Bargello Beads

Check out the new beads.  Finally, a little time to get to the torch.  Of real interest to me is the bead on the right hand side.  It's a Bargello design - where the glass is pulled to create the patterning.

blurry close-up of the Bargello pattern of the bead

I love making these kinds of beads.  Bargello is an interesting pattern to make.  It's not always easy and for certain doesn't always go the way you'd like but it's always interesting.  Bargello patterns are generally done in needlework and the designs can blow you away.  I wish I could do more of them in lampwork but the one I chose to do is pretty straight forward.

I'm so visually oriented I thought I'd add a quick sketch. 

I make a base bead in the main color I'm using and then add stripes around the circumference of the bead, melted in.  Any color or variety of colors you choose is okay since it is traditionally seen in many colors.  Then I use my steel paring knife to "barely" drag it down the length of the bead.  Since steel drags and graphite doesn't it's good to use a steel knife to do this.  You are carefully pulling the lines down the bead - this isn't like a plunge and drag, which would be messy.  You lay the knife edge on it and gentle pull down.  When one line is done you do another going in the opposite direction.  This, once you are all the way around will create the pattern.  There WILL be ridges across the bead length from this - don't worry.  Gently melt the bead back into it's shape and roll carefully along a graphite paddle...remember, not much drag on this one.  Be gentle and it will reshape itself to a nice form without ridges - just pattern.

Remember the old crocheted afghans in a zigzag pattern?  Yup, bargello.  It's on clothes, on quilts, beads in polymer and glass, all over the place.  Above are some simple patterns but if you go to the link I included above you will see a ton of images you can use for color combos and possibilities.  Pretty cool stuff huh?

Meet a Kindred Spirit

I love making eye beads.  They are such a great talisman.  Quite a while ago I sold an entire orphan set of beads I had - mostly extras from the focus group beading for Jeri Warhaftig's book.  This great person snatched them up and promised when she made some jewelry she'd let me.  Wow, she did and here is the incredible result of her work.

The artist is Amy Semenchek of Chek Designs - Amy has a Etsy snipet for her piece and I asked her if she would mind if I passed along the information - here is what she said:

"Can't you see? It's all perspective!" - Mixed media necklace. Etched and enameled copper tube accented with crystals and amazing lamp work "eye" bead create a fun "perspective" on life! It jingles, too! $52.

Look at the great etched eye on the copper tubing - it's just right up my style with the talisman intent.  Nice job Amy - it's great to know what my beads are used for and I love the eye candy a great piece of jewelry provides.  Thank you for sharing.

Halloween fun.

I could live in a perpetual state of Spring and Fall....skip the rest.  Those are my seasons.  Love them!  I had a special order for a long time friend and customer - Cherie Smith of Glitterbug Originals and this is one of my "outakes" from that order.  Cherie loves to challenge me with her ideas.  Some of them (LOL) would take a microscope and thread thick stringers to accomplish.  She's not a lampworker so she doesn't always get what is doable in that flame.  It doesn't matter though because she is always flexible and understanding.  This time she listed several things she'd like to have created and I did my best.  I should have taken photos but there wasn't time.

Often, if it's a new thing for me to make, I have to do a mock up first.  It lets me know which layer of the design goes on first and what challenges in the process need to be altered.  Some times I will work in the actual size (Cherie likes earrings) or I will go for a larger piece I can sell on my site
and then downsize after the process and design is worked out.

This time I ended up with a cute witches shoe in a larger size to list on Etsy.  I think it would be a cute necklace.  I happened to have this rubber stamp that says "I have my eye on you".  Don't you think it would make a cutie of a necklace?  Etsy seems to be having its issues today so I'll probably get it listed tomorrow.  I wonder what else I should be making for the Fall season - ideas?

And I'd do it again...

The Amazing Holly Copper

 The last of the classes I took at Bead and Button was a lampworking class from Holly Cooper.  Admittedly the worst problem I have with lampwork is stringer control.  It has been beyond my grasp for a very long time.  Holly is an expert at stringer control.  She places it perfectly on her beads every time and in every place she wants it.  Her beads are rich with pattern all done with stringer.  I love them.  They have an ancient look about them, like a well-loved vase or statue that takes on a patina of its own as it is touched for centuries.

Holly was a kind and patient teacher.  She works exclusively on a hot-head.  To think she does her amazing work on what most people consider a beginner’s torch is just amazing.  Holly said there isn’t any use in changing what works for her.  And who the heck can disagree with her kind of success. 

So, if you’re wondering if it was worth it to take the class – oh hell yes.  I have never laid a stringer on so straight as I did with Holly’s approach to using the flame in that way.  Was I perfect with it right way – no hell no – but I can certainly see that about ten beads from now it’s going to get a whole lot better.  The only thing I need now is some PPP (practice, practice, practice).

Would I recommend this class to others?  ABSOLUTELY!  Holly was patient – she even had handouts (now when have you seen this with a lampworker – and it’s about time!) – the technique is totally solid and doable.  I’d even take a class with her again and I don’t repeat many instructors. 

Thanks Holly.  It was a great experience and love the way you do things.

My friend Mallory and I traded some beads recently. Well, recently for me because I wanted to do a special bead for her. Mallory’s beads arrived a while ago but I resisted the temptation to open the package. I just plain decided to delay the gratification until I had reciprocated. Leaving the package where I could see it every day kind of drove me bonkers but unless I was going to be “on the ball” I refused to treat myself. Now isn’t that just the most self-flagellating thing you’ve heard lately, a bead person who can resist looking at her new beads? Well, the wait is over. My bud’s beads have affixed and I’m opening my package for everyone to see. Woot! Woot!

                                 Here we go and I'm so excited to finally open my package.

Here they are – Eggs and Bacon. You see, that is my favorite meal. I could eat it just about any time of day. It’s not that I’ve ever met a food I didn’t like but bacon – well, yummy stuff. Since Mallory was making these beads I thought a trade would be fun since she had a hankering for something I had. But, gheeze – look at the number of beads she sent! Holy Moley. I better get busy making some jewelry.

              I want to stamp some phrases to go with these. What “egg" sayings do you have?
                                                        So far I’m thinking:
                                                        Keep your sunny side up.
                                                        Eggs-cellent
                                                        Bacon - The other white meat.

                                                         Thanks Mallory

    And be sure to check out For The Love of Beads - It's Mallory's blog and she's a very good writer.