CiM's Purples - Emperor, Enchanted, Amethyst, Boysenberry, Wisteria and Aladdin

Today, I am sharing some of the purple glasses offered by CiM - Creation is Messy.
The focal bead was created on a base of CiM Emperor, a golden transparent purple, with Double Helix Kronos 2 silver glass powder wrapped in silver wire and encased in Zephyr. 

CiM Enchanted Ltd Run was added to each ends  with streams of Double Helix Melia added and lightly reduced to a metallic shine. The spacers are CiM Amethyst Ltd Run.

CiM's Boysenberry Ltd Run is a dense and saturated purple moonstone glass.

In the focal big hole bead below, a base of CiM Boysenberry  on which Double Helix Kronos 2 powder was generously added and stormed Double Helix Clio swirled. A layer of 99% fine silver foil was added and the bead was encased in Zephyr to capture the reactions. 

I added Boysenberry to each end and hand formed it  into a barrel shape. The surface decoration is Double Helix Helios for a golden shine when reduced. The spacers are also Boysenberry.

This last bead set highlights another of CiM's purple moonstones, Aladdin Ltd Run.

The focal big hole bead started with a base of CiM Wisteria Ltd Run on which stormed Double Helix Clio was swirled and encased in clear glass. Aladdin was added to each end and streams of Clio was added as surface decoration.

The spacers are CiM Aladdin.

CiM's website is my go to resource for information and previews of each color in their extensive color offerings. I am impressed each time I visit to see how the lamp working community shares their beautiful creations, ongoing discoveries and feedback. 

Proud to be part of this collaboration effort!

Double Helix silver glass - Rhea - A Ruby Gem!

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.

New Spring 2018 CiM Colors - Camouflage and Amphibian

CiM's Camouflage Ltd Run is an opaque olive green with a hint of gray.

Personally I am not a big fan of gray greens as I struggle to choose coordinating colors to try against is as a base.


In this test, I decided to continue to test these new spring glasses with silver and chose to use silver foil and a glass frit from Val Cox named Victoria in this set of test beads.


Camouflage did well with silver foil and the micro dots of frit scattered around the glass frit patterns.

I am pleased with the results!

CiM's Amphibian Ltd Run is another gray green as part of the new spring 2018 color offerings.


On the CiM - Creation is Messy website, it is described as an opaque pale slate green that I thought would have more striations based on the color page.

I found it to be more green than gray the beads that I created.

I used some handmade Raku shards that I placed in an "armor" pattern and reduced them to a dull bronze like metal.
The base glass may have gotten a bit of fuming from the shards but the green really is predominant in the plain spacer beads as well.

So this brings us to the end of the CiM 2018 new colors. They have arrived at Nortel and Jean is ready to take your requests. Give her a shout and grab up some of these colors soon as they are limited editions.

Smiles,
D.

 

New Spring 2018 CiM Colors - Cotswald Blue and Serengeti

CiM's Serengeti Ltd Run is described as opaque earthy brown with red undertones.




I found that it started as a caramel brown but works to darker tones as it is lightly heated (so lightly that you are really just wafting it in the back of the flame).

I used some silver foil and a sprinkling of my own hand blended Pendragonfyre frit. My frit contains some rare purple rose glass and raku as 2 of the ingredients. It creates some beautiful patterning with the micro-dots of silver framing the bits of colored glass.

The result is the base glass makes the frit really sing! 

I definitely need to do more experimentation with this glass as the levels of tone provides lots of option for bead making.

CiM's Cotswold Blue Ltd Run is a muted opaque teal.
I used the same silver foil and frit glass mix and the result is also very pretty.

I was concerned that other beadmakers had reported striations in the glass once it was worked, but I saw only minimal striations so I suggest working it in a cooler flame to keep these under control.

Til next time,
D.

New CiM Color for Spring 2017 - Troll

I am down to only two more new glass colors to test for this spring. 

It was an awesome experience to play with the CiM - Creation is Messy colors and I hope you have enjoyed seeing the creations!

In this post the featured color is CiM Troll Ltd Run.

Described as an opaque gray green. Doesn't sound that exciting at first glance.

I wanted to really test it against silver, so I created some beads with a coating of 99% fine silver foil and a sprinkling of my handblended Pendragonfyre frit. 

Normally I would tumble etch these "dragonscale" style beads, but they are pretty with the gloss finish.

My frit has rare purple rose mixed with raku and a few extra ingredients that when layered on silver foil brings out the micro-dots of silver in veined patterns and the rich tones of purple, magenta and blue.

As 2015 Slips Away, Time to Get Back to the Studio!

Hello and Happy December!

I am back to the torch after a long hiatus of travel and well just life in general.

I have been testing a number of CiM - Creation is Messy glasses so let's get right to the results! Over the next several posts, I will share my experience with my favourite lamp working glasses!

First set is beads is a limited run of pink transparent glass named Paris!

It is a lovely warm pink that is great as a base for glass frit such as the middle bead where I sprinkled a mixture of Val Cox Rio Nights and Double Helix silver glass Aurae medium frit.

The next glass is CiM Green Lantern. This limited run glass is described as a A green moonstone that is difficult to strike. It is a fresh clean "non-yellow" based green transparent.

This photo highlights how CiM Green Lantern can be used as a base glass for encased frit beads as well as silver glass reactions captured under clear glass portals.

Double Helix silver glass Aurae medium frit loves CiM Green Lantern and creates shine without over fuming the glass with yellow tones.

