And this is the focal that matches the loon beads....and I just can't let these go so they are mine all mine! :-) September 4, 2006
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After rowing out on our back lake yesterday and watching the loons that have been there all summer I came home and lit the torch determined to make a set of Loon beads. This is the result. I was going to put them up on ebay but I've decided they are going to be mine, they are just calling to me. I will use some faceted black onxy and faceted garnets to make a necklace with them and I will use the matching focal bead too. September 4, 2006
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I learned how to metalsmith last March from a 75 year old gentleman. I never even got to finish out the first project because the power went out. I managed to finish it on my own. Here is a good example of what I love to do with sterling and glass!
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Of everything I've ever made this is my favorite ever. I used Black Onyx, Rainbow Tourmaline, Peridot, Smoky Quartz and whatever the pink stone is. How embarrassing, I've forgotten. I made the XL lentil beads using frit, silver and glass canes I made. It is gorgeous and I kept this for myself! Just could not part with it! December 2006
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"Acanthus Ring" — Acanthus is one of the oldest flowers in the Mediterranean area, representing long life, quality and creativity. The Acanthus appears for the first time in the arts of ancient Greece, where it was chosen for it's decorative purposes owning to the beauty of it's leaves. Initially, Greek artists rendered the plant faithfully. Many of the examples of Acanthus leaves carved in the 4th and 5th centuries B.C.E. are extremely lifelike. Later, the representations grew more stylized and fanciful. In Victorian England it's symbolic meaning in THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS was "art" or "artistic". It has changed and been adapted a little by each culture using it. I created this special ring simply because I adore architecture and Acanthus leaves. It is on a base of pewter glass with bands of simulated agate. This ring is by far my most favorite to date and the most labor intensive. March 2007
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And these go with the focal! Can you see why I am loving these???
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Oh, I am so loving this bead! Take a closer look and you'll see why!!! November 2006
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HOT HOT Beads from my cold cold climate. It hasn't gotten above 10* here in 3 weeks! Can you see why I am making HOT HOT beads? November 2006
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The Bimini Road is a formation near North Bimini Island in the Bahamas. Discovered in 1968, it is generally assumed to be of natural origins. Some have claimed that the formation is an ancient road, or perhaps a collapsed wall of the civilization of Atlantis. Some archeologists propose the road is a submerged emergency drydock used by a Chinese Imperial fleet exploring the Caribbean between 1421 and 1423. They hypothesize the ships were caught in a storm. Perhaps this amphora is similar to what may have been found or lost during those long ago sea faring days with it's look of erosion from the sea. This is my first attempt at electroforming. I first made the vessel then gave it a week long copper bath. I am thrilled with how this has turned out and I am pleased to present this to you for your consideration. March 2007
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This is only the 2nd one I've done and I am thrilled with the result! September 3, 2007
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She is dressed to the nines for an evening of romance with a someone special in a gown of sophisticated black, red and ivory. Silvered lace at the hem flows around and around. And notice the lovely red necklace she is wearing! So....something entirely different from me and this just happened as I was working away. I had no intention of making this bead, she just evolved. Now I have oodles of idea's in my head for more! She was loads of fun to make and I love her dearly. March 2007
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In the early mists of antiquity the Phoenicians created a rich sea-trading empire which spanned the known world. They were famous for their cedar ships, purple cloth, glass, pottery and much more. Legend has it that Isis used to dress the queen's hair and give her scented oils and ambrosial perfumes. Perhaps she kept her secret potions in a vessel that looked similar to this. My Isis interpretation is actually not a vessel but a bead made to look as such. It is decorated all around with detailed raised twistie and stinger work and lastly given a light acid bath to invoke the feeling of a relic. March 2007
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Here is my 3rd bracelet like this! Up on ebay now! Or you can pick out your own beads and I can make one of you! www.angelfire.com/crazy4/fy... Hand fabricated charm/clasp made from sterling sheet and one of my lampwrked beads! Unique one-of-a-kind awesome jewelry!!!
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I've made many sets of my "Loon beads" over the last couple years and they keep evolving into something better and better. This is my most recent collection.
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These loon beads are some of my favorite beads I make. They are totally inspired by my love of Loons. I am lucky I live in a place where I can hear their eerie cry every day! I hope you enjoy looking at these fantastic beads!
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Evocotive scents on a dark moonless night but the garden is full of blue flowers that bloom on and on. I used hand pulled canes I made to create this little work of art. I am loving everything about this bead! March 2007
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An experiment in these colors together turned into a WOW set of beads. I am so loving these! November 2006
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Made with some of the new boutique silver-rich glasses out on the market now. This is my first set using some of this wonderful glass and I am thrilled!
