turninglight

Silk ribbon necklace

2009-04-23T11:15:00.000-07:00

I have been lampworking again, I have been replenishing my stock of silver core beads, here are a few examples..

And making most of my beads tube shaped at the moment!

I'm really pleased with this, I love the watercolour silk and blues are my favourite colours..

I love the amazonite milky minty colour stone!

I am trying to build up my stock for the 'handmade' fair in Winchester Guildhall (July 5th), getting nearer all the while!

exhibition at the library

2009-03-28T05:08:00.000-07:00

I have just set up my beads and jewellery in the gallery at the library in Winchester. I was a little worried when I turned up to see four shelves to fill, but hopefully I had the right amount of things, and now I need to make some more in case they sell!

I also have the Winchester handmade fair coming up in July, so I need to crack on and get torching.. http://www.flickr.com/groups/handmadefairs/

My beads in Nemeton's necklace!

2009-03-26T14:17:00.000-07:00

I just spotted some of my beads in Lynn's beautiful jewellery, and earrings too, and they look fab, Lynn has made something really pretty with them.. :-)

The ones above are a bit similar, not the same as the ones Lynn has have a lovely pale pinky base..

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22319167

after the snow..

2009-02-08T04:50:00.000-08:00

I hope that's it for a bit! We did enjoy the two days off school, sledging at the park, but I don't mind if that's all we get for now. Not knowing how long it was going to stay on the ground, I went out and dug - from our car, down the drive, along the access road and out to the next road which had been tantalising me as it was clear and driveable! I was pretty worn out, but it got me out to Sainsbury's so I was happy.

I have started adding bits to my shop again, four pendants have gone on today and I need to add things like earrings.. I'm gradually building up stock and at the same time trying out new things.

Following a tutorial from a fellow FritHappener, I tried making these rings - great fun and I will definitely do some more! I also have been buying these beautiful silk cords from another member and these are my first trials..

warmer

2009-01-16T11:28:00.000-08:00

It is far more comfortable in my shed now the weather's warmed up a bit, and I've noticed it's already staying light longer in the afternoon. I fancied doing some really bright beads, and made another rainbow set!

Today I had another bash at the Luna which I haven't been able to get colours from so far - this time I dipped my flat tweezers in water, heated it up to dripping hot, and cooled with the tweezers, then warmed higher in the flame until glowing again, and did the tweezer thing again, several times. The two beads look very different to each other, but I'm really pleased as they have gone some lovely colours.. show you when it's bright enough to take a photo!

new year

2009-01-07T11:58:00.000-08:00

I had a break over Christmas, it was lovely and relaxing and going back to school and work has been difficult!

It was -7 in my shed yesterday morning, the pot of water on my desk and the bead release frozen solid! I thawed it in warm water, didn't seem to come to any harm.

Today I bought myself some legwarmers to wear in the shed and out at work - they were great!

I made some discs and barrels using Psyche and a bit of Triton, encased in plenty of clear - and this time I decided to go back to effetre clear just to see if it was all that bad.. well, it wasn't! It seemed easier to melt after the Vetrofond clear I have been using for ages, and it wasn't so bad at turning the silver gold coloured, so all in all I'm happy!

I was also very generously donated some boro glass to try, and when I have bought some welding goggles I'll give it a whirl! If it goes ok I will probably get myself a starter kit, especially as it has a book.

Christmas already!

2008-12-23T03:40:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how long it's been since I last wrote this.. the time just flies by! I am having a quiet day for once, perhaps I'll even get some torch time today :-)

I didn't do too badly in the christmas fairs, but not nearly as well as last year.. however, I have sold quite a bit since then, so I feel they have been worth it if only to get myself known.

I had a commission from a friend, all completed now, I had to learn how to make brooches and also silver core beads in the shape of a heart, which is trickier than it sounds! My first efforts looked nice but they had the same amount of glass above the hole as under, so they wouldn't stay the right way up. All sorted now, I'm thrilled with the results!

fairs over!

