I am so excited to share with you that my beads have been featured in this month's Bead Trends magazine.


I fashioned them into a simple bracelet for the publication and I am so pleased how the feature turned out!

In her editorial, Editor in Chief, Tatia Meyer writes "it was love at first sight when I first saw Darlene Collette's handmade lampwork beads".

That compliment has made my month!!

Bead Trends is available at Michael's, Indigo (Canada) as well as other major magazine and book stores. If you are interested in learning more or subscribing online, click the magazine photo above.

Hope you like them!

Silver Trails
Materials: CiM Glass & 99% Pure Silver

These simple yet elegant beads are based with the darkest black glass
by CiM,known as Hades. On each bead, 99% pure fine silver wire was
wrapped and gently melted into thread-like trails.
These beads are perfect for jewelry designs for the office or
elegant evening out!

Winter's Knight

"Enter an enchanted realm of ghosts, dark angels and winter magic with a
musical ghost story that follows the path of a mysterious knight as he wanders
the ruins of a haunted cathedral. "
Nox Arcana

This set of beads is inspired by the name of Nox Arcana's musical album,
Winter's Knight.

Materials: CiM, Effetre & Double Helix Glasses

This set of 24 beads emerged from the blackness of CiM's Tuxedo glass,
on which Double Helix' Psyche shards were applied.
Like magic, this silver infused glass is normally purple, turned shades of
metallic blues and greens! It seems to transform from simple hues to
the colours of a valiant medieval knight.
To complete the fantasy, droplets of CiM's Gunmetal was added
to complete the armoured look!

A spectular set of one of a kind beads!

Saranyu
This set is NOW SOLD
Goddess Bead Series #12

"Hindu myth name of the goddess of dawn"

Materials: TAG, Effetre and Double Helix glasses

Decorating these 10 Effetre Dark Chocolate based beads are encased
stormportals of silver infused ASK Silver Cinnamon & Double Helix glass,
Terranova. Terranova glass strikes to hues of pink, orange and purple like a
beautiful sunset sky. Sealed with raised Dark Ivory dots finish this set.

Complimenting the set of goddess beads are 12 spacers
(6 dark chocolate and 6 dark ivory)

Terra
Goddess Bead Series #13

"Roman name of a goddess of earth, meaning earth"

Materials: CiM, Effetre and Double Helix glasses

Starting with a base of a rare Burnt Sienna glass, CiM Pumpkin Unique,
CiM's Canyon de Chelly and Effetre Dark Ivory were combined with
Double Helix silver infused Double Helix glass, Terranova was struck and
encased to capture the shades pink, orange and purple like a beautiful
sunset sky. Sealed with raised Dark Ivory dots finish this set.
Included are 10 spacer beads in Pumpkin Unique (6)
and Canyon de Chelly (4).

Mielikki
Goddess Bead Series #14

"Finnish myth name of a goddess of forests and healing, whose symbol is the unicorn.
The name was derived from the word mieli which can have many meanings
(desire, feeling, heart, mind, mood, pleasure), but its central meaning is mind"

Materials: TAG, Precision, Effetre & Double Helix glasses

Decorating these 11 Effetre Lemongrass based beads are encased storm
portals of various silver infused Precision, TAG & Double Helix glasses,
including Absinthe, Olympic Rain, Gaia, Electra and Black Pearl.

Juno
Goddess Bead Series #15

"Meaning -Vital force. Roman myth name of the wife of Jupiter and mother of Mars.
She is equivalent to Greek Hera, wife of Zeus, queen of the gods."

Materials: TAG, Precision, Effetre & Double Helix glasses

Decorating these 12 Effetre Lemongrass based beads are encased storm
portals of various silver infused Precision, TAG & Double Helix glasses,
including Absinthe, Olympic Rain, Gaia, Electra and Black Pearl.
Included in this set are 4 spacers, Dark Ivory(2) & Green (2).

Green Tea Princess
Materials: Effetre & Double Helix Glasses

These dainty beads are created on an Effetre specialty glass named Green Tea.
Double Helix's Aurae, silver infused glass decorates these beads with
scrolls, sprinkles and dots and reduced to bring out the golden glittery hues.

Included are 6 green tea spacers to complete the set fit for a princess!

Patriot Waves
This set is NOW SOLD
Materials: CiM & Effetre Glasses

A simple yet colorful combination of a lovely brick red, CiM Lipstick Red,
Effetre Pearl Grey and Blue Adventurine Filigrana. These swirled flat tab
beads are coordinated with small flat tab spacers in each of the
three glass colours.

D.

