Seahorse Twisty Tutorial

[kimberly]

This free tutorial no longer shows up in the list of free tutorials (don't know why - I was planning on leaving it here on LE) - so I am deleting it. I will eventually put it up on FB and my blog. Thank you for looking.

[DreamMuse]

Wow, thank you so much for posting this!!! I'm dying to try it now!

Yer the best!

[Bear Rampant Glass]

How freaking amazingly cool! You are great, Kimberly!!!

Jeannette

[chrisdd]

This is the most unique way to make twisties that I've ever seen. Why do you use a cone-shaped base?

[BiaggiaBeads]

Thank you Kimberly! Pulling twisties is one of my most dreaded skills and it's great to see another technique! Can't wait to give it a try! Thanks so much for sharing this with us all! :grin:

[chrisdd]

I get very little waste that way. Most of the pull is in the thick part of the cone. By the time you get to the bottom of the cone, you still have enough stripes left on the core that you can pull down to the bitter end. Great way to use odd lot colors that you don't have a lot of.


Ooooh, I get it. :idea: Damn, I am SO glad I played hookie from work today. I'm going to try this today.

[Sam_W]

First - thank you so much for this, Kimberly. The generosity you display with your knowledge is really humbling.

Second, is there anyway we get some kind of tip jar tied to these tutorials? Honestly, the material posted here is often unique and valuable, it'd be awfully nice if we could toss a few bucks into a tip jar for the authors.

Aaaanyway, thanks again Kimberly, this is a great tutorial and it answers a ton of related questions I've had about organic canes and methods for pulling them. Now, if we could just get you down to Dallas for a class . . . .

[Shawn T]

Kimberly,
Awesome!!!
What a wonderful tutorial so easy to understand. Great photos and wonderful descriptive words to go with it. Thank You so much for sharing your way for making twisties.

[WhiskerWood]

5 STARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awesome tutorial Kimberly!!!
And your son did am awesome job on the pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Craftylady]

Thank you kimberly for taking the time to put this together. And please tell your son how much we are enjoying his photography work! I cant wait to try this.

[Nicker]

Kimberly that's an awsome tut, great pics tell your son thanks!

[ChaseDesigns]

Excellent! A++++++++. Great job kimberly. Thank you!

[GreatBeadsOfFire]

=D>=D>=D>=D>=D>=D>=D>

Thank you very very much! You ROCK!

[DawnT]

Thanks so much Kimberly! I have a terrible time with twisties so glad to see another way of doing them! =D>

[ElizabethCreations]

Thank you so much Kimberly for this tutorial. I've never make such nice twisties before. I used your technique with the mandrel and WOW!!! Long, even and incredibly nice twisties...
Thanks a lot for sharing this with us!!!

[sadiesmom]

WOW KIMBERLY!!!!! I'm going to try this out today!!

This seems like one of those tips that someone would try to keep from others. And you shared it with us!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!

[lbjvg]

Just when I thought I knew all there was to pulling twisties - marvering into a cone is something I didn't know about. Thanks for the tip!

[Stinky Jr]

Kinberly,
Thank you so much for the infomation. This is wonderfully generous of you. And thanks to Andrea Guarino for teaching you. I can't wait to try pulling twisties like this. :waving:
Linda

[Jacinthe]

Awesome Kimberly!

[Curly Irish Girl]

So...when you are done pulling the twistie do you plunge the mandrel with remaining glass in water to get rid of the remaining glass????

Excellent tutorial - I can imagine attempts at seahorses all over the place tonight!! Thanks!

[sadiesmom]

Well I'm not making sea horses... but I sure am having a good time!! I'll take pictures when I'm done.

[Dragonfire]

HOw awesome!!!

I'm signed up for your class....well I'm first on the waiting list, in Orlando. I can't wait. You rule!!

