It’s been slow here lately. Creativity blocked. But, finally, I think the mojo is back! Here are some of the latest.

Well, October is almost over and Halloween is near. You wouldn’t know it was fall here in Houston. Still very warm and no rain in over a month.

I have been on the torch most weekends. Recently, Kim Neely came out with 2 new tutorials, and I have been reading and trying out her methods. She is a truly incredible glass artist and you can see her work at www.bluffroadglass.com. Today I am posting pics of my first attempt at making her “Bones” beads.  The actual size of these beads is approximately 1-1/4″ x 3/4″.

I am reasonably pleased with my first attempt. Although, I’m not really sure how to incorporate them into something wearable. I ask everyone to post ideas for these beads. I could possibly list them on my website as just beads and see what someone can make them into. Please send me your ideas.  I’m thinking about a bead give-away to the best idea. Yeah, thats it a give-away of  Free Bone beads to the best idea. Cool huh? 

Send ideas to carbedix@hotmail.com and I will send beads to the person with best idea. Hopefully we can post pics of the finished product next month.

All lampwork glass beads and jewelry has been marked down 10% to 15%!!! The inventory is growing – need to move some peices, so hence the sale. Remember Christmas is coming before you know it. There are lots of colorful little bits to choose from so if you’ve been drooling over something, go for it!

I also have new items up today. Here is a preview.

Well, it’s the end of August. Hopefully, our soaring temps and humidity will settle down soon.
My garden has given me a few pleasant surprises despite the heat. I have 2 ginger plants blooming. The 2 Heliconia I planted earlier in the month have survived. I really thought the heat would be too much for them but they are still putting up new leaves.
Last weekend’s work on the torch has yeilded a happy surprise. I actually made a cat. Sculptural beads are not easy for me but this on actually looks like a cat. His name is Al E. Cat. hee hee. Most of all the weekend session resulted in beads that pass my inspection. Will post more in September.

Al E. Cat

Neptunes Garden

Cherry Sparkle

Dazzle

Lavender Sand

Neptunes Garden

It’s been so hot here. I have been on the torch mainly on Saturdays and Sunday mornings. After noon or 1:00 pm the heat combined with the kiln is just too much. But I have made some progress. Here are some of the latest creations.

Neptunes Garden

Aurora Necklace made using Kim Neely's Tutoral on using silvered glass.

Aurora Bracelet and Necklace

     I purchased a tutorial from Kim Neely this week.  Kim Neely is an incredible lampwork artist, her work can be seen at http://www.bluffroadglass.com/ .  Soooo, I have been busy trying out her techniques and making some really cool beads.

     The heat here is stifling, combined with the heat of the kiln, my sessions on the torch have been limited to the mornings and only last 3 to 4 hours. As for spending time with my horses, the heat has limited that also, although I did get a nice ride in yesterday. We kept our ride to a leisurly walk so we won’t overheat.

     I will post some pics of this weeks work. Everyone have a great week.

Fire Coral Necklace & Bracelet Set

I have still been spending a lot of time on the torch practicing making and applying cane. This is a set I combined with coral. I also have some beads “in process” in the blue/purple range.

I will be adding a new category – “Ankle Bracelets”.  This category will probably not have any lampwork beads in it since these require small delicate beads and findings. I have several made, just need to photograph and upload.

Anyone wanting something specific, don’t hesitate to contact me. I will try to make whatever you need.

Hope everyone had a safe and fun 4th of July.

I have been working on the torch practicing making the complex cane that Michelle made in her demo class. Then making beads with that. Seems like I’ve been on the torch in the heat and humidity all weekend for the last 2 weekends. Sweating like a horse.
I’ve come up with some new, cool stuff. Just purchased some new crimp ends for round leather cord and have been making some peices on leather. Also some peices strung on beadsmith stringing wire combined with leather. Sounds, confusing.. I have some pics.
Finally, my Echincea “Tomato Soup” has bloomed. Red coneflower, who’d have thought. There is also white, yellow and orange coneflowers. Cone flowers, Rudbeckia, Coreopsis and Salvia are my garden favorites. The garden is struggling a bit in the awful heat. I have had to water more often (oops, there goes the water bill).
Too hot to ride horses so I’ll be on the torch again this weekend.

Still on the mandrels.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010. 

I’ve been working on loading all my creations into my website. Horsefeathersglass.com. So far, I have gotten most of it loaded.  I’m definitely not a computer genius.  Here are a few of my latest creations.

Clio beads