Soda Lime Times

I am honored to be the Feature Artist of this month's Soda Lime Times Reactive Glass issue, as well as the opportunity to share in the Tips from the Masters column.

Now that my 2012 glass season is coming to an end with only one venue - Bay Area Bead Extravaganza - to go in November and just finish my last teaching gig at The Gathering Place studio in Naperville, Illinois, earlier this month. I finally have an opportunity to post some of the Ornate Series Beads. Thank you for making these so popular! :)

First let's start with the scale of these - from ginormous to wee! Most of them fall somewhere between these two extreme sizes!

A better picture of the beads:

Here are a few of the "normal" size ones - about 1-1.25" in diameter:

Some of the Ornate Series beads are still available. They range in price from $95 to $185. If you are interested, please contact us via our website:

http://shop.envisionsf.com/contact 

 Thank you!

List of our eBooks

We have been meaning to put this list together for easy reference for a while now but never got around to it! All of our ebooks are available in PDF format and most are available as printed books on Lulu. For more information, please visit our website.



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! $23



S W I R L – an ebook on gravity swirl, bicone shaping, silver glassS W I R L is a three-in-one tutorial for both newer and more experienced lampworkers. Using the techniques on how to make a gravity swirl bead, I will share with you how to shape a perfect bicone AND show you how to work with using both striking and reducing silver glass on a single bead. Please do note that the silver glass part of this tutorial is secondary. It’s 21 pages with over 50 images. $21



Reactive Twisties 2011This 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. $16

Silver Color How To eBookAll our Silver Color How To eBooks are compilation of exchange beads submitted for the silver glass exchanges we run on lampworketc forum. 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.)

SE9

With 45 pages, there are over 110 beads with description. $17

(Aurae, Clio, Ekho, Elektra, Gaia, Kalypso, Kronos, Luna, Olympia Rain, Psyche, Terra 2, Terranova, Triton, Fire Lotus, test batches and many more!

SE8
With 35 pages, there are over 80 beads with description. $17
(Aurae, Clio, Gaia, Psyche, Triton, Black Pearl, test batches and many more!



SE7
With 52 pages, there are over 130 beads with description. $18
(Aurae, Clio, Ekho, Gaia, Helios, Kalypso, Psyche, Terranova 2/2.1, Triton, Multicolor Dark, Fire Lotus, test batches and many more!)



SE6
With 54 pages, there are over 130 beads with description. $17
(Aurae, Clio, Ekho, Elektra, Olympia Rain, Psyche, Terra 2, Terranova 2/2.1, Triton, test batches and many more!)



SE5
With 95 pages, there are over 250 beads with description. $25
(Aurae, Gaia, Ekho, Nyx, Psyche, Terranova 2/2.1, Triton, Black Pearl, Rembrandt, Silver Brown, StrikingColor, Golden Emerald, Taxco Silver, Aquis, Chalcedony, test batches and many more!)



SE4
With 80 pages, there are over 200 beads with description. $19
(Aurae, Gaia, Pandora, Psyche, Terranova 2/2.1, Triton, Green Envy, Silver Brown, Taxco Silver, Zeus, test batches and many more!)



SE3
With 72 pages, there are over 180 beads with description. $18
(Silver Cinnamon, Silver Rattan, Aion, Aurae, Gaia, Luna, Psyche, Terra, Terranova 2, Triton, Hades, Copper Green, Garzoni, Ivy, Sasha's Silver, Green Dalai, test batches and many more!)



SE2
With 65 pages, there are over 170 beads with description. $15
(Silver Cinnamon, Silver Rattan, Hades, Aion, Elektra, Gaia, Kronos, Nyx, Olympia Rain, Psyche, Terra, Dark Silver Plus, Black Nebula, Rembrandt, Sasha's Silver, Van Gogh, and many more!)



SE1
The first one is about 1/3 the size of the rest. $5

Hayley's Current Murrini Collection

I have always loved murrinis and used to purchase them when I first started applying them on my beads for my own was not up to standard. After many trials and errors, my own murrinis finally were acceptable. Moreover, I found the process completely addicting! I love coming up with different color combinations as well as glass reactions. I realize that I have more murrini chips than I can possibly use myself. So when I started getting emails asking if I sell my murrinis, I decided it's time to share.



Since I am not in the murrini business, I don't plan on selling different mixes. Instead, I am selling exactly the ones I use myself regularly. Please note that the collection changes all the time, thus the name "Current Murrini Collection." What you get today and one month from now won't be the same! I offer them in packages of 50 or packages of 100. Each order will come with a reference sheet showing you some of the murrini chips as well as how they look applied.

I use silver glass (Double Helix, StrikingColor, Precision 104, George Tessman, TAG), many of which are odd lots that are no longer available or test batches that have never been released. I use sought-after glass that is currently out of production including, but not limited to, the amazing ASK (Arrow Springs Kugler) palette, Vetrofond Odd Lots, Effetre Cool Colors, CiM Unique, and Lauscha. All the glass I use is COE 104 to ensure compatibility.

Here are some of my beads with my murrinis:

New on Our Etsy Stores!

We have been busy stocking our two Etsy stores! We plan on putting a few new listings per day during the work week so check back often!

These fun and shimmery earrings at our Etsy jewelry store . . .




This yummy set is currently on our Etsy bead store:


We couldn't decide where these ones belong so they are current on our Etsy bead store too . . . but perhaps should be on the jewelry store? lol! Anyway . . .

