February Flashback - Double Helix Glassworks - The Glory of Silver Infused Colors!

I was very fortunate to have discovered Double Helix Glassworks early in my glass beadmaking career.

Over the years, I have used many of Jed's silver infused creations along with many test glasses that he offered.

I am still working through a couple of "garage sale boxes" that were offered in the past as I continue to experiment with color combinations.

The sets within this blog post as just a few of my favorites.

 

This set of encased round beads were created on a base of Double Helix silver glass, Psyche.
Each bead core was wrapped in 99% fine silver wire and reduced to create the intense variations in color. Each result was then captured under a thick encasement of Double Helix's clear Aether glass. Aether when heated just right transforms silver to a golden glow!

 

This unique set of beads were created with a combination of Effetre Clear glass and dewdrops of Double Helix silver glass, Terra 2.
The silver glass was added, struck and reduced to mother of pearl shine and then encased to create the colourful droplets of colour of the silver infused glass.
The result is gentle hues of amber, palest pinks and blues in each encased bubble.

 

This unique set of beads were created with a combination of Effetre Clear glass and dewdrops of Double Helix silver glass, Psyche.
The silver glass was added, struck and reduced to mother of pearl shine and then encased to create the colourful droplets of colour of the silver infused glass.
The result is gentle hues of purples, creams, greens and blues in each encased bubble.

 

This set of encased round beads were created on a base of Double Helix silver glass, Clio. Each bead core was wrapped in 99% fine silver wire and reduced to create the subtle variations in color. Each result was then captured under a thick encasement of Effetre clear glass. 

 

 

#doublehelixglass
#nortel
#pendragonfyre
@nortel_glassgirl 

 

 

February Flashback - Favorite CiM - Creation Is Messy colors paired with Double Helix!

I have checked availability of these glasses as In Stock on Nortel Glass' online shopping cart.

Reach out to Jean or Jennifer at Nortel to add some of these glasses to your new CiM - Creation Is Messy colors for 2023.

First up is CiM Vampire Ltd Run is an opaque red that I knew would work amazingly with Double Helix striking silver glass. This set started with a base of Vampire. 

Streams of Double Helix Terra 2 was struck and reduced, copper foil oak and dragonfly inclusions were added and each bead was encased in clear Double Helix Zephyr glass. 

This set has a variety of round, barrel and flat tab bead shapes to complete a set of beads just waiting for the perfect jewelry design.

Next up:

Starting with an inner core of CiM Hades, a darkest black opaque glass, these beads were generously sprinkled with a custom blend of Double Helix silver infused frit.

After reducing the beads to bring out the beautiful colors of blue and green, each bead was encased in Effetre clear to capture the opal-like shine of the silver glass and was shaped into the flat tab shape.

To bring out the true bling of these beads, hand-drawn dots were scattered on these beads and reduced to bring the golden shine to the surface.

CiM Limelight is described as "a clean, cool green with no hints of yellow with a tendency to develop micro bubbles". I did see this in the plain spacers, but when I used it to encase, the bubbling was not as noticeable.

First up, the "recipe" was Limelight base, layer of silver glass, encase with more Limelight and scrolls/dots of Aurae Light. 

This green is pure and clean, I really like the result!

It is a beautiful pale tint to encase silver glass reactions. 

Next up, a simpler look of the encased silver glass reaction. The Double Helix Psyche glass was reduced and then encased with Limelight to capture the blues/ pinks and amber hues.

 

#creationismessy
#cimglass
#ciminstock
#cimXXX
#doublehelixglass
#nortel
#pendragonfyre
@creationismessy

@nortel_glassgirl

CiM - Creation Is Messy 2021 Colors - Reds - Vampire and Firecracker Ltd Runs

This blog post will introduce two new reds for 2021 from CiM - Creation Is Messy.

CiM has always had a wonderful palette of red shades and this year is no exception.
Check out the Red CiM palette here.
First up is CiM Vampire Ltd Run is an opaque red that I knew would work amazingly with Double Helix striking silver glass.

This set started with a base of Vampire. 

Streams of Double Helix Terra 2 was struck and reduced, copper foil oak and dragonfly inclusions were added and each bead was encased in clear Double Helix Zephyr glass. 

This set has a variety of round, barrel and flat tab bead shapes to complete a set of beads just waiting for the perfect jewelry design.

Vampire had not issues in melting and shaping and the colors that it presented with Terra 2 is glorious.

Another new red, Firecracker Ltd Run, is an opaque dark cherry red that has been remelted for 2021.
I have used it many times with silver glass and it really sings. CiM's website displays some of my previous beads if you are interested.

This time around I used Firecracker with Italian murrini to create some fun and bright round beads. 

I added extra dots to each bead with CiM white Peace and yellow Schoolbus Ltd Run.
As in the past the glass melted beautifully and retained it's cherry red color after a quick striking.