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~Silver Moon~
I saw a silver moon sliding down the Western sky
I stood upon the frozen earth and watched the image fly
Then turned around to see the sun rising red against the East
And there they hung, the the moon and sun
And I the fulcrum in-between. — Gary Thompson
These were inspired by the moon rise the other evening on my way home from Anchorage. The poem was written by my DH 30+ years ago. November 5th, 2006
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These beads were inspired by some photograph's I ran across a few weeks back. I think I captured exactly what I intended. These were made in July 2006. They were sold to a wonderful woman in California. I hope she loves them!
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My favorite raku twistie on a watercolor-like background of orchid and teal. These are to die for!
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I find time spent in a garden is healthy and calming but unfortunately I live in Alaska where the growing season is very short, so instead, I do my gardening in glass work. Like these beads, hand-sculpted my me while the glass is molten and very HOT! Enjoyable you ask? Very much so, these flowers never die, they last forever...
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As with most living things that love the sun, the flowers on my focal bead are no exception! They are reaching towards the sun amidst tangled vines and leaves. This is a focal bead I made to sell on ebay, but alas, it did not. So, I made it into this show-stopping neckpiece. I used fresh water XL pearls and biwa stick pearls. Stones used were Black Onyx and Smoky Quartz. I think I am in love with this and I've been told it has an art nouveau flavor and now after looking at it, I think I have to agree! April 2007
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I can't begin to tell you how long I've contemplated making a piece like this, probably for around 2 years. I decided to do a self-challenge and on Thursday I put aside that day just to work on it. I have no idea how many feet of sterling wire I used in this piece. It seemed like miles of it. I coiled round and round, different sizes of wire, moved it here and there until finally, it was done! The bead is one from my Tentacles series. The garden part comes from the Thai silver flower in the piece. There is a soldered link on the end that I chose for the top. You can clip it off or add another one to the other end if you wish to hang this horizontally. It is quite a large piece measuring 3 3/4 inches long. All the wire is sterling. I gave it a bath in an antiquing solution and lightly tumbled it to a high gun metal shine. There are 2 additonal small lampwork beads I made and one Bali sterling spacer that spins along one side. December 2007
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An out of this world, magical focal bead with earthy abstract composition. I used that wonderful new glass Terra for a good part of this bead. Part of it is encased in clear, part of it is left with silver leaf on the top. Surface decoration is a raku vine that swirls and dances around the circumference of this beautiful focal. I think this is the nicest focal I have ever made. It is big, organic, what more could you ask for? May 1, 2007
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Ramesses III was the second Pharaoh of the 20th Dynasty and is considered to be the last great New Kingdom king to wield any substantial authority over Egypt. Some have put forth a hypothesis that a snakebite from a viper was the cause of the king's death but this proposal has not been proven. It is also known that he lived as long as about 2 weeks after the assassination attempt. His mummy includes a protective amulet to protect Ramesses III in the afterlife from a snakebite, which is very unusual for a pharaoh. The servant in charge of his food and drink was among the listed conspirators, but there were also some conspirators called the snake and the lord of snakes that might have been the most responsible. Perhaps his amulet is similar to this one I made. If you notice the snake like coils going around the bead. The pattern is even snake-like. And in keeping with the gestures for the kings of that era, this has been lined with copper electroforming to represent the gold which the Egyptian's so loved. I gave it a quick bath in a patina so that it has an antique look about it. March 2007
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This bead just evolved in the flame. I had no idea what I was going to do, it just happened and WOW, I am sure glad it did! This is 1 1/2 inches in diameter and well over 1/2 inch thick. It reminds me of old leather saddles and a great pair of comfy old cowboy boots. This one is a keeper and is going nowhere but into my jewlery chest!
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Here is another one of my sterling lampwork bezel set charm bracelets! I am having too much fun making these and they are going out the door as fast as I can make them! For sale on my web-site! www.angelfire.com/crazy4/fy...
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Sweet Romance-I think this epitomizes the romantic side of lampwork beads in a piece of jewelry. I made this to put on display at one of my local bead shops where I sell my beads and jewlery. I love this, but I am not sure I would wear it, I am more of an organic girl myself.
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Gosh, I haven't been here in ages! I just have to show you my latest bangle. It features 3 of my purple trillium beads. Hope you like it! June 2008
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Here is my latest bracelet with a sterling bezel set lampwork charm. This one has a more tropical flare than the others I have done. I love making these and hope you enjoy looking at them too! Available on ebay right now! Or, get one custom made in your choice of colors!
