Contest and other stuff

Well, here is a recent addition to the contest, bringing the total of submissions to two. I need more folks. The Stoffobeads contest board is unsure what to do to generate more submissions but two is kind of a lowly number.

Shamrock at JB (justbeads.com for the unititiated) submitted the following, "Ok, after pining over a losing bid on one of your lapidary donuts, here's an idea: "Molten lava/hot coals". Inner colors of firey reds,oranges, yellows banked beneath an outer (textured?) crust of charcoal gray or black -- lapidary cuts into the crust reveal the smoldering core within. This would also work well on a barrel-shaped bead. Possible?" Way to go Shamrock ! I think I can do that.

Here are some close ups from the latest beads I have up for auction.

I think these are the firey reds Shamrock is making reference to. Suprisingly technique is only possible on one of my two torches. Something about the particular flame chemistry that allows me to make this on only that one torch. I have tried and tried on the "faster" torch but have not been able to get it to happen. I have heard that certain torches even among the same model of torch just work differently enough to have their own unique characteristics. There will be more beads with this type of pattern on them as I continue to refine the process.

SOLD the beadscope, Model 3 is on its way to Alaska ! Sad to see it go but I know its going to a very good home !

More paint chips, cause they are cool. I have bids in on some and should find out today if Im going to own some of it.... Im excited.

Fordite

I have wanted to post on this for some time. One of the most beautiful things to come out of the motor city in a long time, Detroit agate. Its also known as Fordite, some apparently coming from the motor city and some from London or Dagenham (in reference I gather to the auto plants where they were "grown or harvested").

This spectacular material is a formed by the overspray in the paint booths where they paint cars, or where they used to paint cars. This overspray accumulated in thin layers of various colors when they changed colors on the factory line. Then the enamel paint was baked over and over to create (Im told) very hard and light material. The material was then harvested by someone very clever from these paint booths. The paint slag is then cut into smaller pieces and worked on a lapidary like a rock or gem.

I went through a moment of puzzlement where I thought, paint chips, I mean thats what these are after all, paint chips from car paint. How can that look good. When I hear about paint chips, I often think of battleship grey paint layered up on a school wall or something but this is obviously not the same.

I have to thank Cindy of Goldilocks Jewlery Designs , she also sells on Ebay. All the photos came from her and she was kind enough to let me post them. If you click on the link, it will take you right to her website. She is selling some D. Agate on ebay under the name, ebay ID: cindimus. Take a look at her ebay store, where there is some of this wonderful stuff for sale right now. I tried a bunch of times to link to it but cant, sorry.

For insight into some of Detroits politics, and the goings on visit RiverRant and hear the musings of my pal who lives just out side of the D. There is always something interesting happening there.....

I like the sparkle colors in these which I think are the Dagenham ones. The metallic car paints that have ended up on the walls and rails make some of these very attractive to me.

I often wonder who was the first to venture into some of these things. Who looked down and said its sure not pretty but ate the first lobster or clam, who brewed and drank the first beer (yeah lets ferment oats, barley, yeast and water that sounds good), who first saw the potential of this material ?

Some of these pieces look like the Japanese Mokume Gane technique to me. The process comes from simulating wood grain and is often done in layers of different color metals. This one on the bottom left is my favorite, love it !

Contest Stuff

OK,

Only about 2 weeks left and so far only one contest submission. Here is what we have. Sure would like another contestant entry, more suggestions for the contest.

"Anonymous said...
I would like you to create a faux gemstone carved scarab bead. Something that resembles lapis lazuli with lots of pyrite or chinese jade, creamy white and green. I like the boro glass. Don't know any techniques, just like handmade lampwork and boro beads. Dawn, bdluvr from justbeads " - Thanks Dawn !

Bead photo for the sake of a bead photo. By the way this is up for auction on Justbeads.com starting 3/19/06
(this beads about 2" long, black with fumed ivory on it)

Speaking of contests, here is another one worth looking at. Its at the Bead Addicts site. You can win a very nice bracelet, a stunning prize !

Get those entries in !

The Next Contest !

Ok here we go....

Im not sure the stoffobeads contest board has fully worked out all the details yet but here goes....

