Fridays are on Fire ~ Scrolling with the Divas

One lampworking skill that I would LOVE to master is scrolling on a bead. Scrolling is basically writing on a bead with glass, usually with a thinner rod of glass called a stringer. Stringer control takes lots of practice, but once you master it, you can make really fun designs on your beads. My Fire Diva friends have it down pat! So let's go scrolling with the Fire Divas:

Seriously, writing the Om symbol on a bead is just too cool. My friend Ema from emakaye made this Enameled Om Focal - amazing stringer control!

The scrolling gets sparkly over at Lutrick, where Lara has added swirls of goldstone to this gorgeous Christmas tree bead.

Scrolls can be melted in or left raised on the bead, like the metallic scrolls on this ivory cabochon by Lea at LAJewelryDesigns.

More raised swirly scrolls can be found on this Lace Sparkle set at susanlambert. I love how the raised scrolls add texture to the beads.

Scrolling can also be part of the bead design. Holly scrolled the flower stems on the backside of this funky Sugar Skull Bead. Want to see the front of the bead? Head to HollysFollyGlass on ArtFire.

Could the silver scrolling on this acorn bead at AshlynDesign be any more perfect? I'm so jealous of Lori's mad scrolling skills - stunning!

One more from Ema ~ this one is part of her new series of Balance beads she had fun creating, and you can read more about them at Ema K.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Fridays are on Fire ~ Fire Diva Fritty Beads

One of my new favorite things to work with is frit. Frit is crushed glass, and it can be tiny or chunky. You can make your own by heating a rod of glass and then plunging it into water, where it will break up into little bits. But you can also purchase it, and there are lots of suppliers that make some fabulous frit blends. So when your bead is nice and hot, you just roll it in the frit and voila! You've added texture and depth and color . . . and it's different every time.

This blue pendant heart by Karen at giapet is covered in purple frit. I love what happens to the colors where Karen has stretched the bottom of the heart.

Frit takes on a different look over transparent glass. Amy from ahouston has a lot of fabulous fritty beads in her shop, including this one called Gypsy Skirt, where she paired a frit blend called Gypsy Skirt over medium transparent topaz.

Judith of icarusbeads shows how exquisite frit can be on beads. For Dreamtime Rolos, she sprinkled her beads with reactive clear frit, then encased them in clear. Talk about dreamy!

For this lovely lampwork glass fish bead, Laurie of glassbead added raku frit and gave it a swirl. The effect is really cool.

Susan Lambert calls this set simple, but the possibilities are endless with lampwork beads a bit of frit

For more from the Fire Divas, please check out the Fire Diva Blog. You'll find contests, gossip, fantasy shopping, Ask The Divas and much, much more!

Therapy Thursday - it's baaaaaack!

Remember Therapy Thursday? It's a feature I came up with a while back to add some cheer to the dreary days of winter. Now that it's getting cold out, and I hear it's rainy and icky in lots of places today, I thought I'd offer some eye-candy therapy. If pretty pink, flowers, sparkly rainbows and chocolate covered cherries don't lift your spirits, then you might want to go back to bed.

Pink Aura Focal by Ema K Designs - an aura of pink is sure to lift your mood. It works for me!

Santa Fe Flower Pair by Dorset Hill Beads - wouldn't these make darling earrings?

Rainbow Glow by Tease Beads ~ this one's on SALE!

Chocolate Covered Cherry Earrings by Hollys Folly Glass - chocolate, glass and jewelry, without any calories! The perfect gift the special lady in your life, or a treat for yourself.

For more glass eye candy from the Fire Divas, head to the Fire Divas Blog. You'll find links to all our shops, blogs, interviews, bead-of-the-day, gossip, fantasy shopping, contests and much, much more!

It's been a rather gloomy weekend here, so I'm brightening things up with some of my favorite Fire Divas' cheery beads today.

Whoever gets to wear this Bumpy Rainbow Focal by Janel is sure to have a happy day.

I Scream for this Ice Cream bead by Holly. Mmmmmm.

These Big Hole Beads in Lara's shop are super fun!

If you've ever been to Tera's shop, you know that it's always bright and cheery. This Rainbow Bullseye set is is no exception.

Bumps + Color = ♥

These Rainbow Brights by Amy rock!

Happy Sunday, Everyone!

Wahoo! I Won!