Michele

[x_phoenician]

Thank you Kim. I was so discouraged Saturday when I tried making my own stringers and twisties (it looked so EASY in the book :rolleyes: )

Tracy

[chrisdd]

I just tried this technique, and it is really good for getting tightly twisted, thin twisties. I had problems with controlling the heat and kept burning off the twistie. WAIT...don't tell me...PPP. :) I'll definitely keep trying. Thanks again for the tutorial. I did come up with a gorgeous color combo, though. Used a black base with swipes of New Violet, Copper Green and Raku cane.

[StLouisBiker]

Thank you, Kimberly. I've been trying to figure out what your twisties were made of. I can't wait to try it.

[suzanne]

You are kidding me!!!! This is the twisty you use for your beads??? I have read you are way too generous by sharing you secrets, but this just blows me away! I can not wait to try this!!, I won't sell it though, it's all yours:)

[Dragonfire]

Cool!!!!! I hope you get in!!!!! I can't remember if there is a get together the night before. If there is, will you be coming to that??


HECK YES!!!! Now if I can just get in. [-o<

(I have to keep myself from calling and checking each day.....anybody have to drop out.....how about now?..........now?........what about now?)

Michele

[gayle janczarek]

Kim, Thank you for a great tutorial. I'm signed up for the Oct class in Michigan. I will start practicing tonight. I promice! gayle
How much longer till Oct? Feel like the little kid asking "How many more days till Christmas?"

[Tami]

Kimberly, thank you for this fantastic tutorial! Can´t wait to try this!

[Pat]

Kimberly, my hats off to you and your son on sharing such a nice tutorial....Thanks

[Slaterville]

Wow Kimberly! What a great way to make twisties, plus your not wasting alot of glass..........excellent! Thanks for the tut.

Penny

[hummingbird3172]

You are very sweet and generous to share your secrets with us! Ever since I have seen your seahorses I have wondered how it was done! Seahorses are one of my favorite animals! I have only been torching 1 month so it may be quite awhile before I have a seahorse to show (at least one that looks like a seahorse :biggrin: ).

Thank you!

[Sue H-K]

Kimberly you simply have a heart of gold to share so much with the glass community!!! I would have never thought to marver into a cone to avoid that big blobbo of waste glass and it always irritates me....problem solved....I think I'll go out and make some twisties today just for the fun of it!!!!

[ltsexpressions]

Kimberly you simply have a heart of gold to share so much with the glass community!!! I would have never thought to marver into a cone to avoid that big blobbo of waste glass and it always irritates me....problem solved....I think I'll go out and make some twisties today just for the fun of it!!!!

OMG, you are making twisties w/o a specific purpose!!!!! I'm SHOCKED!

and of course, psyched! can't wait to see what you make!!!

I'm so having torch w/d today.... can't even focus on work... LOL... haven't torched since Sunday night...........eeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkkkkkkkkkk

stacy

[boheme']

Thank you Kimberly for the great tutorial. I'm twisty challenged but after reading this there might be hope for me yet. LOL

[Sue H-K]

OMG, you are making twisties w/o a specific purpose!!!!! I'm SHOCKED!

and of course, psyched! can't wait to see what you make!!!

I'm so having torch w/d today.... can't even focus on work... LOL... haven't torched since Sunday night...........eeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkkkkkkkkkk

stacy

Oh you silly girl....I always have a purpose!!!!! That is just part of my nature!!!!

[Dragonfire]

wow, made some of these this morning before work. Holy cow, it was way easier than before. And now I can make them the same size for more than an inch!!!!

Thanks again....did I mention you rock?

Michele

[msritaa]

Thank you so much, Kimberly.

[hummingbird3172]

I tried making some too....they are prettier than any twistie I have ever made! It went pretty easy too, but my attempts at seahorse beads are another story! :shock:

[Rhapsody Fire Beads]

Thank you so much Kimberly! Have I told you how happy we are to have you in Chinese Auctions and on Lampwork Etc.??? You de' bomb!!!!!

~Suzy~

[sislonski]

Thanks for the tutorial,
and your son took great pictures for it.

shari

[fireworm]

Holy Toledo!!! Thank you so much for sharing.

