The Colors of Double Helix Hydros - Copper, Silver and Reduced to Gold!

Just a quick post to show how the color in Double Helix Hydros can capture spring colors of green, aquamarine and sparkling gold. 

Hydros is a silver and copper glass creating an aquamarine color with a strong silver luster that maintains its pearlescence under encasement. 

I love the colors that remind me of spring greens and aquamarines.

The website recommends to work the glass in a neutral flame, allow to cool for a few seconds, reheat far out in a large reducing flame.

These two barrel beads captured the reduced glass beautifully under layers of clear. 

The surface was encrusted with microdots of Hydros glass that was then reduced to the glittery golden shine!

#effetre

#hydros

#doublehelixglass

#silverglass

#nortel

#pendragonfyre 

#handmade

#handmadeincanada 

#lampworkglass 

#maker 

#lampworkbeads 

#glassbeads 

#lampwork 

#lampworker 

#beadmaker 

#softglass 

#handmadebeads 

#sodalime 

#craftsperson 

@nortel_glassgirl

A new glass to me Double Helix Hydros! This is a WINNER!

Double Helix describes Hydros as a silver and copper glass creating an aquamarine color with a strong silver luster that maintains its pearlescence under encasement. 

To luster, work in a neutral flame, allow to cool for a few seconds, reheat far out in a large reducing flame.

What attracted me was the aqua hue and the golden metallic shine.

As my initial test with this glass, I created simple spacers that when reduced they gleam with golden and blue green rainbow effects.

This set of 3 beads was created with layers of clear glass, DH Hydros and fine silver wire captured on an final clear glass encasement.

These rounds are simple and elegant with lovely shine and patterning.

Testing how the glass performed under encasement, this barrel bead started on a base of clear glass and an encasement layer of DH Hydros.

I quickly reduced the bead and added the layer of Effetre Super clear to capture the mother of pearl look. 

To complete the surface decoration, I pulled Hydros stringers and created the micro dots of beads creating an almost mythical/ancient look to the bead. I loved creating this style of beads years ago as when the glass reduces to gold shine, the final result is rich and unique.

#effetre

#italianglass

#silverglass

#nortel

#doublehelixglass

#pendragonfyre 

#handmade

#handmadeincanada 

#lampworkglass 

#maker 

#lampworkbeads 

#glassbeads 

#lampwork 

#lampworker 

#beadmaker 

#softglass 

#handmadebeads 

#sodalime 

#craftsperson 

@nortel_glassgirl

@dubhelix

Starting Off 2026 With New Double Helix Silver Glasses!

Towards the end of 2025, I decided to treat myself to some "new to me" silver glasses Jed at Double Helix.

This was the first time in ages that I had placed an order as I was concerned about the whole doing business south of the Canadian border.

As I prefer to testing and experiment with new glasses, I usually opt to order half pounds of seconds as it is most likely when I fall in love with a specific glass, it sells out quickly.

Jed describes them as the following:

What are seconds?

Our second quality rods are less than perfect and are sold at a 25% discount. They may be too large, too small, too short, chipped, twisted or have an inclusion. They have passed our compatibility test and our color test, but not our pretty rod test.

In my experience, they are perfect to me... and allow me to really experiment while keeping my glass expenses within budget.

This time I chose Elpis 2, Hydros and Arke 2.

I am honored and excited that Jed added in samples of Iris, Clio and Ultraviolet Aion for my testing!

These are lovely glasses!

Over the next few blog posts, I will share my first set of experiments. 

By the way, I have also indulged in Double Helix Garage Sale boxes in the past. These glasses are not always labelled, so it challenges me to discover what each rod truly is.

Believe it or not, I am still working on glass that I got back in 2015 and 2016 Garage Boxes.

This set below was created with a simple encased round of a glass coded CL.OD.e (related to Clio). 

So simple but so beautiful!

 

#silverglass

#nortel

#doublehelixglass

#pendragonfyre 

#handmade

#handmadeincanada 

#lampworkglass 

#maker 

#lampworkbeads 

#glassbeads 

#lampwork 

#lampworker 

#beadmaker 

#softglass 

#handmadebeads 

#craftsperson 

@nortel_glassgirl

@dubhelix