Just a quick post on some Double Helix silver testing that I completed a while back but realized I didn't post.
Each of the beads below used Effetre Pale Lavender as a base. As with all lavender glasses, they shift their color based on the lighting. In the photos below, the glass is more on the pink side under the studio lamps.
The focal bead was made on on a base of Pale Lavender with layers of Double Helix's Rhea ruby and ribbon of Double Helix Psyche encased in clear glass. This allows the silver infused glass to bloom within the Psyche to blues and creams.
In the photo below, the barrel bead used similar layering and bloomed with a more muted pattern. The Psyche rings at each end fumed the surface of the bead to a golden cast.
Below are two photos of the same bead showing the change in the bead based on lighting.
Daylight
Starting again with a base of Effetre Pale Lavender, I added streams of CiM - Creation is Messy's CiM Serenity Ltd Run. This brought out some teal tones to compliment the streams of Double Helix Psyche captured under the clear glass encasement. I added 99% fine silver wire on each end of the bead.
Studio Light Tent
Have a great weekend!
D.
Ruby, ruby ruby.... everyone loves the shade of pinky red for their jewelry designs!
In glass, this color is illusive and expensive to produce. In the past, Rubino Oro or Ruby Gold required gold to be added to the glass to create the ruby tones. Check out this article on the color elements in glass making.
As beadmakers, using the traditional formula restricted us in combining the glass with silver glass as the reactions resulted in muddy browns which basically defeated the purpose of using it in the first place.
For Double Helix, this recent offering called Rhea was a welcome addition to the beadmaker's palette. This glass was developed as a "lead free gold ruby that plays well with silver colors and survives a reduction flame without discoloration".
Jean at Nortel gifted me a couple of rods for testing and I am pleased to share the details of the results.
First up, this big hole bead has ends of Rhea with the centre created with multiple layers of Psyche and Zephyr. Each layer was reduced and encased to create depth in the dots that almost seem to be floating around the centre of the barrel bead.
A few wraps of 99% fine silver wire finished off the bead ends.
As you can see, the ruby glass stayed true to color with no brown muddy reaction.
Below are a few more beads from the session.
Left Bead: Barrel BHB with a base of Rhea wrapped in silver foil and encased with another layer of Rhea. Melted ends with scroll and heart decorations of reduced Aurae Light.
Middle Bead: Alternate view of the bead described above.
Right Bead: Zephyr base with wrap of silver foil. Encased in Rhea with end cap wraps of 99% fine silver wire.
Based on these results, I suggest everyone try out a rod or two of this ruby color.
Reach out to Jean at Nortel to order!
Happy Weekend!
D.
