had to have an x-ray done on my right wrist - it has been so very sore lately.  The x-ray showed "considerable wear and tear" according to the doctor.  I guess that means that I will have to figure out some way to show my pendants other than wire wrapping.  Hmmmm, maybe some of those interchangeable pendant hangers - anyone know of a good (and inexpensive) supplier?

I haven't been able to torch very much because of my back, but I did get a couple of peacock feather hearts done.  They are a very simplistic style heart, but I am quite pleased with them.

Peacock Feather Heart #1

Peacock Feather Heart #2

These beads can both be found in my Etsy shop.
Hope you all have a great weekend - it is a long weekend here in Canada - "Canada Day"!

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

A couple more Miss Emily beads

I have a couple more of my Miss Emily beads to show you - however these two are now happily on their way to a new home (special order).  I have another order for a Miss Emily, so I will be making a few more, and then when my customer chooses which one she wants I will post the other/s on Etsy.



Reverse side of bead above.
Thanks for looking!

Monday, June 17, 2013

Update on Heather Trimlett's 40 Bead challenge

I have only managed to make 10 so far in the 40 bead challenge. ( I blogged a couple of days ago about this challenge).  My back has been playing up and giving me grief, so my days have been spent with a hot pack, Ibuprophen and a book instead of glass, mandrels and a torch.  Hopefully today I will be able make some headway on the rest of the beads.

Here is a photo of what I have done so far.  I love the way the apricot yellow has struck orange on some beads and stayed yellow on others - and some have both colours.  I think this is one of my favourite summer colour combos.

Apricot Yellow and Light Turquoise.


Thanks for stopping in for a look!

Friday, June 14, 2013

The 40 Bead Challenge

Have you seen Heather Trimlett's 40 Bead Challenge?
I was browsing the internet yesterday and came across this great sounding project. Our glass bead group - Vancouver Island Fireflies - has a challenge each month, and this months challenge is masked dots.  Although the challenge from Heather Trimlett is not necessarily masked dots, it is along the same line.  I like how she challenges you to only use 2 colours, just dots, and use heat only - no tools, and to make 40 beads in this manner.  I think you are also supposed to try to make them all with a different design using only the dots.

I started mine this morning - so far I have made 10, and they are in the kiln cooling down now.  Apricot yellow with light turquoise.  I will take photos when they are cleaned.

However, for now, I will leave you with a picture of some other beads I made about 3 years ago.  Not quite following all the rules, but almost!

"French Tablecloth" made using 2 blues and 2 yellows.

Another version of my "French Tablecloth" beads, using 2 blues and
apricot yellow.

Thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Ribbon Roses

A few days ago I purchased a "Ribbon Rose" tutorial from the very talented Laurie Donnette.  It is a great little tutorial, clear instructions, well priced, and I am really pleased with the results.  For all you lampworkers out there who love florals, it is worth a trip to her Etsy shop to see all her tutorials.

Dark Pink Ribbon Roses set - can be found in my Etsy shop.


Well, I won't be doing too much this weekend - I have once again pulled a muscle in my back.  I was cleaning the shower - I knew housework was detrimental to your health!!

Friday, June 7, 2013

Spacer Beads - Made to Order!


I don't know about you, but I never have enough spacers when I am designing earrings, necklaces, etc.  So I have decided to offer them for order in my Etsy shop.  You get to choose the colour, or do a mix and match - your choice.  I will be updating the photos as I get more made showing the various colours available.  The spacers are average size at approx. 8 - 9 mm wide and approx. 5.5 mm hole to hole.  A veritable rainbow of colours is available - with the exception of purple.  All of you lampworkers out there know just how hard it is to find a decent purple.




I hope my wrist holds out! lol

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Tim Burton anyone?

Yesterday for some reason I felt like using just white, grey and black to make a couple of Little Miss beads.  As I was making them the image of Emily from the Tim Burton cartoon-type movie "A Corpse Bride" kept flashing in my brain.  So of course I had to call these Little Miss beads "Emily".
I hope you like them!

Little Miss Emily

Reverse side of above bead.

Little Miss Emil

Reverse side of above bead.
I really enjoyed just sticking to the white, grey and black - less choices to make.  I think I will try it again with various hues of just one colour.  Perhaps all blues, or all yellow/topaz.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

More Peacock Beads

I have some more peacock beads - this time named Peacock Tears.


This set is now in my Etsy shop.
I hope you have all had a great weekend.
Mine was not so great - put my back out yet again!!  However it seems to be getting a bit better (touch wood)!

Thursday, May 30, 2013

New Style of bead in the works.

I have been playing around with the idea of trying to make peacock feather-like beads.  These ones are round 3 - I will not be showing round 1 & 2 - lol!  I am quite pleased with how they have turned out - I really like the simplicity of the design.


Peacock Feathers
You can find them in my Etsy shop.

Monday, May 27, 2013

...and the winner is ........

Drum-roll please - and the winner is  Carol D!  Congratulations Carol!  Please email me your mailing address to jperala*at*shaw*dot*ca, and I will get this bead off to you in the next couple of days.
My husband and I are taking the day off - going for a mini vacation.  A drive and a wander with the dogs.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Little Missy in a Daisy and Primrose Garden

I have a couple of new Little Missies in my Etsy, and I am particularly fond of this one:

This bead has a variegated blue background, and she is wearing
a white dress with blue dots and a flower on it.  Her blond hair
is swept to one side and she is admiring one of the Primroses
 in her garden.

This is the reverse with 2 Daisies and a Primrose.  I have
added a ruffle and some raised dots on one side, and then
cut into the edge on the other side to balance off the design.
Thanks for looking!

Don't forget the give away!

Just a reminder - don't forget to comment on the post "I Changed My Mind", to get in on a chance to win a Little Missy bead!

Saturday, May 25, 2013

New Beads on Etsy

I have a couple of  Little Missy beads going on Etsy today, along with a larger set of the "Royal Purple" rounds.

Little Missy -  lime green with red dress

Woohoo - love this orange!

"Royal Purple" rounds with white floral and dot decoration
I hope everyone has a great weekend!