I can hardly wait to take your class. This year is out. Not enough vacation from my day job. Looking forward to next year though. [-o<

Katherine :)

[ukiacat]

I had the wonderful opportunity to see Kimberly make twisties AND a sea horse at Frantz Glass earlier this year. I have been using her way of making twisties ever since then. It is quick. I just started lampworking in January; I still don't get consistant diameter pieces but it is fun to try.

Here is what I have noticed when I use the twisties: I get all finished putting them on a bead and realize that they are no longer twisted. I end up with straight lines!!! I'm so intent on [attempting] stringer control that I can't seem to prevent this from happening. It's almost like I need to twist the twisty while I am applying it. Does anyone else have this trouble? Suggestions would be appreciated.

BTW, after reading this thread, I did attempt to make seahorses. Last night they looked pretty good. This evening they are not as great looking as I thought. And...I only did it as a challenge for myself....even if I made a great one I would never try to sell it [-X

[dla]

Made these twisties today, had a blast doing it and even more fun using them on the beads I made ! Wow ! What a difference ! thanks so much Kimberly for posting this tutorial. =D> Will we see more ???? maybe?????? lol !
Thanks again,
Debbie A.

[rosemarie23]

Here is a big donut bead (and friends) that I made with this twistie.
2707

[GreatBeadsOfFire]

oooooh that's pretty Rose!

[sadiesmom]

Here is a big donut bead (and friends) that I made with this twistie.
2707
Those are just awesome!!! I was wondering if anyone was going to post pictures. Here are some beads I made with the these twisties.

2437

2439

[hummingbird3172]

Very beautiful pictures! I keep trying to make seahorse, but I seem to have the opposite of stringer of control...I will think I am getting it, but then they come out kind of bad.... :confused: My twisties come out nice though! At least that is a starting point!

[ElizabethCreations]

Anna, did you buy Corina's DVD about stringer control.. ?? It's a MUST-HAVE!! (hee hee free advertising for Miss Corina!!)

[Lynn Larson]

Kimberly, this is an incredible tutorial! Over the weekend i made some of the coolest twisties for my little red hats! I love how they turned out.


thankyouthankyouthankyou!!

[ukiacat]

I wrote earlier that I had decided to try making seahorses with the twisties. I like taking up a challenge so when Kimberly said "Let's see your seahorses." off I went. The first two were not so great. The third one still does not compare to Kimberly's. Mine is chunky and I lost the puckered ends and the seahorse needs to be smaller or the bead needs to be bigger.....but I will show you anyway. I did this only as a challenge and would not consider selling them even if they came out really well. The design is all Kimberly's. I started lampworking in January...so please forgive the obvious defects.

2797 2798 2799

[Dragonfire]

hey pretty cool....I tend to heat mine until they are just squiqqly lines all over the bead......my twist are great, just once I get onto the bead heat control goes out the window. Still blaming it on learning on a hh. Loved my noisy little dragon, but man I must not have patience for crap. I want it moving and I mean NOW. So on the bobcat that means designs drooping. :D

Michele

[pokieokie]

I subscribed to this website so I could thank you Kimberly for the tutorial. My DH and I have been making them for two days and they are SO much better than other attempts. I can't imagine ever having the talent to make seahorses, so I will continue trying to make beads that are consistent in size and add beautiful twisties to those. Thanks so much.

Pam

[orodrago]

Thank you so very very much for sharing your twistie technique with us -
They are a hoot to make! Absolutely love them! Thank you!
Heres a pic (fingers crossed) of my first one in use -
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b343/orodrago/alaaffleck.jpg
Thanks again!!!
Lavender

[ukiacat]

Pam,

Jennifer,
WONDERFUL seahorse!!!!!! My first one wasn't nearly that nice! Bravo!!!!=D> :smile:


Thank you Kimberly. You are so generous with your toutorials AND your compliments. You made my day!

