playing with silver foil again - I forgot how elegant it can be. Nice set though - Prussian, purple and black with reduction frit and twisties.
Elegance.

Beauties, eh? I tried some different things with this set. Side to side feathering - floating R4 ring over the mint... that is THEN encased... Palladium core with floating R4... Vortex, then Palladium floating over R4, R4 core with a wrap of copper wire... a fun mix. 15mm lentils and as is the standard of late - 1/16" mandrel holes!

I just found out my buddy Jeri Warhaftig (*Happy Birthday this Sunday!!*) is teaching next year at Bluemoon Glassworks in Austin... you GO girl! That is awesome.

While finding those image, I revisited the array of toggles that were made back in May of 2007, at this time I was playing with texture - and texturizing the barrel of the toggle as well as the complementing rings.
For those of you who aren't familiar with toggles, they're made like beads - but it's a two part process - involving making/annealing/cleaning the rings one day - then putting them into a cold kiln and brought up to working temperature. While this is happening - you create a long bead barrel with one tall disk at one end... while it needs to be hot enough not to crack, yet cool enough not to have the rings stick to it, you carefully retrieve the rings from the hot kiln and slide them onto the barrel and quickly make the other end disk. Try to gently warm it a bit - then tuck it into the kiln.

I love all the different shapes that the presses allow - and getting nicely squared edges without the distortion of the design is the 'goal'... but no matter how lovely the bead - it's incredibly hard to photograph them AND give them the honor due for being a beautiful bead. (I will search my archives though and try to find a photograph that utilizes the shadow that was thrown - as it shows how sharp the corners are and straight the lines.) These show much MUCH better in person - unfortunately, for most of my sales are online. Very pretty though!
I found some more images while I was hunting for the one above... so - the show continues...This bead is called "Portals" because the large droplets of clear act to amplify what's underneath... and sometimes the view into the bead has to be sought - and what better to look through, than these viewing portals. Love this look, and I do have four additional that I made - if you're interested in owning one - just email me!
My love affair with R4 glass continues... this pendant shown above has some of the most glorious swirls and also - the most beautifully executed color transformation of this R4 glass. Neat, eh?

AND finally - the last one - "Ventana" meaning windows - it was reminiscent of a window I saw on the island of Murano. It looked as if the glass were just slices from some large glass cane. I left the chill marks on the beads - as they really seemed to add so much to the design.

OK, one more - these are my firs beads ever. Note how many were burned, cracked right in two - lopsided or what. I shake my head now... but I was darn proud of them... uh, about 11 years ago.

so - they dangle, but they're posts... my Mom has been asking for post earrings FOREVER... do these qualify? They're fun, all handmade components - save the post and clutch. I've got four pair set to go - pricing? hmmm. dilemma - suggestions?? *oh, and yes - there are a "pair" of errings!* The smaller rings are 14ga, the larger ring is 12ga - soldered shut.

Instructions: "click above image to fall in" ; )
I was wishing that there would be better light today - as these new sets are absolutely stunning. But - this is what I got. I had to string them quickly - as otherwise, I'm sure they'd be bracelets by now!

And, these just went on as the Daily Bead on my site.

Two new bracelets - both holding their own in my heart... what do you think of the new silver caps? Obviously, my love affair with the R4 glass continues - I don't think I'll ever tire of it. : )

Dressed up for the holidays - in glitter and glam, why didn't we try this one sooner?

sometimes the old favorites just feel good. I always forget how luscious a glorious red IS... remind me to remember it more often!?

Introducing "Gingerspice".

you know me, I can't stand NOT to add some copper flowers. I love the shape of this bead - like a large Mozanilla Olive, also - love the nice bead holes. Does it make you smile?

mmmm. Electric Raspberries on black, I love the contrast. I love the richness.

Newest offerings on my other site - jillsymons.com - shimmer pendants.

Neat little pile of necklace sized large hole beads in purples and woodland brown, my faves of late.
: )

A variation of the vortex shimmer beads I had recently as pendants, these are 13mm rounds. Quite fetching if I do say so myself! Next experiment is to see what they look like lentilized. Next session perhaps.

Again, it just enchants. I'm loving the warmth that the brick brings to the grouping, and this time opted to leave out the gray beads and swap in teal. Click on it for the full experience. ; )

I received a huge compliment...it was a comment asking why I don't make ugly beads... (sweet) because I know you come here for inspiration - and I'd hate to have you not come back. Last night we had the website update - it was a long time coming, actually something like two months - it was very successful. Giving me 'permission' once more *after invoicing/shipment* to create. Aside from the sales, it gives me a good reading on what is popular, so back to the original question... it's important for me to make what you like AND to enjoy my time at the torch making what you like! SIMPLE, eh?!

This site as well as my others are about promoting the beauty in glass - discovering the limitations of the material as well as limitations of the users' imaginations in creating with my beads. So far, I've discovered very few implied limitations from the material - and continually find myself agreeably working within self-imposed parameters (... like - if it's meant to be worn, make it wearer-friendly. OR my beads shouldn't overpower, they are meant to compliment - not restate the person). I know when stated as such, it seems so obvious - but sometimes I think we lose sight of the basics.