2008-11-19T11:08:00.000-08:00

I'm very lazy, I only did two! They went ok, although not as well as last year but I'm not surprised that people are being more careful.

I took along three mandrels this time, with glass on, in various stages of making a bead. It was very helpful, I could see their faces changing as they properly understood.. most people say they know what lampworking is, and they have a vague idea, but doing my flameless demo over and over, I realised just how many hadn't quite got it and I think it makes their purchase feel all the more special and unique to them.

I've spent some time restocking today, and putting a few beads up for sale.. here are a couple..

october already..

2008-10-05T03:17:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of things I've been making recently, more with making jewellery in mind (Christmas fairs approaching!) than being artistic and experimental..

I can't believe how quickly the time goes at the moment, busy with school, working at school, getting kids to do their homework, after school clubs, and at the same time I'm trying to stop myself becoming obsessed with trying to make a great bead for a competition!

I make one, which is maybe interesting, but I think it is technically flawed, then I make another which I'm very happy with technically but maybe a bit boring.. the more I try, the less I know what I'm actually trying to acheive! Plus, I haven't really got anyone who I can ask for their opinion, who would know what constitutes a good bead.

Maybe I should give trying a rest..

new glass

2008-09-10T05:36:00.000-07:00

The winner of the competition was Beadmonkey who suggested 'in the beginning' - it was a hard decision in the end with lots of great names!

I got a bit of new glass and I love the colours! The heart is 'kryptonite' from CIM and I think it's gorgeous..

I also bought myself a tool to make off-mandrel leaves, to go alongside my off-mandrel hearts..

bead comp.

2008-09-04T22:47:00.000-07:00

I'm giving away one of my beads (the one pictured above) - I really like the way it came out, but unfortunately it has a little hole on the front, so I thought I'd give it to the person who comes up with the best name for it! http://www.flickr.com/photos/53211004@N00/2825484998/

It certainly feels like autumn, doesn't it? I got up at 5.45 this morning and it was very dark.. soo tempting just to crawl back into bed again! I thought it would be very quiet on the bead front, but my silver core beads have been popular - I love making them, but I must make a few bead sets and focals for peeps to make jewellery in time for Christmas.. and I should really do some more jewellery myself!

not much beady time this summer..

2008-08-22T10:24:00.000-07:00

But, I have done a few and I'm really pleased with this set..

practising my 'rounds'

2008-08-07T06:49:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed myself yesterday morning practising round rather than 'doughnut' shaped beads - over time I have discovered that it's much easier to lay down a wider 'footprint' and marver it into a barrel shape, and then pile on enough glass to make a nice round ball rather than a narrow footprint and keeping on piling on the glass.. really we need piccies here.. how, I have no idea, except if I draw it on paper and photograph :-) might do that actually..

Anyway, here they are, I am rather pleased with them and may well be doing more soon unless my mind wanders again.. this lot are in my shop.

organic looking core beads

2008-08-03T02:49:00.000-07:00

I've been trying out mixing up my silver glass colours this week, and I love the results! I can't wait to get on and make some more..

starfish!

2008-07-25T00:18:00.000-07:00

I've been practising this shape - it's been quite tricky but I am getting the hang of it! I'm happy with this one, it's pale transparent aqua with dots of Triton which are reduced to make them shiny!

Also, I've been trying to do my core beads in colour themes so that they go together - here are three pinks.

and some blues..

rainbows

2008-07-17T08:48:00.000-07:00

Again! I do love making them though! I made one set, they were snaffled by someone who had been waiting for me to make some more, then I had more enquiries and made another set!

I want to try and do different things with rainbows, I've got some different ones on transparent cobalt blue which I'm just cleaning up to photograph - will show you in a day or so!

Hearts

2008-07-06T05:45:00.000-07:00

My youngest wants to give a heart pendant to the teacher as a leaving present, so I had a play and came up with these.. the purple one is for the teacher!

I've been featured!