[hummingbird3172]

I wrote earlier that I had decided to try making seahorses with the twisties. I like taking up a challenge so when Kimberly said "Let's see your seahorses." off I went. The first two were not so great. The third one still does not compare to Kimberly's. Mine is chunky and I lost the puckered ends and the seahorse needs to be smaller or the bead needs to be bigger.....but I will show you anyway. I did this only as a challenge and would not consider selling them even if they came out really well. The design is all Kimberly's. I started lampworking in January...so please forgive the obvious defects.

2797 2798 2799

Jennifer, I think they are fantastic! I sure wish mine had come out as nice--yours are obviously sea horses! Mine, sadly, were not! :smile:

You did a really great job with the spikes on it's back--mine always look a mess! I may try again--as a challenge. Yours are very inspiring!


Ahhh, so I need to buy Corinna's video! Thank you Sharlee, I'm adding it to my wish list!

[rosemarie23]

OK, so I cheated when I posted just the bead using the twisty, so I tried a seahorse yesterday. I used a different twisty, and his poor face was, well, odd. I used a tool to try and make it better- which smeared the ivory. And when I raked him, I made the bead misshapen. But. I like him anyway.

3184

[jknappcampbell]

Many thanks for this ~ as a scuba diving instructor I am awed by the seahorses I see under the water but yours are second to none! They are such fine creatures. Thanks for the tutorial

[LavenderCreek]

Hey Kimberly,

Wonderful tutorial, thank you! I think I might try this method with my vine cane, without the twist of course. I always end up with two large ends that I can't pull down, and end up throwing them away. I really hate the waste! I think this might help to solve that problem.

[Rhapsody Fire Beads]

Here is a focal bead I made with your twisty tutorial, Kimberly! Not a great photo but sure an interesting bead. Thank you!!! :waving:
~Suzy~

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a25/rhapsodyfirebeads1/newfocal2.jpg

[Rhapsody Fire Beads]

Thank you, my Sweet Kimberly!
~Me~

[deniseart]

Being so new to glass, this tutorial is really going to help me! Thank you so much! You should see the twistie disasters I have created! giggle

[natty]

thank You so much Kimberley.

With each day we learn and learn if we keep an open heart.

twisties (I call them latticino) are my speciality but i never saw somebody doing it that way. It's worth a try. Again thank you so much for sharing.

natty

[danelady]

Kimberly I made this cane and then the seahorse last week, I put it up on Chat but I FORGOT to show it here! I am SO SORRY, your directions were GREAT. Now I just need to learn technique!
Thank you SO much!
Hugs
Lynnie
http://www.doglogic.com/AUCTION/seahorsependant.jpg

[hummingbird3172]

I finally have a seahorse worth sharing...sorta....I have been making sea life beads and trying to come up with something other than just jellyfish then I remembered the seahorse tutorial.

He is kind of quirky and his head it too big, but I kind of think he is cute!
9054

[danelady]

They sure are!
Thank YOU for everything you do to help us learn! (Including letting us try seahorse beads!)Great looking seahorses!!!! I am glad you guys are trying them! Aren't they fun to do?!?!?

[hummingbird3172]

Great looking seahorses!!!! I am glad you guys are trying them! Aren't they fun to do?!?!?
Thank you!

Yes, they are lots of fun! Thank you for sharing your techniques with us! :)

[hummingbird3172]

I think I have one that I am really proud of....this seahorse is only 1/2 an inch in size. This has been part of my problem...I have been trying to make them teensy. I think I know how to get it to work for me....
9196

[hummingbird3172]

Yep. bigger is better in so many ways!!!! May of the beads I make are much easier if you make them a little bigger (or in my case A LOT bigger!). I am glad you are having fun and having some success!!!


I am kind of stingy with my glass...lol...I think of making a great big bead and then having it end up looking awful and I chicken out. Anyway, your seahorses are so amazing the way YOU do them...I couldn't even come close! I have to say that your twistie technique is what made me finally able to pull decent stringers and twisties. I use it in every single bead I make these days. Every piece of seaweed and every jellyfish is that much realistic because of your teaching! :)

I was thinking of making some all black or dark red twisties encased in clear for my ocean beads...then I get the general shaping for the seahorse, but with a slightly different effect.......