You will note a few bubbles in the glass in this Double Helix silver glass Triton raised dotted cube bead which may be the result of myself working it in a hotter flame.

The final set to share with you today demonstrates two limited run glasses that work well with silver glass and fine silver wire.  CiM's Moccasin and Eucalyptus.

Eucalyptus is a faded blue-toned green melts beautifully and as you can see from the photo below layers with fine silver foil and my hand blended Pendragonfyre frit that I use in my Dragonscale beads.

Moccasin is a light opaque brown that melts without shocking and loves 99% fine silver foil and wire as well.

There is a reaction between the 99% fine silver wire against the two glasses, however in this mix of Dragonscale fritted beads, the look works for a rustic natural style.

Bye for now!

Smiles,
Darlene
Pendragonfyre Designs

Fritted Beads - The Joy of Crushed Glass Designs

Frost and Oasis

This combination of base glass and grit was created with CiM's Frost Ltd Run with Glass Diversions Oasis Frit.
Frost, a pale transparent blue was a gentle base for the "serene and peaceful" hues of the frit. This set below is complemented by spacers of truly clear pale blue transparent by CiM named Ice Floe Ltd Run.

Aegean and Sand Dune

CiM's Aegean Ltd Run is a beautiful transparent teal that when paired with Glass Diversions Sand Dune frit created a lovely palette of "beachy" cube beads.

50s Kitchen and Utopia

A pale green opaque by CiM named 50s Kitchen Ltd Run rolled in 99% fine silver foil created a natural non-reactive base for a sprinkling of Glass Diversions Utopia glass frit. The silver droplets rise to the surface and frame the grit in a tapestry like look and feel.

Below is the same combination of glasses minus the silver foil.
A few 50s Kitchen spacers added for comparison to show the true hue of the base glass.
The silver seemed to bring out richer greens and darker hues of purple-browns.

An interesting discovery and a new set of Goddess beads!

In testing some CiM - Creation is Messy glasses, I came across an interesting discovery when combining CiM Cobblestone with a favourite black, CiM's Hades.

On a base of Cobblestone Ltd Run, an opaque gray, dots of Hades were added and the reaction between these two glasses created an interesting metallic halo ring around each dot.The other beads were dotted with Effetre Red Purple and White opaque glass that created no reactions.
For those looking to experiment more, this is definitely something to explore!

In trying out CiM's Mahogany Ltd Run proved it to be another versatile glass, which I love.

This glass is a true red opaque glass whose hues tend on the reddish brown area of the color chart without being orange.

Combined with 99% silver foil and Pendragonfyre blended frit, these Tapestry series beads create golden droplet frames around dots of raku and purple rose. The silver foil creates droplets of silver among the portals of tapestry like colors.

As a base for my Goddess series of beads, this glass is also a favourite of mine.

On a base of CiM Mahogany Ltd Run, storm portals of Double Helix silver infused glasses were captured under clear glass dots.  Dots of silver glass were added to highlight each bead.

Two Pendragonfyre Classic Sets

Dragonscales
CiM - Creation is Messy Glass, Silver Foil and Val Cox Glass Frit

On a base of CiM's Ocher Ltd Run opaque glass, 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.

Pale Green Love Sonnet
Effetre Glasses and Pendragonfyre Frit

Starting on a base of Effetre white encased in Pale Yellow Green transparent, 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.

Quick Post For Today!

Pink Lipstick Frit Rounds
Materials: Effetre Glass and Val Cox Glass Frit

On a base of Effetre Rose Quartz transparent glass, Val Cox Pink Lipstick frit glass blend was sprinkled and melted to a smooth finish.

Green Frit Barrels
Materials: CiM - Creation is Messy Glass, Silver Foil and Pendragonfyre Glass Frit.

Starting on a base of CiM's Fiddlehead Ltd Run, an opaque green glass, silver foil was melted in and hand-mixed Pendragonfyre frit was sprinkled to create these 7 hand shaped round barrel beads. These have been etched to provide a smooth tactile feel to each bead.

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.

A Little This and That! Catching up!

Eos - Goddess Series# 156
Materials: CiM - Creation is Messy, Effetre and Double Helix Glasses

""Greek myth name of the goddess of dawn, meaning "dawn."

On a base of CiM's new Raindrop Limited Run, portals were created using layers of Dark Ivory, drops of Double Helix's luster silver glass, Ossa creates the watery portals. Each portal was encased in clear glass and dots of Double Helix rare test glass, HE379 were added to bring out the shine of each highlight dot.

Belgian Linen on Pink Frit Rounds

Materials: Lauscha Glass and Val Cox Painter's Series Glass Frit

Starting on a base of Lauscha pink transparent glass, Val Cox Belgian Linen frit was sprinkled to create these 10 romantic beads.

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.

Nemesis - Goddess Series# 157
Materials: CiM - Creation is Messy, Effetre and Double Helix Glasses

"Assyrian myth name of the most prominent female deity in the Babylonian pantheon making her the leading one." 

On a base of CiM's Nutmeg Ltd Run, portals were created using layers of Dark Ivory and Medium Amber, mixtures of Double Helix silver glass to create portals in autumnal hues of orange, amber and brown. Each portal was encased in clear glass and dots of Double Helix Aurae were added and reduced to bring out the shine of each highlight dot.

Purple Rose Frit Rounds

Materials: Effetre Glass and Val Cox Glass Frit

 

On a base of Effetre Rose Quartz transparent, purple rose frit was generously sprinkled and melted into the surface.