Category: beads

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Jewelry Photo Shoot

I have been doing jewelry photo shoots.  Lots of new jewelry coming, stay tuned for more info on my upcoming release.  Sign up on my email list for early bird shopping and special offers.

Hand made lampwork beaded jewelry, fused glass jewelry, bracelets, and rings.

Coral, turquoise, bone, coins, Swarovski crystals, wire wrapped stones and sterling silver.

#christinamlee #christinamleedesigns #leeshorestudio #art #artist #fineart #fineartist #floridaartist #floridaart #floridalife #picoftheday #instalike #instagood #awesome #fiberartist #lampworkbeadartist #fusedglassartist #artstudio #followme #creative #stones #semipreciousstones #turquoise #fusedglass #wirewrapped #wirewrappedstones #coral #coins #earrings #necklaces #fusedglasspendants #bracelets #rings #lampworkbeads #sterlingsilver #swarovski #necklace #pendant

Posted on by — Leave a comment

New Lampwork Beads

Here are some new lampwork beads I have recently made.  They will make some fun new jewelry pieces.  Sign up for my email list to get advance notice of upcoming new jewelry releases and advanced sales.

#artstudio #newartstudio #florida #floridaartist #floridalife #art #artist #awesome #christinamlee #christinamleedesigns #leeshorestudio #followme #picoftheday #instalike #instagood #lampworkbeadartist #fiberartist #jewerlydesignartist #lampwork #lampworkbeads #artstudio #beads #blog

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Finishing Up The New Art Studio

I am down to all the finishing touches on the new art studio.

Here you can see I finally got all my sheets of stained glass out of the house and back into the cabinet where they belong safe and sound!  Yay!!  Only chipped the corner of one piece.  I thought that was a pretty good accomplishment.  It took me months and months of carrying a few sheets out at a time every time I went out back.   As you can see I have a lot of beautiful stained glass to work with.  I have it all organized by brand and by fusible and non-fusible, and have one cubby for my glass rods for lampwork or flamework glass bead making.  This will make everything very easy to access when I want to create!!

I started grouting the tile on the new counter top, messy, but a necessity.  My wonderful Hubby, Rick, got the trim board mounted on the front of the counter top.

Finally all the grouting mess is done and the tile cleaned!!!  Yay!!!

My two 110 Kilns and my microwave are now reposing on the new counter top in their new home.

Now I am back to finishing the painting of the floor!  You can also see I put spray foam in the crack in the floor between the two units to seal it up.

Prepping the next section of the floor for paint, under the window on the South side.

In between waiting on paint, grout and caulk to dry, and while cleaning out the old art studio upstairs in the house, I found this old Dave’s Insanity hot sauce bottle rack.  I stuck it away some years ago on a shelf and forgot I had it, thinking I could use it for something.

I flipped it upside down, and got my wonderful Hubby to cut a dowel and drill holes in it for the dowel.

I put a couple of coats of some pretty blue paint on it and, presto change o, I now have a new “upcycled”/”recycled” rack for my spools of bead stringing wire and my small pliers, cutters and crimping tools!!!  I love my little rack!!

Things are progressing nicely!!

#stainedglass #cabinet #fusedglass #fusible #art #artist #artstudio #newartstudio #instalike #instagood #picoftheday #dreamcometrue #awesome #upcycled #recycled #davesinsanitysauce #beadstring #beadstringingwire #countertop #grout #paint #pliers #crimpingtool #painting #lampwork #flamework

 

 

 

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Amber Small Bead Necklace With Swarovski Crystals

I thought would share with you a pretty little necklace I made in 2009.  It has 4 very small amber handmade (lampwork) beads which I made under my torch.  I strung my handmade beads with Swarovski crystals, sterling silver beads, and seed beads.

Closeup of my handmade beads and the Swarovski and silver beads.

I would love to design a one-of-a-kind special necklace for you.  Please contact me.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Lampwork Glass Bead Making Class

Hi everyone, hope your having a wonderful holiday season so far.   I am so excited to be teaching a Lampwork Bead Making Class on Saturday January 2, 2016 from Noon to 5 pm.

I have room for 1 more student in the Class.   Here is some info on the class:

LAMPWORK BEAD MAKING: This class teaches you how to make your own handcrafted lampwork or flamework glass beads.  Glass rods are melted under an open torch and formed into glass beads.  You will learn about expansion of glass, compatible glasses, how to anneal your beads, and much more.  $100.00 includes all supplies and the use of all tools (you take home your finished beads).  This is a one secession class, 5 hours long.  The class is limited to two students.

Here are some pics of bead making:

RIMG0843

Me melting the glass under the torch.

RIMG0840

Above and below, Shaping the bead.

RIMG0841

RIMG0846

Adding decoration to the bead.

RIMG0847

More shaping the bead

RIMG0852

Adding clear glass over the top of the bead

RIMG0848

The bead taking the final shape

RIMG0859

Beads right out of the torch.  The bead on the left is the one I was making in the pics above

RIMG0865Final beads after they come off the rods. Bead in the center is the one I am making in the pics above.

