BEAD WRAPPING TUTORIAL

Through the years I've been asked to explain how to wrap one of my large lampwork focal beads.  I've also been asked if I knew a way to wrap a bead with a standard headpin when the hole was unusually large so the headpin wouldn't wobble.  Following is a tutorial with some tips on how I personally wrap my large beads.  I use a 3/32" mandrel for my large beads so you don't have the problem of an overly large hole to deal with, but if you come across a bead you love and want to stabilize the headpin this is how I do it.

What you need: round nose pliers, chain nose pliers, cutters, a 20 or 22 ga. and 3-4" headpin depending on size of focal bead, 2 saucer beads (got mine at artbeads.com ) or bicone Swarovski's which fit snugly in the hole, a bail of your choice and a focal bead.  If the hole is unusually large you can use seed beads that fit in hole to make the hole smaller and stabilize your headpin, as shown below.

Add a saucer or crystal to your headpin and string the seed beads on the headpin the length of your focal bead.  Remember you only need to add the seed beads if you feel the hole is unusually large and you'd like to stabilize the headpin so it doesn't wobble.

Add the next saucer or crystal to the top of your focal bead.

Place the round nose pliers in you right hand.  Grab the wire as shown in the picture, and with your left hand bend the wire down and away from you.  The pliers are horizontal in this step.  *Please note my hands are in an awkward position in the following pictures because I want you to see what the wire looks like up close as you're working.

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Change the direction of the pliers in this step to vertical.  Now you can commence to do the loop.  Take the end of the wire and come over the top of the pliers to create the beginning of your loop, see below.

After you've created the beginning of your loop change the direction of the pliers again to horizontal and wrap the wire around the pliers until it looks like the following picture.

Your doing great, almost done.

At this point add your bail to the wire.

With your left hand, hold the loop you've created with a chain nose pliers.  With a round nose pliers grab the tip of the wire and wrap the wire until it is snug with the saucer bead.  Cut any remaining wire.

Do some practice runs with inexpensive wire like copper, brass or colored wire.  You'll soon be doing this without even thinking.

HOPE THIS TUTORIAL WAS HELPFUL.

Note:  This is my personal choice/preference for wrapping my beads.  There are other ways of wrapping wire that can be used.

RAIDA

A LITTLE GLASS - A LITTLE METAL

Ever since I purchased my enamels from Barbara Lewis at  Painting With Fire  I try to make several enameled beads when I lampwork.  It's so easy to go from one thing to another when your torch is on and ready to go.  I have some new glass beads listed on Etsy and also some enameled earring pairs or you can use these as focal beads on necklaces. Havana Beads.

Enjoy your day!

Raida

HANDS ON...........

I've been busy lately on a new bead project.  For some time now I've been wanting to revisit an old love of mine, ceramics.  It's been a long time since I've felt the freedom of forming a bead with my own two hands.  Don't get me wrong, when one lampworks you're forming and manipulating the bead to conform to your wishes.  Yet there are times I wish I could stick my hands in there and make it do what I want.  Of course that's not recommended.  Anyways, this week I revisited ceramics and formed a renewed love for this very special art form.  Here are some of the beads I made this week.  These are now listed on my Etsy store at Havana Beads.

Enjoy your day,

Raida

FINE SILVER BEAUTIES ON ETSY

I have worked some on fine silver and PMC and enjoy the freedom of creating a piece from scratch.  The pieces are very labor intensive but the results are spectacular.  Here are some of my favorite fine silver artist on Etsy.  Enjoy!

Attention Grabbers

designsbysuzyn

Prettiest Song Bracelet

West Byron

Wild Hearted Girl

Febra Rose



NEW HOLLOW BEADS ON ETSY

Here are some new focal beads.  I made some hollow beads for my last bead show and they did really well so I thought I'd make more and list them on Etsy this time.  These are now posted on my Etsy store at Havana Beads.  Hope you like them.

Enjoy your day,

Raida

WE HAVE A WINNER

WISTERIA ETCHED ROUNDS

A name has been drawn.  Drum roll please....  The winner is Moonlitfantaseas.  Please contact me at havanabeads@yahoo.com so I can send you your bead goodies.  CONGRATULATIONS!!!  Thanks to all of you who were so sweet and are now followers and commented on my beads.  Don't worry there are more giveaways to come.

Have a great evening,

Raida

JEWELRY BOGO SALE ON ETSY

I'm having a Bogo Jewelry Sale on Etsy.  ♥BUY ONE GET ONE 20% OFF, of equal or lesser value.  Sale will run from September 17 thru September 24th. ♥ Head over to Gentle Wind Designs to take a peek.

