Curved Beads to Show You !

Finally I can show you some of the beads I made during the Curved Bead Workshop last weekend.  I am extremely happy with this one and the one below which I am wearing right now !

I very simply strung it on silk cording and used a matching bead as a button closure.  I love this one too.

Below is the blue one that I think turned out stunning as well.  Thank goodness for great glass colors.  This one is an alabaster blue (which I'd never worked with before)  I did have to burn off some soot in a more oxidizing flame because I naturally tried to boil it to death before realizing it doesn't have to be THAT hot Suzanne.  Despite me, it came out of the kiln alive and kickin' it.

I think I'll have a great time making many more of these in the future.  It was a fun class.  I also learned to make a puffy bead (hollow bead) with a blow hose and hollow mandrel with a hole in it.  A new technique to me as well.  Show you more of those later.

Hugs - gonna hit the hay... xoxox

Suzanne

New Depth - Focusing on 3D

I'm focusing on depth in my beads these days.  These are a few of the results.  I think it's getting better.  I'm happier with them at any rate.  The clear one was an experiment with silvered glass murrini and the yellow an experiment with a ribbon technique I'm working on as the result of a tutorial by Michael Barley.  The murrini is the result of a tutorial from Astrid Reidel.

I hope you enjoy my experiments.  Thank you for stopping by.  xoxox

Suzanne

Beads for class tomorrow - ;o)

Tomorrow, Sunday, is my one day workshop at "The Mandrel" with Laurie Nessel, to learn to bend beads.  I made these to have something to bend.  It was harder than I thought to actually make beads this long.  Each is approximately 3" in different thicknesses.  I'll be really happy if they all bend like they are suppose to.  I'll post them again once they are bent and we'll see which are the favorites.  

Cross your fingers for me.  ;o)

xoxox

Suzanne

Zebra Finch Rescued by Suzanne and Yogi !

Yogi and I rescued a Zebra Finch yesterday after he mistook our window for a portal. Sat with him until he regained his composure - prayed for him "don't die little bird ! don't die".  After about 15 minutes, he was knocked out cold,  he flew to a nearby tree to sit for a while longer before he carried on with his day. His coloring was absolutely beautiful !

Leaf Set - Remember to B R E A T H.

I've had this pattern in my mind for quite some time.  All but the little border on the bottom of the focal bead.  It seemed to be the finishing touch for the design.   I'm working on the stringers to become even slimmer and slimmer.  As it is - the second I begin to lay the black stringers down on the hot glass I start holding my breath.  I suppose I could eventually pass out.  I'd better put my yoga into the equation and remember to B R E A T H !  Just   B R E A T H !  After all, It's just a bead...right?

Hugs
Suzanne

Yesterday's Work - Astrid Riedel and Michael Barley techniques

 Yesterday's work

I ordered Astrid Riedel's murrini tutorial and had a go of it yesterday.  Her lentil beads are always so extravagantly gorgeous.  I think it went pretty well.  I also had another go at the ribboning technique I learned from Michael Barley which Astrid also uses magnificently as well.  Thank you both for so generously sharing through your tutorials.

So, what do you think?

Hugs and Kisses
Enjoy
Suzanne

Sets - Matching the XLarge Lentils Multi-Colored L Lentils

Yesterday I concentrated on making a multi-colored smaller yet still pretty large lentils that would incorporate into any of the XLarge Lentil Focals that are being sold separately in my Etsy Store.

The smaller lentils are very festive as a multi-colored set.  Each is equally valid as a focal as well.

The transparent gray and white XLarge lentil above is very interesting in that the pattern is showing through on the opposite side of the bead.  I like it.

Thanks for peeking.

Hugs and much love to you today.
Suzanne

Collage Friday's Work - Enjoy !

I can really see this pattern developing in to something quite fabulous.  I've been searching for my inner truth in my artwork on the beads.  This just may be the beginning of it.  I can't wait to get to the torch now everyday to see what pattern will develop with the use of my new design.

I think Batikadoodle!  Enjoy !

Smile a lot today.  Make somebody else feel the love. You will receive back 100 times what you give away.

Hugs
Suzanne

Batik Series - Suzanne's Art Glass

Good Morning everyone !  What a beautiful day in Sunny California.  Sun shinning brightly already at 8:30am and new beads out of the kiln.

This is a new design I'm working on called Batik.  I'm very excited about it because I've not seen it on anyone else' beads.  I'm going to continue working on it getting the lines thinner and thinner so it looks very delicate.  The WOW factor!

Yes!  I'm working on the WOW factor...Yay!  Hope you like them.  Going back to the torch and practice practice practice.  PPP

Thank you for stopping by and please leave a comment.  I love to hear from you on this journey to becoming a master bead maker.  I'm dreaming big and living on purpose !  ;o)

Love and Hugs
Suzanne

This song sent me into a joyful tizzie !

Enjoy and have a great day !

Just for You today !

Love

Suzanne

More Lentil Shaped Beads !

These came out of the kiln this morning. How fun. But, the most exciting thing of all is that I've learned more about my camera in one day than in the five years I've had it. To get crystal clear pictures of my beads without having to photo shop them is just amazing. I learned about setting the white balance, the ISO and tons of other things I knew my camera would do but me and manuals just have never been friends.

I'm the type of person who learns by watching someone else do it. Gabe (my darling son) took the time to point some things out to me so that I would be able to check my settings every time I sit down to photograph my beads. Thank you Gabe. That got me on the website of my camera and able to understand what in the heck the manual was talking about.

Viola! I think these pictures are the best I've ever taken. Adding my name to the photo and trying to think up a name for each bead were the most difficult things I had to do. Yay !!!

Thanks for looking and let me know what you think of my improved photo skills. Love you.

Hugs

Suzanne

Lentils Collage - Saturday's Work

I'm totally hooked, probably for at least a couple of more days on these large lentil shaped beads. There is just so much you can do with them. I had no idea what I was missing. They are measuring about 1 1/2 inches across for a fantastic focal beads for a necklace.

I hope you like them. I figured out how to make a collage out of the photos! Yay Me...

Hugs and many kisses! Enjoy... Suzanne

Lentils Lentils Lentils - Love'n 'em

A week ago, if you told me I'd be making lentils til they came out my ears I'd have said "You're Nuts - I find making Lentils problematic".  Yet, now, I'm so excited about them I just love it.

I don't know what happened, but all of the sudden, I'm not having any trouble with them at all.  I'm lovin' the shape and able to correct what doesn't always meet with my perfectionism.  Not to say they are perfect.  But, in my world, filling the press is monumental when I don't end up ruining the bead in the process.  Here are some beauties that were hatched from the kiln yesterday.  Tell me what you think.

23918IQZF

 That's it for today... Have a good one.

Hugs
Suzanne