Trunk Show time again at Ornamentea

A couple of new shapes.

This one was well planned out and I am pleased with every aspect of it: small and dainty, easy to form and glaze, shows the bare clay on the sides and I get consistent results. This is a keeper.



This bead is another story. Many of you know how I work - think of a new bead shape, make just a couple and see how it is to glaze and fire them, then make a handful more to get a success / failure rate, and then decide if I want to make them in production. But not for this bead - I was so excited with the first flash vision in my head I didn't bother to think it through and just jumped in and made 100 in each color of clay I use (buff, brown and white). My plan was to glaze the flat side and leave the skinny edges of clay showing, sort of opposite of my washer beads. As soon as I attempt to glaze the first one of those 300 beads it hits me - this won't work! The glaze will run and stick to the wire in the kiln unless I'm super, super, super careful when applying the glaze and use only glazes that don't run. Well, I'm not capable of being that careful and most of my glazes run. Hmmmmm - I can't just toss out 300 beads so I figure I'll just glaze them same at the washer beads and say good bye to the shape forever.

BUT - now I'm loving the shape and edges so will most likely make more and more of them.

Hope you get to meet these new beads at my trunk show on March 25th and 26th at Ornamentea. Lorelei Eutro will be there on Friday teaching Designing Without Limits. Get in the class!

A whole new technique for me.

These pendants are made with old crushed bottles. This technique has been done for years and years, but these are my first trial. The most difficult thing for me is how to crush the glass easily - any suggestions?

See you Friday or Saturday at Ornmanetea,

Elaine

Lovely Lacy Lentils

I'll have a few of these lacy lentils in Old Penny glaze at my trunk show on September 11 and 12 at Ornamentea. This trunk show is focusing on items not available on Ornamentea's web site, so I'm more excited than ever to post pictures of my new ideas. Keep checking back, and I'll see you there!

- Elaine

More new twists on old ideas.

Cascade glazes on flat pendants.
So far I have been able to keep the glazes from flowing right off the edges, so I am thrilled!

I'll see you on September 11 and 12 at Ornamentea.....

It's Trunk Show time!

It is Trunk Show Time!!!! I'll be at Ornamentea on September 11th and 12th with bells on. Drop by to see the new and the old. Shown here is a old idea with a new twist. I have made ring shaped beads for quite a while, but my production error rate was quite high as it was hard to place the middle hole right in the center. Then one day it hit me - just make them off center on purpose - Ta Da! A better looking bead that is also easier to make. A twofer!! Keep checking back as I post more pictures of new ideas.

I'll see you in September!

Bead Caps!!!!!!!!!!!

I am loving these little beauties, but have yet to make any finished items with them. If you have send me a picture ASAP!!!

Here is one crop as they came out of the kiln.........

Pictured above is a close up shot of the Bead Caps available on line at Ornamentea.com. There may be a larger variety at Ornamentea so stop by if you are in the area. The color of the Bead Cap on the bottom of the picture is "Old Penny" and is a new color combination that we have some more plans for - yay!


Thanks!

A New Style of Bead

Take a look and see this new style of bead I have ventured to.........

They are a continuation of some beads I introduced during my trunk show at Ornamentea in March. It has been an interesting time of trial and error to test what designs work with what glaze, while at the same time finding color combinations that Cynthia and I can both agree on. You can find all the new stuff at Ornamentea.com.

Also available now: new colors in the small lentils, large lentils and pillow shape....

Be on the look out for more more new items - I'll let you know as they become available........

New item: Hourglass drops

Summer is flying by here in North Carolina and already it feels like we need to at least start to get ready for the next school year. I've been busy in the clay as you can see here on Cynthia's Shiny Little Things Blog.

Here is a peek at new items soon to be available at Ornamentea.com :

Can't you just see the sand flowing through the hourglass? Sometimes I wish I could stop the sand and make time stand still and sometimes I wish I could tap on the side of the glass and make that moment go on to the next a little bit faster.

Hope everyone is having a great summer. Get out there and get some sun - remember, the vitamin D is good for your bones!

- Elaine

Studio Saturdays at the Art Bead Scene

I'm on today for Studio Saturday at ABS. Come on over and take a look at some of my new collar pieces. Leave a comment on that post and be entered to win this:


You don't need your own blog to enter, just leave a comment with your name, then check back next Saturday at The Art Bead Scene to see if you have won. Good luck and Thanks for stopping by!

New Item!

Cyndi's comment yesterday about the "Tangles with all the angles" was my inspiration for naming this new line of pendants. As they came out of the kiln yesterday I was searching for a name for them - so now I will call them "Angles". Gives me plenty of wiggle room to vary the shapes and angles while at the same time giving them a linguistic attachment to my "Tangle" pieces - which lead me on the path to these.

Thanks Cyndi for your poetic comment!