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This week on my Friday Feature I will be featuring the work of some wonderful self representing artist/artisan lampworkers. The theme is “Goddesses” – one that has been explored in depth by the lampwork community, myself included.
Something about glass seems to lend itself well to the curvy female form. I love making these little ladies and I even wrote a book about some of them. To me, they represent the strength and beauty that all women possess. While they come in all shapes, sizes, and colours, and all have very different personalities too, they have one thing in common: they are all beautiful. I like to think of women that way, that every woman has inside her the potential to be beautiful and strong. It’s not about physical looks or conventional beauty either by any means. It’s this power that we all have inside. Women are amazing creatures. And the Goddess embodies all of that.
I did a video tutorial on how I make my goddess beads - it can be found here. Meanwhile, on to the gallery.
Earth Goddess by Joy Munshower
Website: www.tilegoddess.com
Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/tilegoddess
Bird/Phoenix Goddess by Rachelle Goldreich
Website: www.rg-glass.com
Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/rglampwork
Winged Goddess is made with out of production Moroccan Swirl color glass then frit added to the companion beads. By Debbie Altman.
Etsy Shop: www.allmybeads.etsy.com
Blog: http://allmybeads-debbie.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllMyBeads
Etched Goddess Bead with silver leaf by Cornelia Lentze.
Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CorneliaLentze
Glass Goddess Pendant by Louise Ingram.
Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Fireseed
“Clockwork Goddess” pendant in CiM Clockwork glass (a lush transparent orange). By Amy Hall of Two Glassy Ladies.
Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/lampworkbyamy
Website: www.twoglassyladies.ca/
Amy’s art book “The Goddess Journey” is now available to purchase through Blurb.com – softcover, hardcover, and eBook options available. This book features beautiful photographs and stories of 12 of Amy’s amazing lampwork Goddesses.
“INNER DEPTH” – Purple and Black Glass Bead Set
by Stephanie Gough of Beads by Stephanie
Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/beadsbystephanie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FinishingTouchJewels
Lampworked berry beads and flowers set, made using various shades of purple glass and finished with white flowers. By Debbie Dew.
Website: www.silverartz.co.uk
Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Glassmania
“Purple Glow” Glow in the Dark Dreadlock Bead by Sheri Fisher, Chief Creative Goddess of Glass Art Revealed.
Glow In the Dark spots surround this handmade glass Dread Bead for a twinkle of light in your locks! Glow In the Dark powder is a Mutha with a capital M to work with, but the results are sweet!! This one is made on a 1/2 inch big hole bead mandrel
Website: Glass Art Revealed
Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/GlassArtRevealed
Purple Necklace & Earrings set by Madison Allison of Batty Maddy’s Beads & Baubles. Glasses include CiM Crocus, CiM Lapis, and CiM Heffalump.
Purple & Periwinkle Spotted Dot Lampwork Earrings by Stefanie Brooks of Phishstuff. “My favorite thing about these earrings are the ghostly spots on the bottom bead. I love this look and am not always able to achieve the results I want, and love the challenge. I look at bead making and jewelry making as a kind of problem solving process. My favorite glass to work with always seems to be the one that gives me the biggest challenge!”
Website: http://www.phishstuff.com/phishstuff/
Blog: http://phishstuff.blogspot.ca/
Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/phishstuff
Red Violet Encased Rounds by Amy Hall of the Two Glassy Ladies.
Website: http://www.twoglassyladies.ca/
Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/lampworkbyamy
Purple bracelet for girl or “petite” woman by Lynn
Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/FireandSandCreations
Purple focal by Elizabeth Bunn.
Website: www.elizabethbeads.com
Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/elizabethsbeads
A violet dragonfly featured on a pale aqua base and her own Magic Mosaic Shards. By Jacqueline Parkes of Gems In Bloom.
Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/gemsinbloom
I have a few orphan lots up on Etsy. Where do all these beads come from?? I don’t know. But here they are. Very good deals – these are all properly cleaned, annealed, lovely beads that will keep you busy for quite some time. Looking for a good home 
Lot #1 – Rounds
Lot #2 – Encased Rounds
This week I have been experimenting with glass etching. This is a technique that is widely used with lampwork beads, but one that I have only really touched on slightly in my own work. I don’t have a good reason for this. I love the way etched beads look and the way etching a bead can so subtly or even drastically alter the way it looks.
