Make it a handmade Holiday!

On Artfire this week, Moonlight Sonata.

These were recreations of my bead designs that were published in the September 2010 issue of Bead Trends Magazine!

The original set of beads has been reserved for purchase by a client, so based on a number of requests for additional sets the 2 below are offered.

Moonlight Sonata
Materials: CiM, Effetre and Double Helix Glasses

Starting with an inner core of CiM Hades, a darkest black opaque glass, these beads were generously sprinkled with a custom blend of Double Helix silver infused frit.
After reducing the beads to bring out the beautiful colors of blue and green, each bead was encased in Effetre clear to capture the opal-like shine of the silver glass and was shaped into the flat tab shape.
To bring out the true bling of these beads, hand-drawn dots were scattered on these beads and reduced to bring the golden shine to the surface. 

Set #2 has 7 flat tab beads measuring 17mm to 22mm

 

Set #3 has larger beads for those looking for sizes measuring 21mm to 24mm

This week on Ebay, closing Dec 5th

Spanish Leather and Aurae
This set is NOW SOLD
Materials: Effetre and Double Helix Glasses

This 11 bead set is a base of Effetre Spanish Leather, a limited edition red
coral glass, with Double Helix silver infused shards and dots of
Double Helix Aurae glass.

Love it for winter as it is rich and luxurious...

Fire Embers
This set is NOW SOLD
Silver Trails Series # 39

Materials: Effetre, CiM Glasses and 99% Fine Silver

This fiery set of 20 Silvertrail beads combine the various
red, orange and amber hues wrapped with 99% Fine Silver Wire.

Hues include Effetre Spanish Leather, Light Amber, Rootbeer,
CiM Pumpkin and Lipstick Unique #1.

These colors will bring light and warmth to your winter jewelry designs.

Trio Colors
This set is NOW SOLD
Silver Trails Series # 40


Materials: Effetre, CiM Glasses and 99% Fine Silver

This unique set of 20 Silvertrail beads combine the various
red, sepia transparent and dark gray hues wrapped with 99% Fine Silver Wire.

Hues include CiM Lipstick Unique #1, Sepia and Charcoal.

Silver Rose Selection
This set is NOW SOLD
Materials: Effetre and Double Helix Glasses

This 9 bead set is a selection of various combinations of Effetre Rose Quartz with
Double Helix's silver infused glasses, KA-457, Clio and Aurae.

The result is golden pinks with striations of hues, glittery accents and
mother of pearl portals encased under clear glass.
With the variety of bead shapes, there is lots of possibilities for beautiful jewelry creations!

Andraste
Goddess Bead Series #62
This set is NOW SOLD
"Celtic myth name of a Briton goddess of victory, meaning invincible"

Materials: CiM, Effetre and Double Helix Glasses

This set of 13 goddess series beads were created on a base of CiM Maple
with layered dots of Effetre Dark Ivory and Effetre Dark Chocolate. Double Helix's silver infused Olympic Rain storm under each encased glass portal.

This set also includes 6 spacer beads of CiM's Maple.
Highlights of DH Aurae silver glass create the bling for this beautiful storm beads!

Hemera
Goddess Bead Series #63
This set is NOW SOLD

"Greek myth name of the primeval goddess of day, daughter of Erebos
and Nyx, and sister-wife of Aether, meaning day"

Materials: CiM, Effetre and Double Helix Glasses

This set of 13 goddess series beads were created on a base of Effetre Rose Quartz
with layered dots of Effetre Dark Ivory and CiM Hades. Double Helix's silver infused
Clio storms under each encased glass portal.

Highlights of DH Aurae silver glass create the bling for this beautiful storm portal beads!

BONUS: Metal Spacers are included in this set.

 

End of November- The push for holiday shopping is ON!

"Black Friday, the U.S. kickoff to the year’s biggest shopping season, officially takes place this week, the day after American Thanksgiving.
Cyber Monday – the Monday after U.S. Thanksgiving that has become the e-commerce equivalent of Black Friday – is gaining momentum. This year, 17 per cent of consumers plan to shop online that day, compared with 13 per cent last year, according to Consumer Reports."
Source: Globe & Mail

Not sure if you are ready for the busy last minute shopping, but certainly check out all the great gift ideas at the online artisan sites, including Artfire and Ebay!

To all those that have support artisans in 2010, thank you!

Here are a few new items posted over the past week!

