So I am really into these large focal pendants. I can’t tell you how much positive feedback that I am getting from wearing mine. They may seem simple… but sometimes simple is just right.

I have a cool set of boro beads over on ebay. Check ‘em out if you have a minute.

I’m enjoying the reactions that I am getting with boro glass right now. Did you know that those glass colors like Van Gogh, Picasso, Da Vinci, etc. were developed by Abe Fleishman from Northstar. Northstar mostly makes boro color, and this is their line of 104 soft glass.

I guess it isn’t surprising that the silver craze is carrying over into the soft glass since many of the boro colors that are so cool have lots of silver in them too. Right now I seem to have more success with boro than these new 104COE silver colors. I get very mixed results with these soft glass silver colors, one day it all works great, and the next it doesn’t… and of course I find this quite frustrating. I don’t seem to have this problem with boro, it does what I expect each time which is quite nice. Right now the hardest part with boro is keeping all the rods straight since many of them don’t look anything like what they do in a bead. Anyway, I’m just having tons of fun playing with all kinds of glass as usual! If you can melt it I must try it!!

My blog seems to be back! Woohoo! I have no idea what those boys over at Netfirms were doing but for once it wasn’t me! Really, I didn’t touch anything! Anyway, I thought I’d share this photo before I left on my trip. I love it!! Hopefully you do too because I have lots of ideas running around in my head for more designs. Yesterday I made some fuschia boro beads that are SO yummy! If I weren’t heading outa town I’d be out there making beads right now! Anyway, I’m very proud of the clasp in this bracelet. I soldered all the parts that were in need of some permanent attachment on both the hook and the endcaps. I think it really adds nicely to the bracelet. Well, I better go pack. I leave tomorrow until sometime late next week. I’m driving down to California with my girls while DH stays home to hold down the fort. Wish me luck! I’ll probably need it!

I finally got a chance to make some beads today. I’m really stuck on playing with boro! I just love going out to the kiln and being surprised at what I find! Anyway, I thought that I better share a little eye candy with ya’. Hope your week is going well. Things here are still settling back into a flow. It is amazing how a little relaxation can throw everyone outa whack! Heehee… Anyway, enjoy your night!

Ohhhhh now I see why people like boro! No snap, crackle, pop!! The glass just melts so easily and nothing is cracking and breaking. After some research I think that this is because it is on the lower end of the thermal expansion scale (soda-lime (Moretti, etc.) glass is on the higher end) which means you can jam that 10mm rod right into the flame with no worries! Woohoo! This also makes boro good for sculpture which is what I was hoping to use it for. I also found out that boro is 10% lighter than soda-lime glass because it is less dense, I think this will helpful for some fun larger items that I want to try and I think are too heavy to wear in soda-lime. I have made a few large center holed flowers, hearts, etc. and all is going great! Now I will just have to see what YOU all think of it… heehee…