Color Testing - Gaffer Clear

I'm super late to review this new clear glass I got from Gaffer. Last Nov I got a sample clear that was great over non reactive colors, but not so good with silver infused glasses from Double Helix. See my post here:   I made several new samples to compare and the new clear is much better. I see much less difference in the colors. The major issue with the previous batch was that the clear reacted with the clio and turned very green, see the link.

One the top bead the color above the goldstone is Double Helix Zepher and the bottom is the Gaffer. I see very little different here, slightly green on the top, but also on the bottom.

The 2nd bead shows Gaffer on the top and Zepher on the bottom, you can see there is more green for sure.

More Pantone Fall 2014 Colors, Easier to see colors

More Pantone 2014 colors to mimic the fall colors.  These show the colors better than the disks in the previous post. My goal with these set was to layer transparent and opaque colors for added depth. Colors from left to right.

For aurora red I used Effetre red transparent (#076) over white. I think the aurora red is a bit more orange, but since this red is striking and can sometimes have yellow/orange overtones it was fitting, but turned out bright and rich.  I'm not sure which color would be closer in a transparent red, any ideas would be welcome. 

For sangria I used Bullseye cranberry (#1311) over petal pink (#421).  I found this combination one of the the most successful matches as far as matching the Pantone color.

For radiant orchid I used Effetre purple premium opaque pastel (aka EDP, #254). There is no other color to use in my mind to match the color of the year. This color also doesn't lend itself well to casing, so no transparent glass in these beads. 



For the aluminum I used Effetre gray steel (#084) over Effetre gray pearl pastel (#268). I should have used just regular transparent gray. The steel gray is too blue.   I was disappointed that it doesn't match the Pantone color, but I do prefer this gray.

For the mauve mist I used Bullseye mauve. I can't find this on their website and it looks like it is no longer available, but it is a perfect match to my eyes. This was one of the colors that I didn't have a transparent mauve to case it with, but in this set I used clear, which lightened the color. Unencased is better match to the Pantone color

For the bright cobalt I used CIM trade winds (#51123). This colors is very dense, so  I cased white with the trade winds, then to damp down the color, cased in Effetre Gray.

For cypress I used Effetre sage transparent (#019) over Effetre sage opaque (#211).  I was really happy with this combination.

For the misted yellow I used CIM honey mustard (#511306) this set cased with Effetre yellow transparent (#008)/ This combo is OK, it doesn't match as close as I thought it would before I melted the glass, but it is a pretty color. 

For cognac I used CIM maple (#511780).  For the round beads I used it over Effetre sage.

Pantone 2014 fall colors and lots of work.

I had the last two weeks off for vacation, but I really didn't take a vacation, I just worked at my second job, making beads. I really like my normal job, nursing, but lampworking is so much fun and I took the opportunity to make beads for my upcoming show, Tacoma Bead Bash. For the last few shows I have made a rainbow of bead sets with the typical ROYGBIV color wheel, but for this show I figured I would use the Pantone 2014 colors for my inspiration. On the Pantone chart I saw some colors I knew which glass colors I would use right away, but others, I was not sure. I also wanted to use transparent colors to layer if I could.  Some of these colors didn't lend themselves for layering, but most did. For these disks, I did not do much layering, but have included the colors I used below for other beads, photos to come in the future. In addition to these disk beads I made 4 sets of round beads with six beads each (minimum). I finished my sets today. Whew.

Below I have from the left to the right the colors I used on my disks in the photo above.

For the aluminum I used Effetre gray steel (#084). I should have used just regular gray. The steel gray is too blue. I had thought I was using the regular, but when I was done, noticed it was the steel.   I was disappointed that it doesn't match the Pantone color, but I do prefer this gray. In my round beads I used the gray steel over Effetre gray pearl pastel (#268).

For the bright cobalt I used CIM trade winds (#51123). This colors is very dense, so on round beads I cased white with the trade winds, then to damp down the color, cased in Effetre Gray. For the disks I did not do this, but you can see the color here peeking out here and there. 

For aurora red I used Effetre red transparent (#076) over white. I think the aurora red is a bit more orange, but since this red is striking and can sometimes have yellow/orange overtones it was fitting. I think Effetre light red opaque would be a good opaque color for aurora red. 

For cypress I used Effetre sage transparent (#019) (in my round beads over Effetre sage opaque (#211).  I was really happy with this combination.Over cream and ivory in my disks above, it look much brighter.The cypress is a bit more yellow than the sage, I'm wondering if casing the sage in yellow or topaz would get a better matching color.

For sangria I used Bullseye cranberry (#1311) over petal pink (#421).  I found this combination one of the the most successful matches as far as matching the Pantone color. I just love Bullseye pinks, they sparkle like crazy. 

For cognac I used CIM maple (#511780).  For the round beads I used it over Effetre sage. Unfortunately I had some compatibility issues with this combination and will need to remake the beads with a different base color. Here the glass over ivory or cream looks very yellow (4th form the right). Not as much in person. I think it must be the camera or lights. The combination of the CIM maple over sage is a nice brown, but a bit too dark for the cognac. I'm thinking woodie (#755) or Choco-Latta (#727) (if you still have it) might be better. Cognac has a lot of red/pink to me.

