Not One, But Two

After thinking and pondering, decided to activate the second Etsy shop. What, you say? Why would a time challenged sleep deprived person add another project to the list? Some of the items being created are loose charms that may not become a complete jewelry piece, but someone might enjoy using them in their work. There are a lot of beads, findings and other things in the stash that might outlive the jewelry maker, and could be put to use by someone else with more time. And there are other things, like hand-dyed yarn, fabric and other non-jewelry items that can be listed at the de-stash. If the dyer can part with them, anyway.

Anyway, the de-stash shop is activated and will be loaded up with beads, components, charms, fused glass cabochons and other useful things, very soon.

Linking to the Past

Have had some 'waiting room' time lately. Working on a replica of an old style of chain with crystals and pearls. Don't know the actual name of the style, popular in the 1920's and even up to the 1950's.

Seem to remember pieces like it belonging to family members, costume finery. Sometimes only fragments.

This piece is now four inches long, a mixture of small, medium and oblong pearls combined with crystals on dark metal for the links.

The pink dichroic glass cabochon next to it is a possibility for combining with the triple-link chain, maybe for a bracelet.

Lots of fiddly bits to this style of chain, good for occupying hands and mind during downtime and waiting time.

Have a tool used for these mobile projects. The old name for them is 'rosary pliers' because they have all the actions needed for making rosary style chain. Some call them '3 in 1 pliers' - either way, they have a cutter, round nose pliers and an area of flat nose pliers combined in one tool. Very handy for carrying around, only need one tool instead of two or three.

Will get this length of chain finished and combined with a two-to-one linkage piece and a clasp. Might keep this one and make another for the Etsy shop.

Three Kingly Gems

All three cabochons after shaping, beveling and a fire polish. Very pleased with the results.

These three, or at least the crown and golden beowolf, are planned for jewelry making. Might post the blue-green latin gem to Etsy, haven't decided.

Have just the right charm to go with the crown gem, have to decide about the setting and the bail. Want to make something outstanding. And find time to fire a few more, maybe later today.

Gifties and Swifties

Got the red faceted glass piece with
'L-O-V-E' stamped into it put together in a sassy necklace, with red glass, crystal and ceramic beads on each side.

Added some red pressed glass flower beads onto hand balled headpins and dangled from the sides of the beveled red centerpiece.

Okay, love this one. Little silver flower shaped beads on the chain. And a bright red pressed glass tulip dangle on the toggle.

Must have spring on the mind, have L-O-V-E of flowers coming up all over.

Usual Grind

Got the three pieces shaped, beveled and fire polished. Carrying them around in a pocket, thinking about what they want to become. Turned out great, want to make some memorable things with them.
Also want to cut and make up a small reliquary treasure box charm. Need to etch some more glass for that, have the image in mind.

Got two spring and bird-related ideas today driving, can't wait to get the time to try them out.

The blue-green colors on the beveled crown turned out great, and the line quality is good. Still learning about using the enamels, the order of application and the amounts for color saturation.

Saving Daylight

Souvenier Francais

Carte Postale - or post card in french - are the words fired into this little pendant with the Eiffel Tower attached. The glass is deeply beveled on the front, turned out great. Amazing what can be made from a clear piece of glass. Going to post on Etsy. Difficult to photograph so that the bevels show, as they are quite slanted at 45 degree angle.

Have the 3 new pieces out of the kiln after 2 firings, one tack fuse for the enamel design and one full fuse for the cap on top. Need to shape, bevel and fire polish. Hope to use these three beveled gems myself, instead of posting as loose cabochons on Etsy.

Have some ideas involving chain, crystals and metal findings to try out with them.

bELLE aRMOIRE sPRING jEWELRY 2008

It's official, got the copy of the Spring 2008 Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine from the publisher in the mail.

The article is 5 pages, so exciting. All of the pieces sent for consideration were used, except for two that were held back for the Summer 2008 issue, along with the four sent later. First time being published, and the photography is outstanding!

