I have limited time to make a gift for my friends 40th birthday, so do you think it's wise to try and master silver glass in one day? I just want to make spacer beads in different sizes to string into a simple necklace. I have a sample pack from martin my question really is do I try to make some in one day? What should I start with and what's the best base glass to use for the bigger ones?
I hope you more experienced folks can help me out.
Although i've been lampworking for a few years now family life and my toy shop mean I only get to have a go once every few months! Do you think I should give it a go?
My back up is a necklace in some colours I think she'd like again just spacers of different sizes and a good handful of beadsites lovely ceramic silver beads.
On another point possibly a stupid question by do these lovely mirror finishes get worn away?
Thanks for any opinions and advice. If anyone has done sample spacers and has an image I'd love to see!
Jessie
Go for it! ;D Who knows, you may be a natural. :) Have a quick read up about reducing first, I think there are lots of threads on here.
Its ages since I've used soft glasses but isn't Triton meant to be a good reducer? Or Psyche? Base of ivory, ink blue, amethyst, topaz or aquamarine? You could do spacers with a stringer wrap of silver glass to make it go further?
There was a thread some time back about the mirror finish eventually wearing.. I can't find it now though..
aurae spacers should be good. I remember seeing a picture on LE where someone had made lots of spacers and had got lots of different pastelly colours out of it.
Very pretty :)
Some of them are really easy - Aurae and Triton will give you the mirror finishes. Just make the bead, let it cool for a few seconds and then flash in a lightly reducing flame (turn oxygen down a little). Don't leave the bead still though while reducing - keep it moving and if it starts to glow take it out the heat. Reduction is a chemical process NOT a thermal process.
Psyche will give you an oil slick lustre and will go peacock blues/greens if you encase it. The strikers are a little harder to use as it's a faff getting them to do stuff but Ekho is an easy one and in my opinion so it Terra2. Just treat 'em like normal glass and they should do their thing.
The mirror finish does get worn away really easily - and certainly don't get any jewellery polish near them as they will disappear. That's why I usually encase my silver glass. Also - it's going to be expensive using your silver glass to make whole beads - I use them very sparingly - for example - make a clear bead and then encase with the silvered glass - will be much cheaper this way.
How's little baby doing? :)
Cheers for the advice I think I'll give it a go and see what happens!
Sally great advice I think I might have to give encasing a go too I don't want to have it returned!
Baby Jasper is not so small anymore he's a big baby and very easy and content, he's even done a few nights all the way through hence the reason why i've now got enough energy to make beads hopefully I might be able to show you the results in a few weeks i've got till the 15th may!
Sounds like your gona have some fun! good luck