2008-07-02T06:09:00.000-07:00

On this blog.. http://salutethemagpie.blogspot.com/

I'm very flattered, I love making the core beads!

cufflinks

2008-06-28T02:41:00.000-07:00

I have been asked if I make cufflinks several times, so I had a good old think.. I prefer the ones with chains, and also because I make beads there is always a hole going through. I didn't want there to be any links that could come apart, so no jump rings either. In the end, I started at the bar end, and soldered on a loop with some cufflink chain which has soldered links. The glass part is attached last.

I'm really pleased with the results, hope to make some more soon!

new toys

2008-06-20T09:58:00.000-07:00

pale emerald green!

Hi, it's been a while hasn't it? I have been to my first bead fair, at Wincanton in Somerset. We made a weekend of it and visited the caves at Cheddar as well, and had a thoroughly good time!

I bought some lovely new Triton Double Helix glass, which I love! And a heart mandrel which is great fun too!

Discs

2008-06-01T10:07:00.000-07:00

I've been making disc beads this past week, I made a few and they got larger each time! It's really nice working in my shed, I hadn't realised how much time all the clearing away had been taking, now it's all there ready to go!

what I made with my beads..

2008-05-19T08:41:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist using them to make some jewellery - they are for sale on my site.

Also, my shed is very nearly ready - yippee! I need to finish painting inside, and my lovely Dad is making the bench, then I'll start moving all my gear in! I will show some pictures when it's complete.

More beads!

2008-05-08T09:48:00.000-07:00

I have been playing with silver leaf today, and recently been using a lot of dichroic glass.. and dicovering that it varies quite a bit! Here are two lentils with raku and blue dichroic glass, available on www.turnedlight.com .

And some transparent aqua beads with the silver leaf..

Painting for Dad's birthday

2008-05-03T03:48:00.000-07:00

We gave this painting to my Dad for his birthday.. it's the towpath by a local river.. maybe I can find time to do some more painting - since I discovered lampworking a year ago, I have hardly picked up a brush!

My work in an Etsy treasury!

2008-04-27T09:11:00.000-07:00

Here's one of my bracelets in an Etsy treasury http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=41452 which was a nice surprise!

My shed is nearly lined now, I'll be choosing the paint soon and the floor needs to be put down, and I'll be able to finally leave all my glassy gear just laying around without worrying about putting it all away at the end of the day - I can't wait! My poor Dad has been very busy working on it..

Some of my recent beads - check my shop www.turnedlight.com !

Banner!

2008-04-23T11:03:00.000-07:00

I'm so pleased with this banner - actually, there were three great ones to choose from - thank you so much!

I have been struggling to get things to link up.. I'm a bit of a technodunce.. but it should be nice when it's finished!

New website!

2008-04-16T08:04:00.000-07:00

I have started up a new website called http://www.turnedlight.com/ and have spent a lot more time setting it up than I thought it would take! I also haven't got the hang of everything, so it will probably evolve a bit as I learn!

Remember the shed saga? Well, I'm having the same problems with lining it - my lovely Dad has cut and fitted the insulation for me, but the hardboard we ordered to cover it up arrived all wrinkled and warped, the day after we waited in all day for it. I do now know that it's ok in some cases, and that you can dampen it and try and flatten it, but this stuff is for lining the walls and needs to be flat like the stuff you see in the shops.. I enquired as to whether I can expect it to be mostly flat, and they said they were sending out another lot...

Well, that was another whole day wasted because they didn't turn up again.. nor have they turned up today..Aaaarrrggghh! When am I allowed to lose my temper?! And there's the smug 'you can't do a thing about it' smug you get from these guys, who, when I said as soon as they arrived that it had obviously been on the truck all night and got wet, replied 'it always looks like that'! Well, maybe theirs does, but I have seen hardboard before..

More silver cores..

2008-04-12T04:11:00.000-07:00

I have another set of five silver core beads, I love the delicate colours and I have also used dichroic glass in some for extra sparkle. I'm not really able to make beads for two weeks as it's the school holidays, but it does give me time to get some photographs taken..

shed stuff

2008-04-08T23:08:00.000-07:00

I'm really pleased with this pendant - it's lovely and chunky and smooth.. and it in the etsy shop, along with some other new items..

