Rabbit Stained Glass suncatcher

We are invited to house warming of my ex-next door neighbor's new house next weekend.
I didn't know what to give or bring. Since I know they love rabbit and collecting rabbit things,
I decided to make rabbit stained glass for them.

I hope they like the rabbit. I tried not to make it too "girly", so I put blue ribbon on him :)

Rabbit stained glass, August 15,2013

Snowman with matching hats, Aug 10, 2013

I thought I would try making snowman's hats by myself. So I played around yesterday.
But, somehow although the hat matches with the scarf, I don't really like it as much.
But, surely it was fun and I'm so loving these little snowmen..

Snowmen with matching hats, Aug 10, 2013

Beads made on August 7, 2013

I got very excited because I wanted to try making snowman beads, which I plan to make it as Christmas gifts. Since I've never done that before, I decided to practice from last night.

Here are the beads I made last night: 2 snowman (1 is better than the first one), clear blue bead with feather murrini made by John Rizzi, pink bead base with California poppy frit made by ValCrox frits, and finally heart shaped bead.

Beads made on August 7, 2013

And one of the snowman bead dressed up with his hat. I only have this color "flower bead" which I turned it upside down. I can get different color hat, maybe red to make it more "Christmas-y".

Snowman bead, August 7, 2013

Beads made on July 24, 2013

These are the beads I made yesterday. I had trouble with mapp gas and hothead so I had to stop during the torching and kept trying to restart it.

I wanted to practice using stringers so here they are:

Played with stringers, beads made on Jul 24, 2013

Lotus Stained Glass Fan Lamp

I really enjoy working on fan lamp stained glass. It's unique and I decided to make one for my small office room. I chose to make Lotus flower and tried to use copper patina for the first time.

Lotus Fan Lamp Stained Glass, Jul23,13

And here how it looks like with light on, together with my rose fan lamp.

Lotus and Rose Fan Lamp Stained Glass, Jul23,13

Lotus Stianed glass fan lamp made it to new home at my work, Jul 24,13

Beads made on July 19, 2013

After few weeks of not torching, because I was focusing on beading Chinese Phoenix Robe. I will put up the blog about that at the end once I finish the whole costume. I finished the front side robe 5 days ago (70 days total) and now working on the back side.

I missed torching so much so last night I decided to make few beads to practice.
I used black bead and raku frit swirl on the first bead, adding blue on both tips.
On the second bead, I leaned how to use dichroic strip. Third bead I used bullseye green transparent rod and bullseye green heart murrini. And finally, I learned to use stringer to draw some flowers, although they don't look like roses yet.

Beads made on July 19, 2013

2 Rose Stained Glass

I decided to make 2 stained glass projects at once. Never done that before but I thought it would save me time to do them together.

I was requested to make a rose theme simple stained glass for my friend few months back, for her husband's birthday. So, here is the result of it, only used 10 pieces of glass.

Stained glass for Denny's birthday, Jul7,13

Then I've always wanted to make another fan lamp stained glass for myself, also rose theme. So, here is the one I made for myself. It uses 32 pieces of glass and a lot more tedious and a very long process, but I love how soft and romantic it looks.

Rose stained glass fan lamp for myself, Jul7,13

Beads made on July 5, 2013

I practiced making flower bead again and a lot better this time, although discoloration occur during torching.
I also tried to make "dragonfly" on a bead, turned out not so bad.. although kind of "drunk" looking dragonfly.

Here they are:

Dragonfly, flower and rose beads, July 5, 13

Beads made on July 4, 2013

Update for the tray'n go giveaway result: I won the competition. Thank you so much for all of your votes and supports.

After a week of not torching due to having asthma, I practiced again yesterday and made 4 beads.

I practiced using murrini on the first 2 beads, adding aventurine and stringer decoration on second bead.

The third bead I used raku frit and also aventurine on both ends of the bead. And finally, I used stringer and raked it on the last blue bead then add cobalt blue rod color on one end of the bead.

I love how the beads turned out.. 

On that note, HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!!

Beads made Jul4,13

Vote for me, please

If you are on Facebook, I submitted an entry to win Bead N' Go tray at bead-patterns page.
Could you vote me by clicking "Like" on Facebook,  please? The "likes" will be counted by June 29, 2013.

