Briar Rose~ I left these a little "rough around the edges" because the rose that inspired them has a wild abandon beauty to it, hmm... Keep them or list them on Etsy? A day with evil divitrifying purple, avacado and copper green who could resist that?
Obviously not me :)

Edp forces some colors to concentrate into a thin center line when they are applied together. I am not sure what the science is behind this, I just know that I really enjoy the results.

I don't have much to say tonight as I am working a different schedule at my job this week and I am pooped!!! I can't wait to get to my glass this week let me tell you :)

Tools for poking and shaping, straightening and tucking. These are a few of my favorite things.Mashers and squashers~ Shaping by hand with the gentle curve of the squeeze tool is one of the best secrets I keep~ The graphite shaper in the lower right is well used too :)
"All the better to see you with my dear"
Pretty purple didymium glasses filter out the bright orange soda flare that occurs when soft glass is melting in the torch. They protect my eyesight and make it easier to see what I am doing in the flame.

Those are the tools I have on my bench every time I torch. They are my "indispensibles" I have others I use and like but not as much as the ones I have shown you here~

my piano man

Yummy seafood dinner in Jimis' tiny kitchen

Happy Fathers Day Dad!
My Brother in Law and my Silly Niece~
And Dianne!

Fathers day was great! We got together at my Brothers house in Seattle and made lots of yummy seafood and a delicious salad. Everyone had a wonderful time and I got plenty of pix!

Yummy yummy colors~ lately I've been wanting to make more big hole beads :)
Terra and dark Ivory what a great combo this turned out to be ~very rustic Some more squeezies! I just love these pretty, pretty, pretty, SMASH! oh yeah :)
More of the big holes

I know you are all dying to see the second installment in "The Mysteries of Glass" series. No worries, I've taken some more pix and will be telling you about some of my favorite tools next~

Just thought I'd throw out a quick little post with some of this weeks beads to tide you all over.

Stainless steel mandrels or rods in sizes ranging from 1/16th to 7/16ths. This is how they look after I strip the beads off of them. A little bit of leftover bead release here and there, but basically ready for another go round :) Bead release works as a "separator" so that the molten glass does not permanently adhere to the rod as the bead is formed. It should have the consistency of a thick milkshake. Some release can be flame dried and others dry overnight. The type I prefer can be flame dried although I usually let it dry overnight as it seems to be more stable.
After the mandrels are dipped in the bead release I keep them in a mug one of my friends from school made. The mug is filled with sand and I just poke the mandrels in. I also have a couple of soup cans and some drilled stands Matt made for me just for drying mandrels. So I usually have plenty ready to go at any given time :) Dipping mandrels is one of my least favorite things to do.
Ahhh at last some real color. I am easily distracted by all the color. Many many times I have gone out to my studio with ideas I have written down only to be distracted and inspired to go in another direction. Today for example I had a list of Morretti combos I wanted to work from. I went out and promptly cleared the Morretti from the bench. Yep cleared the Morretti from the bench~ out came reichenbach and some compatible friends. I spent my glass time experimenting and playing and I had a blast. I hope everything looks great in the morning. You just can't really tell until everything has cooled off.
So when my thumbnail caught on fire today I was a little surprised. I have a tendancy to use the glass down to the very end and that means I get my fingers really close to the flame. Still the little burst of flame at the end of my thumb was surprising as I also keep my nails fairly short. I was so grateful that I always have a cup of cold water nearby for cooling my tools off so the glass doesn't stick to them. My hand flew into the glass, a little "psst" noise and the drama was over. That little jolt of adreneline was great for creativity lol :)

Ready for a little fun in the sun? Sweet chocolate and turquoise :) yummmeeee~
A cool Forest Green Cube

Well I turned 41 last weekend and I am still alive and kickin'~ TJ and Kendra brought Aleena for a dip in the pool. Is she just the cutest in her hat and bikini or what? We had a wonderful day, Matts' Grandma and Uncle Dave came up from Little Rock (Wa) Mom and Milo came out and Chelsea brought Jaxson over to play with Sammy. Matts' sister Jill even made a surprise appearance. It was great to see everyone. The weather was fabulous, we are back to grey and rainy now though with a thunderstorm here and there just to keep you on your toes :)

My dad sent me a gift certificate for Frantz Art Glass and I can't wait to go and use it!! Boy talk about the "Perfect" gift hehehe... Now I just need to take some time for myself from my crazy schedule so I can use it.

Maybe next week...

Kris

The Warm spice beads are back! A wonderful soft pinky coral medley, probably one of my all-time favorite beadsets. I re-listed them yesterday so if you missed them the first time around here is your second chance. Go get 'em!!

Its my Birthday :) I am spending a nice morning with my hubby. Then we are off to the store to get some goodies as we have a few family members coming over later for an impromptu get together.

The giant Larva beetle thingy is GONE!!! shudder... Matt got rid of it yesterday and I am so glad, it was kind of gross to see it laying in the bottom of the jar waiting to hatch bleh... No guesses on what it was.

Beauty and the beast~ The picture at the top is a HUGE pupa or cocoon Matt found while we were working in the yard last week ewwww it is about the size of my pinkie. It will probably hatch into a gigantic man-eating beetle. Bleh.... Of course the beauty is in the beads. I am very happy with the richness of the colors in the bottom set. I learned a new trick with my photo editing program too. I am always happy to find good tips!! Well I am outta here and off to work. Have a fabulous day!