My insulation has arrived! Like the shed, it did not go smoothly - I waited in all day on Monday, only to get apologies in the late afternoon, so I was told my delivery would definitely be between 7 and 10 in the morning.. When did it come? At 1pm. I wish they had just said..

Anyway, we got a bit done in the afternoon, and I'm really looking forward to moving my stuff in!

Look - a rainbow!

2008-04-05T10:05:00.001-07:00

I'm so chuffed that I managed to pull this ribbon cane - the possibilities are very exciting! I used some to make these rainbow beads, but I'm thinking of using it on the surface next time, as the colours don't spread so much.. maybe I'll cut it into bits (if I can) and just lightly fuse them on the surface of a bead..

Big holes

2008-04-03T11:08:00.000-07:00

I must stop making beads for silver cores! I did these today..

My shed is finished!

2008-04-01T00:15:00.000-07:00

After about a month, and three different fronts, my shed is finally built! Now all we have to do is insulate it.. then it's my glassy hideaway!

A beautiful spring day!

2008-03-30T10:25:00.000-07:00

It's sunny and lovely in the garden. I made the flapjack - tasted lovely, but it was very crumbly! Any tips gratefully received! Maybe we just didn't let it cool enough..

Some more beads cored..

2008-03-29T10:27:00.000-07:00

I made these a little while ago, they are now finished with their silver cores.

I'm only writing a short post as I have to go and make flapjacks! Wish me luck, I haven't done them before (don't know why..)

Silver spacers

2008-03-27T10:51:00.000-07:00

I have bought a bracelet to display my own work, I'm keeping my favourites! I would have made the bracelet too, but I just haven't been able to find loose chain which is heavy enough.

The beads needed some spacers so I have made a few already. This one is made with two flowers I cast in silver and curved into a bead shape..

My lovely Dad!

2008-03-26T11:09:00.001-07:00

He has made me a lovely button mandrel, so that I can (hopefully!) make glass buttons! I can't wait to try it..

Also, I have been trying out making silver spacer beads to put between my favourite silver core beads.. I'm quite pleased with this one..

Easter!

2008-03-24T04:53:00.000-07:00

I was given a lovely egg, filled with choccies, and beautifully decorated!

It was really looking like spring, and we went to a local animal sanctuary and saw these guys..

And really enjoyed using my new camera to get nice close ups!

Easter weekend

2008-03-21T03:10:00.000-07:00

Well, it's lovely to have a few days off.. shame about the weather. I did some tile beads yesterday, all shaped by hand as I don't have a tile press, but that's not a problem as they have come out nice and chunky and it was good practice trying to getting the same size each time!

And another!

2008-03-19T10:39:00.000-07:00

I have turned my faux boro set into a leather necklace, it's chunky and smooth..

By the way, my shed still hasn't been finished.. they are bringing another new front next week, this is their idea of sorting it out in a hurry..

New necklace

2008-03-17T10:41:00.000-07:00

I decided to turn this set into a thong necklace - they are threaded onto a lovely thick (2mm) Greek leather thong, and I made little spacer coil beads in sterling silver, and as usual I have used sterling silver throughout.. I'm very pleased with it - it's really chunky and tactile..

Colour schemes -

2008-03-14T11:18:00.000-07:00

I find them quite hard - they sort of happen by accident! Mind you, most art seems to be like that, the harder you plan, the less things work out!

Malt loaf -

2008-03-13T04:18:00.000-07:00

I love it, with slices of butter! I had a really good time yesterday, trying out the faux - boro technique for the first time. Boro is short for borosilicate, or pyrex glass, for which I would need a much hotter torch ( maybe one day!) but this technique gives some beautiful results, and I'm very pleased with what came out of the kiln.. I have tried again today, but I'm not sure it went as well, I will find out when they have been annealed.

Faux - boro over rubino oro glass..

Horrible weather.

2008-03-10T10:42:00.000-07:00

It is really yukky out, I hope it isn't as windy as it was last night..

