A Few Bits and Bobs of Beads - Varieties of Glass Combinations

This blog post is a bit of this and that. 😊

A few glass experiments that I completed in a studio session testing out combinations of glass.

First up, a glass frit set created with a combination of CiM - Creation Is Messy's opaque green named Primavera and Val Cox Songbird frit.

I really like Primavera as a base glass. It melts so smoothly and allows each bead to be shaped quickly and allows the glass frit to flow into unique patterns.

The flat tab bead shows for comparison the base of Primavera against the frit patterning.

This focal bead was my experiment with CiM’s Eden, a extremely dense pine green transparent with added adventurine. I started with a clear core and encased it with Eden as I was hoping that the sparkle of the aventurine would be more evident.

The resulting bead is still very dark green and the sparkle was difficult to truly capture with the camera.

The flower petals were created with layers of CiM’s rare Ra, Double Helix Chloe and capped with Double Helix clear Zephyr. Dots of DH OX-376 complete the bead.

                        

The final set to share today is a revisit back to Effetre glass. 
I must admit that I am a CiM - Creation Is Messy bead maker of which 90% of my beads are made. I love the color palettes that produce true tones and quality of the glass.

Effetre glass is still beautiful quality, it just needs more experimentation to consistently produce the results that I expect.

This set of tile beads was created with 2 Effetre glasses as it’s base, Pistachio 415 and Avorio Pervinca 296. Both glasses have striations that produce a more rustic natural look in the finished beads.

The centre twisted stripe of each bead is a Double Helix silver glass tagged as Terranova 2021.

The silver glass produced tones of blues with just a touch of silver fuming in the kiln.

All the glasses used in this post are ready and available at Nortel Glass in Toronto. Reach out to  them to order these affordable options for your glass bead making!
Til next time,
D.

#creationismessy
#cimglass
#cimprimavera
#effetrepistachio
#effetreivoriapervinca
#valcoxfrit
#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.

CiM Glass testing.... Always Fun to use new colors!

Just a quick post to show you some new CiM - Creation is Messy colors I have been testing!

All Sets in this Post have been SOLD

First up... CiM's Aloe Juice, a lovely transparent green.
These beads are a base of CiM Aloe Juice with streams of Double Helix silver glass, Aurae, resulting in shiny goodness!

Next up... CiM's Cake Batter. This color is so new, it is not on the CiM website yet!

Cake Batter is a creamy ivory. I paired it with Val Cox Painter's Series, Royal Ballet.  The result is a set of beads with pairings of  Raku with a chorus of pinks ranging from super soft to super intense.

This set is created on a base of CiM's Larkspur, a limited run that has been around for a bit.

It is a transparent color that shifts between blue and lavender depending on your lighting. These nuggets are Val Cox Rio Nights frit swirled among the Larkspur to create these beads.

Finally is a set of beads with one of my favorite CiM glasses that unfortunately is no longer in production, CiM's Butter Pecan.

It is a joy to work with its creamy consistency. It makes this Double Helix Terranova 2 frit pop!

Summer Soltice Bead Offerings

All Bead Sets within this Post are NOW SOLD.

Wyvern
Dragonscales Series #2

"Name derived from the Saxon word Wivere, which means "serpent""

Materials: CiM - Creation is Messy, Fine Silver foil and Val Cox Frit

On a base of CiM's Olive green, 99% fine silver foil was added and layered with Val Cox Purple Rose frit. The combination was then melted into the surface and the beads
were tumble etched for a smooth tactile feel.  Each micro-drop of silver has taken on a golden glow.

Carnivale Shimmer
Materials: CiM - Creation is Messy and Double Helix glasses and 99% fine silver

This set of 10 handcrafted beads combine lots of fine silver and striking silver glass shards! On a base of CiM's Hippo opaque glass, fine silver foil was melted in. Shards of Double Helix Terranova 2.1 silver infused glass was added and struck to bring out the amazing hues of magenta, blue and green. The silver microdroplets have a stunning golden sheen to complete each bead.

Dione
Goddess Bead Series #131

"Greek myth name of the mother of Aphrodite. The name is a feminine form of Zeus."

Materials: CiM - Creation is Messy, Effetre and Double Helix Glasses

This set of 10 goddess series beads was created on a base of CiM's Hippo opaque grey glass. Each goddess bead was then layered with dots of Effetre Dark Ivory, White, Double Helix silver glass, Kalypso. The combination of the glasses create the multi-hued portals captured under each clear glass dot. Double Helix Aurae completes the highlight droplets on each bead.