The prize;
1) Win one 2006 collectible bead artist calendar (an approximate $15 value with free S&H) or just visit the above link and buy one. 2 calendars to be awarded.

The Contest:

Phase I-Write a description of a bead into the comments section. Description should include color, size, techniques to be used, glass, shape, etc... After 1 month, on April 8th, no more descriptions will be allowed.

Then we will move into Phase II a voting phase. You all will select which bead designs I will make. The winners (there will be two) will be the two people who send in the 2 best bead descriptions that receive the most votes. Votes will be tallied up after one week, ending on April 15th.

Phase III- I will attempt to make the beads as described and post their resultant photos.

Phase IV -If worthy, these beads will then be the prizes for the next contest.

No limit on entries and if the same person receives the two highest votes for two bead descriptions that person may win two calendars. The main limit to this contest is my ability to make the beads as described, or my ability to interpret what is described. Therefore - no beads requiring electroforming, enamel painting, or other complex process I may not have the capability to perform. Please feel free to clarify with me in advance what is feasible. Diagrams, sketches, clip art, or other electronic media is acceptable to be attached.

Scopes Pt. III- 5 Points Achieved !

Well, I'm still on the cusp of recovery from this awful cold. I spent a few hours today, taking the sun in the studio, when I felt up to it. Getting my vitamin G as well as E, and C (G for glass).

I assembled the third bead-scope and achieved my attempted 5 point symmetry. Much more concentration and use of techniques I have built making the other two scopes came in handy.

The shot on the outside shows the exterior of the scope and the bead-viewing attachment. This scope isnt really any different on the outside than the other 2.

Where it shows is on the inside, the mirrors line up better with no black gaps, the glass is cleaner, the whole deal is a bit more refined. This is again a 2 mirror system and one sheet of black. Were I to do this again, Id work hard to find a better flatter shiny black, not the somewhat wavy black Im using. Id also attempt to angle the mirror system into a taper to create a sphere image. However, I have satisfied my curiosity and desire to make scopes and capture the 5 point star.

I shot this rather dark image with the digital camera right down the scope and though you cant see much of the detail or complexity of the image, you can clearly make out 5 points ! Mission accomplished. Hmmm, now what next ?

Now here is a real glass bead contest !

I thought my little win a bead contest was neat, and I guess it was. Now this is a REAL contest ! Fire Designs listed this contest in Bead and button magazine (page 47). I flipped right by it but later, found it and visited the site. The proprietor is retiring and has elected to "give away" the business at the end of an essay contest. A very Charlie and the Chocolate factory type event. How cool.

It does cost $250 to enter but when you consider that its a chance for a turnkey operation, or so it sounds at least, sounds pretty good to me. $250 entry to possibly win what they indicate is a $350K business, not a bad return.

Visit the site and join me in entering, if you win, I get to come and make some beads ! If I win, you can come and make beads at the open house....

I did make some beads in this manner, once. Once as it was a very labor intensive method/process. In retrospect, a rather amateur attempt of it yet not bad for a first try if I may say so, certainly nothing like those of Fire designs. I rented some studio time with a glassblower who my mom was taking lessons with. Together we pulled some cane, very elegant stuff with fluting on the outside of the tube. Once the tube cooled, I cut it into 3 foot sections, then brought it home to slice it up on a borrowed diamond band saw. That wasnt too hard.

Its this next step, where things get tricky. All these slices have sharp cut ends. I endeavored to 'finish' the ends by flame polishing each one. So, I arranged all my little bead slices on a metal tray, poped them into the kiln. Ramped them up to temp, then using long tweezers, I pulled them out, one at a time, flame melted each end of the tube and put them back into the kiln.

To this day, they remain the only ones that I have seen with a fine texture on the outside. I still have some (a few ounces) available for sale if anyone is interested.

Now, Id imagine that the sort of bulk operation that Fire designs has, involves some sort of mass production type deal. I figured, it was a tumbling, or vibratory process like tumbling rocks to knock off the sharp edges.... This type of process would have worked for mine but then I figure would have knocked off the great spiral texture on the outside. Since I had to hand finish each bead one at a time, my labor, time, and the other expenses, I know why these furnace beads sell for about $75 per pound. Worth every penny.