[Gelly]

I want to see the seahorses folks come up with, too!!!

Kimberly

Ummm, ok... you asked for it!!! :lol:

Remember, I have only been at this for about 2 months. I'm on a HH & tend to melt things too much, but I was really pleased with this lil guy.

13978


Thanks for the tut, Kimberly! (this is the only way I know how to pull twisties..)

[Gelly]

Ughhhhhhhh! I tried again (his face/head is so long, he looks like he was bread with an anteater...) :roll: ... and I melted this one even more. Poor guy, his tail was so melty, it tried to dribble off the bead. Hopefully, my raking abilities will improve when I get the right tools.


14452

My daughter (8 yrs old) and I LOVE your seahorses, everytime you post more, she has to look at the thread several times. She was really excited that I was going to try one.... when I showed her mine, she said "That's really good... for YOU, but you aren't going to show that lady that makes the really pretty ones are you?" LOL!!!!! :biggrin:

[hummingbird3172]

Ughhhhhhhh! I tried again (his face/head is so long, he looks like he was bread with an anteater...) :roll: ... and I melted this one even more. Poor guy, his tail was so melty, it tried to dribble off the bead. Hopefully, my raking abilities will improve when I get the right tools.


14452

My daughter (8 yrs old) and I LOVE your seahorses, everytime you post more, she has to look at the thread several times. She was really excited that I was going to try one.... when I showed her mine, she said "That's really good... for YOU, but you aren't going to show that lady that makes the really pretty ones are you?" LOL!!!!! :biggrin:

Gelly, I think your seahorse has a lot of character! He is very cute! I especially like the eye...mine NEVER look that good! I need to try one again sometime... I am kind of stingy on making the size of bead that I really need...lol.

[Gelly]

Thanks Anna.... the one on the black base broke last nite! I knew I probably didn't have it evenly heated before I plunged it into the ole vermiculite. Worked too long on the bottom half, and should have completely reheated the whole thing.

Mine aren't nearly as big as Kimberleys. The bases are pretty flat, and only about an inch tall. I think they are fun, but very frustrating!

[hummingbird3172]

Thanks Anna.... the one on the black base broke last nite! I knew I probably didn't have it evenly heated before I plunged it into the ole vermiculite. Worked too long on the bottom half, and should have completely reheated the whole thing.

Mine aren't nearly as big as Kimberleys. The bases are pretty flat, and only about an inch tall. I think they are fun, but very frustrating!

Oh, that is too bad! :( I have tried tiny ones too and I think they are pretty hard! I think yours have a lot of style! I look forward to seeing more! :)

[Gelly]

I meant to post these the other day when I put them in the gallery... they are some other beads I made with this twisty tut.

The tree of life and a kitty

13982

[Juliac]

Kimberly, thanks for this tutorial. I've been having so much fun!!! Twisties were kind of one of those things you have to do sometimes that isn't your favorite, but now, mine look fabulous!!! They are even, lump free and pretty! Thank you.

[chrisdd]

Here's one I made using Kimberly twisty. :-D

[chrisdd]

Thanks, Kimberly!

[seafire]

Thanks so much for a great tut..with even better photos.......tried it and loved it ...cheers vic

[karla.p]

:happy:

[glassymom]

Awesome tut!! I tried to make one tonight but when I grabbed the end I pulled the whole thing off........I've only been doing this since beginning of april and only a couple hours a week, bits at a time. What did I do wrong?
anyone know? I'll try again tomorrow but if anyone knows what I did wrong Please let me know! Thanks
sue
lake wales

[glasswinder]

Kimberly..you are the most giving lampworker ever....You showed us this method when you were teaching in Michigan and I have used it countless times for different effects...thanks so much for being so "open" and sharing.
Jan

[slcuniques]

Kimberly!! YOU ARE JUST PLAIN AWESOME!!! I can't beleve I actually made a seahorse. I used to have an aquarium full of them when I was raising Straight Egyptian Arabian horses. Still have one horse left and have been just itching to make me a bead with something to do with horses!!