Check it out, the whole issue is wonderful, the publisher is going to a quarterly publishing schedule and the articles are great. Celebrate with me! Chocolate kisses and mint candies couldn't be sweeter than this.

Tiny True Love Charm

Got the tiny setting with 'to my true love' encased in it uploaded to Etsy. The charm is reversible, looks a little like a locket on the back. Found a tiny key just the right size to hang from the charm.

Getting some traffic, which is good. The tiny birdhouse especially.

So cute, and very unique.

Also got some good feedback, thanks! Means a lot. The encouragement helps keep things going.

Got three small enameled pieces started, with the tack fuse done. Need to encase in the clear glass and do a full fuse. Getting the hang of creating the design with the enamel. Still takes several tries but the results are worth it.

Also put findings and a chain for the 'carte postale' blue shard piece. Added a french charm and heart toggle. Very neat, have to photograph. Vive Paris!

Bird Glass Houses

Tiny little birdhouse, made of thin etched glass put together with silver solder. The wires are vines wrapping around it. It sits on a table or hangs on a chain.

The thin glass is etched with designs from an antique woodcut. It's difficult to cut the thin glass without cracking it accidently. Have done that a few times, had to cut another piece.

The glass has to be carefully cut and ground so the pieces match up completely, edge to edge. Silver metal foil wrapped edges, soldered with silver solder. Darkened the metal with patina to make it more antique looking.

The little house is 1 1/2 inch tall and 1/2 inch square.
Went to the Glasshopper Fused Glass store today, got some more fusing supplies and a piece of coral glass.

Going to wire wrap some beads for a necklace. Clear beads with copper caps. Vintage looking, using darkened wire for the wrap. Also darkened a silver chain with small oval loops.

Wedged Blue Two

Beveling the dichroic fused cabochons gives a beautiful glow. Maybe the light strikes differently, maybe it's just the angles.

These two are blue, orange with a touch of green.

Have two more to grind and polish, they have red and silver dots. Will be interesting.

Liking these results a lot, worth the work. Will list these on Etsy as loose cabochons, but the next set polished will be to make something from.

Springing Winter Again

Tiny Boxes

The studio is cold again, glad the windows were opened when the temperature was 78 degrees, to air things out, since everything is closed up tight again today.

Learned a new way to make boxes, fun and quick. The collage boxes take a while to assemble. If there was a die-cut way to get them cut out it would speed things up, but this way works. Tiny little boxes for earrings, larger boxes for necklaces. And even fun to make, portable.

Hope someone notices the Venus Rising pieces of faceted glass before the temptation to use them is too overpowering. Will focus on making something with the blue shard pieces now that their edges are faceted also.

Four From One Venus

Gleaming Gems

The long glass piece in the earlier post, Venus Rising, has been turned into a set of gems. Can't believe how they turned out. The one long piece was cut into four, shaped and beveled. Then all four were fire polished.

The bevels turned out great, love what it did for the edges in reducing the bulk and making the pieces faceted like gems.

See the light bouncing off the bevels on the edges? Complex and deep bevels, but the backing of the cabochons is opaque, a pinkish color glass. Could be a necklace, earrings and a bracelet. Or could be a multi-part necklace with chain and faceted gemstones.

Can't decide whether to use them to make something myself, or post them as loose gems and see what someone else decides to make from them.

Need to use this same technique to make more like it. Very vintage, interesting and definitely one of a kind.

Could be wire wrapped like a gemstone, or set into a bevel setting. Or used with precious metal clay to make a setting for them. Thinking about possibilities creates desire to start in on them!

Venus Rising

GREAT NEWS!

Today is March 1 - got the issue of Belle Armoire with the article on the Faux Vintage Treasures! Wonderful, very pleased. Great photos, and the article is five pages. Celebrate with me!!! Check it out.
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Still working on the glass and enamels. This piece is enameled and fused, using several colors and underpainting. Tack fused first, then a second time, and fully fused. It's large right now, 1 1/2 inches wide by 3 1/2 inches tall. Plan to cut it into three pieces, top - middle - bottom.

