Lobolita

Today’s post is brought to you courtesy of my new haircut.  I’ve been experimenting with hollow beads today:

Hollow CIM Chalcedony, DH Triton and Gaia frit, CIM clear dots.
Hollow Vetrofond Smoke Rings
Hollow CIM Sangre with Triton frit
Effetre transparents and opaques with Triton frit
Hollows: CIM Kryptonite with Effetre Periwinkle swirls, Unknown Frantz box pink with Effetre dark [...]

Do you suffer from Poor Photography Syndrome, as I do? Do you live in a cloudy climate, rushing out to take pictures in the only spot of sunshine for miles around, only to discover that the batteries in your camera have died? Do you forget to take a picture of your work during the daylight [...]

COE 104, not perfect, but hopeful! I’m going to try to put some in beads tonight.

Still working on the baby sweater–I’m languishing somewhat on the plain sleeves. Today I sat down and sorted through the 5lb box of shorts I got from Frantz for my birthday. Mike Frantz promised some regular and some special glass, and he delivered. Here’s what I got:
1. About 1/4 lb of stringer, most of it [...]

I’ve been working all weekend on a sweater to match the Gansey Booties I designed for Gid. Sorry about the cell phone picture–I can’t find my camera.
I’m using the same Cotton-Ease as before, and I really like the fabric as it’s being knit up. I have enough of this yarn in stash to make three [...]

Ivory glass has sulfur in it, and turquoise and some green glasses have copper. When the two are used together, as in this set of beads, a black line will develop between the two colors, and the edges of dots or lines may fray a little, giving the beads an antique look.
These beads have a [...]

This set is my most successful so far, made with white, clear, transparent pale blue, black, and beautiful, beautiful Vetrofond Odd Lot Streaky Sapphire.
I actually got the clear to work for me without scumming or burning by turning my torch way down and working far out in the flame. It’s slow, but it works.

The mirror crack’d from side to side
The curse has come upon me, cried
The Lady of Shalott
-Alfred, Lord Tennyson
-(or, if you prefer, Agatha Christie)
I initially titled this post “compatibility issues,” but I really hate the current usage of the word “issues” in that sort of context. I fall into it from time to time, because I [...]

To the tune of the Star Wars theme. I’ve been busy.
Spacers, striped spacers (practicing stringer control), and various ill-advised efforts at fanciness. All in Effetre from my practice glass stash. Nothing is annealed yet because the kiln is at my parent’s house, and we still have to figure out how to use it. For now, [...]

Also, sewing. Also, cooking. And relationships. And personal hygiene.
I got my propane tank, my 5′ hose, my vermiculite, and I’m off to the races. In pursuit of actually, you know, getting good at this, I’m starting with the “100 spacers” theory. Those who know say that if you make 100 spacers, by the end you’ll [...]