by lorigreenberg on September 11, 2009
You know how sometimes you think you have a great idea and it works but as you pursue it more it might not be as great as you thought? Well, that’s not the case with the process of tumble cleaning beads that I’ve been exploring. However, there are some things that I’ve noticed along the way that need some refinement. Things like:
1. If you use larger hole beads (I’ve tried the size larger than 1/8″ but can’t think of the actual size off the top of my head) certain sizes and shapes of the shot can get lodged into the hole. I’ve worked it out but it’s a pain. To remedy this I will try using possibly two pipe cleaners at a time through the beads. My theory is that will leave less room for the shot to get in there. Another alternative is a uniform size and grain of shot that is bigger than the holes…I’ll have to look into that next time I’m perusing the Rio Grande catalog.
2. Remember that tarnishing effect I got that I thought was from dirty shot from previously using it on silver? Well, it seems as though it gets dirty from the metal core of the pipe cleaners too. Luckily my solutions of cleaning with toilet bowl cleaner works and is quick and Tonya Davidsons tip about cleaning the shot and barrel by tumbling it with a part vinegar solution works like a charm too. So, now, after a load of beads I rinse the shot, pour in some vinegar and water and tumble for a while so it’s ready to go the next time.
3. Regarding the pipe cleaners: I noticed that if you really hold them in the flame everything burns away and you’re left with a very think twist of wire. This is ok but I actually just melt most of the fuzzies away. This leaves some of it behind as molten plastic. I’m not sure if this is better or not but it does leave behind a larger mass of twisted wire that is a little textured. I’ll report more on that as I go along and learn from it.
4. Some beads clean faster than others. Very strange. I’ve noticed this when using the Dremel too. When I would clean opaque cobalt blue beads I would notice a blue residue coming out of the bead. Are they softer? They are the cleanest I’ve noticed coming out of the tumbler.
5. Transparent beads need some tweaking. I haven’t cleaned them much with the tumbler but I noticed that, as with anything under transparent glass, the hole is magnifiied and so is any residue from bead release. The tumbling isn’t rigorous enough to get down in there and wear away the peaks of glass that house a deeper layer of release. They might still need to be dremeled. Or I will try finding a smoother release or ‘hand polishing’ the mandrel with release on it before torching. For now, I am adding a small opaque core to transparent beads so I don’t have this issue.
That’s what I have for now. Happy tumbling!!
by lorigreenberg on December 6, 2007
We all know about encasing. Enclosing a base of glass with clear glass. It gives depth and magnification to designs. Think of a glass paperweight. It’s like magic.
And we all know about layering a transparent color over an opaque color to get more depth in our color or to create new colors altogether.
But, how often do you layer transparent colors to create new colors? That is one of my favorite things to do. Why? Because I get colors that have way more depth and character and it makes my beads different from everyone else that is going straight from the rod.
Shown here are some experiments with Effetre glass. It doesn’t look like your typical Effetre, does it? There is some enamel swirled in there too.
Sometimes you get really good results, sometimes you don’t. But every experiment helps you to learn something about the color characteristics of your glass. So, even failed experiments are beneficial.
Here are some things you can do when experimenting with layering transparent color:
1. To start with, stay in the same color family. Since color families are most likely made with the same metals to get the color, chances are you won’t have a bad reaction that turns your glass to mud and you will have better success.
2. Work small and let them cool in a fiber blanket or on your workbench. You will see your results faster that way.
3. Make more than one bead on a mandrel. Put down three bases of the same color and encase each with a different color. You get three samples right there!
4. If you set aside crooked or shorter mandrels when working (or those that have a chip out of the bead release) use them for this type of experimenting.
5. Write down, right then and there, what colors you used. You can get going with so many examples that you lose track. If you work small enough and use a fiber blanket, your examples won’t crack (at least not right away)…take a pictures and print them with the color formula next to it.
6. Try spot encasing. Don’t fully cover the base with the top color.
And last, a note about how this works:
For the most part, the color you use for the base will show stronger than the color you put on the top. Oranges, reds and cobalt blue throw this all out of whack because they’re really saturated colors.
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by lorigreenberg on October 24, 2007
I just read the Tips Tuesday post at Flaming Hot and here’s what I gotta say about journal keeping. A topic near and dear to my heart.
We had to keep a journal in high school and I hated it. For one, we had to hand it in. Hello! Sixteen year old girl, handing in a journal? No way. Later in life it helped to express emotions. Now? I’m just obsessed.
My blogs are journals of sorts. You know that I write three of them and contribute to others. But I also ‘paper’ journal. You know, the kind where you actually pick up a pen and write? It mostly is used as a gratitude and prayer journal. You know, those times when you want to just talk to someone? It helps me to write it out and it does have a calming effect by the time I’m done. I still use it to express myself and clear my head, where no one will ever read it. My husband and I have a deal if I die first, he will burn the stacks of journals because they’re not meant to be read. He totally understands because he’s done ‘inner work’ of this sort too. I don’t know why we keep them, but we do.
On the creative side, I’ve found that if I don’t write things down that they’re lost forever. But when I’m having the idea it’s the brainiest thought I’ve ever thunk, so I jot it down. And if I don’t jot it down? It will bug me later when I knew I had that great idea but can’t remember it.
And no! It’s not age! I like to think of it as a creative mind that just won’t turn off.
I love to see people’s sketch books. (different to me than a journal) I love to see how they design and doodle…just like I love to know about people’s creative processes. I was just thinking this week that I should share some of my pages.
Hey, I have an idea. Send me a good scanned picture of your sketchbook pages and I’ll make a collage of them linking back to your site. Email me your most interesting page! If you’re like me, this will give you an opportunity to go back and look through your sketch book.
