Hooks and Fire

Here are the beauties I'm bouncy about today - ta-DAH! They're linked glass links! A mini chain of glass - not perfectly round or smooth links, but organic glass links in crystal clear glass.


The links are free floating, each link moves independently just like metal chain. Glass Chain Links. I made them in groups of 2 or 3 links. Glass Chain Links can be used as a focal or part of a chain. Since they're crystal, they can go with any color. Lots of design possibilities.

The Glass Chain Links are unique. Not something you can pick up at the local craft store. Leave a comment and tell me what you think - I love to hear from readers!

Are you feeling literary today? I hope so because my jewelry designing colleague, Cyndi Lavin and I need your help. Remember the Collaboration I did with Elaine Ray and Beverly Herman? I loved the color combination so much, I sent a few to Cyndi along with a Glyph Series bead to see what a different designer would do with them.

Cyndi has designed a lovely necklace using the glass spirals and petroglyph beads but since we're like Kandinsky, neither she nor I know what to name it!





Do you?

I know my readers are happy to suggest names, you've done it before with the rings I post.

I'm upping the ante today - post a comment suggesting a name and you'll be entered into a drawing to win two aqua glass links!

You can post a name either here or on Cyndi Lavin's blog. Comments made from today, March 31st until Sunday, April 6th will be eligible. Winner will be announced on here and on Cyndi's blog on Monday, April 7th, 2008.

I look forward to seeing the suggested names! Good luck!

Cindy

Here's a quick and easy way for beginners and seasoned jewelry makers to use my new Organic Glass Links. A sleek, modern design using classic black, silver and red with the glass link suspended from a satin cord. A couple of knots and it's ready to wear! Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free tutorial and special discounts for subscribers only.

Last week, I debuted the Organic Glass Links - organic because the shape comes from the natural movement of the class in the flame - I don't use any tools or molds to form the links - I let the glass flow organically. When I create beads, I usually have an idea how to use them. I thought I'd show you one of the ways I thought you could use them. I pulled a couple of 15 to 18mm links out of the pile above - I chose two in shiny black. I made a set of earrings - I hand formed the earwires and used colored 1/2 inch jump rings to suspend them from the earwire - topped it off with an antique silver-dipped clay spacer and done. A nice beginner project. Sleek, organic and modern!

How would you use the glass links?

I haven't worked "off mandrel" in awhile. "Off mandrel" is the same as "off hand" meaning that the heated glass is not wound around a stiff wire (mandrel) to create a beadhole. The hot glass is heated and formed free hand into its final shape. Off mandrel can be more challenging because you don't have the help of the mandrel to hold the glass - you have to create your shape and then eventually you'll need to hold it with a set of tweezers - making sure the glass doesn't crack as a result of touching the tool.

So, last week, I sat down at the torch with some new colors and played. I wanted a modern look, where the form and shape was the focus.





The shape comes from how the glass changed form from a solid to a liquid to a solid again like how rain becomes icicles and then will become water. It felt like I was doodling to create these glass links - ranging in size from 15mm to 24mm in diameter. The links are entitled "Organic Glass Links" but I think I'd prefer to call them Doodle Links. What would you call them?