Hearts for Haiti

Three new hearts to go up on Etsy tonight tomorrow night.

There is so much to be done in Haiti, rebuilding of both shelter & lives is only just beginning.

Heart #17

Heart#18

Heart#19

More, more, more

Every time I show a Chalcedony bead I think of the Andrea True Connection song "More, more, more". Showing my age there methinks!


Are you all getting sick of it yet? Chalcedony I mean! I almost wish that I was - but no such thing! I discover something different every time I work with it, & I just love every little thing I discover. This glass has taught me so much & allowed me such a vast amount of freedom that I feel as if I owe it big time.

The minimal investment in comparison to other silver glasses, has allowed me to relax without fear of wasting money if something doesn't work as anticipated. Heck - if I'm truthful this costs me less by weight, than getting a 1/4lb of one of the Vetrofond oddlots, or most of the CiM range.

I've relaxed a lot & been able to focus my attention on form, shaping, ends & all those little things that needed improving, due to working with this glass. Knowing that it will do something, no matter how long I work it in the flame has relieved me of the juggling act that was associated with trying to maintain a design & shape, have nice puckered holes & tidy ends - without risking losing any design elements by the repeated marvering required at times.


Because of the strike cycle of this glass, I have learned patience & how to work slower. I have an gained insight into heat control that I never had before. I have learned to read the heat of glass & when it is ready to be marvered or pressed.

Because of this my skills have improved immensely. I still struggle with even ends on tube beads, but that too will come. I finally feel as if I am 'getting there'. It's amazing what relaxing can do!

Regrouping

Trying to envisage what direction I am going in - right now it appears to be every which way but 'one'!

Finally - the right light conditions

To capture Gaffer Chalcedony in it's natural state.

Sometimes (quite often in fact) indoor lighting just doesn't capture the colours as one would like, & certainly not as they appear in hand....unless you are prepared to do a bit of photo editing.
I've found this glass particularly hard to capture - but noticed that direct sunlight they appeared truest to colour. Of course direct sunlight causes it's own set of problems - namely reflection & bright spots all over the beads.

The next best option is on a sunny day, but just out of direct sunlight.

Today the masses got fondled again - taken outside, placed on the nice neutral weathered background in a shaded part of my old outdoor table & photographed. Not quite as vibrant as it appears in the sun - but gorgeous none the less.

So here it is "Gaffer Chalcedony Unplugged" - no editing at all apart from quickly cropping & resizing.

Gaffer Chalcedony 'en masse'

Finally I can show you why this bead is one of my two favourites. It seems to glow from within - it certainly has a depth & flow to it that is unlike anything I have achieved to date. The striking cycle seems to be purples, plums & pinks first - then the blues & greens. You can have heaps of fun with selectively re striking certain area's of the bead for colour contrasts & variations.



Perhaps when my new glass arrives I will get over my infatuation & enthusiasm with this glass...then again perhaps I will have a greater selection of glasses on which to test it!

I'm still predominantly using the 96 COE's with this though, even though there are no signs of any incompatibility cracks on the beads I made using the Vetrofond Black 104 COE as a base. The bead that landed end down on the tile floor is, of course the exception.

I'm annealing a bit higher, a bit longer & with a slower ramp down - just to be on the safe side ;o)

Gaffer Chalcedony - Just Getting Better!

My favourites so far, I think. Actually they have all been my favourites until I make the next one ;o)

Gaffer 109 - Chalcedony with Clear Stringer

Pure Gaffer 109 - Chalcedony

I am very much in love with this glass!

So much in love with it that I'm almost tempted to buy another kilo!
(But I need some Gaffer clear! - Bugger!)

Gaffer Chalcedony on Gaffer Black

These were made using shards over the various bases - to my mind shards give the nicest results.

Don't forget to check out KnattyDreadz Etsy Store if you need shards - there is a wonderful selection of silver glass shards & you can get your Gaffer 109 Chalcedony fix there too in both shard & murinni.