New Lampwork

 New lampwork! The encased floral ones I chose to make the beads longer, instead of the rounder ones that I am more accustomed to make. It turned out well, but the shaping was harder as overheating the glass makes it want to go back to a round shape. I have been very afraid to do much work with dots, it takes a very steady, yet patient hand which I have not mastered. But these ones were the best dotted ones I have done so far.

Lampwork Frit Experiments

I just bought my first bag of reduction frit from Nortel. This stuff is awesome! I really like all the colours the glass can turn, from purple to turquoise to orange. I only reduced the frit on the last bead for a metallic effect and was very relieved that the colours turned out too. It is fascinating how the base colour also has a huge effect on how the colours turn out on the reduction frit and how well the frit spreads on the base colour. 

Tourmaline Wrapped Ring

On my recent trip to Paris, I stumbled across a gem store by the Louvre.  My French is horrible but I managed to ask to see the tourmaline stones. I picked this green, untreated bar and thought it would be perfect for a ring. The ring is wrapped in silver plated wire with an asymmetrical design. 

Lampwork Bracelet II

My skills of making flowers has greatly improved (I think)! I put dots of white underneath the coloured petals. My mother picked the colours for these beads, the purple and blue is perfectly contrasted with each other. 

Lampwork Bracelet

I have been practicing the art of making flowers in lampwork. I used mostly clear and opal colours for these beads, even a little bit of aqua glitter intertwined with the base colour. I wish I would have given the petals more definition by putting a layer of white before the colour petals. Just a great excuse to do more lampworking! ~SOLD~

Pink Sapphire Ring

This Sunday is Mother's Day and it would be one of the few times that I actually remembered it on time to make something myself for my mother. I crafted this ring for my mother out of wrapped silver wire and a rather large pink sapphire facet I bought from Thailand last year. The wrapping around the stone is simple, if the ring was for me, I would have made it more complicated, but my mother has simpler tastes than me. I have another exact same pink sapphire available for commission as well! ~For SALE~ 

Swarovski Chandeliers

I have not made earrings in a long time, it is unfortunate, I know. Amidst my design rampage, I had an inspiration for making earrings! These earrings are chandeliers with Swarovski teardrop crystals in sapphire, tanzanite, and aquamarine colours. I love the way these turned out and I have promised myself to make more earrings from now on! ~For Sale~

Lampwork and Chainmaille

My first attempts at chainmaille, yes, it made my head hurt. Keeping track of the jump rings was more difficult than I had imagined. I made the chainmaille components for two necklaces with my lampwork beads.  I really like the way the chainmaille showcase the lampwork and will venture into more complicate chainmaille patterns for the future! ~For Sale~

Aquamarine and Pearl

I've been on a designing rampage since I graduated two weeks ago. This is one of the results. The body is made out of a piece of aquamarine, topped off with a natural freshwater pearl. The pendant is wrapped in silver wire and finished with silver chain and findings.~FOR SALE~