Crushed opals

[Marcel]

I got some crushed opals and played with it
and made another tealight!

[garishglobes]

Fab! 

How did you get on with the crushed opals? I got a small amount of black a while ago but found that they caused real cracking issues when encased.

[Marcel]

Thank you 
I tube encase the opals and anneal them straight in the kiln make sure to
not to downramp to fast or it can crack! no batch annealing

[Glassy Lou]

Stunning 

[Steampunkglass]

Lovely, and great skill to use them too!!!

Interesting to hear about the encasing too, I have trouble with them getting bubbles all over them, even with washing them in meths or acetone before using them, not easy things to get to work and I've not even dared try chips like this yet!

[Marcel]

Thanx 
What i do is take the opal out of the bag and place it in the kiln on
something so you don't get kiln dust heat it up just like you normaly
would when working! prep a tube make sure its clean!
take the opal out of the kiln and drop in warm tubing not cold!!!
or else crack!!!! now gently heat it take your time slowly encase the opal!
when it is done garage it in the kiln for when you need to put it in some of your art
mostly with to much heat a haze appear or micro bubbles !
i hope this helpes?
it was trial and error for me too 

[Steampunkglass]

Ah!!!  Thank you for the tips, never though of pre-warming them, and I think I must be getting them too hot as I've often had the micro-bubbles coating them and making them look less than clear. I need to practise a lot more before I can come close to making anything even a quarter as sensational as your work!!! 

[Skyblue]

Marcel that is one gorgeous bear

[Lyn G]

That is the most beautiful bear, Marcel.....and I especially love opals because they are my birthstone.   

[ROC]

You're far more patient than I am, Marcel, but the results are fantastic, and well worth it!  Beautiful!!

[flame n fuse]

beautiful, you have a real talent for this!

[jammie]

lovely! 

[Skyblue]

marcel do you have an etsy page or somewhere you sell your work ?

[Marcel]

Your welcome  
Thank you all for the cool comments
i do not have an etsy store i sell my work direct to the collector
or to say in other words is you see something you can message me

[MeadMoon]

Wow!  Your work is stunning.