Thursday, January 19, 2012

Fire Diva's Challenge - Romance

This month, the Fire Divas' team is having a challenge, the theme is Romance. Check out these great items and vote for your favorite on the Fire Divas Blog.

One lucky commenter will receive a 25% off Coupon for Sonja’s Artfire shop. So after you vote don’t forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the post on the Divas Blog to win!! Poll closes at Midnight (EST) on Saturday, January 21st.



Entry 1

Entry1

Entry 2



Entry2

Entry 3

Entry3

Entry 4



Entry4

Entry 5

Entry5

Entry 6



Entry6

Entry 7

Entry7

Good luck Divas!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Funny Photo



So, the big news in the Seattle area today is the snow. We just don't get it very often and at my home I have about six inches, some areas have over a foot or more. What I think is bigger news: shopping Rosters. Check out this funny guy trying to be let in at the Staples in Issaquah. I think he was just trying to get warm, check out the wet ground, it was pouring rain. Please excuse the poor photo, taken with my flip phone.








Bea looking at the snow.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Bead Soup Party Blog


Yay, my name was picked in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party. I did this last fall and it was tons of fun. Lori pairs you up with another beader and you send each other beads to make into jewelry.

I have been paired with fellow Washingtonian Lisa Suver. I have been checking out her Etsy site and she makes just lovely items. I sure hope I can send her beads that she will like and will be a challenge. Looks like there is very little she does not use.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

New Reds from CIM

I got some new reds in the mail from CIM a couple weeks ago. I am not an official tester but did some of my own testing to see what they were like.



The first one is Crimson. Here seen from left to right : over clear, plain (with raised dots), over white (for two) and mixed with CIM Peace (white). It is an orange red leaning towards brown. I found it hard to strike. Some areas on the white hearts didn't strike as far as the other areas it took a lot longer than Effetre or BE striking reds. I do not have a problem getting those to strike as other lampworkers say they have

Here seen as a cased stringer over CIM Peace. I have not made a rose with Effetre Red (not sure why), but this leans towards orange and I was disapointed it didn't get darker, but I'm thinking that with such a thin layer of red, it just isn't dark.




This is Ruby Shoes (ok, great name by the way). It too was hard to strike. Seen here from L to R: plain bead, over clear, over CIM Peace (white) and mixed with white. Also leans towards orange or brown compared to Effetre Transparent Red, but a bit brighter than Crimson, at least in person. Dorky me, didn't make any Effetre or BE red beads to put next to these.


Here Ruby Shoes is seen as a cased stringer over Peace, again looks very orange. Same issues as above, perhaps a thicker casing layer when making the stringer would look darker. However, even though the rose isn't a deep dark red, I like the lighter color, it is a nice color for flowers. Too bad I get this one too cold and it cracked (AUGH).













Monday, November 28, 2011

CYBER MONDAY - Last Day of the Sale

Today is the last day to get 20% off my handmade lampwork glass beads at ARTFIRE and ETSY. I have been very humbled by the great sales I got over this last holiday weekend. I have such great customers. Thanks so much.