Monthly Make - July

I haven't had time to write a monthly make post for May or June which is a bit of a shame.  Never mind, I am back on track with an entry for July.  I am one of those people that like to get value for money when I make a purchase and this is something I always try to fulfil with my customers too ...

My lampwork beads are expensive (because they are made to a very high standard) and considered a luxury item so I always try to make sure I include a little extra where I can.  It is also lovely when you receive a beautifully packaged item.  So, when you purchase my beads you can always be assured that you will receive your beads in a beautifully presented gift box, tied with ribbon and finished with a few little extra beads.

I take absolutely ages packaging my beads.  They take a long time to make, kiln anneal and clean and I would be devastated if they were damaged during shipping.  Especially as many of the designs I make I cannot (no matter how hard I try) reproduce.  They are unique, one of a kind pieces of art!   I also take ages choosing the right beads to place on the top of the box.  You need beads that match the beads you have purchased to incorporate into your jewellery design.

Underneath all of the reams of bubble wrap, you will have a beautiful set of lampwork beads arriving in pristine condition ready for you to turn into something beautiful.

Oh ..... I should also add that I would love to see what beautiful pieces of wearable art you have made with my beads.....

I have a shop on Etsy where you can view and purchase some of my lampwork creations.  All you need to do is click right here ..... Beadscrumptious on Etsy

Sarah xx

www.beadscrumptious.co.uk

www.hypersmash.com

Static : A lampwork Bead Set by Beadscrumptious

I can't believe that I didn't get around to writing a blog post about these beads before they had sold on Etsy.   So, I am going to write one now.  I will reflect on this lovely set of lampwork beads that are making their way to a new home.

This set of beads are an example of my signature implosion beads and actually started out as an experiment to see what would happen if ...... and these beads were the result.  They also marked a change in my implosion designs where I started to really define myself in the lampwork world as having designs that I had developed.  People will and do try to copy my designs but hey, that is life! These things happen when you start to promote yourself.  Should you lock yourself away to keep all of your work top secret or should you embrace the fact that your work is inspiring other artists?  I am forever the optimist! .... although it is disheartening when you see very similar beads to your own being sold much cheaper .... I take a great deal of pride in my work and make high quality beads to a very high standard (blog post coming soon).

I am spending the next couple of weeks developing these beads further.  I am going to try different colour combinations and a few new techniques to see what happens.  What will my end result be and will any of the beads I make be worthy of writing about? .... we will see!  I also have to make a large batch of similar beads for a commission.  I say similar because I find it very difficult (actually impossible) to make the same bead twice but that is another blog post entirely!

I am really looking forward to seeing what the lovely lady who bought these beads is going to make with them.  It always makes me feel like a proud parent to see my lampwork beads incorporated into some amazing jewellery designs.  That is also another blog post to come very soon .....

If you click on any of the photographs a link will take you straight to my shop on Etsy where you can find some more examples of my lampwork beads to feed your imagination and hopefully inspire your jewellery designs.

Sarah xx

www.beadscrumptious.co.uk

www.hypersmash.com

Beadscrumptious Implosion Flower Beads

Hello, and welcome to my new blog followers.   I feel as though I have been away for a very long time .... I had one of those moments where all of my creativity just vanished.  It returned in part ... I had moments where ideas were buzzing through my head but I just couldn't make them.  No matter how hard I tried I couldn't make a single round bead.  So, I admitted defeat and left the shed/studio/shed, bought myself a new laptop (my old one was very old and ... well ....  just old!)  and spent the last week transferring across all of my data.  Why am I telling you all this boring information?  I have absolutely no idea but there we are ...... 

What I wanted to write about were my new implosion beads.  YES!  My lampworking hands finally returned and I was on a roll!  I went into a lampwork frenzy!  I abandoned my family duties and disappeared to my shed/studio/shed ..... until I made all the beads that had been whizzing around as ideas in my chaotic brain.  Yipee! Whoohoooo! and Hooray! 

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will know these are my signature beads.  I have spent years developing these beads and continue to do so.  They are very difficult beads to make and require a great deal of heat control, concentration and a very steady hand.  I also need to have a clear head to make them because they are totally absorbing. 

So what is new about these beads? .... I have been developing the side view of the beads.  The beads are designed to be viewed from the front but many designers want to have the detail around the side of the bead as well.  Sometimes this happens and sometimes it doesn't, so I have been developing a technique that can achieve this.  I have also been developing a greater depth within the beads, more intense colours and more swirling within the swirls ... just thinking about these beads sends my head into a spin ..... I want them to be even more stunning and to really capture your attention when they are worn as a piece of jewellery.

As you can see from the photograph above, I decided to use these beads to make a series of pretty pendants.  I am always asked about how these beads could be converted into beautiful jewellery so I thought I would show you a very simple example.  I made this pendant using sterling silver wire.  I created a little knot of wire to cover the bead hole and then looped the wire carefully around the bead so that it will hang correctly from a silver chain.  A great amount of thought goes into my jewellery designs because I want my customers to be complemented on their beautiful jewellery and spread the word about my lampwork beads.

I will be making some more implosion beads very soon and they will be available to purchase in my shop on Etsy - Beadscrumptious

Sarah xx

www.beadscrumptious.co.uk

www.hypersmash.com

A simple way to wear lampwork beads!

You have seen a beautiful set of lampwork beads and don't know what to do with them.  Well, here is a very simple solution to your problem ..... pop them onto a sterling silver chain and you have a very quick and simple item of jewellery.  The great thing about this is that you can change the beads very easily to match different items of clothing within your wardrobe.  This is something that I do very often.  

I quite like the simplicity and versatility of this.  I can wear one bead, a set of beads, mix and match them with other sets of lampwork beads and create statement peices of jewellery that I know I will be complimented on and that no-one else is wearing.

You could purchase some sterling silver rondell or round beads to place in between each lampwork bead to bring out the designs within the beads.  This creates a very effective look as well.  I love using sterling silver with lampwork beads and keeping things simple because it compliments the designs within the lampwork beads. 

Photo by Vicki Ritherdon

When you are purchasing your silver chain just make sure that the end is smaller that 2.5mm and rectangular in shape.  I do have sterling silver chains available should you wish to make yourself a statement piece of jewellery.  All you need to do is contact me. 

If you would like to see more beads that you could place onto a sterling silver chain .... please visit my shop on Etsy by clicking on this link -  Beadscrumptious

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