A pleasure to work with.

D.


#creationismessy
#cimglass
#cimtesting
#cimnewcolors
#cimvampire
#cimfirecracker
#cimpeace

#cimschoolbus
#cimglass2021
#nortel
#doublehelixglass
@creationismessy
@nortel_glassgirl

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.

Pendant Bead Sets - A Couple More

In a blog post last Sunday, I shared some beads made to show techniques and compatibility of CiM - Creation is Messy glass with other brands.

The first photo shows the "plunged dot" technique with Double Helix silver infused glass to show the  mother of pearl results that come from reducing and encasing the glass.

The bead on the right started with a base of CiM Slate Ltd Run encased with Double Helix Terra2. After the multiple dots and encasement, the glasses produced deep blue reactions.

The bead on the left has a base of CiM Tutu Ltd Run with encased Double Helix Terra2 which produced shining mother of pearl pinky goodness.

The spacers are CiM Slate Ltd Run.

CiM Slate makes a great base of glass frit as well. The focal bead below has a sprinkling of Val Cox Starry Night frit that was melted in and swirled. The sparkles come from the blue aventurine in the frit.

The round focal beads below are simply silver glass beads encased in clear glass.

The left focal bead has plunged dot bubbles. 
The right focal bead has a trail of 99% pure fine silver wire added just before the clear encasement. This allows the silver to be captured and melted into micro-droplets and streams under the magnification effect of the clear glass.

The spacers in this photo are CiM Limelight Ltd Run, a pretty light green transparent glass.

New Sets... New CiM Colors!

Paris Mosaic Frit Rounds
Materials: CiM - Creation is Messy Glass and Glass Diversions Glass Frit

On a base of CiM's Mint Chip Ltd Run, a mixture of 2 Glass Diversions frit, Coffee Bean and Robin's Egg frit was generously sprinkled and melted into the surface.

Silver'd Peruvian Violet Frit Rounds
Materials: CiM - Creation is Messy Glass and Glass Diversions Glass Frit

On a base of CiM's new Antique Lace Ltd Run, 99% fine silver foil was added and layered with Glass Diversion's Peruvian Violet frit and melted into the surface. The reaction to the silver created a golden brown silvered veining pattern with highlighted violet spots. So rich and vibrant for Fall!

Teal Silver Glass Bubbles
Materials: CiM - Creation is Messy, Double Helix and Effetre Glasses

This set of 7 encased round beads was created on a base of CiM's Tuscan Teal Ltd Run on which encased plunged bubbles of Double Helix silver glass, Terra 2 were added. Each of these bubbles was reduced and encased to create the subtle variations in color. Each result was then captured under a thick encasement of Effetre clear glass.

Emerald Glacier Frit Lentils
Materials: CiM - Creation is Messy Glass and Val Cox Glass Frit

On a base of CiM's Aloe Juice green transparent, Val Cox Painter's Series frit, Emerald Glacier, was generously sprinkled and melted into the surface. This frit has dots of Adventurine Green, which provides a sparkle of glitter!

Etched Tapestry Organix Mixed Set
Materials: Vetrofond and Effetre Glasses, 99% Silver and Assorted Glass Frit

Various bases of Effetre glasses were combined with fine silver foil and wire and sprinkled with my own hand blended glass frit to create this organic set of beads. Glasses include Effetre Sedona, Opal Yellow, Light Turquoise, Copper Green, New Violet, Coral, Light Sky Blue and Vetrofond Mauvelous. These beads were etched to a matte organic feel with the silver microdots sprinkled among the tapestry patterning.

Testing 3 new CIM glasses... with wonderful results!

These 3 sets are already gone to their new homes, but I wanted to share how CiM's new colors mix well with other glasses!


Terra Silver Glass Bubbles
Materials: CiM-Creation is Messy, Double Helix and Effetre Glasses

This set of 6 encased round beads was created on a base of CiM's Lavender Water Limited Run on which encased plunged bubbles of Double Helix silver glass, Terra 2 were added. Each of these bubbles was reduced and encased to create the subtle variations in color. Each result was then captured under a thick encasement of Effetre clear glass.

Etched Garden Love Sonnet
Materials: CiM - Creation is Messy, Effetre Glasses and Pendragonfyre Blend Glass Frit

Starting on a base of Effetre white encased in CiM's Limited Run transparent, Green Tea, handmixed Pendragonfyre Love Sonnet frit including Gaffer and Raku was sprinkled to create these 10 romantic beads. These have been etched to provide a smooth tactile feel to each bead.

Purple Rose Frit Rounds
Materials: CiM - Creation is Messy Glass and Val Cox Glass Frit

On a base of CiM's Lichen Limited Run, Purple Rose frit was generously sprinkled and melted into the surface.