My classes very individualized providing you the one-on-one instruction that you will not receive in a larger class setting.   Let me know if you want to take this class.

I hope everyone has a wonderful, very Merry Christmas, a fantastic Holiday Season however you celebrate, and a Happy New Year.    Christina

#lampwork, #flamework, #glassbeadmaking, #classes

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Jewelry Care Tips

Here is my Jewelry Care Tip of the day.  This is how I keep my Sterling Silver, 14k Gold, my fused glass and precious metal clay (PMC) pendants, my glass lampwork beads and semi-precious stones looking shiny and pretty.  I use Connoisseurs Jewelry Wipes.  I am not affiliated with the company or the product.  I just use it, and like it.  One wipe can be used over and over and over again for months.  One box will last you for years.  The wipe also puts a protective non-tarnish coat on your sterling silver and protects your jewelry from tarnishing longer.

 Jewelry WipesI just thought I would share with you how easy it is to keep your jewelry looking shiny all the time.  You can buy them at any jewelry counter or on the web.

#jewelry, #jewelrycaretip, #sterlingsilver, #fusedglass, #PMC

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Classes I teach: Bead Stringing

BEAD STRINGING: In this class you will learn the basic bead stringing techniques, including crimping and how to make a basic loop and a wrapped loop.  Class fees are $40.00 and includes all supplies.  This is a one secession, 3 hour class.  You will take home a completed necklace or bracelet.

SANY0016

Classes are available by appointment only:

Due to limited space available for teaching, my Classes are limited to 1, 2 or 3 students per class depending on the class.  I can accommodate more students if the class is held at the location of your choice. 

Small class settings allow my classes to be very individualized providing you the one-on-one instruction that you will not receive in a larger class setting.  Small classes also allow me to be flexible in my teaching schedule.

Classes are generally weekday evenings, or Saturdays during the day or evenings, but I can work with you to fit your class around your schedule.  I thoroughly love teaching, click here to see a list of other classes I teach: http://creationsbychristina.net/?page_id=913

Follow my blog via email.  Be among the first to receive my blog posts and to know about specials and sales, click the ‘suscribe’ button in the right hand column .

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Classes I teach: Lampwork Bead Making

LAMPWORK BEAD MAKING:

This class I teach you how to make your own handmade lampwork or flamework glass beads.  Glass rods are melted under an open torch and formed into glass beads.  You will learn about expansion of glass, about compatible glasses, how to anneal your beads, and much more.  $100.00 includes all supplies and use of all tools (you take home your finished beads).  This is a one secession class, 5 hours long.  The class is limited to two students.

Classes are available by appointment only:

Due to limited space available for teaching, my Classes are limited to 1, 2 or 3 students per class depending on the class.  This makes my classes very individualized providing you the one-on-one instruction that you will not receive in a larger class setting.  This also allows me to be flexible in my teaching schedule.

Classes are generally weekday evenings, or Saturday during the day or evenings.  I can also work with you to fit your class around your schedule.  I can arrange a weekday afternoon class if that is the only time you have available.  I thoroughly love teaching, so click here to see a list of other classes I teach: http://creationsbychristina.net/?page_id=913

Follow my blog via email.  Be among the first to receive my blog posts and to know about specials and sales, click the ‘subscribe’ button in the right hand column.

 

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Wine Bottle Cozy

Here is the wine bottle cozy I crocheted for my Mother-in-Law for her birthday.  She loved it.

The Yarn was Red Heart Collage and the color is Landscape Green.

I just love how the greens and pink of the yarn were blended and came out so pretty.

I added the ruffled rows around the top to make it more ruffly after the draw string is pulled.

The two beads on the draw string are two of my lampwork (handmade) glass beads.

 

Here is the pattern I used: http://www.yarntomato.com/patterns/wine-bottle-cozy/

I made a few changes. I skipped rows 12 and 13, (the two rows where you add the beads) because I was not adding beads.  I did 6 rows of sc after changing from the bottle bottom and starting up the sides, but that was going too slow, so I changed to dc and crocheted to 9 inches from bottom.  Then switched back to sc for the last 1/2 inch.  For the top edge, after I finished the pattern, I wanted it more ruffly than the pattern called for, so I did one row of sc working 3 sc in each stitch to force it to ruffle and then another row of sc working 2 sc in each stitch, continuing to force it to ruffle.

Then made my draw string and added two of my handmade (lampwork) beads to the ends of the drawstring after I threaded it into the cozy.

Happy crocheting.

To follow my blog, click on the purple diamond on the right hand side of the screen below the links section–>

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Learn how to make glass beads

Glass bead making, under an open torch, Lampwork.

In my next few blog posts, I thought I would remind you of the classes I teach.

 

LAMPWORK BEAD MAKING: This class teaches you how to make your own handmade lampwork or flamework glass beads.  Glass rods are melted under an open torch and formed into glass beads.  You will learn about expansion of glass, compatible glasses, how to anneal your beads, and much more.  $100.00 includes all supplies and use of all tools (you take home your finished beads).  This is a one secession class, 5 hours long.  The class is limited to three students.

