The Newest Lampworkers
Last week, my two young friends came to spend the day. It is always their choice about what they will do when they are here, and this time they wanted to learn some lampworking.
I had them dip their own mandrels and they did it assembly line fashion. One dipped, one set the mandrel in the holder. Speedy.
I gave them a few basics and all of the safety rules and after a few tries, I let them go for it.
They had lots of ideas. Technique was not fabulous, but their interest and excitement was huge. It was fun to watch them plan out what they would make. They worked for hours and would have kept going but they ran out of mandrels.
The next day when I emptied the kiln, I found flora and fauna.
Fun day. They used their Vitamin C!
7000 Bracelets Blog Hop
A little bit about this project:
7000 Bracelets of Hope is run through the Global Genes Project, a rare disease group for children. The bracelets are donated to the mothers and caretakers of these children, as a way to give them a little support and lift their spirits.
The rules:
- use blue as the main color
- bracelet should be casual
- it should fit anyone from 7" to 9"
This is my finished bracelet. I purposely went simple with this bracelet. From my experience, most non-beaders prefer simplicity in jewelry, and simple is easier to wear.
Several other jewelry makers have participated in this project. Check all of the blogs below to see more bracelets.
Use your Vitamin C to encourage someone else!
Why Should Christmas Have All the Fun?
P.S. If you are tall, you are going to have to duck a bit. :)
Use your Vitamin C!
Free Project Instructions: Bird on a Branch Necklace
Supplies you need:
- lampwork beads: bird, branch, leaf (find them in sets on Etsy)
- 1 yard plus 6" silver wire, 16 or 18 gauge (I used silver plate wire)
- 6" lime green embroidery floss
- silk ribbon or cord for necklace (mine is on brown silk ribbon)
- size 8 seed beads: transparent lime green
Tools:
- ruler
- flush cutters
- round nose pliers
- scissors
- pen or pencil
1. Wrap a loop at bottom of 6" length of wire. String on the branch and the bird beads. Wrap a loop at top of beads.
Happy spring! If you do something else cute with this set of beads, let me see!
Take your Vitamin C...
Spring Button Bracelet
So, I used some fun, flowery Blumenthal Lansing buttons to make a button bracelet. It was super quick and easy, using a technique that requires no tools. Go here to see video instructions to make one yourself.
Use your Vitamin C!
http://www.skiptomylou.org/2012/02/20/made-by-you-monday-88/
http://housewivesofriverton.blogspot.com/2012/02/riverton-houseswives-round-up-5.html
New Colors
If you don't know about lampworking, these glass rods are the glass that is used most of the time to form beads. It gets melted in a flame, and a bead is formed while the glass is molten. The rods are about the diameter of a pencil.
To the torch!
Umbrella Day
Today is Umbrella Day. Not kidding. Every February 10th. I like umbrellas. They are sort of mini cozy places. And, wouldn't you know? It is a good day for an umbrella here. We have snain (half snow, half rain).
I even have a pinterest board of umbrellas.
My gift to you today, probably the best use of an umbrella. Ever. Enjoy!........
Or, maybe you like this tribute version better (with fake tap dancing, hahahaha):
Either way, I wish you the simple joy of a walk in the rain!
Take your Vitamin C!
Trendy Seed Beads
As always, I see a handful of really obvious trends. On this trip, the trends included lots of pearls, tiny tiny chains, and sparkly crystals. But, for this post, I am focusing on seed beads.
Take a jewelry trending trip yourself and see what you find.
Take Your Vitamin C!
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