Our Leaves Series . . .


Our Leaves Series that morphed into flowers! ;)


Our not so Ginormous Sterling Silver Capped and Cored BHB Series:




Last but not least, THE Ginormous Sterling Silver Capped and Cored BHB Series:

Playing with Double Helix Ekho (or any TE test batches) Shards

I wrote this reply to a question posted on the ISGB forum on how to use TE-317 shards from Double Helix, thought I would share this on my blog as well. This is just a basic intro . . . there are many other ways to play with shards that reduce, strike or both reduce and strike . . . experiment and enjoy!

• Make a base bead
• Pick up a piece of shard with your tweezers and wave one edge in and out of the tip of the flame to pre-warm
• Spot heat the base bead and attach the edge to the bead
• Wrap the shard around the bead
• Heat to adhere
• Warm the bead evenly to a dull glow
• Proceed to one of the following options

Option A
• Let the bead cool until the glow is gone (put it under the table to see the glow disappear)
• Adjust to a reducing flame by . . . 1) decreasing the propane/natural gas, 2) increasing the oxygen, or 3) decreasing the fuel AND increasing the oxygen
• Re-introduce the bead at the tip of the flame and watch the reduction appears

Option B
• Melt in the shards completely and reshape
• Heat the bead until the shards are white hot (hazy, almost droopy)
• Marver to reshape (do not put it back in the flame)
• Let the bead cool until the glow is gone (put it under the table to see the glow disappear)
• Re-introduce the bead at the tip of the flame and strike, the shards should be dark brown
• Let cool a wee bit and reheat
• Repeat cooling and heating (but not to extreme, just cool some and heat some) to see colors develop

Option C
Melt in the shards completely and reshape
• Heat the bead until the shards are white hot (hazy, almost droopy)
• Marver to reshape (do not put it back in the flame)
• Let the bead cool until the glow is gone (put it under the table to see the glow disappear)
• Re-introduce the bead at the tip of the flame and strike, the shards should be dark brown
• Let cool a wee bit and reduce as in Option A
• Back to neutral flame and encase with Clear (either the entire bead or just where there are shards applied), keeping the bead under the flame
• Melt in clear very slowly as not to lose the reduction effects

Our Newest Series – Ginormous SS Capped and Cored Focals!

In yesterday's post, we shared how we came about making our own line of high-quality leather jewelry. Today, we want to show you the culprits - our capped and cored beads. All of our sterling silver cored beads fit the popular European style Pandora, Biagi and Troll bracelets but this series of ginormous capped and cored focals are definitely way too big for bracelets. These are to be strung on a thick chain . . . or one of our new leather necklaces.



Each one is made with various Double Helix silver glass, including many test and odd batches. The results are similar to our shimmering Pearlescent Series with colors ranging from golden hues, palest pinks and lavenders, rich purples and magentas to opal-like blues and greens. Please visit our Etsy store to see the latest!

Ekho and Aurae - a match made in heaven!

Upon returning from the ISGB Gathering, work (graphic design) has been very busy (which is a good indication that the economy is on its upswing!) We are almost ready to re-open our Etsy store . . . with these small "treasures." We call them treasures, not because we think that they are precious, but because the combination of Ekho and Aurae - Double Helix's AMAZING silver glass – allow us to create beads that sparkle like jewels!

Watch for them on our Etsy store soon!

Double Helix Ekho – July 23!!!

Double Helix just announced the release official release date of its newest striking AND reducing glass, Ekho!!!! Can't you tell I am excited?!?

Here is the announcement:

"Ekho will be be released on July 23rd, 2009. We will have some at our booth at the ISGB Gathering in Miami, as well as on our website. Here is the official description and stock photo: 'Ekho reduces and strikes. She retains a pearlescent luster under encasement and strikes during the beadmaking process. For best results; work hot, cool, reduce and encase.' We hope you enjoy our new creation!"

Photo shows Ekho paddle that has been reduced and encased.

More Ekho to Share!

We can't remember the last time when we were so addicted to a new glass . . . every time we went to the torch, Ekho was calling (lol!) . . . despite concerted effort to diversify, we can't seem to be able to put this new Double Helix striking and reducing silver glass down!!!

Here is one from Helen - you can't believe the range of sparkling colors she got . . . rich magentas, sapphire blues, peacock greens, golds, silvers, purples. This photograph barely shows the range.



More encased sets from me - depending on how you work this glass, you can vary the effects and they are repeatable! I know we sound like a broken record . . . but this is truly the ONLY silver glass that strikes to a rainbow of colors and reduces to an amazing mother-of-pearl iridescence all at the same time!





Waiting impatiently for its release . . . no word yet from Double Helix . . . hopefully soon!

Double Helix Newest Silver Glass - Ekho

It's official! TE-265, the Double Helix test batch we wrote about last month, will be released as its regular production glass under the new name Ekho!

We may sound like a broken record for we wrote these words before . . . There isn't anything in the current market quite like Ekho. It both strikes and reduces - and the result is glorious iridescence in hues of the entire color spectrum! From golden hues, palest pinks and lavenders, rich purples and magentas, to opal-like blues and greens, AND it retains the mother-of-pearl opalescence under encasement. In addition, you can also use it as a purely striking glass OR a purely reducing glass. It's that versatile!

Now all we are waiting for is the official release date!