Thank you to everyone who voted for my Holiday Turtle Taxi Bead in the Fire Divas Holiday Challenge ~ it won! I've never won anything that has to do with my beads before, and I still can't believe it! The talent on the Fire Divas team is so amazing, and I'm totally honored that people voted for my silly bead. Thank you!

In second place was this stunning necklace (below) by Lara of Lutrick. Now do you see what I mean about the level of talent on the Fire Divas?

Murrini Monday

This week's edition of Murrini Monday features other artists' use of murrini. As you can see, they are much more subtle with their murrini usage than I am, giving their beads a more artistic quality (as opposed to the cartoonish quality of mine).

This show-stopper of a bead is called Nightmare Insomnia Mystical Garden Trellis, and you can find it at GlassAddictions, where there just so happens to be a sale going on.

One lonely murrini graces this lovely green tube bead, but it's the star of the show. One Murrini is from DorsetHillBeads.

Southwest Pathway features the artist's own handmade starburst murrini ~ this one is by flamecrazy.

Rainbow Twist by Lutrick incorporates murrini on both sides of the bead, which is made from gorgeous Chalcedony glass.

Appropriately named Murrini Fields, this luscious tube-shaped bead by teasebeads is highlighted by a pretty orange and yellow burst of murrini.

The beads above are by the Fire Divas. Many of them (including me!) use murrini from loriandkim.

And here is a color explosion called Allegro, by Lori, of loriandkim fame, using her very own handmade murrini. Her fabulous beads can be found at Loribeads.

Calling All Jewelry Designers - Introductory Jewelry Challenge

Obviously my creativity is geared toward melting glass and decorating the occasional piece of fruit. But if I were a jewelry designer, I'd for sure enter the Fire Divas Introductory Jewelry Challenge.

The Fire Divas are hosting an Introductory Jewelry Challenge! This challenge will be for jewelry designers who use artisan lampwork in their pieces. The winner of the Challenge will receive a beautiful group of Fire Divas' work. This is a wonderful chance for jewelry designers to show off their talents and get exposure!

Now for the details:

This first challenge will allow lampwork from any artisan. We require information about the artisan who made the beads used in the submitted piece, so if you submit something, please be ready to provide that information.

The challenges to follow will only allow Fire Divas' lampwork.

We will allow one submission per person per contest, and a maximum of two photos per submission. Entries may be submitted here (http://www.flickr.com/groups/firedivachallenge/) for approval, no later than January 1, 2010. Please include, in the comments section, the following:

Information about the beads:

Description of the piece:

Inspiration for the piece:

Fire Divas reserve the right to approve or reject any submissions.

Fire Divas reserve the right to modify or cancel the challenge at any time.

Ok, the boring stuff is over - go have fun creating!

Fire Divas November Challenge

The Fire Divas are at it again, challenging each other in a bead contest. To celebrate the season of giving, the November challenge revolves around Thanksgiving. So take a look at these creative entries, then pop over to the Fire Divas blog to cast your vote for the entry you are most thankful for.

Friday is on FIRE ~ check out our challenge!

Some of the Fire Divas are participating in a Breast Cancer Awareness Challenge. Please take a minute to hop over to the Fire Diva's blog to vote on these wonderful beads! Thank you!

Friday is on FIRE!

Boro Lampwork BHB (Big Hole Bead)

This week's featured Fire Diva hails from New York. Lea, of LAJewelryDesigns, has her gorgeous beads in both an Etsy shop and an ArtFire shop. Lovely lentils, amazing big-hole beads for pandora-style chains, stunning bead sets, and now beautiful fish beads grace her shops. So let's get to know a little bit more about Lea . . .

How did you find your craft, or did it find you?

DH & I both have an appreciation for the glass arts. We have a collection of glass sculptures in our house that we've collected over the years. I saw a glass blowing demo years ago by Randy Strong & was mesmorized. I knew I couldn't handle the big stuff, but when a friend asked me to take a lampwork class with her at a local art league, I jumped on it. I fell in love immediately and have not looked back.

Favorite color glass?

Hmmmmm......don't tell anyone, but I've got a stash of Lauscha fuschia I've been hoarding for years. LOVE that color! I find it much easier to work with than Rubino Oro.

Do you have a nickname?

With such a short name, you'd think I wouldn't need a nickname, but I have a few actually, some just different pronunciations of my name: Lay-ah, Lee and Lee Lee.

Chocolate or Vanilla?

Can't I have both??

Laundry hamper: full or empty?

Empty right now, but not for long I'm sure.

