Orange birdies...mixed metals (copper, sterling silver, and some sort of alloy), hand-wrought earwires, and carved mother of pearl birds. I upcycled the birds from an ancient pair of earrings I had never worn.
Hope to do lots of gardening this weekend if the weather holds up...everything needs mulch. Would also like to get some jewelry pieces finished...if I can tear myself away from a time waster I have re-discovered.
Let's go back to 2002-ish, my jewelry making was mostly stringing and I discovered lampworked beads. I took a class. I loved it, bought a beginner's sample pack of glass and tools, and was about to scrape up the money to buy a torch and kiln when it dawned on me that it might not be the right time...my son was only about a year old then, there was really no space in the house for it, plus our finances were not that happening. Packed the glass and tools up in a box.
Fast forward to 2010...just got a torch for enameling fun, and I love it...I have some pieces that I am trying to finish up to show you. But, wait! Don't I have a sample pack of glass put away somewhere? and a marver? and bead release? Yes! Think this glass will melt in this little torch? Yes! Think I could make an actual bead? Yes! Hmm, no kiln...wait! I have heated vermiculite for enameling! Yes, I know they need to be annealed, but I am just practicing :) Big sigh...here we go again!
Go for it! Lampworking will probably come very naturally to you!
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