New CiM Color for Spring 2017 - Peat Moss

The final glass of the CiM - Creation is Messy Spring 2017 palette is another green called CiM Peat Moss. 

It is a transparent earthy green with an olive tone and is a unique color within the COE 104 lampwork palette.

In this set below I paired it with Double Helix Triton silver infused glass shards that are carefully applied to the base glass to create a gleaming "armoured" look. The metallic coating when reduced brought out gleams of gold and copper that complimented the olive toned glass.

Now that I have completed this season's color testing, the only question that remains is:

What do I create next?

Til next time,

D.

New CiM Color for Spring 2017 - Troll

I am down to only two more new glass colors to test for this spring. 

It was an awesome experience to play with the CiM - Creation is Messy colors and I hope you have enjoyed seeing the creations!

In this post the featured color is CiM Troll Ltd Run.

Described as an opaque gray green. Doesn't sound that exciting at first glance.

I wanted to really test it against silver, so I created some beads with a coating of 99% fine silver foil and a sprinkling of my handblended Pendragonfyre frit. 

Normally I would tumble etch these "dragonscale" style beads, but they are pretty with the gloss finish.

My frit has rare purple rose mixed with raku and a few extra ingredients that when layered on silver foil brings out the micro-dots of silver in veined patterns and the rich tones of purple, magenta and blue.

New CiM Color for Spring 2017 - Yangtze

In response to requests for streaky rods, CiM - Creation is Messy created a new limited run color named Yangtze with "a core of clear, encased in transparent yellowish green, encased in clear."

The description doesn't sound all that exciting, so I was not sure what to test with it. When this happens, it is always better to go simple - less is more. So I paired it with 99% fine silver wire.
There was just a slight reaction to the silver with small trails. There was some scumming and micro-bubbles, but I encouraged it from the glass as it gave an antiqued sea glass glow even though I left them with a shiny gloss finish.

The result is a simple yet elegant set of beads that would be awesome in a ivory bridal set of silver jewelry.

New CiM Color for Spring 2017 - Pachyderm

As I am working through the testing of CiM's - Creation is Messy Spring 2017 palette preview, one of the offerings is a grey brown that is infused with silver called Pachyderm Ltd Run. 
CiM only has a few glasses with silver infusion, so it is fun to test it out with my other go-to brand of silver glass - Double Helix.

On a base of Pachyderm, I layered Double Helix Terranova shards and scrolls of Terra 2.
I heated and cooled the glasses multiple times to see the browns bloom from each striking and the resulting chocolate tones are wonderful for an organic feel.

Again, this is a limited edition glass that will no doubt sell out very quickly.

New CiM Color for Spring 2017 - Two Shades of Brown

The varieties of browns in the glass palette across all manufacturers can be limited to grey based or orange based browns. To find a brown that is a true caramel-chocolate is difficult and elusive.

Let's take a look at these limited runs.

First up, CiM's Van Dyke Brown Ltd Run.
Described as a opaque dark brown that when used in plain spacers has potential to bring out caramel tones. I experimented using it with Effetre light ivory and some silvered ivory stringers I had on my studio table. It definitely created webbing and striations where the glasses met. If you like mixing glasses or an organic feel, this glass would be worth experimenting with. 

Next up, CiM's Safari Ltd Run.
Described as "a yellow-toned opaque brown". I tested it with a sprinkling of Glass Diversions Coffee Bean frit. 
This created a striated look that reminded me of a giraffe print. 
The spare tab bead is the true color of Safari with no frit.  
Although there is little "caramel chocolate" in this brown glass, I can definitely see it's potential for animal or exotic prints.

New CiM Color for Spring 2017 - Cornsilk and Sea Mist

This post has some new Big Hole Beads in two of the new colors from CiM - Creation is Messy for Spring 2017. Both are limited edition glasses only available for a limited time.

First up, CiM's Cornsilk.
Described as "a soft opal yellow".  I really like this color as it is not reactive to silver so it can be used with layers of silver glass or wire without that yucky brown reaction.
I really like this color for it's buttery look and inner glow. 

