You send my heart all a flutter ....

Lampwork hearts are always lovely to make.  I start by making a long barrel shape of glass with two lumps (technical term ... obviously) either side of the mandrel and heat it up until it is like thick treacle. Then using gravity I sculpt the glass into a heart shape.

I have already written a little about this heart in my post A Journey Through Love but I didn't really explain how I came about making this bead.  As you already know (mainly because I keep going on and on and on about it ....) I have been making implosion beads for a LONG time and quite by accident I turned one into a heart.  Since then I have made lots of implosion heart beads that jewellery designers have converted into beautiful pendants.    

As I have already explained, my hearts are all hand formed.  I don't use a press or mould to shape them, I rely on gravity.  This is a personal preference ... mainly because I find the whole process quite therapeutic and very rewarding.  You have to wait for the glass to move under gravity then very slowly and methodically you need to encourage the glass into the shape of a heart.  You can't rush this process, you have to take your time ... Depending on how much you manipulate the glass will depend on how much the implosion is pulled out or altered, making every bead completely unique!  There are beautiful effects that can be achieved and I have yet to explore  .... it is on my list though!

I have more hearts to show you over the next couple of months but for now if you want to keep up with  my lampwork creations you can either visit my shop on Etsy - Beadscrumptious or come and like my facebook page where I always post new beads and any offers. 

Sarah xx

www.beadscrumptious.co.uk

www.hypersmash.com

www.blogpingtool.com

What to look for when purchasing lampwork beads ... part 1

I am a very conscientious lampwork artist.  I take a great deal of pride in my work and have always sought to make the highest quality beads.  I am a perfectionist and I will not sell any beads that I am not 100% happy with.  Each and every bead represents a piece of art that cannot be replicated or copied.  It is a moment of time trapped within the glass.

I thought I would share some examples of what makes a good quality lampwork bead. Whether you are a new lampwork artist learning your craft or someone that is looking to purchase a set of lampwork beads I hope to give you a few tips on what makes a good bead.

Take a close look at the bead holes in the picture above.  You can see that the entrance to the bead hole is smooth and rounded.  There are no jagged edges, no loose pieces of glass .... everything is smooth.  Now, this is a personal preference .... but my lampwork beads always have a smooth glass transition to the bead hole.  If I am selling my lampwork beads then I want them to be of the highest quality possible with no jagged edges or rough splinters of glass.

There are also practical reasons for this.  As you know I also make jewellery using my lampwork beads.  It is important to have a smooth transition to the bead hole ..... you don't want to have rough edges around the bead holes because the jagged pieces of glass will snap off and end up in your jewellery designs and if the edges are too rough they will eventually rub against your stringing material and wear it away.  The answer ..... to create a beautiful dimple around the bead hole with rounded edges and no sharp pieces of glass protruding from the bead.  I am preparing a tutorial on how to achieve this .... if you are new to lampwork.

Whilst still concentrating on the area around the bead hole .... another thing to look for or try to achieve if you are a lampwork artist is to completely encase the bead in clear glass.  Now, next time you are looking through a batch of lampwork beads take a good look at the internal glass surrounding the bead the hole.  Depending on the design (of course) there should be a lovely clean covering of glass right to the bead hole.  You don't want to see a murky line where the colours within the glass have bled into one another.   

Again, this is a personal preference but I prefer to encase beads fully in clear glass right up to the bead hole, as you can see in the photograph above.  It is a difficult skill to master and you can learn a great deal from tutorials and fellow artists but I think you need to find your way of doing it.  We are all different and what works for one person may not be easy for another.  It gives a lovely finish to the lampwork beads and adds a certain amount of depth.

I work very hard to make the most beautiful lampwork beads that I can.  I tend to focus more on the internal details within the beads rather than external designs and I am constantly striving to push the boundaries and make the most intricate beads that I can. It has taken a few years but I have now developed my own signature and style of lampwork beads and this is very important.  If you are a lampwork artist you need to find your speciality and develop this to make it your own.  Don't try to copy someone else's designs and sell them because you are cheating them and yourself.  Be unique, be different and be true to yourself.

