The Beauty of Handmade Lamp work Glass Beads. The “Morning Coffee” Earring Collection
The Beauty of Handmade Lamp work Glass Beads
As a beginning jewelry maker, I was on the lookout for unique and beautiful materials to incorporate into my designs. Recently, I came across some hand-made lamp work glass beads that caught my eye. These beads have a special quality that's hard to describe - each one is unique and full of personality. I couldn't wait to get my hands on them and see what I could create.
The Search for Unique Materials:
While I found these lamp work glass beads easily enough online They are not locally made. After using them in my designs, I knew I had to have this style for my earrings. I was drawn to the intricate designs and vibrant colors. I am currently looking for a local northwest glass artist to collaborate with in the future~ If anyone knows of any local artists please send them my way! sierra@muddycreation.com
Exploring Creative Possibilities:
Once I had the beads in front of me, I was amazed by the creative possibilities they opened up. Each set of beads was different, with its own unique colors and patterns. They all gave me this warm glow feeling, like when you get your first cup of coffee in the morning. I decided to focus on making earrings with that feeling in mind, using copper wire wrapping and aluminum nails to accentuate the beauty of the glass beads.
At first, I experimented with different wire colors, trying to find the perfect way to showcase the beads without overwhelming them. I tried a stainless steel wire, a tin coated copper wire, but the winner was the bronze colored copper wire. I loved the way the copper wire complemented the colors of the glass, creating a warm and earthy feel.
Next, I knew the nails would be the base of the design so I found these wonderful light weight and bright aluminum nails, creating a little bit of contrast and texture. The nails were easy to work with and added a playful touch to the earrings. Finally, I finished the wire wrapping with the lamp work glass beads as the crown jewels and stepped back to admire my work. The earrings were unique, beautiful, and full of that warm and cozy coffee feel - just like the beads themselves.
The Beauty of Handmade:
One of the things I love about working with handmade materials is the connection I feel to the materials. I would like to know that each bead was crafted with care and attention to detail. It would be cool to know there's a story behind each one, and I feel honored to incorporate them into my own creations. Supporting small business owners and independent artists is important to me, and I'm happy to do my part by using their materials in my jewelry designs.
Conclusion:
Working with these lamp work glass beads was a joy. They're truly one-of-a-kind and full of personality. Incorporating them into my earrings was a creative challenge, but one that was well worth it. I hope to find a local glass artist to work with in the future with this project. I hope this post inspires you to seek out unique materials for your own creative projects - you never know what you might find!