The photo below the set shouldered by plain spacers and:

• Second from the left is paired with fine silver wire
• Second from the right is my goddess style bead with portals of Double Helix Kalypso silver infused glass layered over rare CiM Black Current Ltd Run and captured under clear glass portals.

A new blue-grey glass, CiM's Sea Mist.
This is a new offering from CiM, a veiled glass described as a core of clear, encased in transparent blue, encased in clear. This "streaky" glass created an "sea glass" style of bead with lots of potential. I liked working with it and any bubbles that normally can drive a bead artist crazy. I think it added to the end result. 
Again with testing, I like to try different techniques (left to right)

• Base of Sea Mist with my handblended Pendragonfyre frit. The purple rose in the frit really bloomed with no icky reaction to the raku within the frit.
• Base of Sea Mist with some Triton shards and dots. Notice that the silver glass fumed the Sea Mist to a light grey tone.
• Last bead is wrapped in 99% fine silver wire. If you look closely, there is a slight reaction to the silver, but it gives off an antique look with the base glass. 

Til next time,

New CiM Color for Spring 2017 - Hemoglobin

A new red from CiM - Creation Is Messy! 
CiM over the past few years has introduced a number of new red limited runs. I have been fortunate to test them prior to their general release.

My fellow bead artists know how hard it is to get a reliable and beautiful red. Sangre has been my favorite out of all of the current glass palettes available. I always get a rich and glossy red that went into a set that was published in Bead Trends August 2010 magazine. 

Here was the set called Heart of the Matador. See the full post here.


I was super excited to see the most recent one based on what was posted on the preview page.
"Hemoglobin is a mismelt of Sangre. It is very close to Sangre- many of our testers suggested we "pass" it. However, we know many artists use Sangre for production work. Based on the slight difference we are now calling this batch Hemoglobin.

We are offering Hemoglobin at a reduced price to Sangre"

Now on to Hemoglobin Ltd Run. 
I wanted to see if it worked with silver glass as well as Sangre did and below is a photo of some flat tab beads with Double Helix silver glass murrini and Triton dots. The color stayed a true red with no liver or browning. Definitely a keeper!

It is glossy, rich, and AWESOME! As noted above it is being offered as a limited run at a reduced price, so grab it while it lasts.

Til next time.

New CiM Colors for Spring 2017 - New Green Hues

This post will introduce you to more new green hues that CiM - Creation is Messy has released this season.
Note that these colors are limited runs, so grab them up while they last!

First up, CiM's Peridot Ltd Run. 
Described as a "transparent gemstone green". It is a yellow green almost pale in hue.
I wanted to test it against silver glass, so I sprinkled one of my "go-to" fine frit, Double Helix Ekho.  With the frit coating, you don't see the micro-bubbles that occur when you work the glass in a warmer flame, so if you want crystal clear beads, definitely work in a cooler flame.

Next up, CiM's Eel Grass Ltd Run.

Described as a "natured inspired transparent green". I love this green as it is not too yellow and not too blue. Just right as a spring green.

I paired it as a base in my goddess style beads with layers of Effetre Light Ivory, CiM's rare Black Currant Ltd Run and some Double Helix mystery silver glass (maybe a Terra). 

The portals ranged in pinks and blues with some micro storms. 

The single bead on the right side shows the color of the glass alone. The silver glass didn't fume and the green shade stayed true.

Next up, CiM's Inchworm.

This is a juicy bright opal green!

I wanted to run it through several tests so making some bigger hole beads were in order.

This set from left to right:

1. Single spacer bead showing the true color in all it's glory!

2. Wrapped in DH Triton silver glass shards.

3. A Goddess bead with DH Kronos portals

4. Simply wrapped in 99% fine silver wire. 

5. Single spacer bead

6. Barrel bead with streams of rare DH Kronos melted in.

This glass works beautifully with silver with no adverse reaction lines. It seems to have an inner glow that is bright and cheerful for this spring and summer!

Spring is here and the greens have it!

Have a great week!