I found out about your twisty tut yesterday morning. I ran straight to the hothead and cracked about 8 of them out lickity split because they are so easy after reading your tut.. Then I saw [IMG]your Seahorses for the first time yeasterday also and had... And I mean H A D to give it a try..
Here he is. Not nearly as proffesional looking as yours but I think with a little practice, I can create my own design of seahorses. I've just got to make ME a necklace with these be horsey beads!!

Here is my first seahorse bead. PS, These are my favorite colors....

THANKS SO SO MUCH KIMBERLY!!!
sorry, The pic is in post #106.. Had a little trouble

[slcuniques]

Here is my seahorse bead.. I think? LOL I made mine with a mane and long flowing tail just to be a little different... "SHE" was a blast to make !!. I've named her "Fantasia in Bloom" I think this is the best and most understandable tut I've ever enjoyed doing... I'm gone twisty crazy now!!!
Thanks again Kimberly!!
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l167/slcuniques/SeahorsebeadSandys1st5406.jpg

[LadyCrow]

Did you use bead release?

[nagibeads]

Oh my goodness--how did I miss this thread?!
Thank you soo much Kimberly! :koolaid:

[HONEYBUNNY72_99]

Oh my goodness Kimberly I can actually make twisties by using your method!You rock!!!
Tina

[memphis robin]

Proclaimation: where as slcuniques was attempting the seahorse with wonderful efforts; where as the said seahorse is now with mane and long flowing tail; i proclaim: with all honesty and sincerity the seahorse shall here to be forever known as a dragon. job well done!!!!! this is the most beautiful bead art ever! "Fantasia in Bloom" has spoken! robin

[cbm66]

WOW, "Fantasia in Bloom" is an amazing sea dragon! Thank you Kimberly for sharing this Tut. I have never been able to make a good twisty and did a beautiful one the first try. I made some organic beads with them, and they are gorgeous. THANKS again!!!!! ;)
Aloha, Chris

[squid]

One of my pet peeves with twisties is all the glass you end up with that isn't really good for anything after you pull the twistie.

I made a twisty from this tutorial for the first time last night. I was SO impressed! I loved that you can make 2nd and 3rd pulls after your first one has hardened and it looks just as good. So little waste of glass this way! They look gorgeous on beads also.

(edited to add) The one thing I did differently is that instead of using pliers to pull, I used a mandrel on the other end also. Makes it easier for me to twist quickly.

Thanks Kimberly!

Sigrid

[slcuniques]

Hey Thanks Robin and Chris, I just saw your posts. Been gone so didn't catch it til tonight.
That was a real umph proclaimation there Robin.. LOL. Loved it and thank you for the wonderful compliment!! Yep, That bead made it into my wardrobe of jewelry for ME! Fantasia was actually the name of one of my mares that had a golden flaxen mane and tail like this.. sorta, and she reminded me of that. I swear, It looks like the mane and tail is blooming like a wild flower. Someone on Beads and Buttons said it looked like a seahorse with a fire flaming mane and tail.
I've had a blast with these twisties ever since. Only made two seahorses though. Oh, I mean sea dragons.. hehehe.

Don't know how we ever got along without the twisties.. LOL Thanks again Kimberly!!!
And thanks again to Robin and Chris!!

[collectiblesbyrose]

Wonderful! Thanks!