What did you have for dinner last night?

steak on the bbq, corn on the cob and salad. YUM!

Bed: made or unmade?

made. now for the rest of my house......we won't go there.

What’s on your nightstand?

watch, glasses, telephone

Last book you read:

Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult. I've read all her books. She's from Long Island too.

Salad dressing: on the side or mixed in?

mixed in unless I'm being good. ;)

Ever eat Playdoh?

EW! No!

How do you like your eggs?

sunnyside up or an egg white omelet with mushrooms & onions.

Ever have a perm?

Yes & it was NOT a good look!

Deep dish or thin crust?

Thin crust. yummy!

What’s on your living room wall?

A very uninspiring painting. Thanks for the reminder. :) I have had something in mind that I wanted to make for that wall. It's a cathedral ceiling and the painting on the wall now is way too small. I had gotten a large refrigerator facing from someone on freecycle awhile back. I want to paint it black & then glue on capiz shells in an interesting design. I think it'll be a big improvement.

Least favorite smell?

Rotting garbage.

Can you play an instrument?

Sadly no.

Ever broken a bone?

Yes, both arms, but at different times. I'm not THAT talented!

Do you like guacamole?

Love it! Yummo! My older son loves the guac that I make from scratch.

Most proud of:

My children. I have 2 grown sons, 23 and 27. We had some rocky times, but they've both turned into such fine young men. They both have good jobs (knock wood) and have moved out. That's the sad part. :(

Ibis ~ Lampwork Glass Fish Bead

Spring Awakenings ~ Lampwork Lentil Beads

Purity ~ Lampwork Lentil Focal Bead

Sunshower ~ Handmade Lampwork Focal Bead

Solara ~ Borosilicate Lampwork Focal Glass Bead

Adonia ~ Lampwork Glass Fish Bead

Blue Stoneware ~ Lampwork Glass Boro Bead Set

Friday is on FIRE!

Rainbow Tab

I have long admired the beads and use of color in the shop called Lutrick on Etsy. Lara, a fellow Fire Diva, is the creator of the gorgeous creations in this shop. Right now Lutrick is filled with beads for fall and Halloween, but you'll still find her signature focals, stunning bead sets and a large variety of Pandora beads. So let's get to know Lara . . .

How did you find your craft, or did it find you?

I had been stringing beads and making simple fimo beads while in high school and college. I had seen Indian lampwork beads, but didn't use them as they were really bad. While at a local arts and crafts fair in my home town of Seattle I saw and bought my first true artisan lampwork bead. The artist told me that I could take a class at my local bead store. I took that first class at Glass Expressions in Burien WA and I was immediately hooked.

Favorite color glass?

Oh this is too hard. I like so may colors. My favorite color is purple, so I like: Ink Blue, Psyche. I like reactive colors so I like: Opal Yellow, Ivory (all of them), Copper Green. I like striking and reducing colors and mine are: Blue Chalcedony, Gaia, Bullseye Copper Green Luster

Do you have a nickname?

No

Chocolate or Vanilla?

Chocolate (but really prefer Strawberry)

Laundry hamper: full or empty?

Full

What did you have for dinner last night?

Chicken

Bed: made or unmade?

Unmade

What’s on your nightstand?

Books

Last book you read:

An Echo in the Bone - Still working on it actually.

Salad dressing: on the side or mixed in?

Side

Ever eat Playdoh?

Eck, no

How do you like your eggs?

Scrambled

Ever have a perm?

Yup, and I back combed it for big bangs too. Ahhhhh, the late 80s and early 90s.

Three favorite condiments?

Mustard, Mustard and Mustard

Deep dish or thin crust?

Regular, kind of a medium.

What’s on your living room wall?

Historic flower prints, a framed abstract poster and a mixed media collage with handmade paper and leaf skeletons.

Least favorite smell?

Skunk

Can you play an instrument?

Slightly - Piano

Pets' names:

Beetle (cat)

Ever try their (your pets') food?

Ack, no.

Ever broken a bone?

No, but came close when a bolder fell on my knee.

Do you like guacamole?

Mmmmmm Yum.

Most proud of:

Graduating from nursing school with by BSN.

Big Leaf ~ Autumn Lampwork Focal

Brown Hollow Lampwork Focal Bead

Purple Large Hole Beads

Skull (no 3) Big Hole Lampwork Bead

Caribbean Blue Swirls (12)

Pumpkins

Butterfly Wings