My current favorite! taking me back to the days of Glassdaddy's stash - purples, blues and rich opaque glass for fall favorites. I'm known to carry sets around for a few days *or so* until I have sufficiently bonded with them to 'let them go'... this is one of the sets. I am just so drawn to it... click the photo and fall in!

yeah, the right set of beads and the right afternoon lighting, stunning. It's a good thing I managed to snap some photos yesterday - as today is rainy again. Must be monsoon season! ar.
Seriously - it's been such a dry year - that I hate to wish it away... Glorious wet rain - gotta love it.

I'm loving the 'feel' of the copper - but struggle with feeling I need to solder the rings. ugh. Fun, nonetheless.

Button, button - whose got a button?

In her many personalities... we've opened Pandora's Box. Unleashing color - in wisps and also full gale force. Here is a rather demure set of rondelle beads - hand shaped and encased in clear to amplify what she has brought forth.

Revisting an old friend. The toggle bead - this one with a wonderful encased ring floating effortlessly on the barrel of this bead/sculpture. I've mentioned before the process involved making this bead, but will quickly revisit.

The toggle barrel is created and one end is attached - a ring made in another session that has been annealed, cooled, cleaned and brought up to temperature in the kiln is quickly slid onto the barrel/one ended bead (that is sufficiently cool so that the glass barrel is not 'sticky'... and yet still warm enough so that it will not suffer thermal shock...) the second end of the barrel is attached (quickly). Pop back into the kiln - and start breathing again!!

I've made these Toggles before with up to 6 rings - but - 3-4 is really quite enough to cause a stir.

I have soldered together a specially made bail that will be expoxied in, this one-holed wonder is pretty darn captivating! YES. Still loving this look - still spiraling out of control. ar. Note the cool sunspot (I once was asked how I managed to get those... as if they were something I had added to the images. You actually CAN, I just hadn't.) , and decidedly deliberately placed finial bubble. cool.

There she sits - magestically reigning over the page... I think I'll leave her for a few days...
very pretty.

I'm working on revealing the limits of Pandora - it's Double Helix's new silvered glass...
Bill Thornton - Moretti and More has asked for a photo of what I am able to do - this is just a work in progress... but - it's great fun to use.
OK, let me clarify. Pandora is luscious, and I have found that it 'shines' best when it's encased...but an entire set of encased gorgeous mauvy/peachy/pink beads is a bit 'dull'....
This set has some accompanying beads that are in the same flavor - but punch it up with a bit of diversity. Such as the purple base disk with a sprinkling of raku frit... and the chocolate brown ones. I think the Raku is a very nice companion to this glass. I will continue to play - but just wanted to give you an idea of what it is capable of producing.

Is this just not beautiful? I now am a bit more convinced *not that I needed more convincing* that Less CONTINUES to be more. Rich R4 bluesy greens and clear clear clear Lauscha encasing glass. In a vortex type corkscrew. I love it.

Isn't it amazing what color and visual texture can do for a set of beads, huh? Etched to a soft sheen, this copper green, coral and silvered ivory set embodies softness. Soft glass has taken on a whole new meaning when used in the description of this set!

I've taken a shift to the heavy patina on copper and brass... it just seems so much more earthy and warm. Here is a new pair of earrings in the Ancients Series, a new shape called drops - dark ivory with silvered ivory stringer in a drippy droppy enticing new shape.

Next - is a new Double Helix glass called Pandora - again, the warmth of metals and the new sleek droplet shape.

I've been photographing again, I had to share my favorite necklace that I wear all the time. It's a lampwork cabochon that I set in a bezel setting made of silver. For the photograph - I doubled up a multiple strand cable necklace that has a cool bayonette clasp that fits so nicely through so many beads.

Back to the other beads - seems more finished pieces this go 'round... earrings and necklaces - some silver bezel pendants etc. and thought I'd share some here. Below - this is a variation to the paddle earrings - with the bullseye imprint. I've chosen to make the smooth side the primary side. What happens is the sunlight bounces around in the impressions and it looks like it's lined with a silvery metal...

It seems appropriate that these are called Aqua Drops... doesn't it? Graceful little drops - made en tandem on a single mandrel - to make sure they match. A sure feat of concentration and determination to watch as molten glass drips like honey - to just the right shape/size.

I'm liking this method of eliminating the need for a headpin in certain instances - it's silver wire looped up from the bottom - over the outside of the bead, then wrapped around and around below the bail. It also has the possibility of becoming a self-bead cap... by winding the wire in a concentric circle at the top... time will tell what comes of this!

I had a brief stint back 2004-2005 where I took a silversmithing class *loved it* and started making cabochons... and bezel settings - I loved it, but soon found that I really couldn't recoup the $ it took/hours it took to create these. I still have a handful around... but don't know if it's something I'll be dabbling in again anytime soon.
This particular piece is stunning because teh cabochon seems as if it has a life of its own. Created with Prussian blue, purple, black and silvered ivory... PLUS a heavy layer of encasing. It's very very pretty.