[CaptElaine]

Thank you SO VERY VERY VERY much for this twistie tutorial, I've been struggling with twisties for quite some time. I was never able to make one longer than about 5 inches, and they turned to mush when applied to a bead. I've tried every method I could find on the internet and in books... today I tried your method =D> and for the first time ever made and even 8 inch long twistie and when I used it on a bead it did not turn to mush... Thank you so much for sharing this.
:wave:

[Reenie]

My son uses this technique and I notice my twisties now are actually looking pretty darn good.
I use a 3/32 mandrel uncoated on both sides. My son will take one rod of color and add another on top about 1/4 inch of rod. Then he'll do the same and add another color to the bunch. Then heat one side and in the middle of the three...stick the uncoated mandrel in. Then burn off the main rod that all the little one's are hanging on to...and stick another mandrel in the other side.
Melt it into a blob as your turning constantly. Keeps it from drooping.
The biggest thing I've learned is take it out of the flame but wait about 5-6 seconds..when it just starts to lose it's glow and then pull and twist in opposite ends. That way I never get my twisties too thin. Then when it's done we clip them and then whatever's still on mandrels can be reheated and repulled although those seem to be way too thin for me. I've been practicing all week....And it's pretty fun to finally get it right!
After the mandrel cools I usually just take a small masher and put pressure on the mandrel and the glass that's left on it usually just pops off clean as a whistle.
Thanks Kimberly..I want to try that cone way....and hope that helps with waste that I end up with:-)

[josielv]

I finally have a seahorse worth sharing...sorta....I have been making sea life beads and trying to come up with something other than just jellyfish then I remembered the seahorse tutorial.

He is kind of quirky and his head it too big, but I kind of think he is cute!
9054
This has to be one of the cutest beads I have ever seen!!!!

[G.L.McBead]

This is one of the best tuts.
Thanks Kimberly.
G.

[My Bloody Valentine]

Oh my goodness, thank you for sharing. I'm a twisty-o-holic. I use them in my organic beads because I love how you can get beautiful reactions. I make so many twisties that I have a jar of them just to admire. Your tute is beautifully photographed and very easy to understand! I'm off to make more twisties! You're wonderful! *mwah*

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/199/492217190_aa36489381_o.jpg

[LouiseI]

Kimberly thank you SO MUCH!! I've had a horrible time trying to make twisties and your tutorial worked for me :) You've no idea how thrilled I am - I made twisties that were over a foot this morning AND a wigwag that was 20 inches long!! (far from perfect but better than anything I'd done before) a big *HUG* for you!!

[HONEYBUNNY72_99]

Mine still end up too thin:( I wait and pull and I either get hair like strands or a piece about an inch long before it gets to cold:( Guess I just need to PPP

[G.L.McBead]

Mine still end up too thin:( I wait and pull and I either get hair like strands or a piece about an inch long before it gets to cold:( Guess I just need to PPP

When you get the right amount of heat in the gather just wave it in and out of the flame to keep the right amount of heat as you twist.
G.

[Louise]

I was all done working at my torch last night and came to look at show and tell, then I found this thread and had to print the instructions and run back outside to try it out. I love it. Thanks for sharing it is so wonderful when people share and we can all learn.

[FourTailsLampwork]

Earrings with a Kimberly - inspired twistie (raku + intense black on an opal yellow base):

71140

[Donna P]

I just learned this method from Sally Klopping who does lampwork on Maui! It works great and as soon as I leanr to take pics of my work I'll post some.

[ziggys]

Hi, I tried this for the first time and ended up with a very long thick twistie so I stopped and started again. It's hard for me to get the small darning needle size. PPP!
Even so the twisties were pretty, but once I used them on a lt. ivory base bead that's when I lost all the pretty color!

Does anyone know how to keep the EDP, purple and the copper green, green? It's an age old problem for me....sigh...

Sorry no pictures as I have not learned how to take them yet. I'm hoping I can at least scan some soon once I get better picture software.
I know these have so much potential, obviously! LOL!
Thanks so much, I'm not giving up!
Angela

[Donna T.]

I don't know how I missed this tut thread. This has been bookmarked and I will definately try it this weekend. I'm pretty twisty challenged. If I get success, I'll post pix
Thank you Kimberely for taking the time to share one of your secrets. The pix are great!

