Oh my, I sure was excited when I received my box with Gaffer Glass in it. I had seen such lovely beads made with it and was anxious to give it a whirl.
When I'm trying out a glass for the first time, I usually make a shape that I've made hundreds of times before...a seashell. You see, it's for a variety of reasons all rolled into one bead.
As a sculpture type person, not only the color is important to me. I want to know the viscosity of the glass and how it moves at different temperatures. This is what a seashell does for me.
I get the feeling of melting the glass and winding it onto the mandrel in a larger than spacer size. Then I feel the stiffness of the glass as I roll it onto my torch mounted marver and later cut into it with my brass Stump Shaper. I also get to heat and squish it for the ruffled lip- again another way to check out its movement. Sometimes my razor blade get used for final adjustments along the top swirl.
Now that I've felt the Gaffer glass and have enjoyed the tactile part of it, color appreciation is next. And oh, what a lot of colors this Chalcedony has. Beautiful, aren't they? I know with practice, I'll be able to coax more out of it. But as this was an experimental seashell, I also tried wrapping some silver foil around the bead to see if the silver reacted in any way to the glass.
I didn't notice any difference, but I did like the additional texture and sparkle that the silver remnants provided.
You can find this seashell in my Studio Marcy Etsy shop.
So next time, I'll be working with the color some more. And I know some of my readers have the magical touch with this wonderful glass, so please feel free to post tips for it. I would appreciate your expertise.
See you tomorrow with more glass and creativity chat. http://www.studiomarcy.blogspot.com
good morn Marcy...
ReplyDeletestunning work as always...
finding my way back to the computer...
wish you were here....
mel is a doll
mona & the girls
Mona, I think you and the Gaffer Girls need a field trip down to the South to visit- and play with your lovely glass!
ReplyDeleteMarcy
Oh yeah .... another addict in the making! What's not to love Marcy.
ReplyDeleteThis glass is indestructible, it's vibrancy & range of colours aren't reliant on what base you put it on or over & what's more it's the cheapest silver glass out there.
Work it hot & fast or work it cooler & slow, either way you will get results.
I haven't found that silver foil makes any difference either to be honest - I've tried over, under & everywhere in between.
Did you make this on your Cricket? I've been seriously thinking about getting one of those & have heard now that the price is about to go up (right when I've just had to fork out for two birthdays!lol!).
Oh Deb, I was hoping you'd post. You make such lovely beads with this glass.
ReplyDeleteI made the shell on my Minor with a concentrator.
You know, now that the Scorpion is out, I wonder if there might be some re-sale Crickets at the original price? (scorpion with the inner cricket fire and a nice outer fire too)
Marcy
That's a thought Marcy! I shall keep my eye's & ear open.
ReplyDeleteAnd boy am I rude! My manners must have gone to bed before me because I was so excited that you are trying this that I forgot to say how brilliant your shell is!
I love the deeper softer autumn colours & envy anyone that gets them. They look wonderful on your shell, I cant wait to see what you try next. Your ideas are always so well suited to the various glasses :o)