   
There are a few ways to etch glass. I think the two most popular are chemically etching with an acid, and mechanically etching, for example in a rock tumbler or with a sand blaster. I have tumbled beads in the past but I personally prefer the acid etch method. I use Etchall Dip n Etch myself – a liquid acid product that is convenient to use because you can dip the beads right into it. I use a few safety precautions with it – I wear gloves, and when I remove the beads from the etching solution, after rinsing the beads well, I soak them in a plastic bowl of water and swirl some baking soda in to neutralize any remaining acid. Then I rinse them again very thoroughly and dry them out. Make sure you have proper ventilation as well, and access to a timer. I found some instructions on the acid etching method here that pretty much describes my method perfectly.
Here is some info on an alternate method of etching – tumbling beads to etch in a rock tumbler.
I will also add my usual reminder to look for “SRA” on Etsy/eBay/etc. This means the artist is a “Self Representing Artist” – they create their beads one by one, by hand. (Note that not EVERY self representing artist uses the “SRA” designation but the number is growing! For more information, visit the SRA website. The artists featured here are all Self Representing Artists (whether they are members of the official SRA or not). Please support these wonderful lampwork glass beadmakers! And now, on to the artists.
 “Etched Transparent Beach Spacers” by Suzanne Fragiacomo of Fragiacomo Glass Art
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/fragiacomoglassart
Artfire: http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/glassymom
Blog: http://www.glassymom.blogspot.com
Val Cox Copper Blue
 
This frit is sold by Val Cox. “A classic aqua blue color that’s completely fuss-free. When this is worked normally, you will have a pure blue tone. When it’s combined with silver foil, some copper rimming can appear, hence the name.”
Val Cox Copper Blue #0 on Moretti 027 Transparent Dark Teal and Moretti 219 Pastel Copper Green, with silver foil.
Val Cox Copper Blue #0 on Moretti 027 Transparent Dark Teal and Moretti 219 Pastel Copper Green, with silver foil, etched
Base of Moretti 038 Transparent Very Pale Aquamarine with Val Cox Copper Blue frit #0
Base of Moretti 038 Transparent Very Pale Aquamarine with Val Cox Copper Blue frit #0, etched
Moretti 232 Pastel Light Turquoise with Val Cox Copper Blue #0
Moretti 232 Pastel Light Turquoise with Val Cox Copper Blue #0, etched
Moretti 232 Pastel Light Turquoise with Val Cox Copper Blue #0 and silver foil
Moretti 232 Pastel Light Turquoise with Val Cox Copper Blue #0 and silver foil, etched
Moretti 204 Pastel White with Val Cox Copper Blue #0 and silver foil
Moretti 204 Pastel White with Val Cox Copper Blue #0 and silver foil, etched
Colour Experiments
This blend, sold by Val Cox, is a very dense transparent black. “Hard to believe this is a transparent. It appears completely opaque even in small quantities. This is a fun one to play with. Use it to create depth and dramatic effect.”
Beads & Info by Amy Hall
Val Cox Dense Black #0 on Moretti 212 Pastel Pea Green
Val Cox Dense Black #0 on Moretti 212 Pastel Pea Green, etched
Val Cox Dense Black #0 on Moretti 232 Pastel Light Turquoise, etched
Val Cox Dense Black #0 on Moretti 264 Pastel Ivory with silver foil, etched
Val Cox Dense Black #0 on Moretti 220 Pastel Blue (Periwinkle)
Val Cox Dense Black #0 on Moretti 220 Pastel Blue (Periwinkle), etched
Val Cox Dense Black #0 on Moretti 204 Pastel White
Val Cox Dense Black #0 on Moretti 204 Pastel White, etched
Want to be featured on this Blog?
For next week’s “Friday Feature” in my blog, the theme will be etched beads.
You can submit anything that falls into this category.
If you would like to be featured in my blog, please email (amy@twoglassyladies.ca) or PM me the following:
1. Name (or name of business/shop)
2. Link to your website/blog if you have one
3. Link to your shop (Etsy, eBay, etc) if you have one
4. Name and short description (1-2 sentences is fine) of your piece
5. Photo of your piece
I will be featuring up to 10 artists on my blog next Friday. If I receive more than 10 submissions, I will have to choose my 10 favorites.
Looking forward to seeing your submissions!
Colour experiments
 
This frit is sold by Val Cox. “A beautiful violet with warm leanings. This color is concentrated so use less to start and add as you go. Red Violet works very well on a base of clear and compliments nicely with pink and aqua tones. Red Violet is in each of the beads of the set shown here. When Red Violet is combined with silver foil, it may appear yellow-green.”
