What is the deal with shards

[gemsinbloom]

I only started hearing about shards about two months ago. What is the deal with them? Do I need them like yesterday?

I am shard challenged. I have no clue why we want them!

[crystalflipz]

Shards are like frit - HIGHLY ADDICTIVE!! I could not get what all the fuss was about either, had some and used them but they really did not "do" anything for me. That all changed when I started blowing my own. There is an unlimited array of combinations of glasses, glasses + metals, glass + frit - you get the picture. Shards really do open up a whole new area in beadmaking.

[LoriBird]

It's "the thing" at the moment........

[gemsinbloom]

I would love to see some pictures of beads with shards to actually see how they are being used on beads.

Anyone?

[Teri.p]

Here's a of thread with pics

http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=117944

And one of the new social groups with a photo album

Shard Lovers (http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/group.php?groupid=2)

[Sue in Maine]

Like you, I'm sorta shard challenged but here are a couple I have made.

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The tube bead chipped some of the rubino shards off. Very disappointing cuz I loved the bead. It swims with fishies now... sad, just sad.

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Sue

[Basement Flamer]

My faves are reactive and silvered shards. I like using them are large focals beads to be made into necklaces. There's pics in my etsy shop but they are too large to post here (sorry).
My favorite shard makers are janetsglass, avenueglass and a supplier in Germany called ShardsFactory - all on etsy.

www.janesbeads.etsy.com (http://www.janesbeads.etsy.com)

Cheers,

Jane

[honey*bee]

I love shards, although DH says it looks like snot sometimes.:rolleyes: I like the texture.
You can also crush your shards and make confetti.

green envy shards melted in and encased and green envy shards on outside.
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[Chris Hansen]

I confess that I too, am shard-impaired. <trotting off to look at shard thread and see how unimpaired I can get>. (like I need *another* thing to get hooked on, LOLOL)

peace,
chris in olywa

[Crazy Woman]

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Made with silvered ivory shard. Blowing shards is fairly easy. Just got to give it a few tries!

[AvenueBeads]

Once you start using shards you'll never want to stop! :)

[lenora]

These are made with silvered ivory shards that I made. I'm not very good at making shards. The silvered ivory ones I bought have beautiful webbing on them. Just gorgeous!

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[gemsinbloom]

Oh those are to die for........


These are made with silvered ivory shards that I made. I'm not very good at making shards. The silvered ivory ones I bought have beautiful webbing on them. Just gorgeous!

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[suzanne]

I just made my first shards ever yesterday and I am so hooked! My head is just overflowing with ideas

[lenora]

Oh those are to die for........

Thank you! I wish I could get that big focal from that set back! I never should have sold it! :( I also really love the look when the shards are left a bit raised so you can really see that it is an actual piece of glass kind of sitting on top of the bead!

[glass_beads]

Gosh, I haven't used shards in a couple of years but here's one of my favorite sets done with shards circa 2006...

http://www.whitneystreetstudio.com/auctions/9101b.jpg

Some people like to melt them flush, but I like the look of having it somewhat raised as if fabric is being draped over the bead. I don't find either shards or frit too terribly addictive although DH would challenge that statement as my studio is overrun with both frits and shards...lol!!

[lenora]

I also really love the look when the shards are left a bit raised so you can really see that it is an actual piece of glass kind of sitting on top of the bead!

Melissa just made my point more beautifully than I could have by posting that picture! Those are fantastic!!!

[tikiterri]

I love leaving them raised. Heres a picture of mine.

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[sislonski]

I have a Secret Recipe tutorial available in my Etsy shop for the shards I use in my Arrowheads.

My Arrowhead tutorial will have a shard tutorial included in it. I had hoped to have the arrowhead tutorial finished yesterday but I suddenly came down with a killer migraine, I'm still fighting it today but hope that I can squeeze in a few moments here and there to work on it and finish it off.

[Simply Us]

Here are 2 focals. The first is with silver plum shards and the 2nd is with black nebula shards.
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[Crazy Woman]

Cool!