Dang devit! Can I save this bead?

[GinnyHampton]

I'm wondering if I can save this bead somehow. It's really pretty, but I can't use it or sell it like this.

The opal raspberry devitrified pretty bad so I tried etching it which made it worse.

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Can I do anything for this or is it a goner?

[Yvon]

Since only you know your original intent for the bead, perhaps just you will know what went "wrong". Other beadmakers might know that it went devit, but so? I don't see why it would be "a goner". Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - so others might love it. I guess you can see I really like it and consider it a bead that can be sold.

Yvonne

[mewkittie]

For me, it would be a goner. You've already spent time making it, cleaning it, and etching it and although it doesn't look bad in the picture, has a kind of organic look, we all know what devit looks like and it's not that pretty. Do you really want to spend more time mucking with it? I vote for either scrapping it or selling like it is.

I get devit with Opal Raspberry too. I've tried heating it really hot like with EDP and for me, it's harder to get rid of. I only use when I encase or as a base to an encased bead now.

[VivianLampwork]

Heat it back up & then put the whole thing back in the flame to get rid of the det. It really is beautiful!!!!

[myrdlebp]

Ohhh, it looks like swirly sherbet! Send it to me and I'll see if I can fix it! ;)

But really, I don't see why it's a goner. It looks Bee-U-te-ful to me!

[DesertDreamer]

I think it looks great, too.

[mnoelker]

Honestly I think it's beautiful with a soft finish but then I love organics and don't mind devit. I would definitely use it or sell it either one without hesitation.

[BeadBlossoms]

Did you try a thin coat of Renissance wax? Might brighten it up a bit? Then say you meant to do that :)

[Rose]

It's really gorgeous and I've never figured out how to save devit beads either. It's a shame. I wonder about tumbling it...... never tried.

[glassymom]

Its beautiful I would say try the wax too if it bothers you. Beautiful bead Ginny!!

[GinnyHampton]

Hey everybody, thank you so much for your thoughts and input, I appreciate it!!

I know it's me thinking/knowing that the devit is a flaw and a glaring mistake that I see, but I really think it takes away from the beauty and the surface of the bead.
It makes me sad because it's really pretty and the shape turned out really cool!
It's so weird how I (we?) see our own beads and pick out the little mistakes we've made when, maybe, nobody else would even notice them. Maybe I'll save this bead for my next show. Put it on my table and see if someone falls in love with it.

If I want to save it, I'm kinda wondering about sandblasting. Does anyone know how deep devit goes down into the surface of a bead? Could you sandblast it away? I thought etching would eliminate it, but I was obviously wrong!

[Three Muses Glass]

I bet if you do put it on the table at your next show someone will LOVE it. Personally, I do. I think it's very attractive. I was going to suggest tumbling as well, but I like it as is.

[Imaglassgal]

At your next show try pricing it at 1.5 to 2 x what you would have charged if it came out the way you wished it had.

I'm guessing it will be pretty unique on your table and would be willing to bet that it finds a home early in the day.

[GlassGalore]

Name it 'Ancient...' something or other and slap a price on it. It's lovely as is!

[PattyK]

I think it's gorgeous and I don' think the devit detracts from it at all.

[seedbead]

I like it too!
However, if you really wanted the shine, I wonder if there is some lapidary technique like grinding or buffing with certain materials that could bring up a glossy finish?
I'd worry that sandblasting might result in an even rougher matte finish.

[Pia Kaven]

I dont like devit in a bead that has encasing, eewwww.... but this one is not encased, nor is it transparent, the devit looks like it was meant to. Makes it look like a fancy colored semiprecious stone. Id sell it as it is, and I bet someone would love to buy it of your hands with more than you were planning to sell it for before it went to "ruin"!

[neagle]

You could always hide the devit with copper electroforming. That's a lovely bead!

[Anne Ricketts]

Did you try a thin coat of Renissance wax? Might brighten it up a bit? Then say you meant to do that :)

This is what I was gonna say. :)

[JEK3]

I like the way it turned out. The etching gives it kind of a glowing look, at least in your picture.

[FourTailsLampwork]

I like it, too--I like the soft swirly look, and the devit looks like you intended it to do that. Put some R-wax on it or sell as-is.

By the way, there is precedent. When you anneal or solder copper or silver, you get firescale. That's a flaw, and you have to clean it off. But if you firescale copper *carefully* and with just the right amount of heat, you get lovely iridescent bronze, purple, and blues. Still firescale, but you MEANT it to be there.

And, like others, I bet it sells. I wish I could figure out "the ugliest bead" and make that, because sure as my dog's tail goes in circles when he is happy, the bead I think is the ugliest or the most borderline in terms of quality sells first. The ones I loved, that are as perfect as I can make them? They sit on my table for three shows ....

[JavaGirlBT]

Do you have a tumbler? You could try tumbling it with some silicon carbide grit and it might take off the tiniest layer of surface. I also like the sandblasting idea. If you have access you could try it.

[SilverRiverJewelry]

Really if you call it *organic* it will most likely fly off the shelf. I think its lovely and I can tell you from experience that people love this kind of thing.

[mtnglass]

I think it's gorgeous! Why put more time into it when it will probably sell quickly as it is. I have tumbled this color and it really doesn't seem to help. I think sandblasting will probably give you a surface that is rougher than you would like.