Beads & Info by Amy Hall
Moretti 042 Transparent Medium Purple core, Moretti 219 Pastel Copper Green, and Val Cox Red Violet frit, with silver foil.
Moretti 042 Transparent Medium Purple core, Moretti 219 Pastel Copper Green, and Val Cox Red Violet frit, with silver foil, etched
Val Cox Red Violet frit on Moretti 220 Pastel Blue (Periwinkle)
Val Cox Red Violet frit on Moretti 220 Pastel Blue (Periwinkle), etched
Val Cox Red Violet frit on Moretti 232 Pastel Light Turquoise with silver foil
Val Cox Red Violet frit on Moretti 232 Pastel Light Turquoise with silver foil, etched
This week for my “Friday Feature” here on the Two Glassy Ladies blog, the theme is Frit Beads.
Now some of you might be wondering what “Frit” is. In the glass world, this stuff is pretty popular. It’s basically just ground up glass, which often comes in colour blends. Wikipedia has some info on frit, including some history that I didn’t know until today (archaeological evidence of frit use in Egypt, Mesopotamia, Europe, and the Mediterranean!) I personally just about use it in everything I do. The ways that frit can be utilized in glass beadmaking are extremely varied. I have done a few tutorials about frit – here is the link to my YouTube channel to check them out. I have talked about frit a whole lot in this blog because I’ve done a bunch of colour testing for Val Cox Frit and like I said, I use this stuff a lot in my own work. So I won’t ramble on much more now
   
Images courtesy of Val Cox Frit
I will also add my usual reminder to look for “SRA” on Etsy/eBay/etc. This means the artist is a “Self Representing Artist” – they create their beads one by one, by hand. (Note that not EVERY self representing artist uses the “SRA” designation but the number is growing! For more information, visit the SRA website. The artists featured here are all Self Representing Artists (whether they are members of the official SRA or not). Please support these wonderful lampwork glass beadmakers!
 “Silvered Frittered Bead” by All My Beads
Etsy: www.allmybeads.etsy.com
Blog: http://allmybeads-debbie.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllMyBeads
 “Bayou” by Elizabeth Creations
White base, Utopia frit blend from Glass Diversion and encased in Effetre Super Clear. The bead was shaped using CGbeadroller ribbed round.
Website : www.elizabeth-creations.com
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/sharlee22
 Dropper pendant and ribbed frit barrels by Debbie Dew. Made with 104 CoE glass, the dropper has been made by imploding opaque red frit and the barrels are Effetre striking red with Beady Sam big waves frit.
Website: www.silverartz.co.uk
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Glassmania
 Dangly Lampwork Pillow Frit Earrings by Maren Purves. Available on Etsy.
Website: http://www.hilobeads.com/
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/hilobeads
(The beads in the earrings above were made by Kalera Stratton – Website: http://www.beadwife.com and Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BeadWife)
 “Lily Pad Gardens” – created using Z99 frit over Copper Green and special sauce with a healthy dose of fine silver on top. By Amber Van Meter of Naos Glass
Website: www.naosglass.com
Etsy: www.na0sglass.etsy.com
 “Into the Woods” – Val Cox Dream Cream frit swirled in Moretti 004 clear, with Moretti 016 Dark Topaz and some other ambers in there as well. More Drama Cream speckled on the surface. By Amy Hall of Two Glassy Ladies. Available on Etsy.
Website: www.twoglassyladies.ca
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/lampworkbyamy
 “Morning Tree” by Tina Beachy of Silver Reflections.
A sun shiney tree bead with a base of orange creamsicle and white enamel plus a frit mixture with z99.
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SilverReflection
 “Pretty in Pink” by Vicki Gentry of Mint Julep Designs.
This bracelet features 7 lampwork beads with the frit beads being made with Bead Goodies “Innocence” frit on a base of Effetre Dark Pink. This is not an original combo, but it does make for a pretty bead! The etched beads are a core of Effetre dark pink, encased with Effetre Super Clear and etched. The small spacer beads are Reichenbach raspberry opal. Pink crystals and pink freshwater pearls complete the piece. It has a toggle closure and measures 7 ½ inches.
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/mintjulepdesigns
“Like” Two Glassy Ladies on Facebook for a chance to win this bead set! I will randomly pick a winner from my Facebook fans next Friday (April 26th) at around 5:30pm PST. As an added bonus, I will be throwing in something extra special for the winner if I can get up to 300 likes on Facebook. It will be glass, and it will be made by me – and it will be a surprise. So please share this post!!
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