I have been making sets of beads - I suppose it's just something that comes with time, but I'm enjoying it! I love using my pillow press too ( the blue beads)

Cones

2008-03-07T00:02:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of cones for a challenge, it's not as easy as I thought, keeping the bottoms straight, and the tops even!
The front part of my shed arrived yesterday (they had got it round the wrong way previously) and they put it all together, it was looking good.. then the door wouldn't shut. Aaargh! The hole for the latch is in the wrong place and I'm fed up.. I expect that's another day of waiting in to come.

Necklace from a bracelet

2008-03-03T23:57:00.000-08:00

A friend called in at the weekend, and had a look at my beads, she asked me to turn a blue bracelet into a necklace for her, so I have! And I'm very pleased with the result..

Also, there is another pendant in the etsy shop, this time with a sparkly cz stone encased within it, and blue goldstone ribbons..

Wet Monday

2008-03-03T05:30:00.000-08:00

Sadly, we had to take Luke the rat to the vets, to be put to sleep.. I had given him antibiotics for a week, but he couldn't stand in the end.

This was him when he was a baby (the darker one at the front)..

Sunny Mother's Day

2008-03-02T04:08:00.000-08:00

It's beautiful out, but everyone is poorly..

I have been playing a lot with silver rich glass, like Double Helix , layering with raku and copper green and other interesting colours.. I will keep on - I may never get lovely bright colours all over with my hothead torch, but I have noticed I'm starting to get irridescent, rainbow - y touches however ghostly, and that's certainly a start! The subtle effects can be beautiful, but a complete pig to photograph!

My shed has arrived!

2008-02-28T01:59:00.000-08:00

I had my lovely shed delivered yesterday - they managed to get the door round the wrong way, so they have to replace the whole front next week, but I'm still thrilled with it! Now we need to insulate..

These are some sets of silver cores which are in the etsy shop now http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5297770
I'm really happy with them - they are a set of five unique beads, and I have put them on a high quality greek leather thong, which I have ended with sterling silver fittings (I just can't find good enough thong necklaces in the shops, so I make my own) so they can be worn on that or swapped to a silver core bracelet..

Also, there is a set of beads - that's right, I made a whole set without getting distracted, and I think they are gorgeous, with lots of depth.. they are called Purple Freckles!

February

2008-02-13T11:06:00.000-08:00

Hello - it's the middle of February already, and it has been really lovely and sunny.. I have ordered my shed which will be my workshop so I don't have to put all my glass away after each session! My collection of glass rods and other bits is growing and it's all getting a bit crowded!

Here are a couple of beads I've made recently - I have been experimenting and trying out new skills.

2008-01-08T12:49:00.000-08:00

I managed to put three new items on the etsy shop today, it seems to take me an age! I have more silver necklaces to add when I can. I was able to make some hearts today - I will put them on here when they are pendants! Also a butterfly, my first attempt and I really enjoyed making it.

New year, new camera!

2008-01-07T11:50:00.000-08:00

I was given a lovely camera for christmas, and I'm so thrilled with it - it can do super macro ie so close that the lens practically touches the subject! This is fab for photographing beads.. not only that, but it also does 'auction' shots so that you can get two ( or three or four) pictures in one frame as in the following pictures. I haven't really had much time making beads - two weeks off over christmas, but I am itching to get stuck in again!

Here are a couple I managed to do last week, playing with some frit which I also got for christmas!

Been busy!

2007-11-22T07:05:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't done this for so long - I have all sorts to do, as does everybody at this time of year. I have been making lots of beads and jewellery for friends and family recently - here's a set I'm very pleased with..

I've also been doing more pendants, I like the lentil press at the moment!

Shame about the light reflections - I will be trying to get a light tent in order to take better pictures, especially now that the weather has gone gloomy.

Hi again!

2007-11-01T06:42:00.000-07:00

Well, half term is over and the house needs a jolly good clean, which is why I'm on here writing this! The silver core beads are now being added to the etsy shop (see links) and I'm looking forward to my friday torching session tomorrow! I have made some more hearts, and will try and do quite a few because they are quite a popular theme.

