SE8 - Eighth Silver Color How To eBook

This booklet is a compilation of exchange beads submitted for SE8 – Eighth Silver Color How To and Exchange - on lampworketc forum. With 35 pages, there are over 80 beads with description. Each bead is accompanied by the recipes of glasses used and some have detailed step by step description of how the bead was made (the level of detail is based on how much information the original beadmaker shared.)

Other content includes a list of silver glass by manufacturers and notation of the glass being striking or reducing, and index of each silver glass used in the booklet for easy reference, and a basic step-by-step (illustrated with photos) instruction on how to strike and how to reduce silver glass.

Silver glassmakers featured: ASK, BellaDona, Double Helix, Effetre, Lauscha, Precision 104, Reichenbach, StrikingColor, TAG 104, and Kugler.

This pdf version of SE8, at 9.7 mb, is for viewing on your computer. You may also print one (1) copy of this using your printer at home. No authorization will be given with this version to print at a service bureau such as Kinko's. Please make sure you have high-speed internet connection. Instant download is available here!
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S E 8 - pdf version

This pdf version of SE8 - Eighth Silver Color How To e-Book, at 9.7 mb, is for viewing on your computer. You may also print one (1) copy of this using your printer at home. No authorization will be given with this version to print at a service bureau such as Kinko's. Please make sure you have high-speed internet connection. Instant download is available for $17.00 on our online store! Click here to purchase.

Please note that this item cannot be returned.


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S E 8 - printed book version
The spiral bound, printed book format of SE 8 - Eighth Silver Color How To e-Book is available at lulu.com for $35.00 plus shipping.
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/se8/18637106

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S E 8 - CD version
The CD version contains a high-resolution pdf of SE8 – Eighth Silver Color How To e-Book, as well as an authorization letter, also in pdf format, to print one (1) copy of the booklet at a service bureau, such as Kinko's. This CD version will be mailed to you via first class USPS shipping within one business day after purchase. Please allow two business days for international shipping. Available upon request.

Bedazzled! a reference ebook on layering Clio, Kalypso, and more!

Layering Double Helix striking and reducing silver glass is all the rage right now and I have been caught up in making these shocking pink, magenta and red beads that also shimmer gloriously with iridescence. It’s hard to resist! Trouble tho is that it’s near impossible to tell them apart unless one takes meticulous notes and photograph them as soon as they come out of the kiln. Trust me, I know! So early on, I have made it a point to keep copious notes of my progress. As I experimented with different base glass and various silver glass, my notebook for just this series grew and became quite a nice little reference piece. I decide that perhaps some of my fellow beadmakers may be interested in having a copy as well. I have put it together in such a way that they are shown in different silver glass on the same base, as well as the same silver glass on various bases. I especially love the group shots for even closer scrutiny of the subtleties of these combinations. I hope you enjoy Bedazzled!

The last four pages of this ebook are for those of you who may want a mini poster or two around your torching area for a quick reference to the different color combinations. Actually, the entire eBook can be printed out as mini posters! :) The beads posted here were made with the same base color with various striking and reducing silver glass.

Bedazzled eBook is 17 pages long with over 75 unique images. It is not a step-by-step tutorial on creating any bead but a reference guide on the various layering recipes to achieve the HOT, HOT, HOT colors that bedazzle! For those who are not familiar with the layering technique, a two-page basic tutorial with basic sample dot beads is included.

Bedazzled is available for $23 at our online store! Click here to purchase.

Double Helix Clio Dark

Once in a while, Double Helix offers an "odd" batch of its regular production silver glass that is . . . I hate to say "better" because it really isn't . . . different. It's also probably because it's "odd" and may not be around for long. Examples are Psyche Light, Aurae Light Gold, and the latest . . . Clio Dark!

Can you say LOVE?

Double Helix Tinted Opaques

In addition to the wonderful tinted luster test batches Double Helix had for the ISGB Gathering last month, there were its newest tinted opaques! I had a chance to play with them a bit and here are two beads made with OC472, TH473, OP470 on Opal Yellow and Pink.

The top bead also has some Reichenbach 96 pink (the small dots) and the row of dots on the right of the bead is Effetre 253 (it spreads and devits and is reactive on the OY, very cool).

I find that the OC472 is a lot like the old ASK Silver Cinnamon/Silver Rattan except that you can strike it to a shimmering dark brick color (see under the purple flowers in the bead below as well as the first bead on the left in the last picture). The TH473 is a bit like ASK Mediterranean Olive and it also reduces! OP 470 is a pretty lavender but upon reduction, it turns gray/tan so I usually erase some of the reducing effects with an oxidizing flame to bring back some of the purple.