Golden Peace
Silver Trails Series #38
This set is NOW SOLD
Materials: CiM Glasses and 99% Fine Silver

This mini set of 10 Silvertrail beads were created on a base of
CiM Peace, a pure white opaque glass.

By wrapping 99% Fine Silver Wire around it bead, a reaction occurred to
fume a golden glow to the wire at the points were it adhered to the white glass.

French Petitpoint
This set is NOW SOLD
Materials: CiM - Creation is Messy Glasses

This set of 17 dotted beads and 6 matching spacer beads combine the
shades of CiM Creamsicle Unique #2, French Blue and Peace.

With these 23 beads, there is lots of options for glass art jewelry with this set.

Organix Sedona Pearl
This set is NOW SOLD
Materials: Effetre Glasses

This 18 bead set was created with combinations of Effetre
Sedona Pink, Pearl Gray opaque and clear glasses.
Sedona Pink is a muted glass that has striations of rose, mauve and ambers.

The bead set was etched to bring out the organix stone like finish.

Psyche Flowers
This set is NOW SOLD
Materials: CiM and Double Helix Glasses

This 7 barrel bead set was created on a base of CiM Butter Pecan, creamy opaque beige, on which blossoms of Double Helix silver glass, Psyche Light were placed, reduced
and encased in clear glass.
Dots of Double Helix Aurae highlight each flower centre and along the shoulders of the beads.

BONUS: 8 Champagne 5mm & 4 Light Rose 4mm crystal faceted
glass spacers are included in this set.

Verdandi
Goddess Bead Series #61
This set is NOW SOLD
"Old Norse myth name of the Norn of the present, meaning necessity"

Materials: CiM, Effetre and Double Helix Glasses

This set of 13 goddess series beads were created on a base of CiM Chai, a limited run light brown opaque glass with layered dots of Effetre Dark Ivory & CiM Hades.
Double Helix's silver infused Gaia glows under each opal like encased glass portal.

This set also includes 6 spacer beads of CiM's Chai.
Highlights of DH Aurae silver glass create the bling for this beautiful portal beads!

On Artfire:
Bits and Pieces

Aqua Silver beads PLUS 2 FOCALS
Materials: Effetre, Double Helix Glasses & 99% Fine Silver 

This set of encased beads created on a base of Effetre Aquamarine. Some beads have a selection of stringer trails of rare Double Helix silver glass known as Psyche Light or wraps of 99% fine silver wire and encased with Effetre Pale Aquamarine glass.

Within this set are two focal beads--- a heart and a flat tab bead.
Metal spacers are included in this set as noted in photo.

Silver Trails Lampwork-Set of 5 Lightest Plum Beads
Materials: CiM Glasses and 99% Fine Silver

A cheerful set of 5 beads were created on a base of very light CiM Plum Unique 511658-3 glass wrapped with 99% Fine Silver Wire.

Bullseye Glass- 6 Light Fuschia Spacer Beads
Materials: Bullseye Glasses

A bright set of 6 spacer beads were created with Bullseye's Light Fuschia Pink glass.

Commission Sets:
Moonlight Sonata- Bead Trends Original Set

This bead set is the original set that was published in the national magazine, Bead Trends - September 2010 issue.
In the magazine, these 7 beads were fashioned into a bracelet, along with light beige faceted crystal spacers and a simple Sterling silver toggle clasp.
The purchaser has the choice of using the bracelet as it was designed, or refashioning the beads into their own creation.

Source: Bead Trends- Sept 2010 Issue

Materials: CiM, Effetre and Double Helix Glasses.

Starting with an inner core of CiM Hades, a darkest black opaque glass, these beads were generously sprinkled with a custom blend of Double Helix silver infused frit.
After reducing the beads to bring out the beautiful colors of blue and green, each bead was encased in Effetre clear to capture the opal-like shine of the silver glass and was shaped into the flat tab shape.
To bring out the true bling of these beads, hand-drawn dots were scattered on these beads and reduced to bring the golden shine to the surface.

BONUS:8 round 5mm light beige crystal faceted beads are included in this set.

Moonlight Sonata #2

This bead set has beads averaging 17mm to 22mm hole to hole.

Moonlight Sonata #3

This bead set has beads averaging 21mm to 24mm hole to hole.

 

Have a great week!