Will shape the edges, then want to use the grinding disk to put bevels on the four sides. Haven't done that before, so the two extra smaller pieces are a place to start before using the central piece.

After beveling, back in the kiln for a fire polish. Hope it turns out as imagined.

Also made these three blue shard pieces. This is the amythest enamel, coming out like periwinkle blue. Nice, but different than planned. Not pink or purple, but washed denim blue. Still kind of cool.

Will grind the edges smooth and fire polish, probably when the other one goes in. Have been moving away from the red-coral-maroon colors toward the green-blue colors, not on purpose. Just happens.

Like these three pieces, learned a lot about using the enamels. Have some faceted blue crystals, want to use with one of these on wire wrapped chain. Beauties!

Mental Picture Looked Different

Or Try, Try Again

1. Learning and experimenting with the enamels - not as translucent as hoped. Succeeded in creating a muddy image, not what was pictured. Funny thing with glass, it looks one way going into the kiln and a totally different way after firing. Have to do a mental conversion ... and lots of testing.
   
   Will NOT be posting a photo of the results of last night's firing. But that's often what learning is, right? Pushing the edges to see 'what happens if' and trying it out to see! And it's only glass so it's okay to try.
   
   What was learned while working with enamels:

Do NOT use hands to scratch eyes no matter how itchy
Do NOT sneeze
Always wear an apron
Colors do not behave like inks, fabric dyes or paints
First fuse should only be a tack fuse (1300 degrees F) not full fuse (1500 degrees F)
Be sure all liquids are dry before fusing to avoid bubbles (unless bubbles are wanted)
Fired enamels do NOT scratch off (be sure colors are where you planned)Colors will be matte until top layer of clear glass is fused over

All very useful things to know.

Have drawn the blueprints for a tiny glass birdhouse. Bought hand cast pewter bird charms (lovely!) from Mamacita Beadworks http://www.mamacitabeadworks.etsy.com/ in New York and can't wait for delivery.

Will start making the tiny birdhouse while the next enameled glass piece fires.

Got inspired and feather-brained and made this 'W' is for Wren necklace, with brass components and a fused glass tile with a letter 'W' attached.

Just adorable, love it. It's folksy and quaint and has a feeling of spring, with berries and birds and warm tones.

Busy and Busiest

Hearts and Home

Doing the step-out photography for the image transfer magazine article tomorrow. Have to deliver next week.

Also have some glass-metal-found object collage projects to try, related to the 'medals' theme in mind.

Experimental fusing ideas to try.

Will post photos as things progress.

Also important, photographs for the Belle Armoire pieces that have returned, want to improve the ones on the Etsy site. Counting down to March 1 when the issue is available.

But first - here's are photos of the front and back of a 3-D house built of engraved glass and fused glass.

An idea that's been kicking around for a little while, decided to go ahead and try it out. The very dark patina took very well on the silver solder, makes the piece look very old.

From roof to floor this little charmer is an inch and a half tall. The charm on the front is fused glass with a heart shape embedded in it. The clear glass was engraved and painted before fusing, giving it that leafy look.

On the shot of the back the engraved glass shows up really well. It's totally enclosed, with roof, four walls and a floor of engraved ultra-thin glass, copper foiled and silver soldered.

Getting ideas for other things to try along these lines. FUN!

Also did two kiln fusing runs today, experimenting with enamels and more dichroic glass. Shaped the pieces, they are cooling in the kiln now.

So hard to wait until they are room temperature, but so important to let them anneal slowly.

Shell and Buttons

This lovely piece (one of my favorites) with the engraved glass and the vintage mother-of-pearl button and faceted glass dangle has found a home. I am very pleased that someone liked it. It's really a distinctive piece. I wanted to take some more photos of it before I wrap it, put it in an organza bag with its chain, and ship it out.

It hangs quite long, 3 1/2 inches from top of the glass rectangle to the bottom of the faceted glass bead.