Here is the link:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151435665126765&set=a.10151435124311765.1073741829.208019666764&type=3&theater

Thank you

Heart and triangle beads

I wanted to practice more with heart beads, so yesterday I made another one of black-yellow striped heart bead, and purplish twisted heart off mandrel bead, using stringer made dots and then cut it into heart-shaped, and finally triangle bead with clear encasing. Still not perfect, but slowly I'm learning to do better and better encasing technique.

Twisted, stringer, regular hearts and triangle beads, June22,13

Glass Flowers, June 20, 2013

I took another learning opportunity at my favorite place Live Laugh Love glass to make glass flowers for the last Tuesdays after work.
I made the first two flowers (Pink and Red) with straight stems last week and two days ago I made the other two (Yellow and Blue) with twisty stems.
Such a fun experience. Jessie, the instructor, even let me do my own gather.

4 glass flowers, Jun20,13

Heart and frit beads, June 18, 13

Last night I decided to try another heart-shaped beads. I tried with bi-color pink rod from Devardi glass and Effetre glass in blue. They turned out better than I thought.
I also played around with Effetre earth color mixed with frit, which turned into silvery color, very pretty.
And finally I used Val-cox frit (groovy swirl) on white bead.

Heart and frit beads, June18,13

Beads made on June 16, 2013

The learning continues.
I wanted to keep practicing encasing bead inside clear rod and this time for the first time, I did it.
I also wanted to do different sculpted beads so I made heart shaped bead and flower. I was too afraid to put more than 4 petals because I thought it would touch each other, so I only made 4 petals. Next time I'll try slowly to make bigger and more petals as I feel more and more comfortable.
And finally, I put murrini into clear bead.

Flower, heart, encased and murrini beads, June16,13

Learned to encase and flower beads

I wanted to practice to encase beads with clear coating of glass, so I practiced 3 beads last night.
They turned out little better than previous ones, but I still need A LOT of practice.
I also wanted to practice to put raised flowers on the bead and it turned out ok; still need to control dots on the bead to make it universal size. And finally, I practiced to make flower. I plan to practice this more and more because I like how it looks, just I pushed it too hard on the mandrel when I tried to take it off and the petals came off.

Encasing and flower beads, Jun14,13

Eyes and murrini beads, Jun9,13

I practiced making dots because I wanted to learn to make eyes.
So this morning, I made with yellow transparent and green transparent beads. Still not perfect, but will practiced some more.

I also practiced putting murrini into bead again and it went well. I used transparent orange bead base and orange murrini. Also, black and white bead base color with blue flower murrini.
And finally, I used the same transparent green rod for base color bead and used devardi blue frit reduction.
Didn't show the color very well.

Beads made on June 9, 2013

Beads made on June 8, 2013 (Saturday)

Since it's Saturday, I had more time to play around making beads.

I learned to use pink whilrwind murrini (bottom bead), making dots with aventurine stringers,

put gold pixie dust on pink and red rod and finally making flower on the bead. 

Felt really happy with the result.

Beads torched on June 6, 2013

More practicing after busy week with boys' activities last night.
Here are the beads I made (from left to right):

1. White base bead and I put dots and wave line using stringers
2. I used bullseye green copper rod in the middle and added white on each side of the bead,
    and made some swirl
3. I learned to put murrinis on the white bead, put dots and swirled the dots to create wavy flower.
4. I encased the same bullseye green copper rod with clear glass
5. I learned to make flowers using stringers on dark brown base bead.

Frit beads, June 1, 2013

I wanted to learn to use frits on my beads. I used 2 blends of frits from that Frit girl called "Peacocks in full bloom" (blue ones) and "Kalera's Romance Blend 3" (brownish ones).

I put frits on white rod. I swirl the first bead on the left, then added white on either side of it.
The second bead, after putting the frit bead on the mandrel, I encased it with clear rod.
The third bead I put the frit on, then twist it. And finally, I swirl the frit on the bead.

Peacocks and Kalera's frit, June1,13

Bamboo Fan Light Stained Glass

This is bamboo pattern stained glass that I made for my friend's birthday, today. I bought a lighted fan based for it.
It's my first stained glass project that uses the most pieces : 32 pieces. I want it to look soothing, so I didn't use so many colors on this lamp.