Pale Green Love Sonnet
Materials: Effetre Glasses and Pendragonfyre frit

On a canvas of Effetre Light Emerald Green Yellow over a white opaque core, these 9 beads were sprinkled with a custom Pendragonfyre frit blend to create this Love Sonnet inspired set of beads that have been etched to a tactile smooth feel. This frit is my own hand blended glass frit to create these patterns that resemble garden flowering vines and lattice. Six Light Emerald Green Yellow spacers are included in this set.

Pink Blooms Nuggets
Materials: Effetre Glass and Valerie Cox Frit

If you love pink, you will love these 7 nuggets. On a base of Effetre Rose Quartz transparent, Val Cox Pink Lipstick frit, a fine mix of pink opaques was sprinkled and melted into the surface.

Etched Tapestry Organix Barrels
Materials: Effetre Glasses and 99% Fine Silver

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 Mint Green Opal, Violet, Opal Yellow and Light Turquoise. These barrel beads were tumble etched to a smooth matte organic feel.

My new favorite thing! Will they BEE yours too!

Aren't these little bees, in the photo below, the cutest things ever!

I happened across an amazing tutorial video on youtube on how to create these and I had to take a try at it.
Check out the tutorial here.
Many Thanks to Heather from Square One Beads for sharing this technique.
I was ready to test a new yellow from CiM glass so it was a perfect time to make some bees!

All Sets within this blog post are now SOLD

Bee Mine
Materials: CiM - Creation is Messy and Effetre Glasses

These sweet little bees were handmade on 3/32" mandrels with a combination of CiM's Hades black and yet to be released Submarine Limited Run. Clear Effetre wings were added along with a little stinger to complete each little creature!

Meadow
Silver Trails Series # 52

Materials: CiM- Creation is Messy, Effetre Glasses and 99% Fine Silver

This beadful set of 23 Silvertrail beads combine calm and cool hues wrapped with 99% Fine Silver Wire. CiM's Stoneground & Dirty Martini along with Effetre Mint Green Opal, Dark Green Sage transparent are used in this set .

Olive & Lapis Garden Mix
Materials: CiM - Creation is Messy & Effetre Glasses

This 22 bead set has a great variety of beads including florals, encased dotted and handmade leaves. CiM's Olive green and Lapis blue glasses are paired with Effetre clear to create an amazing collection of handmade beads for your jewelry creation.

Carnivale
Materials: System 96 Glass & Val Cox frit

This set of 15 beads was created on a base of Sys96 clear glasses infused with Val Cox Rio Nights frit. Within this frit, "copper goldstone adds sparkle to this multi-hued blend which color shifts in lively and unpredictible ways with each use." These are beads created on 3/32" mandrels.

Stoneground Terranova
Materials: CiM - Creation is Messy & Double Helix Glasses

This set of 12 beads was created on a base of CiM's Stoneground, an opaque silver yellow glass sprinkled with Double Helix Terranova silver glass frit. The result created a mottled pattern of blues, greens and magenta These are beads created on 3/32" mandrels.

Turquoise Dotties
Materials: Vetrofond and Effetre Glasses

These 8 bead dotted beads are perfect for bright jewelry this season. A base of Vetrofond Light Turquoise was double encased with Effetre Extra clear and dotted with white pastel glass.
Bonus: 4.5mm Turquoise facetted glass crystal rondelles are included in this set.

June Bead Sets - 1st week of June is here!

All sets within this blog post have been sold.

Wicked
Materials: CiM - Creation is Messy Glasses

This "Wicked" combination was inspired by the colors of the famous Broadway show of the same name. CiM's Elphaba, which also was the wicked witch's name is a bright lime green opaque glass perfect for this season's palette. In this set, Elphaba is paired with CiM's Grape Ape.
With lots of variety in shapes and sizes, this set is sure to brighten your summer wardrobe!






 Tudor Rose
Materials: CiM- Creation is Messy and Double Helix Glasses

This set of 8 floral beads were inspired by Elizabethan Tudor style. On a base of CiM's cream, Butter Pecan, floral petals were created in layers of CiM Peace, Bordello and Leaky Pen.
Dots of Aurae were added and reduced to bring the shine to the surface.