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I've had these Ammonite slices for years and finally got around to using one in this lovely raku bracelet. What a perfect match! July 2006
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I got my new XL lentil press a couple weeks ago and this bead is the 2nd one I have made with it. Also the star cane flowers are the first time I have done those. Overall, I am very pleased with the bead and necklace. I strung it together in about 30 minutes using Bali silver, faceted Turquoise, faceted Amethyst, faceted Rock Crystal, Swarovski crystals and, of course, my big lentil focal. I also made a bracelet to match. Think I'll keep this one for a long time! I love it!
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I love making these bracelets and fabricating the sterling silver part is especially fun! One of a kind bracelets available on my web site! www.angelfire.com/crazy4/fy...
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I'm so in love with this bead!!! It is made with a one inch lentil press and makes an incredible in-your-face pendant! Feb. 2007
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I am loving this new shape and the decorating possibilities are endless. I also made one long focal bead which I cut in half with my lapidary saw and then fabricated the sterling stamped bezel setting. I am very happy with how this set turned out.
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I don't make a lot of focals but yesterday I had the urge. I am trying to perfect the foliage and it's coming along nicely, now I need to work on the flowers a little more. I do like this one though...sort of orchid like. And a matching strand of button shaped beads. August, 2006
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I make lots of florals, and I love doing them. Maybe it's because I live in Alaksa and we have so little time for real flowers? Lots of photo's in this gallery and I'll keep adding them as I go along! Enjoy!
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One of my lovely floral focals, kisssed with beautiful color and form. I'll keep posting more as I make them.
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This was my necklace and I totally adored it, but I had it on dispaly at my local bead store and one of the area politian's had to have it. (Thank-you Lyda!) So, my little guy has a new home, I hope he is happy. I miss him.......made in 2005.
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Another rich and sophistiated set of beads, these will warm you up! November 2006
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Thinking outside my box and trying new color combinations. I'm very pleased with how these came out! I also set one bead in the sterling bezel setting, having just learned how a few months ago.
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I love this unusual collection of beads. Especially enjoy the "painting with glass" technique used to create the garlands on these beads. These are some of my favorites.
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The ever elusive Raku-this is my most favorte set of beads I have ever made! Incredible color and depth! Photo's taken in both sunlight and studio lighting! Check out my web-site to see more of my work: www.angelfire.com/crazy4/fy...
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This is one of those times where everyting worked just like I wanted it to. Featuring one of my "twisted" XL lentils and 10 matching "squeezed" beads. I couldn't be more pleased with this collection. May 2006
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Sexy, classic tigers in a new diamond shape. I love these, but then I can be a little on the "wild" side! I just gotta make myself some of these someday...
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I suppose if one were mad, as in insane, the night might look like this: distorted, wild, colorful and surreal. Somehow the name just seemed to fit these beads. I like them alot, but they are even better when viewed in hand. The purples are much more vibrant. August 2006.
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These are some collections of my beads that I have made to reflect something maybe one would have found during ancient times. I really like the way all of these turned out!
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I really love making big hollow's and then adding some Stargazer Lily's dancing all around. This one is one of my favorites. Which, of course, I had to make into a necklace!
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This was a gift for a friend that is dear to my heart. It was her 60th birthday yesterday. I think she was absolutely thrilled. It was fun giving this to her!
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The use of shards has intrigued me and they've never worked for me until this set. I got wonderful peacock hues in these beads, up on ebay now! July 2008
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Something new again, this time a new shape and new technique. I love these, the color, shape, everything about them!
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A marriage made in heaven, PMC and my own lampwork discs. This piece features a large PMC faux box and PMC clasp. I patineaed it for an old time appeal. My beads are the prefect compliment, at least I think so! Sterling wire woven in an age old technigue also works wonderfully. Lots of hours went into this piece. Inspired by the work of Jill Rockwell. June 2008
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I love making these types of floral beads. Never in a million years did I ever think I could do it. Now it comes naturally. Love using new colors too. April 2006
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This features 9 of my sculpted rose buds that I then used as "charms" for this lovely bracelet. These roses are fun to make. I sold this on ebay to one lucky bidder and she was thirlled to death.
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WOW! I was certainly outside my box with these! Yes, the glass gods were with me today! I LOVE THESE! So very organic yet also so very colorful! YUM!!!!!!! Hope you like them too! 8-15-06
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Hearts have always been a challenge for me but I think I finally have it licked! Take a look at this one! My favorite so far!
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Sweet sweet summertime and sweet strawberries! My first ones ever! I am pleased with these and they are the result of my neighbor showing me her new plants. I just had to come home and try some. These are the result!
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Inspired by the wild and colorful art of the great Peter Max whom I was a big fan of in my earlier days. I love everything about these beads!
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Not really intended that way when I made them but someone commented that they looked like a water garden, hence the name. Great coloration, I am in love with these. 4-28-06
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Love the way this turned out with the great Double Helix glass mimicking water. I made 3 like this and kept one for myself. Sold the others already.
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