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.