Party Lentils
Materials: Effetre Glass and Pendragonfyre glass frit

On a base of Effetre Bubblegum Pink, these 12 lentil frit beads were generously sprinkled with handmixed Pendragonfyre frit.
Complimenting the lentils are 9 pink lentil spacer beads.

Watercolor Focals#1
Materials: Effetre and Double Helix Glasses

This set of 5 handformed flat beads were created on a base of Effetre clear glass on which a custom mix of Double Helix silver glass frit was sprinkled.
This mixture of Gaia, Triton, Psyche and Kronos were reduced and encased under clear glass to allow the pattern to seem to blow like petals in the wind.
Three of the focals have DH silver glass murrini added and their patterns captured under a dpt of clear glass. Highlights of reduced DH Aurae to bring out the metallic shine were the final touch.




Terranova Flats
Materials: CiM- Creation is Messy and Double Helix Glasses

This set of 8 handformed flat beads were created on a base of CiM Lipstick Unique #3 on which Double Helix silver glass frit named Terranova was sprinkled.
Eleven Lipstick spacers compliment this set of flat tab beads!

Ourania
Goddess Bead Series #89

"Greek myth name of a muse of astronomy, derived from the
word ouranios, meaning "heavenly.""

Materials: Effetre, CiM - Creation is Messy and Double Helix Glasses

This set of 11 goddess series beads were created on a base of Effetre Apple Blush with layered dots of Effetre Light Ivory and mixtures of CiM Sangre & Double Helix Aurae silver infused glass.
Highlights of Double Helix's Aurae, create the bling dots andsix coordinating spacers are included in this set.

Silver Orbs Orphans
Materials: Effetre and Double Helix Glasses and 99% Fine Silver Wire

This orphan set of 14 encased round beads were created on a bases of various Double Helix silver glasses.
Each bead core was wrapped in 99% fine silver wire and reduced the core transforms into a spectrum of dramatic colors.
Each result was then captured under a thick encasement of Effetre clear glass.

Bead Trends January Issue and sets for this week

I wanted to share with you my latest published design that is currently appearing in the January 2011 Bead Trends magazine.

This design is a bracelet of natural crystal stones and handmade lampwork beads. The beads were etched to create an icy feel. These stones and beads were coordinated with silver beads whose icy etched designs added even more of a wintry feel.

This design also created an extension that when added to the bracelet converts it into a focal necklace.
This would be beautiful for the winter bride using the necklace for the bridal gown at the ceremony. The bracelet could then be worn again by the bride to remind her of her amazing day!



New Sets on Ebay this week!

Blue Mood
This set is NOW Sold
Silver Trails Series # 44

Materials: Effetre Glasses and 99% Fine Silver

Shades of blues combine in this set of 20 Silvertrail
beads wrapped with 99% Fine Silver Wire.

Hues include Lapis Blue opaque, Periwinkle pastel, Pale Blue
transparent and Intense Blue transparent.

Psyche and Ivory Organix
This set is NOW Sold
Materials: Effetre, Double Helix Glasses and Silver

This is an abundant 16 bead set with a variety of shapes and
sizes of beads with a natural organic feel.

The combination of Effetre Light Ivory and Double Helix silver infused Psyche glasses create
the canvas on which silvered ivory stringer and 99% fine silver wire was added.

Check out the details for the breakdown of bead shapes and sizes.

Salacia
Goddess Bead Series #73
This set is NOW Sold

"Roman myth name of a goddess of salt water, meaning salt"

Materials: Effetre, Trautman Art and Double Helix Glasses

This set of 11 goddess series beads were created on a base of
Vetrofond Lemongrass glass with layered dots of Effetre Light Ivory
and CiM Slytherin Unique.
Storms of Double Helix Olympic Rain were captured under clear
glass bumps to create the the swirls in each storm portal.
Six Lemongrass spacer beads are included in this set

BONUS: 9mm Focal Goddess Bead

Highlights of Double Helix silver glass, Triton create
the bling dots for this beautiful storm portal beads!

Kimono Aurae
This set is NOW Sold
Materials: Effetre and Double Helix Glasses

Double Helix Aurae streams glitter on a base of Effetre Purple Red to create an oriental
feel to these 12 round beads.

Add some glitter to your winter jewelry designs.

