Last week our Focus on Life was to Create Art. I created class headpins and beads and picked them up this week.
It felt like I created more than what is shown below, but I am still learning. The headpins were a bit of trial and error, but I went back this week and created another bunch and started to get into a groove making them. I have tried to limit my color palette until I get better at making beads and I have found it makes it easier to create this way. I ordered some frit, which is small pieces of glass that will add a punch of color that I will experiment with next week.
I think a kiln at home is in my future, so if anyone local wants to sell or lend me one let me know.
Until then, I will go to the Glass House at Workhouse Arts Center which for right now is great. I can learn and ask questions from other lamp workers and that will help me more than having a kiln at home.
Swirl glass headpins and barrel beads
Sand Dune glass focal
Sandy, These are great! I did a little lampworking before enameling so I know the challenges!
For lampworking I bought a Paragon Caldera with a bead door. It also goes to Cone 10 for firing porcelain beads. You can slump glass. It’s small, but you can pack that thing with lots of ceramic beads, should you desire to add to your ever-expanding repertoire of talents! 
Barbara
Sandi – awesome beads! I love the stamp you put on the head pins – really incredible! I just mailed you the ones you made at my house – sorry it took me a bit longer than I thought to get them sent
These look great! Love your sand dune barrel bead!
Your beads and headpins look great! I especially love your Sand Dune barrel bead.
So very cool! I love the colors. I would love to take a glass class. But I fear it would be like every other class I take in that I never practice it outside of the classroom! I want to get back to just playing with materials and seeing where they take me. I think I will put steps in that direction. Enjoy the day. Erin
When the weather is warmer, you need to come spend a weekend with me and play in my studio!
Very nice! I love that sand dune barrel bead.
I can definitely see the sand dune in that bead! And I love the headpins with the swirls, the smaller ones look pretty perfect to me. great idea to limit your color palette and focus on the making first.