Dark Chocolate & Sandstone
Opposites Attract-Series #8
This Set is now SOLD
Materials: Effetre Glasses

Another study of opposites attract in this set of 16 simple dotted beads. Eight beads in Dark Red Chocolate Brown opaque with Sandstone dots and the other eight with the opposing combination.

Bonus: 4 dark Red Chocolate brown & 6 Sandstone spacers are included in this rich and earthy set.

The Deep Sea
This Set is now SOLD
"Beyond the sea, beyond the sea, My heart is gone, far, far from me;
And ever on its track will flee, My thoughts, my dreams, beyond the sea."
Thomas L. Peacock

Materials: Effetre & Double Helix Glasses

On a base of pale Aquamarine, Double Helix silver infused glasses, including Triton, Gaia, Psyche & Aurae, were sprinkled, reduced and encased to create these sea-inspired spheres. Coordinated with pale aquamarine spacers, this set captures a bit of the sea in each and every bead.

Erato
Goddess Bead Series #10
This Set is now SOLD
Erato is the Greek mythical name of the muse of poetry, derived from the Greek word arastos, meaning "lovely."

Materials: Effetre & Double Helix Glasses

Decorating these 7 Effetre Lichen based beads are encased storm portals of silver infused Double Helix's Olympic Rain & Ekho. Sealed with raised dots of gleaming Ekho finish off this set along with glittering Aurae spacers (6) which are included in this set

Poseidon
This set is NOW SOLD
Materials: Effetre & Double Helix Glasses


"Poseidon was a very vengeful and moody deity.
When he was angry he would strike the ground with his trident and cause
earthquakes, rough seas, shipwrecks and drownings.
Calm seas were manifested when he was in a good mood."


Inspired by the mythical god, this set of 24 beads were created with a base of
Effetre Light Aqua. Loaded in these beads are lots of Double Helix silver
infused glass in Triton frit, Electra stringers and Triton accents. Encased in
Effetre Marine Wave, each of these beads was created as a unique pieces
within this one of a kind set.

Gypsy
This set is now SOLD
Materials: Effetre Glasses


An abundant set of 23 beads on a base of Yellow Ocher sprinkled with
Multi-coloredfrit glass creating hues of blues, greens blacks and whites.

BONUS:
24 metal spacers are included in this set

Aphros' Seafoam
Materials: CiM & Double Helix Glasses
This Set is now SOLD

"Aphros was the god of the sea-foam who, along with his brother Bythos,
carried Aphrodite ashore at her birth. "


Inspired by the mythical fish-tailed centaurs, this set of 21 beads is a simple
combination of CiM Kryptonite, a beautiful seafoam glass and Double Helix
silver glass god, Triton, in shards and dots.

Steampunk Geometrics
This set is now SOLD

Materials: CiM Glasses

"Steampunk is a loose term used to describe an extraordinary fashion trend.
By remixing styles from the Victorian era, classic Goth, gypsy, and industrial fetish,steampunk fashion creates a unique and beautifully disturbing look."

This 19 bead set is inspired by the industrial infleunce of Steampunk.
On a base of the darkest green-almost black,CiM Slytherin Unique,CiM's Gunmetal glass was used as the detailing glass creating rivet looking dots, welding lines and gunmetal spacer beads.

Terranova Barrels
This set is now SOLD

Materials: Vetrofond & Double Helix Glasses

This set of 10 barrel beads was created on a base of creamy Vetrofond light
Ivory opaque glass. A generous sprinkling of Double Helix's, silver infused
striking glass, Terranova was carefully added. The glass was swirled and
when struck in the flame, the beautiful feathered silver glass
bloomed in blues and greens.

Pebbles from Heaven
This set is now SOLD
Materials: Double Helix Glasses

In a combination of Double Helix Aurae and clear glass, this set of 12
pebble beads captured the pinks, blues, creams and purples that the
silver infused glass can bloom. Each Pendragonfyre bead is hand-formed,
never using a press or mold, making each a unique piece of each set.

Psyche Vines
This set is NOW SOLD
Botanical Series #4
Materials: CiM & Double Helix Glasses

This Olde English inspired set of 13 beads were created with a base of
CiM Stoneground. Handpulled microthin stringers of Double Helix's Psyche
were used to create the botanical scrolls on the surface of the 8 flat tab bead
in this set. To complement the botanical beads, Stoneground flat tab spacer
beads are included in this set.


Rhiannon

This set is now SOLD
Goddess Jewel Series #9

"Rhiannon is the welsh myth name of a moon deity, and legend name of the
mother of Pryderi, probably derived from the Old Celtic title Rigantona,
meaning great queen."