What I love about these three colors is that unlike Effetre opaques, they do NOT spread so they are perfect for my Ornate Series beads!


In pairs, from left to right, OC472, TH473 and OP470, all reduced.

Highlight(s) of the 2011 ISGB Gathering in Louisville, Kentucky

Top on the list of the highlights, hands down, is winning John Kobuki's marble at the Live Auction. After watching the video of its creation during his fantastic presentation - and learning that he had none for sale - I was determined to have it. My meager photography does not do its beauty justice!





More highlights to come! :)

Double Helix Test Batches - Tinted Luster

One of the most anticipated events in our silver glass world is the release of Double Helix's test batches at the annual ISGB conference, The Gathering! This year in Louisville, Kentucky, beadmakers will be in for a treat! In addition to many other test batches, Double Helix will be offering at least eight of its newest Tinted Luster silver glass. Unlike the bling of its popular reducing silver glass such as Triton, Aurae, etc. These Tinted Luster are more subtle and yield beautiful shimmering ghostly effects under encasement. Unfortunately photographing these effects is extremely challenging! Remember that when you check out the following images!

I used Aether to encase all the beads that have encasement except for those in the last photo. I hope to create more test beads using Zephyr but my stash of Zephyr is running extremely low. I am happy to say that in addition to all the amazing test batches, Double Helix will be pre-releasing Zephyr at The Gathering too! I am looking forward to stocking up!

Next I will have to try these on different base beads!

OK455 - rod color: slate gray. The encased beads are much more transparent in real life.


BE456 - rod color: light lavender. The effects are more brighter in real life - this is one of the most difficult one to photograph. Center bead shows BE456 stormed (it doesn't storm well as you can see!)



BE462 - rod color: medium purple. Rich shimmery effects under encasement are stunning. Center bead shows BE462 stormed.


BE458 - rod color: dark purple. Unencased beads retain hints of grape purple hues. Center bead shows BE458 stormed.

OX461 - rod color: yellow. I was most surprised by this batch - lots of possibilities depending on how it's reduced before encasement! OX461 was used as the base of the giant-hole bead on the right.


OX457 - rod color: chartreuse. Gorgeous golden chartreuse hues with loads of shimmer. OX457 was used as the base of the giant-hole bead on the right.


OX460 - rod color: olive green. Blue-green capped bead was encased in Zephyr. OX460 was used as the base of the giant-hole bead on the right.

OX459 - rod color: emerald green. Hints of blue shimmers under Aether encasement - lots of blue shimmers with Zephyr encasement (next photo).


The bead on the right is also OX459 but encased in Zephyr. I love the blue-green shimmery effects. The other three are the purple tinted luster, from left to right, BE456, BE462, and E458.

From Candy to "Fabergé-esque"

It started with a gift from a very talented lampworker, Suzanne Noordewier (JustMade on Etsy)on her first tutorial Intricate Candy Beads. After finally having a chance to try it out, I was completely hooked. Surface decorated stringer work has never been my friend . . . until now! With Suzanne's intricate candy bead as a springboard, I have leaped into a whole new world of "fabergé-esque" ornate bling! :)

Getting the right color combination is the first challenge, then of-course incorporating silver glass into the color combination adds a completely different dimension and anxiety to the mix. Hope you enjoy following the very beginning of this new journey . . . definitely many more updates to come!

Murrini Favorites - Spring 2011!

Our second quarterly Murrini Favorites are available on our online store! We have two spring collections - Spring Pink and Spring Watercolor!



For those who know me will know that it's Helen's favorites for I have never been a pink girl! :) Helen has been experimenting with different combinations and effects and has narrowed them down to these five after MANY tests and trials! Check them out - I am sure you will find that they are pink at its finest (as far as pink goes! :)!

Each pack contains 25 chips total - five chips of five of our favorite murrini recipes. The chips are hand picked so five of the same will be similar in size, ranging from 3 mm to 5.5 mm. These are limited editions so order yours today!

$10 per package of 25 at our online store



The second of second quarterly Murrini Favorites is Spring Watercolor! What's so special about these two murrinis is that it's silver glass at its best - effortless! You don't need to strike or reduce to get the beautiful gradients!

Each pack contains 20 chips total - 10 chips each of two of our favorite Spring Watercolor recipes. The chips are hand picked so five of the same will be similar in size, ranging from 3 mm to 5.5 mm. These are limited editions so order yours today!

$9 per package of 20 at our online store

By popular demand, we are keeping our Winter Favorites - Reducing and Striking available for you!

SE7 – Seventh Silver Color How To eBook

This booklet is a compilation of exchange beads submitted for SE7 – Seventh Silver Color How To and Exchange - on lampworketc forum. There are over 130 beads with description. Each bead is accompanied by the recipes of glasses used and some have detailed step by step description of how the bead was made (the level of detail is based on how much information the original beadmaker shared.)

