Talk to me about presses.. please

[fionaess]

Ok, so I have a couple of presses now... but I've got a problem.. I don't understand what to do with them, apart from making a swirly bead and then pressing it
Do I make my bead, press it , decorate it, press it again, but if I do that then don't I have too much glass to press again?  Do I decorate it before I press it.. doh,, I don't think I do it that way. do I press it, decorate it and just melt it in?  I guess what I'm asking is how do other people do it...
Im a bit confused about all this.. as you can see... but hey, its a new challenge for me !

Fiona

[Lush!]

I press as many times as necessary to get the size and shape I want - then decorate at the end.  Sometimes I get it right first or second time, sometimes I don't! 

Also, sometimes I make use of the different sizes within the press set, so I maybe start by getting a base shape in the smallest press size, then add layers and press again in the larger cavity.

Does that help?

[fionaess]

Ermmm..... so how did you make the 'dales' beads. Julie.. wind on various glasses and then press.. or make the basic shape and then add diff colour glasses?  As you can tell I'm at a total loss here.. I need someone to talk me through it... sorry to be such a dumbo....

Fiona

[Mary]

The short answer is D, all of the above!

Seriously, it depends on your bead. I usually decorate then press, but I'm used to how much glass it will need. You'll lose the shape a bit when you melt in decoration. And raised decoration is obviously after pressing. Some people go the in-between route and add slightly less glass than they need, press, decorate then re-press. Do what works for you!

[Lush!]

Yep, what Mary said!

For the Dales beads I wound on blue and green then pressed in the medium-sized tile to get an idea of where I was up to.  Added a bit more blue/green as necessary to fill the medium properly.  Then I added the SIS and some trans brown and pressed in the largest tile.  They didn't necessarily perfectly fill the cavity but I wanted a soft shape anyway. 

[fionaess]

Thank you both... I think I understand now  So Im off to try it... wish me luck !!

Fiona

[Maria Louisa]

Great tips.
But I'm lost about the Dales beads??
Can I see those somewhere?

[Juniper]

I think I saw those in the current S&T

[Maria Louisa]

Thanks, wasn't there yet today.