Tiny Dots of Melted Glass

I just discovered Caitlin Hyde and OMG it takes an amazing skill, steadiness, knowledge about the way certain glass and colors melt to create these intricate designs. I also love her mandala beads. She recently made eight necklaces (which are all gorgeous) as part of a lending library project. The necklaces have made their lending circuit and are now on the auction block to go into private libraries! Wish I could own all of them!

Implosions

Implosions are lampwork designs that can be made off mandrel or with tubing. It is a way to turn glass inside out and results in really beautiful designs in glass that have a painterly depth.

The technique is often done in borosilicate glass. When I first saw one I was fairly new to lampworking and if it involved melting glass, boro or other, I wanted to try. My first implosions were okay, but then I saw Brent Graber's video. I've seen it twice now and I'm ready to try again!

Brent's video is beautifully instructional without words. Nothing but background music, cool music, and it's my favorite tutorial video of all time. Brent's business is Orgasmic Glass, and he is also known as Mr. Smiley, creator of the "Smiley Heart". Click the picture of the pendant below to watch the video...it will give you an excellent idea of what it takes to make a lampwork glass pendant

Anastasia....isn't she the lost princess?

Well, she's a treasure anyway, that is for sure!!! I'm sitting here, with my toes above my nose, and avoiding the effort it takes to go down the stairs with a broken ankle. Wishing I were in my studio downstairs, and looking at a lot of inspiration, brought me across Anastasia Beads. They are so unique and I love how she goes beyond the shape of a "bead" to make unique pieces of art that are somewhat sculptural. Tiny dots, tiny stringers, HUGE IMPACT.

Astrid Reidel

What can I say but "WOW"! Love her details and balance, unique shapes...it must be fun to be her! Check her website out too!

One of the few men of fire

Trey Cornette is awesome! I took a class from him and learned more than I could have expected and techniques that are like no other! This bead is amazing! Is it perfectly sized and placed dots of ivory on blue, or is it blue stringer on ivory....I think its the first...much harder to accomplish but if anyone could Trey could!

Holly Cooper

I've always envied her ability to combine masking and dragging and her exquizite third eye to see fabulous patterns that remind me of India (her Bysantina site), Eames Era (her Graphicos site), and Greco/Mayan art (her Holly Cooper site)

In the Details

No one lampworker does detail the way Astrid Reidel does detail. I just don't get it. When I use detail it looks like mud, a bunch of clutter. When Astrid does detail it is magic!

Dreaming of Beading

I recently broke my ankle and have been instructed to keep my toes over my nose. I've been so busy with school too, and have been missing sitting at the torch. But I am addicted to lampwork beads and if I can't make em', I can drool over the ones made by others!

Here are some of my faves today. I love these by Amy of AKDesigns. I love the whispy lenses and the simplicity and elegance. I love the way the ivory looks so antique and the perfect geometry created by the skillful placement of dots of molten glass!

I also love these by Dawn (The Raku Queen) of Artinsomnia. Someday I will find an artful balance between detail and design like these stunning peacock beads!