Materials: Effetre, & Double Helix Glasses

Decorating these 7 Effetre Sage Green based beads are encased storm
portals of silver infused Double Helix's Olympic Rain & Triton.
Sealed with raised dots of gleaming Triton finish off this set along with
Sage Green spacers (6) are included in this set.

I keep hoping each time mild weather comes around that maybe - just maybe - we are at the end of winter.

My hopes were dashed this past Friday, I took a vacation day from the dayjob to spend in the studio. Although I got lots of things done, I opened my studio door at the end of the day to +25 cm of snow. It definitely looks like winter now. Light fluffy snow everywhere.

Despite the amount that appeared on the ground, the lovely winter wind had gently moved all the snow into a 4 foot drift just outside my studio door. The wind created the drift in a semi-circle that cleared a path from my kitchen backdoor and allowed me to walk in my sneakers to my studio.

Now if that is not a sign from above to make more beads, I don't know would be.

Clients have requested that I create a few more "royalty" inspired sets, goddess bead sets and Opposites Attract color studies.

Enjoy these new sets, and have a wonderful Feb 1st!

Smiles,
Darlene

Niamh
This set is now sold
Goddess Jewel Series #7

"Irish/Gaelic myth name of the daughter of a sea god, meaning beauty, brightness".

Materials: Effetre, Precision 104 & Double Helix Glasses

Decorating these 8 Effetre Sage Green based beads are encased storm portals of silver infused Precision 104 glass, Giovanni Garzoni and Double Helix's Triton. Sealed with raised dots of gleaming Triton finish off this set fit for the goddess, Niamh. Sage Green spacers (9) are included in this set.

Mohini
This set is NOW SOLD
Goddess Jewel Series #8

"Hindi myth name borne by Vishnu when in the form of a woman, meaning to bewitch".

Materials: Effetre, Precision 104 & Double Helix Glasses

Decorating these 7 Effetre Sage Green based beads are encased storm portals of silver infused Precision 104 glass, Giovanni Garzoni and Double Helix's Psyche. Sealed with raised dots of gleaming Triton finish off this set.

Sand & Coral
This set is now sold
Opposites Attract Series #9

Materials: Effetre Glasses

An example of opposites attract in this set of 16 simple dotted beads.
Eight beads in Coral opaque with Sandstone dots and the other eight with the opposing combination.
Bonus: 4 Coral & 2 Sandstone spacers are included in this beach inspired set.

A couple new focal beads to be listed on Artfire later this week.

These were created with the test batch from Double Helix. It is simply known as TE 315.
Double Helix describes it as: Ekho prototype, reduces and strikes.
I am certainly getting different result with this glass based on whether it is on a coloured or clear glass base, time worked and amount of reduction used.
The "mother of pearl" luster is beautiful!

Haven't named the beads yet, so here is the preview!

Hot from the kiln!

I was experimenting with a couple of ideas I had with silver glass and here are the results!

First I tried another test batch from Double Helix It is simply known as TE 315.
Double Helix describes it as:Ekho prototype, reduces and strikes.

Next up, using a storm technique on flat tab beads!

Starry Night
This set is now sold
Materials: Effetre & Double Helix Glasses

A stormed mix of Gaia, Psyche, Triton, Nyx and Olympic Rain were
swirled on a base of Effetre Cobalt Blue transparent glass. The bead
was then reduced and encased with Double Helix Aether.
Shaped into flat tabs, each was dotted with 5 sparkling stars in opposite corners.

Cobalt Blue spacers complete the midnight sky among the stars!

A closeup shot:

Lapis & Silver Barrels
This set is now SOLD
Materials: CiM & Effetre Glasses & 99% Silver

Handpulled stringers of 99% pure silver and Effetre Dark Ivory flow and
scroll over the base of CiM's Lapis blue and Dark Ivory.
Each barrel shaped bead was then gently wrapped with 99% pure silver
wire to create the melted droplets on each of the 7 beads in this set.

Additionally, these colors both self strike and luster altering the
transmission spectrum of the glass. Many color outcomes are
possible with this unique color chemistry."

This first set is called:

This close up shows the "mother of pearl" luster that was created on
each of the main beads in this set.



Coral Glow
Materials: Double Helix Glasses

In this 3 bead set, KA-357 was used as the base and was reduced.
After encasing the bead in Double Helix clear glass, Aether,
the bead was shaped into a cube.

Although it is difficult to photograph, the "mother of pearl" luster is very
evident. This glass struck to a coral orange through the
steps of creating these beads.