Spring is 18 days away. I can't hardly believe that in a few months I will be basking in the summer rays. until then I've got to get busy, busy, busy!!! We divide our studio time into sections, we would go nuts if we didn't. The early parts of winter are dedicated to metalsmithing, classes, experiments, etc. Early spring total dedication to making porcelain beads. We want to add a new color to our line up this spring. Black with purple explosions. It's going to take a lot of time and testing to get those colors right. But I'm sure it will be worth it.

Beadmaking is classed as the oldest form of art. Beads were used not only as decoration but as monetary substitution and for bartering. Beadmaking can be simple to elaborate. Made from Gemstones, metals, clay and glass, beads can be void of details or extremely elaborate. For example, our porcelain red beads take 7 coats of glaze and are kiln fired 3 times separately from all other colors. Red is an extremely hard color to create not only in pottery buy also in glass making.



Lampworking is a form of glass beadmaking, I'd love to know how the process, but I've got my fingers in too many pies as it is, so I'll leave that process up to other artists and simple enjoy their work! Yesterday I was poking around on Etsy and came accross a great lampwork artist. "Bobbie Pene" Amazing quality and attention to detail is evident in her work. check her out at www.BobbiePene.Etsy.com


You can see examples of our red beads at www.daywaltsstudio.etsy.com and go to the section titled "Bon Fires"


Check out our metalsmith jewelry at www.dancingleafdesigns.etsy.com