The other week I was on a roll making small lampwork beads. The nice thing is that I can usually wrap 7-9 of these small suckers on one mandrel. The not so nice thing is cleaning the beads and reaming out the bead release. That’s probably the reason why you don’t see these type of artisan beads for sale very often. Labor intensive!
These beads are fairly small for lampworking standards, maybe measuring 4 mm x 7 mm, There are slight variations in size and shape because I don’t use any shaping tools. I love the variations though, because it shows that these are indeed handmade.
I’ve also been on a glass etching kick and have been etching many of the beads for that, low sheen soft look and feel. I’m using the beads to make a series of mostly monochromatic micro macrame necklaces featuring some of my Apoxie Clay focal pendants along with other artisan pendants and beads. Here’s a sampling of what has been knotted this week.
Oh, I love small lamp worked beads, have a few in my stash. (Like the big ones too of course.) Didn’t know they cause extra much work. Thanks for making them! And your necklaces are all wonderful! I really like how you work with the makrame and your lampwork spacers to comunicate with the designs of the pendants. Beautiful great work!
Oh wow these are all beautiful. It is indeed a shame that these small beads aren’t around so much, i love them.
I really like the etched beads, they have, as you say, a soft feel to them, almost like sea glass. Your macrame is brilliant, something i might look into doing one day.
I have a huge tip on bead release, I found out by accident that if you mix Bucket of Mud, Fusion and Pink Slipper in equal amounts you get a bead release that will simply clean out of most beads by running your beads up and down the mandrel. You will be left with about 1 out of 8 beads that will actually need to be manually cleaned.
Get out! For real? I’m going to try that recipe real soon. How’s it’s holding power for larger beads? And thanks.
Those lampwork beads are lovely!!
etched beads are often very very beautiful and interesting in the way they turn out …love <3
and the necklaces too..it is fun to see what You make with "my" pendants :)!!as I did not see much of what artists make with them..
what is apoxie clay??
Thanks. I like to see what other people have done with some of my beads too. And it’s always nice when I get the chance to see someone wearing a piece that I have made. Apoxie is a two part clay. You mix equal amounts of it together and it starts to harden on its own in about two hours. It dries overnight. It can be sanded drilled, carved, painted. I like it better than polymer clays. It seems to be more durable and you don’t have to mess around with cooking it.
Love your necklace designs, very inspiring !
Greetings, Lina
Thank you Lina.