Please Don't Eat The Daisies

Creatively, this has been one of the best weekends in ages. I needed a weekend like this in the worst way, so I'm glad to have finally gotten it.

I had three successful torching sessions where I created a variety of items that I'm planning on taking up to Door County, a tourist resort in Wisconsin, with me next weekend. Hopefully, I can get my items into a shop up there.

Two of the items that I'm not taking to Door County with me are a pair of daisy focal beads that were commissioned for fan pulls by one of my returning customers.

While I've never done daisies before, I had an idea of how to do them. These beads are the results.

I will have more daisy and floral designs coming in the weeks ahead as I work to enhanc the pattern further and add my own spin to it.

My customer, however, loved the pictures I've sent her and that is always my goal--customer satisfaction.

More pictures of my new creations will be coming all week, so be sure to check back. Also take a peek at my Etsy Shop for wonderful items that are for sale!

Have a great day.

A Painted Tear - Coming To Etsy Soon!

No, this tear is not for Hillary Clinton...unless of course she buys it!

This tear is a new organic focal bead that I made on Sunday with a tear-shape that is awash in colors and patterns.

Rich pinks and bright reds collide and the various other glass colors react to create a subdued palette with brilliant punches of color in this cone focal. A cap of black glass sits atop the bead as the colors spiral around the ever-widening base.

There is a lot to see of this bead, and I hop you can stop in and take a look at it in my Etsy Shop tomorrow morning. There'll be plenty of pictures so you can see this bead from all angles.

Have a great night, and thanks for stopping by!

This Treasure Isn't Buried!

Not all grapes are purple, and as you've seen this week, I've been experimenting with some varied grape colors.  Allow me to introduce "Treasure Of Tuscany", a vineyard focal bead in a great cone shape.

While this is not the first red grape bead I've made, it is a stunning bead set against the warm, ivory background.   The background has an almost antiqued look to it created during the working of the glass and the heat it received while the grapes, vines and leaves were being added to it.

Set against this warm, neutral palette, rich, inviting red grapes are hanging in the sun.  The five grape clusters have a great texture and deep color that is sure to tantalize your senses.

As all of my store items, I'll be listing this gem on Etsy in the morning with lots of pictures and more information on the bead. 

I hope you have had  a great week, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Good Night.

Vines A Leaping - Harvest Nears!

Have you had enough of the grapes yet?  I hope not since I'm having so much fun making these interesting and fun beads.  I love how the finished beads look and feel; I get a great sense of accomplishment.

While my wine stopper beads were too big for their intended purpose, I still love how they came out and am very proud to bring you the next one in this series entitled "Harvest Nears".

This bead has a Carrot Red background, which is an odd lot color (not a regularly produced color) by Vetrofond.  It is a rich translucent color that had a terrific swirling grain when worked which makes a very nice background.  

Against this warm sunset color, the bright purple grapes really contrast and shine.  Lots of leaves and twisting vines add a great texture and interest to the bead.

I hope that you will get a chance to visit my shop tomorrow and take a look at all of the pictures of this focal bead.

More Pictures Loaded To Web Site - No Wine Stoppers

Tonight, I've uploaded more pictures into my web site's Vineyard Focals 2008 gallery to include last week's beads that were added to my Etsy shop.

A new blog entry on the site was also entered, and if you'd like to check it out, be sure to visit my web site at www.LampOfLuxury.com. 

OOPS!

Yesterday, while on the torch I made several new vineyard beads that I was planning on using as wine stoppers.  They came out of the kiln this morning and I was really pleased with them.  I thought they'd make awesome wine stoppers.

I cleaned each bead and then carefully took them over to the jewelry table and put the first one onto the stopper.  The hole was a perfect fit, but...

...the beads are too TALL for the stoppers.  I cannot put the ball back onto the end of the rod that runs through the middle of the bead!  

I thought I had the lengths perfect, but the beads must have grown a bit when I was shaping them.  I'm going to need a better measuring system for making these beads before I attempt them again this weekend.

What's New?

Oh well, my wine stopper debacle isn't about to prevent me from listing the beads I made them.  So, for tomorrow's listing I'm putting up one these beads for you to see and judge for yourself whether it would have been a great wine stopper topper (say that 10 times fast!).

"Midnight In The Garden"  is the first of these beads that I will be putting up tomorrow.  On this bead, the grapes have not fully ripened yet.  Ripening red grapes and ripe purple grapes adorn each branch of this vine as the fruit transitions to its full flavor.

Set against a black cone bead, these vines and grape clusters really stand out.  Be sure to check out all of the pictures and sizes in my Etsy shop tomorrow!

Sleep well!

Shy Fruit?

Are they shy or is it just early morning in the vineyard?  Well, we may never know, but you won't be bashful about wearing this lovely focal bead that is coming to my Etsy shop in the morning.

Entitled "Blushing Vineyard", this cone focal features a pastel pink background encased in a clear layer of glass.  Four lovely bunches of grapes and their vines are draped around the bead and dangle toward the narrow end of the cone.  Rich green leaves complete the design add a punch of greenery.

These ripening bunches may well be witnessing the pink skies of Napa valley or a beautiful sunset in the French wine country during the late summer.  Let your imaginations run wild with this lovely bead!

So who saw this bead in the new gallery I put up last night?  Anyone?