I am afraid all of the lampwork beads featured in this blog have been sold.  If you would like to see more of my work then please visit my shop on Etsy - Beadscrumptious

Sarah xx

www.beadscrumptious.co.uk

www.hypersmash.com

Wire Wrapping Lampwork Beads.

As I keep mentioning ...... (sorry for boring you) ....  this style of lampwork beads are my signature in the lampwork world.  This is a technique that I have tinkered with to develop a style that is unique and very intricate in it's development.  All of the decoration is within the bead and every time you look into one of these beads you will see something completely different.  They are extremely tricky to make and I have many beads that end up in the flower bed .......  but I also have a lot of successful beads as you can see here.

Whilst these beads look very beautiful in a side view ..... the implosion is meant to be viewed looking straight down the bead hole ..... just like this .....

Now, usually you string the bead through the bead hole and incorporate the bead into your jewellery designs with the side of the bead being viewed.  When I made these beads I hoped to give the jewellery designer a new challenge in terms of stringing.  In my head (there is a lot filed away in there) I have quite a few designs floating around in the ether but haven't had any time to make them.  This is always the case because I get carried away developing my beads ..... striving to make more intricate, more beautiful, more colourful designs ..... I wanted to show how these beads could be strung to accentuate the intricate design within the glass.

Then, a lady called Sheena Carruthers purchased a set of my beads.  Whenever I make a sale, I always ask for a photograph of how my beads were used.  I was so proud when Sheena sent me a photograph of the pendant she had made.  It is amazing and so beautiful! 

  

It is such a beautiful piece of jewellery and is a gorgeous example of how you can string one of my implosion beads and get the beauty of the bead as it should be viewed.  I cannot make anything as beautiful as this because my wirework is certainly not to this level but over the holidays I had a go myself if only to release some of the ideas drifting around my head ..... the creative ones amongst you will understand .....

I took a length of relatively fine silver wire.  It was very pliable and needed to be for this design.  I wrapped a length of wire around another length of wire (.... does this make sense? .....) to make the loop in the centre of the bead.  I then created a wire wrapped knot because I wanted to cover the bead hole and create a pretty central aspect to the bead.  Through the knot I then threaded different lengths of wire and twisted some around to give the pendant extra strength.  Really .... I was experimenting and going where ever the wire was taking me ...... I finished off with a loop and secured the piece together with even more wire wrapping.

Here is a back view of the piece ......

You can see the wire wrapping more clearly in this photograph.  I love the effect you get from wrapping wire over another piece of wire.  It looks nice and tidy!  I have made a few more pendants using these beads and have used the wire differently to create different effects.  I have been pleased with the results but I need to get back into the studio to make some more beads as my head is spinning with more and more ideas of things to make ......HELP!

Unfortunately the jewellery I have featured in this article is not for sale but if you click on the link to my shop on Etsy, you may find a set of beads that you can turn into something truly spectacular!

BEADSCRUMPTIOUS ON ETSY!

Sarah xx

www.beadscrumptious.co.uk

www.hypersmash.com

Passion

Hello, I have spent so much time making beads lately that I haven't had the time to write about them.  This set of beads are part of my new collection of Entangled Beads.  The glass has taken on a wisp like effect .... almost like ribbons of glass entwined and entangled together.  The effect is beautiful and gives the beads a stunning amount of depth.  They are irresistible! Once you start looking into the beads you get lost within all the fascinating mixtures and tendrils of glass.  I should have called them my crystal glass ball beads .... you gaze into the bead and see all kinds of wondrous things hidden within the depths of the glass  ..... oooohhhh where did that come from?   It is true though!

 

This isn't an easy thing to photograph but I do try my best for you .......  I get as close to the beads as I possibly can before everything gets blurred and distorted but I still can't manage to capture the depth within the beads.  Still, this is something to work on .....