Other content includes a list of silver glass by manufacturers and notation of the glass being striking or reducing, and index of each silver glass used in the booklet for easy reference, and a basic step-by-step (illustrated with photos) instruction on how to strike and how to reduce silver glass.

Silver glassmakers featured: ASK, BellaDona, Double Helix, Effetre, Precision 104, Reichenbach 96 and 104, StrikingColor, TAG 104, and Kugler.

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S E 7 - pdf version

This pdf version of SE7 – Seventh Silver Color How To e-Book and is for viewing on your computer. You may also print one (1) copy of this using your printer at home. No authorization will be given with this version to print at a service bureau such as Kinko's. Please make sure you have high-speed internet connection. Instant download is available here on our Blog!

Instant download for $18.00



Please note that this item cannot be returned.


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S E 7 - printed book version
The spiral bound, printed book format of SE 7 - Seventh Silver Color How To e-Book is available at lulu.com for $40.00 plus shipping.
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/se7/15695787

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S E 7 - CD version
The CD version contains a high-resolution pdf of SE7 – Seventh Silver Color How To e-Book, as well as an authorization letter, also in pdf format, to print one (1) copy of the booklet at a service bureau, such as Kinko's. This CD version will be mailed to you via first class USPS shipping within one business day after purchase. Please allow two business days for international shipping. Available upon request.

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To determine if you want a high-resolution or a medium-resolution version: High-resolution = good quality, crisp, and sharp images Even if you don't plan on taking this to a service bureau to print, as long as you have a decent inkjet printer at home, this may be the version to go with. Medium-resolution = for viewing on your computer monitor. If your home printer is just adequate or if you only plan on viewing the pdf on your computer monitor only, then this version is perfect for you. We are also offering a printed book version at lulu.com for those of you who don't want to be bothered with printing the pdf yourselves. Hope this helps!

Reactive Twisties 2011

This booklet is a compilation of exchange beads submitted for Reactive Twisties 2011 – Reactive Twisty Bead How To and Exchange - on lampworketc forum. There are almost 100 beads with description. Each bead is accompanied by the recipes of glasses used and some have detailed step by step description of how the bead was made (the level of detail is based on how much information the original beadmaker shared.) 34 pages plus cover.

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Reactive Twisties 2011 - pdf version

This pdf version of Reactive Twisties 2011 and is for viewing on your computer. You may also print one (1) copy of this using your printer at home. No authorization will be given with this version to print at a service bureau such as Kinko's. Please make sure you have high-speed internet connection. Instant download is available here on our Blog!

Instant download for $16.00



Please note that this item cannot be returned.


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Reactive Twisties 2011 - printed book version
The spiral bound, printed book format of Reactive Twisties 2011 is available at lulu.com for $34.00 plus shipping.
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/reactive-twisties-2011/15695909

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Reactive Twisties 2011 - CD version
The CD version contains a high-resolution pdf of Reactive Twisties 2011, as well as an authorization letter, also in pdf format, to print one (1) copy of the booklet at a service bureau, such as Kinko's. This CD version will be mailed to you via first class USPS shipping within one business day after purchase. Please allow two business days for international shipping. Available upon request.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
To determine if you want a high-resolution or a medium-resolution version: High-resolution = good quality, crisp, and sharp images Even if you don't plan on taking this to a service bureau to print, as long as you have a decent inkjet printer at home, this may be the version to go with. Medium-resolution = for viewing on your computer monitor. If your home printer is just adequate or if you only plan on viewing the pdf on your computer monitor only, then this version is perfect for you. We are also offering a printed book version at lulu.com for those of you who don't want to be bothered with printing the pdf yourselves. Hope this helps!

PISMO Gallery Bead Invitational!

I am honored to be invited to participate in this PISMO Gallery's prestigious event in May. This will be the first time my work is featured at a gallery and I am both excited and intimidated to be shown alongside some amazing artists!

Lampworked glass bead pendant with a crochet necklace




Big-hole Leaves series lampworked glass bead with a crochet necklace




Big-hole barrel-shape lampworked glass bead with a crochet necklace





Ginormous Capped and Cored focal bead series with cored accent bead and sterling silver necklace


Ginormous Capped and Cored spherical focal bead series with cored accent bead and sterling silver necklace

Ginormous Capped and Cored spherical focal bead series



Ginormous Capped and Cored spherical focal bead series


Humongous Capped and Cored Hollow focal bead series


Humongous Capped and Cored Hollow focal bead series


Flora focal bead series


Flora focal bead series