Friday's series - Inspired By "Magical" by Jason Samfield

Magical 

Originally uploaded by Jason A. Samfield

When I saw this photo by Jason on Flickr, it immediately reminded me of a new glass that I have had so much fun experimenting with over the past few weeks.

CiM' - Creation is Messy's Razzleberry.  I first tried it simply as some spacer beads (on a previous blog post) and the colour is a translucent hot pink... very pretty.

Pink glass is traditionally a color that seems to react unusually to silver infused glass, and the result is not always a good one.

Razzleberry is one of those reactions that I fell in love with!

Golden Razzleberry

This set is NOW SOLD

This set is a base of Razzleberry with shards and dot of Double Helix Aurae glass.
The result is a golden kissed amber over the pink...

Love it for winter as it is rich and luxurious... not the pinks we see in spring and summer!

Be inspired today!

This week is unusual for me...time away from the studio

Well it is official, I am taking a week away from everything to spend with the family.... away from the daytime IT career and away from my glass studio.

I think this is the first time in 3 years... and the first few days were hard to get used to..

Had a great time on Saturday catching up with some bead colleagues at the Toronto Bead Society fall show. Great to see Sue Hood (Glassharp), Stephanie (the Dixon Chick) and Diane Henry-Baratta. Stephanie and Diane were the first to teach me how to crochet beads and wire together at last year's show. That was lots of fun!

Sunday, took in a show... Rock of Ages.. I will have to say, it was great, the music was a fun ride through the eighties and the cast didn't take themselves so seriously that it was full of laughs too. I have to give a shout out for Aaron Wampole as Lonny. For those in Canada, Aaron was a runner-up in Season 3 of Canadian Idol, so it was great to see him in this production as it proves that a little break and lots of confidence can get you into show business.

Although I am away from the studio, there were a few new items posted last night on Ebay, including  a set of orphans, so be sure to check them out. Click on the icon at the top right of this page.

Psyche Streams
This Set is NOW SOLD

Materials: CiM and Double Helix Glasses

On a base of dark grey, CiM Charcoal, streams of limited edition silver infused

glass, Psyche Light, flows around each round bead in hues of blue and golden metallics.

The glittering shine from these beads is amazing!

Get a headstart on your holiday jewelry designs with this set of 10 bling-filled beads!

Simplicity
This Set is NOW Sold

Silver Trails Series #37

Materials: Effetre Glasses and 99% Fine Silver

This simple and classic set of 21 Silvertrail beads combine the hues of Effetre

Light Ivory and Light Turquoise glasses wrapped with 99% Fine Silver Wire.

Mneme
This Set is NOW Sold

Goddess Bead Series #60

"Memory. Greek myth name of one of the three original Muses, daughters of Mnemosyne."

Materials: CiM, Effetre and Double Helix Glasses

This set of 11 goddess series beads were created on a base of CiM Charcoal

with layered dots of Effetre Dark Ivory. Double Helix's silver infused

Psyche, Trautman Art Glass Absinthe and Cobalt Blue transparent

storm and shine under each encased glass portal to create hues of blues, greens and purples.

This set also includes 4 spacer beads of Effetre Lapis Blue.

Highlights of DH Aurae silver glass create the bling for this beautiful portal beads!

BONUS: Metal spacers are included in this set.

November Orphans
This Set is NOW Sold

Materials: CiM, Effetre, Trautman Art and Double Helix Glasses

This set of orphans are the various color and bead trials over the past 6 weeks.

Lots created with silver glass and 99% fine silver wire!

Lots of shapes and sizes including barrels, hearts, flat tabs and rounds.

With 103 beads, there is lots of opportunity for many jewelry and art ideas.

New Friday Blog Series - "Inspired By"

All of us, at times, find ourselves looking for inspiration. That "muse" we seek as artisans sometimes seems to wander a bit too far from us. This week has been "one of those times" in which based on the presssures, of the outside world, can cause each one of us to refocus on why we are artists in the first place.

I sat in my studio surrounded by 100's of glass rods waiting for that "inspired" moment where a palette of colors would magically come together. Normally that is how I work. I never plan to make specific beads in each studio session, but rather channel the muse instead.

Since I received CiM's unique rods to try, I have wanted to create special sets to show off both the beauty of the colors as well as the compatiability of the colours within a color palette itself.

I subscribe to a number of non-bead blogs, from cooking, photography and even a bridal blog. You may ask why a bridal blog, having been married for over 10 years. This particular blog is more than just a site for brides... it is truly an inspirational site for those who design and create.

