Back to basics.... Practicing for the perfect spacer bead!

Over the past few months, I have been so busy with life that stealing time at the torch has been a real balancing act!
Now that spring is on its way, it has been warm enough to work in the studio without building a full fire in the studio's wood stove.

As a spring tradition, I always like to revisit the basics of beadmaking... the spacer bead. Over the next few weeks, I will be offering some round spacer sets in bright spring colors!

Enjoy your week and add some bright colors into your world to celebrate spring!

All sets in this post have been SOLD.


Maraschino Cherry Rounds 
Materials: CiM - Creation is Messy glass

Created from CiM's Maraschino, a dense striated bright carnival red. The striations of transparent and opaque glass created depth and richness in each bead.

Poison Apple Rounds 
Materials: CiM - Creation is Messy glass

Created from CiM's Poison Apple, a dense and saturated opal green that appears almost opaque after working. Perfect for spring and summer 2013!

Tangerine Orange Rounds 
Materials: Effetre glass

Created from Effetre's Tangerine, a bright juicy orange.

Manasa - Dragonscales series#20

"Manasa is a Naga from Hinduism and is a goddess of fertility."

Materials: CiM - Creation is Messy Glass, Fine Silver foil and Val Cox Frit

On a base of CiM's Electric Avenue, an electric blue opal, 99% fine silver foil was added and layered with Val Cox Purple Rose frit. The combination was then melted into the surface and the beads were tumble etched for a smooth tactile feel. Each micro-drop of silver has taken on a shiny glow.

Hippolyte - Goddess Series #149

"Feminine form of Hippolytos, meaning "horse-freer." Greek myth name of the daughter of Ares"

Materials: CiM - Creation is Messy, Effetre, Trautman Art and Double Helix Glasses

This set of 9 goddess series beads was created on a base of CiM's Lapis, an opaque deep blue violet. Each goddess bead was then layered with dots of Effetre Dark Ivory, and combinations of Double Helix and TAG silver glasses, Kronos and Juno. The reaction has created portals that shift from golden cream to blues storms captured under each clear glass portal dots.
Dots of Double Helix Aurae, also adds a metallic sheen to the droplets on each bead.

English Garden
Materials: Effetre Glasses and Pendragonfyre Frit

On a core of Effetre white with an encasement of light grass green transparent. A generous sprinkling of custom blended Pendragonfyre frit was added and each bead was tumbled etched for a smooth tactile feel. Ten transparent spacers are included in this set.

Dragonscales Duo #13
Materials: Vetrofond Glass, Fine Silver foil and Val Cox Frit

On a base of Vetrofond rare Mauvelous, an creamy pale glass, 99% fine silver foil was added and layered with Val Cox Purple Rose frit. The combination was then melted into the surface and the beads were tumble etched for a smooth tactile feel. Each micro-drop of silver has taken on a shiny glow.

New Sets this week --- Two with Rare CiM - Creation is Messy colors!

I like to stop every so often and look through my glass stashes and pulling out rare editions that I have been hoarding!
This week, I played once again with my cherished CiM Halong Bay and Razzleberry!
I will be sad when my stash is gone as I LOVE these glasses!

All beads within this post are NOW SOLD.


Golden Blue Moonstone
Materials: CiM-Creation is Messy and Double Helix Glasses

This glittering set of 13 beads was created with a base of CiM's no longer available Halong Bay, a blue moonstone, on which Double Helix silver glass, Aurae, frit was added and reduced to glittery goodness!
Perfect for spring and summer jewelry designs!

Delia 
Goddess Series #148

"Greek myth name borne by Artemis, referring to her place of birth, meaning "of Delos."

Materials: CiM - Creation is Messy, Effetre and Double Helix Glasses

This set of 8 goddess series beads was created on a base of CiM's rare Limited Run, Razzleberry, a transparent pink that shifts to opaque when reduced. Each goddess bead was then layered with dots of Effetre Dark Ivory, and combinations of Double Helix silver glasses, Kalypso and Aurae. The reaction has created portals that shift from blue to magenta pink captured under each clear glass portal dots. Dots of Double Helix Aurae, also adds a metallic sheen to the droplets on each bead.

Azhi Dahaki 
Dragonscales Series#19

"Azhi Dahaki was a three headed Persian dragon."

Materials: Vetrofond Glass, Fine Silver foil and Val Cox Frit

On a base of Vetrofond rare Mauvelous, an creamy pale glass, 99% fine silver foil was added and layered with Val Cox Purple Rose frit. The combination was then melted into the surface and the beads were tumble etched for a smooth tactile feel. Each micro-drop of silver has taken on a shiny glow.

Woodland Silvered Frit Rounds
Materials: Bullseye Glass, Pendragonfyre glass frit and 99% fine silver foil

This set of silvered foil and frit beads was created on a base of Bullseye Woodland Brown opaque with a generous sprinkling of Pendragonfyre custom blended glass frit.
Perfect for spring and summer jewelry designs!

Spring Rose
Materials: Effetre Glass

This set of 15 round beads was created with a base of transparent pink rose Effetre glass, known as Rose Quartz. These beads were tumble etched for a smooth tactile feel.