Half term already!

2007-10-18T08:53:00.000-07:00

I have just completed a commission for a christmas present for three sisters - and I already have three more bracelets to make!

I have made quite a few of my beads up into pendants, but I am also leaving many as beads for others to put into their designs - if I can figure out how, it would be lovely to start up a gallery for other people's creations with my beads. I have so many things I would like to do!

Happy half term, if you are off next week!

Rainbows

2007-10-15T08:29:00.000-07:00

Hi again! I have photographed the beads that I made on Friday.. I'm particularly pleased with the silver cores.

I have also put on the photographic links for Etsy and Flickr as you can see on the right! ( I did have a bit of help!)

There are three more beads on Etsy today, here's one -

mist

2007-10-11T10:12:00.000-07:00

It was really misty and atmospheric this morning - I took this picture at about 7am.

I didn't make beads today - but I am looking forward to it tomorrow..

Rainy day - colourful beads!

2007-10-09T07:01:00.000-07:00

We have just been busy adding some more beads and pendants to the etsy shop (see links!)

I'm particularly fond of the carnival set - I think it will make some lovely jewelry, and the Sea spray pendant, which I wouldn't mind keeping for myself!

..It's Tuesday afternoon, the sun has come out, and I've just sold my black floral pendant!
This is how I have packaged it - hope they like it!

trying new things

2007-10-07T09:43:00.000-07:00

I have been trying out new things from my bead books, and tutorials which are posted by helpful lampworkers - I'm really pleased with the results, and have some ideas about developing the style.

I also finally managed to make some beads for pendants which I feel go with the bracelets I am making for a commission..

The light areas are silver leaf.

Autumn sun

2007-10-03T09:21:00.000-07:00

It's been a lovely autumn day, full of golden light..

After reading your kind comments, I have realised that I need to explain what lampworking is - I use a gas torch to melt glass, and because I am making beads, I wrap the molten glass around a metal rod called a mandrel. Then, the very hot bead needs to cool very slowly or it would crack, so I place them straight into a kiln, which heated to 530 degrees centigrade, and when I have finished for the day, I let it cool down very slowly.

Here's the kiln - I took the photo when it was new..

And some glass..

chunky pendants

2007-10-02T00:06:00.000-07:00

I've been experimenting with making pendants which hang nicely like the hearts, the holes are horizontal nearer the top.

photos

2007-10-01T05:31:00.000-07:00

It seems to take far too much time trying to get nice photos and messing about on the computer, I would much rather be making beads..

Here's a piccie of a bead from Friday's session - I thought it was cheerful for such a rainy day..

I also had a go with my new Messy Colour glass

It's encased with Vetrofond which is much nicer to use, clearer and sparklier (is that a word?!)

Friday - lampworking day

2007-09-28T04:47:00.000-07:00

This is one of my finished bracelets - I'm very pleased with the way it turned out - I have made another and wear it most days! I also made the toggle clasp myself - it has a hammered finish. This bracelet and two others are currently on the Etsy shop (see links)

This is just a photo I took in the car - I wasn't driving, by the way!

I tried my new glass today - it's baking in the kiln at the moment. One lovely green colour surprised me by going a yukky green - just like that slime that you can get in tubs for children.. I must find out if it was supposed to..

Cold!

2007-09-26T22:45:00.000-07:00

The weather has changed suddenly and I'm now wondering where my slippers are..

Here's what I've been doing this week.. Now available on the Etsy shop (see link)

Hi !

2007-09-26T09:12:00.000-07:00

Hello, and welcome to my new blog!

I live in Hampshire, England, and I make lampwork beads whenever I can! I also do a bit of silver work, and love to paint, so I expect those are the things I will be sharing on here.

I've just made a fresh batch of beads, and I'm quite excited about the pendant shaped ones - will be doing more of those I expect.

By the way, we actually got pears on our tree, and they're big! I can't wait!