All the silver has had a once-over, polished to a satin finish and a sunshine silver polishing cloth. It's ready to go to its new home. It and the heart earrings in the earlier post are going together. So gratifying to have someone admire your work.

Have several more pieces of engraved glass, want to make some more pieces with them.

Hearts On Fire - Doubles

Made these tiny earrings, just posted to Etsy. Love the earwires. Balled the ends, then flattened them. Different shape, like a paddle, for the dangle earrings. Made three sizes, small-medium-long.

Put a dark patina on them, some of the earring pendants made recently have a dark patina on the silver. Needed earwires to go with them.

Started to try the chain idea that's bouncing in the brain, but the wire didn't want to cooperate. The pieces are still in the pickle, need to see if anything can be used.

Trying new things means learning, but also sometimes means learning what doesn't work in real life the same way it worked in your imagination, I guess.

Another Heart, But Broken

Dichroic Broken Heart or Heartbreaker Pendant

Here's the Heartbreaker pendant after shaping and fire polishing. The shape is nice and even, and the dichroic flares like sparklers, when it is moved around the colors change from green to blue and a little lavender at the edges.

Flashy!

The cracked heart is deep burgundy red, all the colors held up in the kiln really well.

The hanging loop was made from sterling wire, fused together with the torch, then hammered with texture to make the wide link for the faceted ball chain to roll through. The rough texture of the silver is a nice contrast to the smooth glass surface.

See in the earlier photos how the cabochons looked when they came out of the kiln the first time, the shaping and fire polishing really makes a difference.

Birds and Burners

Dark and Soldering Dawn

Up before dawn, getting cabochons out of the kiln after shaping and fire polishing. One did decide to take a leap off the kiln shelf and will need to be re-done, a first. Now has an odd kind of texture on the top, of course it would leap and land face down. Like jelly on bread when dropped on the floor, must land jelly side down.

Got the custom order for the tiny girl's post earrings wrapped in silver and the posts and backs applied today.

Very cute, not too small so the hearts don't show. Not too large for small ears. Hope they go over well. Put reserved on Etsy.

Shipped out two orders this morning, the Belle Armoire package arrived yesterday. Was able to package up the pieces that sold but couldn't be shipped. Slipped in a 'thank you' gift for the patience.

Need to re-photograph the other pieces and add to Etsy, need better photos. It's like seeing old friends, had forgotten how nice some of the pieces were. Can't wait to see the article in March '08.

Thinking of setting up a second shop for the invented vintage pieces, and keep the glass pieces separate, as they are different in style, more contemporary. Not sure yet.

Teeny Tiny Hearts

Studio Day

Going to use the thin new sheet of clear 90 COE glass to make some teeny tiny heart earrings. Also want to punch out some words with steel letter stamps and embed in glass. Love to have sayings between glass sheets.

Forgot to ask about the diamond carbide hollow bits when the frit and glass enamels were bought yesterday. May have to get those online or mail order, need to drill holes in glass.

Fusing, soldering and punching day.

Here's a photo of the studio with the grinder and the soldering station showing. The messy end of the room.

Need to test the new dichroic to see what it does. Shiny!

Here's the kiln, venting and about to open and unload the new pieces.

The kiln is about 300 degrees F, so gloves are needed to pull the kiln shelf out.

So hard to wait until it's room temperature.

The pieces are sitting on thin fire shelf paper. Can't get more than one firing out of it, since it's going up to 1500 degrees F for fusing.

The colors of the cabochons don't show very well in the webcam photos, but there are dichroic shiny pieces in this group.

This is the new dichroic that was fired first time today. Very softly reddish dichroic sparkles, behind the bright red heart shapes.

Made one cabochon with a 'broken heart' design in it. Sitting on top of yellow glass with the dichroic on top.

Need to create the bezels and wrap in silver, attach the sterling silver loops and make the earwires for earrings. Fun! Might get one more firing in today, after grinding, shaping and fire polishing these pieces.