Bamboo Fan after foiling, April 30, 2013

Bamboo Fan Light, May 2, 2013

Few black and Green Beads, May 30, 2013

I practiced making different shapes of beads last night. Donut, round, barrel and square shape beads.
I also practiced using frit and stringers. I used the rods from Devardi Glass, frit from "That Frit Girl" called Kalera's Romance blend, Aventurine rod from Devardi glass for the dots and stringer from Avenue Beads.

Here are the results.. need to do more practicing.

Black, Green beads, May 30, 13

Pink Lampwork bracelet, May 27, 2013

Today is Memorial day and I had a day off.

I torched few pink beads and white beads with pink frits. 

I used "cherry blossom" frits from Val Cox Frits and another pink frits from Devardi.

I used white and pink rods from Bullseye glass.

Pink lampwork bracelet, May 27, 2013

Lavender Bracelet, May 22, 2013

Last night, I decided to make another color bracelet. So, I torched few of lavender beads, one is called "Pinky Winky" Effetre rods (the one with stripes) and one is called "Sunset Pastel" Effetre rods.

Lavender Bracelet, May 22, 2013

Grey bracelet redone, May 21, 2013

The grey Mother's Day bracelet that I made using elastics got longer and longer because the elastics couldn't hold so much of heavy glass beads. So this morning, I decided to redo it using new darker grey beads and wires so it'll be stronger and I don't have to worry the elastics snaps anymore.

Grey Bracelet for Mother's day, May 12, 2013 (Before)

Light and dark grey bracelet, May 21, 2013 (After)

7 new beads using Fusion bead release

I've been a bit frustrated with bead release that I had. It cracked while it's on the flame and my beads shattered from the mandrels when I tried to take them off.
I ordered bead release called Fusion and tried it last night. It's wonderful.
I made 7 beads just in case some of the beads shattered again, but all 7 of them survived and easily slide off the mandrels. WOW!!

I plan to re-do my grey bracelet with adding this darker grey beads.. we'll see how it turns out.
The gray glass rods are called "Rogue" from Effetre.

7 beads made on May 20, 2013

Frit and Stringer practice beads, May 17-18,2013

I want to learn to using frit and stringers on my bead and I practiced this weekend.
I used stringers to wrap around the bead, I learned to put the frits to look like marble, I learned to make the frit looks like swirls. It was fun experience and I'll keep practicing so I get better and better.

Wrap stringer on the bead (left) and marble-look using frit (right), May17,13

Black and Blue bead with Raku frit, May14,13

Yesterday was my 5th year anniversary of my beading.
After I got home, I decided to do torching, but because my time was limited (needed to take my son to his martial art class), I only made one bead. I used black and lapis blue base bead and raked raku R108 reduction frit from devardi glass.
It turned out very pretty.

Black and blue bead with raku frit, May 14, 2013

Grey Bracelet, May 12, 2013

Happy Mother's Day!!!
Yesterday I torched few beads with the same patterns and sizes because I want to make bracelet out of it.
I chose grey Effetre glass called supernatural, so it'll be a basic color I can wear all the time.
Because I'm too lazy to open and close the clasp, I decided to use elastic so I can take it on and off with ease.

Grey lampwork bracelet, May 12, 2013

Blue beads, May 10, 2013

After failing making the metallic color of black beads pops out, I decided to make blue beads.
The middle big one turned out to be pretty with frit (Groovy Swirl from Val Cox Frit) and blue base bead color.
I'm planning to make few of regular donut beads into a bracelet soon. I hope I can do it.

Blue beads, May10,13

Cross Stained Glass for Church Auction, May 9, 2013

I've decided to donate something for my church's youth auction, to benefit them during mission trips, youth activities, etc. Last year, I made few pairs of beaded earrings, which ended up bought by my pastor's wife.
This year, I decided to make and donate stained glass suncatcher.

I thought I'd make a cross, which is very appropriate and decided to make it little bit brighter.
So, I chose brown, orange and yellow combination.

Here is the cross stained glass after I foiled it:

Cross suncatcher, foiled on May7,13

And the finished stained glass:

Cross suncatcher, May9,13