Was May 2025 the Stormiest Month on the Calendar?

After a week marked by overcast skies and rain, the data confirms what many have felt.

May 2025 could become the least sunny month in over half a century in my corner of the world.

May is usually a busy month with gardens being ramped up, seeds started in the greenhouse and hopes for a healthy fall harvest.

This month was COLD and WET, seeds continue to struggle to germinate, so my couple of Saturdays with free time were spent in my studio instead.

The result is more storm beads to share with you today.
In this post, I share a couple of big hold bead sets.

This set was created on a base of CiM - Creation is Messy's Boysenberry. Layers of Ivory, CiM Eden, along with Double Helix Psyche Light create the portals captured under clear glass domes highlighted with Aurae dots. The spacer beads are pure Boysenberry.

This set started on a base of Effetre 422 Orange Tangerine. On the layer of ivory, the combination was CiM Black Currant and rare Double Helix Kronos. Clear dots captured the brilliant blue colour. Dots of Aurae complete the bead.

#pendragonfyre 
#handmade
#handmadeincanada 
#lampworkglass 
#stormbeadsbypendragonfyre
#doublehelixglass
#creationismessy

#nortelglass
#maker 
#lampworkbeads 
#glassbeads 
#lampwork 
#lampworker 
#beadmaker 
#softglass 
#handmadebeads 
#sodalime 
#craftsperson 
#madewitheffetremurano
@nortelglassgirl

Starting off a new week in May with new Storm Bead Sets!

Starting on a base of Vetrofond Sweet Strawberry red brown opaque glass, I layered dots of Dark Ivory, CiM Lapis and Double Helix Terra 2 silver glass. 

Clear portal glass dots were added to capture the stormed reaction of the silver glass. Dots of DH Aurae complete each bead.

By adding clear portal glass dots to capture the "stormed reaction" of the silver layer, you're essentially freezing a moment of dynamic interplay between glass surfaces. This technique is reminiscent of capturing a fleeting moment in nature—a flash of lightning or a burst of turbulence—thus transforming each bead into a miniature work of kinetic art. 

Next up is a mini Big Hole Set with a focal storm bead using the same combination of glasses as the set above.

Last up is another mini storm set that I think would be lovely in a set of earrings. These are dainty with a fresh spring feeling. 

I coordinated them with some green spacers and crystals for this set.

Nortel is my Canadian supplier of Effetre, Vetrofond, CiM and Double Helix glasses for those Canadian bead makers who wish to purchase glass in Canadian dollars!

For Canadian bead makers, having Nortel as a supplier means access to these materials in local currency, simplifying procurement and supporting the local craft economy. 

#creationismessy 

#cimglass 

#nortel 

#doublehelixglass 

@creationismessy 

@nortel_glassgirl

Is it spring yet?

The weather hasn't exactly felt like spring lately on the east coast of Canada. 

New Brunswick really hasn’t been making it easy to soak up any golden rays lately! Grey skies and constant rain can feel like an energy drain, especially when creativity thrives on warmth and light. 

Being a tech admin during the work week, I always hope for sun on the weekends and lately have had my hopes dashed.

I haven't had many opportunities to spend time in the studio over the past 8 weeks with my day-time role capturing my waking hours and my creativity has been replaced with sleep and rest.

Being immune compromised, I rely on balancing my energy with rest with spoon theory.

Spoon Theory is a way to explain the energy limitations faced by people living with chronic illness. It uses "spoons" as a unit of measurement for energy, with each activity in life requiring a certain number of spoons.

It’s a great way to frame energy management when health demands extra mindfulness. Prioritizing rest is just as valuable as creating, and it is a thoughtful method for pacing yourself.

Even with the limited studio time, I am still bringing new bead sets to life! 

I hope my Pendragonfyre family will enjoy seeing what I have been able to craft during these fleeting moments in the studio. 

I share these in this post with you and these will pop up on Etsy tomorrow.

Created with rare Bullseye Special Production glass named Raspberry Cream, these round beads have striations of dark raspberry pink and streams of creamy white. 

This glass is no longer in production and my stash is getting smaller each time I pull a rod.

A spring floral inspired glass frit bead set! 

Starting on a base of Bullseye Dense White, a sprinkling of Glass Diversions Spring Violet glass frit was melted into each bead. 

A couple of medium purple spacers complete the set.

In case you needed extra small spacers, this set of CiM Creation Is Messy Poi purple opaque would be great in earrings!

A few new Big Hole Bead mini sets using 99% fine silver leaf and Glass Diversions Praline glass frit. These unlined beads will fit the popular "P" style jewelry.

First up, on a base of CiM Creation Is Messy Osage Wood wrapped in silver leaf and Praline frit. The spacers are the caramel colored Osage Wood.

Next up, on a base of Bullseye Carnelian with same combination of silver leaf and glass frit. Spacers are dark carnelian glass that seemed to strike dark in the kiln.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and I look forward to sharing more bead sets in future blog posts this month! 

Smiles, Darlene 

#creationismessy 

#cimglass 

#nortel 

#glassdiversions  

@creationismessy 

@nortel_glassgirl