CONTINUING TO GROW & EVOLVE....

It was a year ago this month that I took a fantastic class w/ Andrea Guarino @ Blue Moon Glassworks in Austin, Texas. One of the big things that I took away from her class was how to properly clear (I mean CLEAR) encase. I had given up on making clear encased beads just a few months into beadmaking because #1, I couldn't find a really clear clear glass, it was always so mucked up... not pretty..... & #2, I didn't understand how not to completely smear what I was trying to encase... again, not pretty. So I just went on w/out it. I grew into a glass bead artist who worked pretty much exclusively in opaques. I figured out how to get depth through texture & a variety of opaque & metallic finishes, rather than beautiful transparent beads that have internal layers that give the bead depth. What I learned in Andrea's class is that I was working WAY too close to the torch-head...I was frying my clear. So I learned to back off a bit & just take my time... also learned how to keep what's going on inside firm while applying the molten clear. Yay.

I've spent the last year trying to figure out how to incorporate transparents & the beautiful silver glasses that are so beautiful under a layer of clear into my strong opaque / organic style! I've been having a good time seeing what I can come up with. Just thought I'd show you a few...
(click images to enlarge)
Of course there are these beautiful blue & ivory acorns...

These three beads I'm in love with... especially the big one in the center... it's a bit more organic than the other two. 

This piece was made on a vintage steel sewing cabinet key. Such a beautiful shape.

Can't wait to get back to my torch!!

Till then...

~ Julie