Classes are available by appointment only:

Due to limited space available for teaching, my Classes are limited to 1, 2 or 3 students per class depending on the class.  This makes my classes very individualized providing you the one-on-one instruction that you will not receive in a larger class setting.  This also allows me to be flexible in my teaching schedule.

Classes are generally weekday evenings, or Saturday during the day or evenings.  I can also work with you to fit your class around your schedule.  I can arrange a weekday afternoon class if that is the only time you have available.  I thoroughly love teaching, so click here to see a list of other classes I teach: http://creationsbychristina.net/?page_id=913

 

To follow my blog, click on the purple diamond at the bottom of the links section on the right hand side of the page ———>

 

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Creating new Necklaces

Creating new Necklaces for the up coming Art on the Water show

I just thought you might like to see what I am working on.  Here is my work bench and the some of the stuff just finished and some in the process, preparing for this coming Saturday’s show.  (See my previous post for Art on the Water show info.)

Two finished necklaces in the fore ground of the picture.  The cross on the left I did a few weeks ago, the dangle one on the right, I just finished Mon night.  On the bead board is the next one I started laying out last night and stringing.  It will be multi-strand. 

The next step in the process is to price each finished piece and to photograph them.  I so love being creative.  I love making wearable Art, and I hope you enjoy wearing it as much as I enjoy creating it for you. 

I wish I could do this full time.  One day soon I will retire from the paralegal gig and just have fun creating full time.  Have a happy Tuesday everyone.  Do come see me at Art on the Water this Saturday, Jackson’s Bistro, Tampa, Florida.  (See previous blog post or Events page for more info.)

To follow my blog, click on the purple diamond on the right hand side of the screen below the links section.——>

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Upcoming Blogs

In the next few weeks I will post some blogs about free form design, i.e. designing a necklace or bracelet when you have not drawn out a sketch in advance.  As in the pic below.

This is a carved bone pendant, strung abstractly with 6 of my handmade glass beads (lampwork) and various bone beads.  I dropped the beads on the bead board and let them fall where they may, then strung them. 

Most of the time I am very symmetrical in my designs, making each side of the necklace match, left and right of the focal piece in the center, whether it be a bead, a carved bone pendant or a fused glass pendant I created, but occasionally I get a little wild and just drop the beads and string them.  (My husband likes it when I do.  The necklace in the pic is one of his favorite pieces.)

Maybe you purchased some semi-precious gemstone beads or just some glass beads, and you have been looking at these beads in your bead box for quite some time trying to figure, what am I going to make with them.  How do you take them from just being a pile of beads, just sitting around the art studio, to finished jewelry?  I will do some layout on my bead board and shoot some pics and post them to give you a concept of how I get creative, whether symmetrical or abstract, how does one come up with a design. 

How do I get ideas for my designs, you ask?  I look at the seasonal color charts that are published and I look at clothing magazines and jewelry design magazines.  I get ideas from various places, nature, leaves, flowers.  I never copy anyone’s work.  All my pieces are my originals, but I can look at someone work and get a basic idea and then create my own unique piece from there.

If you have any questions, please post them.  I will try my best to answer them.

Christina

 

To follow my blog, click on the purple diamond on the right hand side of the screen below the links section.——>

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Making Glass Beads, Part 2

After I make the beads, I put them in my kiln and fire them.  The process is called annealing.  It strengthens the glass so the bead will not crack and break.  The glass has gone through severe thermal shock in the making of the bead, starting with the glass at room temperature to the very hot flame of the torch, about 2000 degrees, then slowly cooling again back to room temperature.  Annealing them takes the glass up through all the temperature ranges slowly, allowing the glass to slowly acclimate and strengthen.  I hold the kiln at 940 degrees for 30 minutes, which is called soaking, further strengthening beads before slowing cooling the kiln down.  This process takes about 3 1/2 hours.

 

My kiln is an older model, I have been using it since the 1980’s when I bought it new, but I love it.  I usually spend several days making about 75 to 100 beads.  When I have enough beads to cover the kiln floor, then I anneal them all at once.

In creating a piece of jewelry I will be selling to the public, I want a finished bead that I know will endure.  I don’t want to have a bead crack in half while someone is wearing the jewelry.

Christina

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Making Glass Beads (Lampwork)

 

I have so much fun making Glass Beads.  Working with glass is fascinating.  I light a torch, take a solid glass rod, melt it under the torch to a molten, liquid state, then start shaping a bead.  Along the process of creating that bead, I am turning, shaping and decorating the bead.  Then I slowly cool the beads so they don’t crack. The anticipation of getting my hands on that finished bead sometimes is hard, it is hard to wait to see the finished product.  It never ceases to fascinate me as to what I can create with glass.

The photos above are taken by Lin Oakerson.  The first picture is me making glass beads at the Village of the Arts, Manatee Chamber After Hours Event Dec 2008.  The second picture is me showing beads I have just completed to guests in my gallery, Lee Shore Gallery, Village of the Arts, Jan 2010 at the Village Studio Tours Event.