 

I wish I could write paragraphs about my inspiration for these beads but this is one of those sets that have developed over time and just come from working with the glass.  A technique I have stumbled upon whilst trying to make a specific set of lampwork beads.  Sometimes this happens and sometimes from this great ideas can emerge.  There is another problem with this though.  There have been instances where I have been asked to make the same bead set again.  This is not always possible because I have used the glass on my desk at that specific moment in time, in a certain order and in a certain way and try as hard as I can I cannot make them again.  It can be quite frustrating but proves that my beads are one of a kind (OOAK) and truly unique. 

 

In case you hadn't noticed ..... I have a thing for hot pink and turquoise at the moment.  The colours really compliment each other and I can't get enough of them.  The only problem is the cost of the pink glass.  It is incredibly expensive and worth every penny ....

 

What can I tell you about these beads?  There are 5 beads in the set. I have used the same combination of glass for each bead but every bead is OOAK. My beads also look fantastic strung from a sterling silver chain. The advantage of this is you can swop and change the beads as often as you like to create individual jewellery statements. If you would like some ideas about what to make with my beads please visit my blog : Jewellery Making Tutorial

The largest bead is 19mm across by 12 mm thick to 12mm by 10mm. The remaining four beads are approximately 12mm across by 11mm thick.The bead holes are approximately 2.5mm.

This bead set is available to purchase in my shop on Etsy.  All you need to do is click on a photograph and a link will take you straight there.

 

Sarah xx

www.beadscrumptious.co.uk

www.hypersmash.com



 

 

Monthly Make - April

Ok a tiara can be quite a fiddly item to make so this month I am going to balance this with a very simple challenge.  This month I used my old lampwork beads to create a unique (because every one of my lampwork beads is unique) piece of wall art!

 

This is very easy to create.  All you need is a box frame and lots of your old unused beads.  You can be as creative as you like, colour coordinate your beads, add a beautiful watercolour background, use striking frames in colour contrast to the beads .....the list is endless!

 

If you don't work with beads you could use buttons, cotton reels, dried flowers, springs, nuts and bolts,  ... there are so many possibilities.  You could turn this simple idea into a work of art and I would love to see your interpretations.

 

Sarah xx

www.beadscrumptious.co.uk

www.hypersmash.com

Jungle Fever!

 

Jungle Fever : A stunning set of lampwork glass beads handmade by me in warm amber colours.  I can't believe I haven't written about these beads before.  The colours are fantastic, deep rich shades of amber, .... very warm.  You can almost feel the heat radiating from them.  There is so much depth to these beads.  They would look fantastic combined with Vintaj charms and findings or just strung simply from a sterling silver chain.

I used the same colour combinations of glass for each bead so they all match.  The only thing I altered each time was the design.  I started by making an amber floral bead.  This bead is composed of five separate layers.  I started by creating a central core of deep rich amber and swirled lucious green foliage on the top.  I encased the bead in clear glass to prevent any colours bleeding into the next layer and then added the flower petals.  I trapped tiny bubbles of air in the center of each flower and then encased the bead in another layer of clear glass.

I am a perfectionist when it comes to encasing my beads in glass and I always make sure the bead is entirely encased with a perfect dimple surrounding the bead hole, as you can see in all of my photographs.  

I suppose I should explain why this is important ..... and this is something you can look for next time you purchase a bead or set of beads. Take a good close look around the bead hole of the bead and inspect it to see if there is a dirty looking line where the different colours meet. This is because the bead has not been entirely encased in glass and the colours within the lower layers of the bead have bled into the clear glass. If you like this kind of effect then great, but I prefer to encase my beads completely to avoid this. 

 

All of my lampwork beads are made to a very high standard. They are all kiln annealed, cleaned of all bead release (which is a very nasty substance that you don't want to breathe in) and thoroughly inspected.  As a lampwork bead artist, I take all of this very seriously .... as you can tell!

