swoon….

Ah, lampwork beads. Oh how I adore you.

These are my latest beads, not made by me you understand, but from Mangobeads. I’ve always wanted to create my own and I’m lucky enough to have a tutor with a fantastic reputation less than half an hour away, but I resist. Why? Because I know I will be addicted to it. I know myself well enough to know I’ll want all the gear and we have nowhere for me to set up shop. I know I’ll want to spend hours perfecting my idea’s and learning techniques. I love working with silver art clay, but don’t have the time to do that, especially when the kiddiewinks are about, so what chance to I have with molten glass?! None. So for now I will resign myself to swooning and supporting some of the amazingly talented lampwork artists there are out there, and when I have finished ooohing and ahhhhing I’ll even string them so I can wear them.

Little silver beads….

Last weekend I spent another day at a silver clay workshop.  This time it was making beads and findings and I learnt so many new techniques.  My sketch book is filling up fast with projects now.

So here are some of the beads I made on the day. 

First up, my favourite of the day, a small lentil bead.  I just love lentil beads, and this one is tiny at 10mm in diameter.  

This textured tube is now on a snake chain as I think it makes a wonderful focal bead at just under 30mm long.

 

Lastly, my etched pillow bead. Two brilliant techniques, although I do need to refine this one but it’s not bad for a first attempt.

As always, now all I need is time!  Bit tricky with the school holidays in full flow as I won’t be getting my usual me time each week.

A little treat....

Just thought I'd quickly share this little beaut with you. It's my birthday next week and I always like to buy myself a little something. This year it's a dolly bead from A String of Beads. It came on Saturday and I have snaffled the photo from the website to show you. It is just stunning in real life.

365 #300

At last, a 365 photo! Beads again though - sorry. I'm a tad obsessed with them at the moment. Some of this little lot are destined to be turned into a bracelet. I'm itching to get on with it, but all the household duties and a retreat this weekend come first. Or do they...?

For a sense of scale, each of these teardrop shaped beads are about the size as the tip of your little finger.

An old flame...

At last, the lurgy is finally feeling like my body is kicking it in to touch! Hurrah! These last few weeks have been a nightmare, just hoping half term is kind to me.

As a result I treated myself to a trip to the Bead Fair this weekend in Harrogate. At first I didn't think I was going to spend much... that didn't last long. Jewellery making is an old hobby of mine, one for which I used to get a lot of commissions from people. So, here are the first pair of earrings I have made in about, oooh, ten years! Eeek! Kept them nice and simple though and used my favourite metal for them - Stirling Silver.

Thanks for looking!