For the mauve mist I used Bullseye mauve. I can't find this on their website and it looks like it is no longer available, but it is a perfect match to my eyes. This was one of the colors that I didn't have a transparent to case it with, but when I did I used clear and it lightened the color a lot. Unencased was better.

For the misted yellow I used CIM honey mustard (#511306) cased with Effetre topaz light transparent (#012). The topaz is a bit too brown, but when I used Effetre yellow transparent (#008) it was a bit too light (and has a green tinge weirdly). This combo is OK, it doesn't match as close as I thought it would before I melted the glass, but it is a pretty color. The honey mustard is a dead ringer for misted yellow before it is heated. I did find the it is very very close to Effetre opal yellow, my all time favorite color.

Finally I used Effetre purple premium opaque pastel (aka EDP, #254). There is no other color to use in my mind to match the color of the year: radiant orchid. This color also doesn't lend itself well to casing, so no transparent glass in my sets.

Bead show is August 15-17th 

Freight House Square - Rainier Room

(Close to Tacoma Dome)

430 E. 25th St., Tacoma, Wa 98421

$3.00 Admission & Free Parking

Color Testing - Gaffer Clear

A couple weeks ago the Gaffer Gals from Gaffer Glass USA had a booth at the Northwest Bead Society Bazaar and they brought samples of their new 104 COE Clear. They wanted us to check it out and I got to my torch is try it out. The striped beads above are CIM commando, peace and Effetre medium red cased in Gaffer Clear. It had a nice working consistency. It was butter soft and melts really smoothly. I didn't have any scumming, but did some little seed bubbles, but they seem to have disappeared once on the beads.It has nice optic clarity and depth.

I have to say that so many lampworkers use the silver glass from Double Helix, Precision, TAG, etc that I really wish that this clear worked better with the silver colors. It turned my Clio green.  I had very limited amount of sample, so I only used it over clio. I'm not sure how it reacts with other silver colors, but suspect will be similar given how silver colors are made. The beads below on the left side are the Gaffer clear over clio (which is over opal yellow). For some reason it was super hard to catch the green in the photo, but the bead on the top is even more green than on the photo. The larger bead on the bottom has significantly less green so much so that you can barely see it, but is over all "muddy" to my eyes, like there is a greenish tinge over the bead. If worked right, it could be ok if you could control the green.  The center of the large bead is partially the opal yellow showing through and is enhanced by the green tinge.  On the smaller bead the top has a green cast over the pink, which gives an OK color to the clio, but the bottom is full on chartreuse green (much more so in person) and it is metallic in real life as well. Really ugly, muddy and not sell-able. It is the same issue that Aether gives with clio, I hunted  for a photo and finally found one, on the right below. At the very bottom is Clio with Effetre clear or zephyr and it is the bright pink we know and love.

Finally thoughts: YAY nice clear over regular colors, NO over Clio. 

I don't know when this will be available nor the price, but if a decent price, will get for casing non silver colors.

7.3 Bead Soup Blog Party

This is my soup for the 3rd reveal of the 7th Bead Soup Party Blog, well, most of it. I got my great soup from my partner, Brandy Thomason McNair of Bella Vita Jewelry. Click here to check out her jewelry with my beads. I say this is most of the soup as I was so in love with some of the beads I made my jewelry piece before I took the photo (bracelet below). The little green chips on the top are Kyanite. I think the green rounds are jade, maybe....they were in a baggie labeled "?" along with the lovely purple stones. The focal is a faceted bamboo agate. There are some handmade charms in copper and brass and some antique buttons.

Here is a close up of the handmade charms Brandy made. I haven't made anything with these yet; I'm ashamed to say. I will use them, I promise. I think I'll add the little WA charm to my bracelet, see below.

This necklace uses the rings that Brady labeled "Vintage". I think they maybe Lucite or Bakelite, I'm not sure. I usually like to make beads to use with my focal piece and that was an issue this year. The focal bead was a lovely large bamboo agate (see below). It is a lovely white stone, but with a lot of grey. I made at least three sets of lampwork beads to go with it and they did not match at all. The beads above were they 3rd set I made. I used silvered ivory glass to get the grey and yellow colors, but they were just too dark, but I thought they looked great with the warm yellow rings. Brandy also sent a copper clasp, so I wired wrapped the beads with copper wire and used a long copper chain. I added rings of coiled green wire to bring out the green in the beads. I think I should have either gone without the rings or more asymmetrical (but I have a really hard time making asymmetrical items).  The cain doubles through the rings so there is a length option. I used my torch to patina the copper with fire for blues and purple colors, but it didn't really stay on the wire when I manipulated it. I think I may patina with either LOS or vinegar. I'm not sure if the green/blue color made with the vinegar will clash with the green in the glass beads (I can always change out the green coils to match better or use a contrasting color or take them out all together).

Here are the stones and antique button I snatched out of the package and made into a wrap bracelet immediately. So quickly that I have misplaced the baggie that had the name of the stones. Brandy, little help with these? I just love them.

Here is my focal bead, the bamboo agate. It is so lovely and I'm not happy with what I have done. I focused so long on making matching beads, I kind of didn't come up with other ideas.  I have not done any wire wrapping before, so I took a shot. I think the shot missed by quite a bit. Oh boy, what a sad little pendant.....  Of course, I should have used the stones I used to make the bracelet, look how perfect they are together...

Many thanks to Lori for organizing the blog hop and CLICK HERE to find all the other blogs.