Playing With Glass

What have I been up to lately. Well the kiln has been hotting up and glass has been cooking.

The last few months have had some really hot weekends so I have not really wanted to take the risk of getting the kiln on. This weekend I did.

I have so neglected my handmade radical glass store and thought I better get some new creations on board.

This time I had a play with some 22k gold decals in flowers and butterflies. Last time I tried these the kiln got to hot and the gold just burnt away.

Well I kept a good eye on the temperature this time and please with how the glass fused together.

New Creations In My Store

As I am getting more confident with my kiln I am trying different molds and glass.

Just lately I have been using a small round mold, half filling with glass frit. I then have 30 little round glass pieces. From these small glass 'buttons' I was able to create ear studs, bobby pins and cuff links.

I have now been able to list a few cuff links and ear studs in my Etsy store http://radicalglass.etsy.com the bobby pins will be listed shortly.

For My Darling Daughter

I thought I would play around with my glass and attempt some letters in dichroic. I started with the letter 'K' as my daughters name is Kirsty.

Well this one was a success and is now put away for my daughter for Christmas. I am so pleased with it and hoping she will like it.

A Bit Of Colour

From my last batch that was created in my kiln I must say these 2 have been my favourites. The beautiful colours just bring a smile to my face - happy colours!
Both pendants can be found in my Etsy store - Radicalglass.

This Weekends Batch

Wow I am totally pleased with the way this little batch came out.

A few awesome pendants, stud earrings and maybe a couple of cuff links."doing the happy dance"

You should see a few on these in my 'crazy' glass store, radicalglass.

Most of these are going to be labeled up for my up and coming exhibition at Glenbrook, NSW, Australia. You can check out some more exhibitors at mountainmakers blog.

Fresh From The Kiln

Well sort of fresh from the kiln. Actually came out of the kiln last weekend but the weather has been rainy and gloomy and dark when I get home from work that I haven't been able to photograph them. I do hate taking photos in artificial lighting.I just love these colours and the fairies are so cute.

These lovely pendants can be found in my new store - radicalglass.

A Buddy In Mind

Spotted these crochet balls in the local craft store and straight away thought of my team mate and buddy Designsbycher. She has such a love of crochet and felt that these are just for her.
Great comment from EmotionalOasis "Pic looks like bewbs". Now looking at them I totally agree. So the title is apt 'An Ode To Cher' or should this be 'An ode To Chers Bewbage"???

What Do I Do With This Lot

The cabinet is complete and full of beads, findings,gemstones, etc. I have about 2 drawers that are empty and awaiting my next bead spend.

Now the problem. I thought the men of the house would be fighting over the boxes but there they sit, empty on the dining table.

Hmmmm! One way of solving this problem is ....... Buy MORE beads....

What a Set!

I absolutely adore this matching necklace and earrings.

They wouldn't have been possible without the gorgeous handmade lampwork beads by MyCabinCreations. Just click on the link and check out the array of lovely lampies.

Both contain royal blue lucite beads with the earrings having the added touch of filigree bead caps and silver tone bicone spacers. The chain for the necklace is put together with 100+ patterned silver plated jump rings.

And yes I have gone blue again!!!

Click on my pictures to see these beautiful creations in my Etsy store.

A Beading Mess

This must be a beaders worst nightmare. A whole box of sorted beads falling on the floor. Must have been thousands of 4mm bicones.

I am sure it took me at least 4 hours to pick and sort them out again in their relevant colours. Sitting on that cold wooden floor really helped to get a numb bum. As for the silver headpins a few of them still remain in the grooves of the floor.

Another thing for my "to do list" - buy a handheld mini vacuum cleaner.

My Entries Are In

Two challenges, two entries.

My entry for the Wedding Challenge can be found here and the entry for the Spring 08 Beading Challenge can be found here .

Just sit and wait now.

Good luck to all that entered.

Wedding Challenge

The 2008 Wedding Challenge sponsored by Etsy street teams: JET (Jewelry on Etsy team), EtsyFAST (Fiber Arts Street Team) and Etsy Greetings.
The challenge - to create a piece that would be a perfect fit for Autumn and John's wedding event. Design for the wedding, reception or the honeymoon - the choice is yours. **Please see challenge rules below.

**Wedding Challenge Rules**:

1. One entry per participant

2. Participant must be a member of one of the following street teams: Jewelry on Etsy Team (JET), EtsyGreetings, or EtsyFAST.

3. Each participant must post ONE picture of their entry in the Wedding Challenge flickr group by midnight (EST) on April 19. http://www.flickr.com/groups/711212@N21/

4. The following information MUST appear in the TITLE and TAGS for each entry posted to the Wedding Challenge Flickr group (using the exact words listed in single quotes).a) The street team the participant belongs to: 'JetTeam', 'EtsyGreetingsTeam', OR 'EtsyFASTTeam'b) The category of the entry: 'Jewelry', 'Paper', OR 'Fiber'




And here is my entry. Made from glass pearls, silver grey glass beads and beautiful flower designed clasps which act as part of the creation.

Do I, Don't I???

Well I have signed up for the Lava Jewelry Spring 08 Beading Challenge . Got my beads just over a week ago and toyed with many ideas. Easter Friday was spent putting the beads together and I came up with this........

I am very pleased with the end result but not too sure about the photos. I have until 1st of May to enter the pics..........

New Spring Collection

I know here in Australia it is Autumn but I am still a Pom at heart. Spring is upon the UK which gave me inspiration for my new collection - wedding jewelry and flower necklaces.

The flowers are made with FIMO polymer clay add them with crystal jug beads (2nd Pic) or faceted glass beads (1st Pic) they make a delicate spring time addition to any ladies wardrobe.

Gorgeous Artisan Lampwork Beads

Take a look at these gorgeous lampwork beads. Put together with silver spacers and swarovski crystals they make an absolutely dazzling and elegant pair of earrings.

Similar Artisan lampwork Beads can be purchased from http://wwwcalumeydesigns.etsy.com/ .

New Collection

Just had to show off my new collection. Just made and just launched on Etsy.com A lady at my local beauticians inspired me as she was struggling to find effective jewelry at a reasonable cost for her oncoming wedding. Firstly I made a clear/white necklace with matching earrings just for her.





Then came the idea of experimenting in different pastel colours. So along came the pink and the blue. Both the pink and blue special necklaces are now listed on my Etsy shop.

Made from Czech Crystals and Glass Pearls finished of with a flower patterned sliding clasp they make a beautiful and economical piece of wedding jewelry.

New items in my Etsy shop

At last I have found some time to make something different and eventually get them listed on my Etsy shop. Even though these items are matching they are available in my shop as separate items. I have described them as an English Tea Set. This idea came from the lady in the shop where I purchased them. As I am a Pom living in Australia the description must have popped into her head when she heard me talk. I just fell in love with the blue and white terracotta beads immediately then proceeded to search her shop looking for other beads to go with them.