Have a wonderful day,

Raida

NEW BEADS ON ETSY

These are the new beads I just listing this morning on Etsy.  You can see them here Havana Beads.

BLUSH - ETCHED ROUNDS

WISTERIA ROUNDS - ETCHED

SAILING - ETCHED EARRING PAIR

MOSAIC - PETITE LENTILS

GLIMMER - PETITE LENTILS

Don't forget to leave a comment a couple post below for a chance to win a set of my Wisteria Etched Rounds.  I will pick a winner on Monday night.

Raida

NEW BEADS ON ETSY (DON'T FORGET GIVEAWAY)

Some new beads just listed on Etsy. Havana Beads

HARVEST

CRANBERRY SPARKLE

PHOENIX - SOLD

WISTERIA LENTILS

WHISPER

GENTLE RAIN

Yes, I've been busy at the torch and loving every minute of it.  Don't forget to go to the previous post for my

Etched Wisteria Rounds giveaway.

Enjoy your day,

Raida

ETCHED WISTERIA BEADS - GIVEAWAY

I was looking for a different look to the standard rondelle shaped spacer bead and I thought to make these round beads instead for a change.  I like that these are chunky and I like the earthy colors and the etching.  These are approx. 12mm.

WISTERIA ROUNDS

If you would like a chance to win this set, let me know what you think of these new beads.  For an additional chance become a follower, and if you blog about it I will add your name an additional 3 times.  Write your blog name in your comment so I can take a peek.  I will pick a winner on Monday night, September 20th.

No returns or exchanges on free gifts, Thanks.

Good Luck!

Raida

ENAMELING 101

I've been eyeing Barbara Lewis' Tutorial on Torch Fired Enameling for some time now.  I figured someone who loves glass and fire should be a good candidate.  I ordered my tutorial which by the way is very well written and has pictures throughout.  You can go here if you're interested Painting With Fire.  After going through the tutorial I figured "I can do this" and ordered an enamel sample kit with different colors and some beads to practice on.  I figured I'd use my minor torch, my mandrels and a bread pan filled with vermiculite to cool my beads.  Here is my little setup.

As you can tell by the picture this is an after shot.  The beads made it through the fire just fine.  My biggest problem was getting the bead off the mandrel.  Man did I have some lampwork deja vu.  Anyways, as you can tell by the picture that first bead will NEVER come off the mandrel.  I accumulated so much enamel at the end and inside that it's impossible to remove.  I should of bought one of Barbara's Bead Pulling Stations. The little dipping dishes are great to use when you don't have a lot of material for a deep container.  I use those for my frit when I lampwork.  When I'm low on a particular frit I push the frit up one side and I can pick up more frit all around the bead.  I'll have to take a picture for you guys.

Here's a closer picture of the beads I made.  I also made some headpins, those where a blast to make.  One important note on the headpins, use a tweezer with a wooden handle like the red one in the pictures and only hold the wood area.  The metal gets extremely hot and you will get burned.

Here's a close-up of the tweezers.  Also, if you have these little brass rounds, they didn't do so well in the torch.  They shriveled up and I had to throw it out.  They might work if you're melting the enamel straight in the kiln.

Even though this isn't a tutorial, I hope some of the info. and tips will help you and hopefully inspire you to try something new. 

HAND STITCHED WATCHES

I was checking my Etsy stores this morning and on the Etsy main page is an interview with a company from Korea that makes the most adorable hand stitched watches.  Here's a picture of a couple of them.  This is their link Revolt70.  Aren't they cute?

NEW NECKLACES

I've been busy making some new jewelry for my Etsy website and for an upcoming craft show I have in October.  Here are three new necklaces.

CHERRY BLOSSOM

I made this cherry blossom etched copper plate and I had this really pretty agate stone that I wanted to pair with it so I decided to have two focal beads in this necklace.  I added more round agate beads in browns and pink, wood beads and faceted tiger iron.  I finished it with my own handmade copper clasp.

MODERN ROMANCE

This one's a little different.  I added several of my lampwork spacer beads and a heart button I used as a clasp, with ceramic, wood and metal beads.  The little box stores an "I love you" note or you can add your own small keepsake.  The little piece of vintage lace gives it a romantic feel.  Lace can be removed if you want to wear it without it. 

LOVE'S ETERNAL

I got the name from the eternity links on the chain.  This necklace has a large ornate wood focal bead, brass eternity link chain, wood beads, glass seed beads, my lampwork lentil beads, brass chain and toggle.  I'll have these listed in my Gentlewinddesigns Etsy shop tonight.