It is simply known as The Inspired Bride by blogger Maddy (Susser) Hague.
This Friday's blog posting is based on a set of simple dotted beads inspired by a color palette Maddy placed on her site on Oct 29th, click here to see the palette:

Color Card 102: Marigold Yellow, Pearl, Stone Gray, Warm Charcoal

 

These simply dotted beads were created from the following CiM - Creation is Messy glasses:

Creamsicle Unique #2, Hippo Grey, Adamantium Grey 

and Effetre Pearl Grey.

Check out new Inspired By blog postings each Friday here at Pendragonfyretales!

Smiles,

D.

November 2010 Issue of Bead Trends!

I have been very fortunate to be published again this month in Bead Trends (my designs have been 7 issues in 2010 so far) and I love how they displayed my beads and bracelet design! If you haven't checked out this magazine, click here for their blog!

Here is the details on the beads:
Starting with a base of CiM Adamantium, a warm grey brown opaque glass, Double Helix silver infused murrini were placed on both back and front of each flat tab bead.
Double Helix Triton were added to create the dotted pattern on each bead and reduced to bring the shine to the surface.
The spacers are also Triton, so the bling is WOW!!

Below is the full page spread!

Til next time! enjoy your week!
D.

November is Finally Here!

Here are the new sets on Ebay and Artfire for this first week of November!


Plums and Pink
Silver Trails Series #36
This set is NOW SOLD
Materials: CiM Glasses and 99% Fine Silver

This dainty set of 21 Silvertrail beads combine the hues of plums and pink wrapped with 99% Fine Silver Wire.

Hues include CiM Desert Pink and Plum Unique 1 & 2.




Neptune
This set is NOW SOLD
Materials: Effetre and Double Helix Glasses

On a base of purple transparent, Silver infused frit, Kronos & Gaia swirl under a clear encasement of Double Helix Aether to create these 7 faceted pebble beads.




Hebe
Goddess Bead Series #59
This set is NOW SOLD
"Greek myth name of a goddess of youth, derived from the word hebos, meaning "young.""

Materials: CiM, Effetre and Double Helix Glasses

This set of 13 goddess series beads were created on a base of CiM French Blue with layered dots of Effetre Dark Ivory. Double Helix's silver infused Psyche and OK381glow under each opal like encased glass portal.

This set also includes 4 spacer beads of CiM's French Blue.

Highlights of DH Triton silver glass create the bling for this beautiful portal beads!

BONUS: Metal spacers are included in this set.




Golden Luna
Goldstone Bling Series #1
This set is NOW SOLD
Materials: Double Helix Glasses and Goldstone frit

Double Helix silver infused glass, Luna is the canvas on which Goldstone frit was generously sprinkled. Each round bead was encased 2 times with Double Helix Aether clear glass to capture and magnify the bling!

Get a start on your holiday jewelry creations with this truly glittery bling round beads!

BONUS: 16 round 5mm Goldstone round beads are included in this set.





Silver Peridot Selection
This set is NOW SOLD
Materials: Double Helix Glasses

Selection of silver glasses including Triton, Aurae, KA 357, TE315, OK381 were combined, reduced, struck and encased for this set. Several of the beads have surface decoration of silver glass that has been reduced to bring out the shiny bling to the surface.

BONUS: 13 Peridot 4mm crystal faceted glass spacers are included in this set





Out of the Ordinary II
This set is NOW SOLD
Materials: Double Helix silver infused Glasses

Selection of beads made from Double Helix silver glasses including Terra II, Triton, Aurae, Psyche Light & Aether clear glass.




Frit Beadies

Materials: Effetre Glasses and Custom Glass Frit Blend
This eight bead set of dotted beads seem to glow from the inside out!

Starting with an inner core of Effetre 221 Lavender pastel, a light purple pastel, these beads were sprinkled with a custome mixed frit of garden colors and just a little goldstone frit mixed in.

BONUS:8 Aqua colored 4mm faceted glass crystal spacers




Turquoise with Goldstone Frit Cubes

Materials: CiM Glass and Goldstone Frit

Starting with an inner core of CiM Fremen, a turquoise\sky blue pastel opaque glass, these beads were generously sprinkled with Goldstone frit.

BONUS:9 round 5mm Goldstone beads are included in this set.