I also included one of my signature implosion flower beads in the set.  They look fantastic photographed like this but also look stunning when viewed from the side.  They look as though all the petals are rippling in the glass ... very pretty ... but then I would say that!  In the photograph above you can also see the remaining two beads in the set.  Swirls and swirls of deep rich amber coloured glass.  It is a shame you can't appreciate the depth within these beads from the photographs.

This bead set is available to purchase from my shop on Etsy at £18.00 for a limited period only (normally £25.00), just click on a photograph and it will take you there.  If you would like to keep up with any offers, competitions and my latest work please come over and "like" my facebook page and you will be kept up to date with everything I am up to - Beadscrumptious on Facebook

As all of my customers know, I always include a little something extra ....

Sarah xx
www.beadscrumptious.co.uk
www.hypersmash.com

 



Brighton Implosion Beads.

All of my lampwork beads are handmade by me in my studio in Somerset.  I am a professional lampwork artist and make all of my bead to a very high standard.  All of my beads are kiln annealed to ensure long lasting strength and durability and all of my beads are thoroughly cleaned to remove all traces of bead release.

 

Geometric prints featured quite prominently on the catwalk for this season with Chanel, Dior and Louis Vitton providing us with some interesting prints.  I thought I would celebrate this fashion statement with a geometric print trapped within a lampwork glass bead.

 

Brighton is an example of one of my signature lampwork beads : the floral implosion.  These beads (in this form) are not made by anyone else and are totally unique.  I have spent many years perfecting this technique and unique designs that are my very own stamp of individuality.  These designs and the style that I have developed have not yet been copied .... I did keep a lot of the beads to myself and was very reluctant to share them with the rest of the world to prevent anyone copying my ideas but you know, you can't live in the shadows all the time. Sometimes you have to get out there and make a statement! When you see these beads you will think Beadscrumptious - Sarah Bunney.  They are also a challenge to make and hence this is reflected in the price .... well actually it is an art to make them!

 

 

I am afraid I am not going to give away any of my secrets ... but I really do enjoy making these beads.  Unfortunately, I can only make them when I am in the right mind set.  Now, this is something I didn't truely understand until I started making beads full time.  I would read articles about lampwork artists stating that they didn't make beads to order because it stifled their creativity.  At the time I thought this was incredibly pretentious but it is true.  I am finding that there are days when I have to give up making beads in my studio because the link between my brain and hands will not function.  It is almost like there is a dense fog within my brain and until it lifts I am incapable of making anything. Wierd isn't it?  But the artistic amongst you will understand.

 

I have a very lovely friend who makes the most beautiful embroidered brooches ... I am hoping that she will become a featured artist on my blog (haven't asked her yet though) who completely understands this.  She hasn't made any brooches for quite some time because of the same reason. 

 

This bead set comprises a central implosion bead that is 17mm across and 10mm in width. There are also two swirled glass beads to compliment the central implosion beads. These beads are approximately 14mm across by 9mm in width. Finally I decided to add a couple of watercolour implosion beads. These are absolutely stunning beads and are approximately 15mm across by 9mm in width.

 

This bead set is available on Etsy.  If you click on one of the photos you will be taken straight to my shop.

 

Sarah xx

www.beadscrumptious.co.uk

www.hypersmash.com

Blue Challenge Results!

Watercolour Implosion Bead - My Signature Beads.

 

Here are some of the beads I made as part of my Monday Glass Challenge.  I might let it run on for another week because I have really enjoyed making the implosion beads and whilst I am in the mood I really want to make some more.

 

Hope you enjoy having a look at my work this week.  None of the beads have been listed on etsy yet but if you keep an eye on facebook and twitter, I will notify you when they are! 

Lots of bright blue lentil beads.

Front view of a Watercolour Implosion Bead.

One of my blue lampwork implosion hearts.

 

Dark Blue Implosion Flower with a couple of ribbon beads.



Blue Blossom Lentils

Sarah xx
www.beadscrumptious.co.uk
www.hypersmash.com