Now even hotter

I'm still trying to figure out my new torch. It's a lot of fun, but at the same time quite frustrating as all the glasses react in new ways. The ones that I earlier worked with ease now tends to drip, burn and scum in a way that I yet don't master.

On the other hand, the ones that I earlier almost never used as it took ages to get them to melt, I now find very pleasant.

Some of the new reactions are manageable and even fun. Some just annoying. Like
- the Vetro clear bubbles and scums. So now that I finally get it hot enough not to capture airbubbles it creates its own bubbles all over the place.

- my beloved Vetro black, that has always behaved nicely, though a bit stiff, now is starting to let me down. When making black and white beads, for example, the black is invading the white, creating "watermarks" on it.

- using stringers for dots is much harder, as the heat tends to boil the glass.

It's all probably a matter of PPP, but right now I'm quite frustrated.

Hurray!

Yesterday I installed my new Minor Bench Burner, complete with a New Life oxygen concentrator and all. It's wonderful and I'm allready in love.

It will take somPPP though, to get used to it. Now I finally understand what they mean by "dripping hot". :) And a lot of the advice I've red that seemed unimportant on my HotHead suddenly makes sence.

But this will be great fun. Now I can bring the colours out of the raku. I also ordered some DH Gaia to celebrate the event.

My webshop

This Monday I launched my webshop. You're welcome to visit it at Babs Beads & Design.

I'm aiming at two editions - one in swedish and one in english - but not for a while. In the meantime I use both languages in the shop. As soon as I get time I will translate the other pages as well.

I will also put more and jewellery in the shop.

Happy Valentines day!

Here are som hearty beads.

This is a bed i made for a necklace in a competition. The theme was Aurora Borealis.
It's made of black Vetro with lines and dots of Reischenbasch Irirs Bkue. The dots are covered with raised dots of Vetro Clear.

Encased florals

These get there own post as I'm actually kind of prowd of them Not that they're perfect, but they are the best encased beads I've done, so far.

Flowers in the snow

Closeup on Autumn flowers

Closeup on Blue flowers

Finally some pictures

Last week we had some snow and almost sunshine so I took a few beads and my camera and went out. Here are some of the results.

First, I called this "River", but then someone pointed out to me that it reminds of the swedish alps ("fjällen"), and that's more accurate. Effetre Dark Ivor, Vetrofond black stringer, SIS and Effetre Turquoise.

Nosferatu was here.
Vetro black, dark ivory, SIS and some striking yellow and red.

Another Body and soul.
This one is better than the last one, I think.

Raspberry chocolate
I'm especially fond of the raised dots wich in some angels show the raspberry red and in other angels don't.

Happy birthday to me... :D

My birthdaypresents are starting to roll in. (I turned 40 the 21:st of January and wished for a new torch and money to buy lampworkingstuff for.) I got the Nortel minor I wished for and the order is placed, though it hasn't arrived yet. The money I got I've decided to spend on presses, special glass and other tools that I wouldn't afford otherwise. So I've been doing some happy shopping the last week! :)

Today the first package arrived. Two new presses from Cattwalk.
Aren't they great!? The lovely people at Cattwalk even tied pretty ribbons around the handles and put a treat in the parcels.

This will be so fun! i just wish I would get better soon, cause I can't find the energy right now to do anything. This cold is drivning me crazy!

Now I can't wait for the next package to arrive! Pretty glasses from Sansiera.