Here is my first beaded key. Was loads of fun to make! A rose lampwork bead wrapped around an antique key… would look gorgeous as a pendant on a long neck chain.

I was on a bit of a bell flower kick last night after learning how to make them using a pin vice. What a world of difference a pin vice can make… These flowers have come up perfect and are totally addictive to make. The larger flowers are my favourite but the small ones are just as pretty. All of these have been made with copper wire for the headpins so now that I’ve mastered the technique  I think it’s time to invest in some fine silver wire. I’ll be using these beauties with copper findings to make some very vintage looking bracelets.

I managed to battle the heat yesterday and make a few bell flowers. Still not perfect but getting there. I made a pair of frit test beads and a single frit test lentil before it got too hot and I had to stop… oh and also I burnt my finger for the first time in 4 years since I started lampworking. I mean, it was bound to happen one day right?

Bracelet made with my own lampwork bead in the center teamed with sterling silver curved tubes and wire wrapped Swarovski crystals on either side of  the focal bead. The bracelet is finished off with a S-clasp. Forgive me for the slightly out of focus picture.

Woops… I wasn’t on time yesterday and fell asleep quite early so I’ll have to make up for days 14 and 15 today.

Day 14 – A memory wire bracelet made using black velvet tubing strung with Swarovski crystals and bali silver, and features my own lampwork crystal shaped bead. The bead has been made using a silver-rich colour shifting glass and goldstone before being encased in crystal clear. I love how this has turned out and it is very light to wear.

Day 15 – A pair of earrings made using my own lampwork beads strung with Swarovski crystals and bali silver with sterling silver findings. The lampwork beads have been made using an Anne Dundas frit blend which I am currently testing. I love the jungle hues.

Last night the weather did a complete 360 degree turn around and it was pleasantly cold enough to melt some glass. Unfortunately for me my lack of practice was evident so the beads I made didn’t turn very out very well. The big flower bead that I made came out of the kiln with 3 small cracks (incompatibility I reckon) and I have to practice using the Carlo Donna tools ‘coz my bell flowers turned out pretty wonky… I bought some more wire today so I can make more bell flowers. That will probably be this weekend’s mission.

Well what a contrast to yesterday’s weather! When I got home after work tonight it was pelting down with rain and there was zero sunshine outside. Thus another crappy picture this week, I’ve had to take it in the garage with artificial ceiling light. Please forgive me…

Today’s offering is a lampwork pair of earrings set in sterling silver and Swarovski crystals which I made last night. As usual the beads are my own… A special colour shifting glass (it only looks yellow in the photo but it has a tinge of baby blue and pink depending on the light) wrapped with fine silver wire then encased in crystal clear.

It’s so super hot right now that I can’t even bear to stand in the sun and take a good photo, so you’ll have to put up with this bad one instead. Last night was pretty warm so I opted to work on this seed bead project. It’s a right-angle-weave lariat and the rope is about half way there… the total length must be 80cm but this rope is one of the hardest to do. I must have made something like 5 attempts at it before I got it right!

I’ve been itching to melt glass but this heat keeps getting in the way… I’m really crossing my fingers for some cooler weather soon. I haven’t even touched those beautiful Carlo Donna tools yet…

A red rosebud pair of earrings this time made with my own lampwork beads and Swarovski crystal wire wrapped with Sterling silver… although I admit that they look more like strawberries than rosebuds… woops! need to aim for better shape next time…

Earrings made with my very own white rose bud lampwork beads teamed with Swarovski crystals and wire wrapped with Sterling silver.