Forgot to post a couple of sets that were added in my Artfire studio. They were snatched up quickly, but I wanted to share the photos here.

Exotic Sunset
This set is NOW Sold
Materials: CiM Glass, Glass Diversions frit and 99% Fine Silver

This set of CiM Peace, white pastel, based frit beads captures the rich hues of
a sunset sky across an Arizona desert canyon's silver sand.

Gingered Terranova
This set is NOW Sold
Materials: CiM and Double Helix Glasses

Created on a base of CiM Ginger opaque glass, Double Helix Terranova silver
infused frit was sprinkled and struck to lots of hues of blues, greens and purples.

Silver Trails Trios Lampwork Bead Set
This set is NOW Sold
Materials: Effetre Glasses and 99% Fine Silver

A cheerful trio selection of gray Effetre glasses wrapped with a ring of silvered
ivory and 99% Fine Silver Wire.

New Items on Artfire This Week!

Storm Jewels
Materials: Effetre & Double Helix Glasses

Shades of cream & pale blues swirl within these
storm portals of silver infused glass, Double Helix Olympic Rain.

These 3 beads were created on a base of
Effetre Dark Amber with layered dots of Dark Ivory glasses.

Highlights of DH Aurae silver glass create the bling for this beautiful storm beads!


Under The Sea
Materials: Effetre & Double Helix Glasses

This set of 7 hand-formed nugget beads seem to glow from the inside out! Starting with an inner core of Effetre purple, these beads were encased with Double Helix Luna silver infused glass, sprinkled in DH Kronos silver frit and then encased with Double Helix's clear Aether glass. Pendragonfyre beads are always hand-formed, as we do not use any presses or molds. Each bead is unique and one of a kind created especially for you!



Midnight Magic
This set is now SOLD
(Reserved for Debbie) This is a limited edition set of beads similar to a Pendragonfyre Bead set published in March issue of Bead Trends magazine. Materials: CiM & Double Helix Glasses The golden glitter of this set of 12 round shard & dotted beads is dazzling. On a base of CiM's, rare transparent dark gray named Charcoal, the glass was gently fumed when the Double Helix Aurae was reduced to bring the shimmering metallic glow to the surface.


Adamantium Silver Shards
Materials: CiM & Double Helix Glasses

The golden glitter of this set of 12 round shard & dotted beads is dazzling. On a base of CiM's opaque warm dark grey named Adamantium, the glass was gently fumed when the Double Helix Aurae was reduced to bring the shimmering metallic glow to the surface.



Gingered Terranova
Materials: CiM & Double Helix Glasses Created on a base of CiM Ginger opaque glass, Double Helix Terranova silver infused frit was sprinkled and struck to lots of hues of blues, greens, purples and reds

Silver Trails Trios #1
Materials: Effetre Glasses and 99% Fine Silver
A cheerful trio selection of Effetre glasses wrapped combination of 99% Fine Silver Wire. These would be great for earrings! This selection of the beads include hues of Sage Green, Light Aquamarine and Ink Blue Purple.

Silver Trails Trios #2
Materials: CiM & Effetre Glasses and 99% Fine Silver

A cheerful trio selection of CiM & Effetre glasses wrapped combination of 99% Fine Silver Wire.

These would be great for earrings!

This selection of the beads include hues of CiM Pulsar blue, Effetre Light Teal and Pale Aquamarine.




Silver Trails Trios #3
Materials: CiM & Effetre Glasses and 99% Fine Silver

A cheerful trio selection of CiM & Effetre glasses wrapped combination of 99% Fine Silver Wire.

These would be great for earrings!

This selection of the beads include hues of Effetre Pale Blue, CiM Sapphire blue, and CiM Oz Emerald Green.



Silver Trails Trios #4
Materials: CiM & Effetre Glasses and 99% Fine Silver

A cheerful trio selection of CiM & Effetre glasses wrapped in Silver Ivory Stringer and 99% Fine Silver Wire.

These would be great for earrings!

This selection of the beads include hues of CiM Pulsar blue, Effetre Dark Topaz and purple Amethyst.

Beach Beads Series # 5 - Beach Blanket
Materials: Effetre & CiM Glasses

Ten pairs of Effetre & CiM glasses were used to create this shiny 20 beach bead set. Within this set, a mix of dotted beads in shades of coral, light turquoise, white, ink purple, nile green, and CiM pumpkin. Perfect for summer jewelry