Unravelings

Magic Boxes: A Life As Lou Online Class

To begin, choose your paper. You need six sheets of matching paper (preferably a heavier weight). Choose one for your outside, a contrasting one for your lid, and 4 to create the inside boxes. Cut as follows (all measurement are in inches):

via lifeaslou.blogsome.com

How to make a cuff bracelet from an old record

I am the featured artist for 2010 in Step by Step Wire magazine!

 OK, can I scream,jump up and down, brag ever slightly and just in in general by thrilled to death?

I was chosen late last year as the Featured Artist for 2010 for Step by Step Wire Magazine. I've been making jewelry and writing like crazy, as this means I will have a feature in each issue. This first one is out (see cover on left) but I haven't gotten my copies yet. I'm so anxious to see the article.

Here's a blurb from the magazine website:

• We're celebrating our 5th anniversary, and we increased our frequency to six times a year! Make three kinds of unique wire wrapped rings. Break out your torch, rivet and texture a moveable heart neckpiece. Create an intricate spiral locket and put photos inside! Meet Charlene Anderson, our featured artist for 2010! Play with scrap wire and resin to make bottlecap pendants.

You can order your copy here: Step by Step Wire Magazine.

How much glass does one person need?

There was a time when, if you were a 104 coe person, that it might have been realistic to have every color.  Yes, there would be a large investment to get a pound of all of the standard colors to start with but then, every once in a while Mike Frantz would hit us up with some new coral, or a new shade of periwinkle or rubino oro here and there.  Some of these would be ‘odd lots’ which means they wouldn’t be made again.  Sea foam green, streaky pink, etc.  You might see these on ebay and going for really high prices.  People said, “I’ll never pay $100 for a pound of glass!”  We see how that’s gone, with the new silver glasses, huh?

via lorigreenberg.com

Make friends with your electrician

by Nancy Vaughan... Last spring after finishing a remodeling job that included some electrical work the contractor asked me if I had any use for the leftover pieces of copper wire. I'm in favor of recycling and re-purposing so you can imagine all of the ideas that started forming in my mind. The wire was quite heavy, 12 gauge, but very bendable. I started out making simple pendants then moved on to more and more complex pendant designs.Before long I was out of wire. So I began calling around to various home improvement centers to see what gauges of wire they had. Home Depot to the rescue!When I went to my local Home Depot I found just what I wanted, 12ga bare copper wire. The gentleman who measured and cut the wire was a bit startled when I ask for 25 feet. He was curious about how I planned to use it and I told him, "I'm going to use it to make jewelry."He just raised his eyebrows and cut the wire.

To date I've used over 50 feet of wire. Pendants were the first things I made. Then I started making bracelets. The first bracelets were simple wave cuffs with various kinds and colors of beads. After that I made a few with silver and some with brass, some with little waves and other with bigger waves. My next step was to incorporate circles of wire into various designs. The most recent designs are made with a series of continuous circles that are formed around a sharpie pen. The only other tools used are a pair of round nose pliers for the small loops and my fingers. I have a cheap pair of needle nose pliers with heavily padded jaws to make bigger loops and curves but I don't generally use them on the circle cuffs. It has been a grand adventure into the world of electrical wire. It really does pay to make friends with your electrician.

via www.making-jewelry-now.com

Making it on Etsy | the jewelry loupe

If you’re thinking about selling your handmade jewelry online, you’ve probably looked into Etsy. And if  you love shopping for unique and well-priced baubles, you’ve likely spent some time and money there.

via thejewelryloupe.com

Knitting Daily TV preview

Art Bead Scene Blog: Pantone Spring 2010

Just writing up this post was inspiring and I really wish I could stay home and bead. But I'm keeping these out so that when my muse hits, they'll be at an easy reach. I hope that you feel inspired to put together some fun and bright designs using these color ideas. I think they'd even go well all together in once piece.Okay don't get crazy, Lorelei. :)

via artbeadscene.blogspot.com

Oops!

Here's a list of things NOT to do while working with your kiln. 

1. When adding frit to top up a mold in a hot kiln, make sure you don't pour it directly from the plastic container it comes in. 
2. No matter how cool the kiln appears, don't vent it with an ordinary block of wood. 
3. Don't reach in the kiln with tongs from the grill, unless you wash them first. The grease flashes into flames and the whole shop smells like hamburgers.
4. A small bubble-type level is a wonderful tool to use when you want to make sure that the kiln or mold is level.  But don't forget to remove it from the kiln before firing.  (On the other hand, this can leave behind an interesting ghostly impression on the glass...
5. Thinfire paper may look like ordinary unlined paper, but it's not the same. 
6. If you remove warm kiln shelves from the kiln and place them on a plastic bucket to cool ... they stick!
7. If you want to level your kiln, don't use wooden shims between the kiln bottom and the metal stand.  (That is, don't do this unless you want to learn how to make charcoal.)
8. The lid of the kiln being fired does not make a good shelf.  (On the other hand, the scorch marks in the book you placed on top of the kiln make a great reminder of what not to do.)

I'm embarrassed to report that all of these "tips" came from posters on the Warm Glass board.  Even the best of us sometimes forget that the kiln is hot.

Copyright 2006 Brad Walker.  All rights reserved.

via www.warmtips.com

What is dichroic, anyway?

Now, we all love the bling...yes? Yes! Sure, there's foil, aventurine, goldstone (NOT a stone, btw), silver wire, etc. But what IS it about dichroic that sets it apart, and above, the others? Perhaps it is the depth of the sparkle, or the incredible range of colors achieved in one tiny bead, or the stark brilliance of it when applied to the surface of a piece.

via www.glasscommunity.com

Dichoric earrings by Charlene Anderson.