[ziggys]

I'm in love! I put that twistie on pale sky blue, and heated it up hot, and it's so pretty (IMHO :-)). Then I put it on EDP (Gulp) and well, it worked and now I'm in love. :-)
Thank you Kimberly!!!
I'm off to make another twistie. My mind is spinning with "What if I tried" ?possible color combo's for these twisties.
I've been wanting to tone down Effetre and this is such a wonderful way to do so! Yahoo!
Angela

[ziggys]

Earrings with a Kimberly - inspired twistie (raku + intense black on an opal yellow base):

71140

Oh! Those are so pretty! I wish I had made them!
Angela

[Kevan]

Credit for the technique should go to Andrea Guarino. She is the first person who showed me how to use a mandrel to pull twisties.

Corina showed it to me.

It's the best way to pull twisites if you ask me. It's so much easier to turn the mandrel in your fingers. I mean, we all are comfortable doing that anyway.

[Kalera]

LOlL yeah, I think she did give credit to you at one point! I remember that, about 2-3 years ago.

[Kevan]

Funny, 'cause I showed it to her.

That's what someone told me. I guess we all know it now and lucky for us we do. Thanks for passing it down.lol

[HONEYBUNNY72_99]

Woohoo I got a good useable twistie today:)Opal Yellow and Dark silver plum!I will post my bead tomorrow!
Tina

[My Bloody Valentine]

Not sure if anyone else has done this. I hit on the idea of cutting my thicker twisties up into millefiori type pieces. Instead of laying a stripe of twisty down. I stick a twisty round onto the base bead. Makes for an interesting pattern and gives a different look.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1419/534269961_1442370300_m.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1198/534269963_a8f137fcce_m.jpg

These beads were made from the twisties I posted earlier in this thread. The twisties dots have been twisted again, not left to melt in plain.

[FLT]

Kimberly,

Thank you for sharing your twistie technique with us. I tried my hand at making a seahorse with the results and I think I did okay. It's a cute little guy (and I mean little - this bead is about 30 mm high and 12 mm wide, and about 7mm thick). Maybe I'll try it again sometime on a larger tab - but I had a great time playing.

73735

Cheers,

FL

[ziggys]

I just love these twisties. It's all I really want to do! I made one with orange coral as the base, lemon yellow, mustard, and pea green. The green doesn't show but changes the orange color and makes it soft. I put it on a Striking Orange base bead that looks like candy.
I wish I could show you a picture! But it's pretty and would probably look good etched.
FL, I love your seahorse! The blue Eye! He is cute!
MBV, great idea about cutting them up for Millies. What a cool effect!
Angela

[Lora Rose]

Kimberly,
I love your seahorses! Nice Tutorial with great pictures!
Thank you for sharing a secret! You make beautiful beads and your a sweetheart too.
Lora

[mmdl2bl]

:flush::pout:This is excellent. I "hated" and dreaded making twisties. I tried your tutorial at 11am. The 1st twistie I made was extremly long, I was laughing like a Mad Scientist that discover "LIFE" then the twist broke, and fell to the floor, with me screaming as if I was wounded. :flush::pout:

I tried it the 2nd time, it came out just beautiful, and I like kinda think, it 18 inches long. The 3nd was only 12" and the, the 4th 15" long. I was so excited about my new found love of how to make a twistie.

Thanks for a wonderful tutorial.

[technicaltess]

Yup, it was like the sky opened up and I was suddenly enlightened.

[Maria Louisa]

Kimberly,
Amazingly sweet of you to show us this technique. Thank you for sharing.

[jgraff]

I tried the seahorse but I fried the twistie making doing the dragging technique.:pout: But I made some pretty cool other beads with the twisties. I lost the definition on the stripes but they came out sort of raku-ish instead. Since I can never get raku to color on my hothead I was happy!

98018

Janet

[jaci]

BUMP for twistie exchange!!!

[danelady]

Try using a mandrel spinner to pull them!:waving:
hugs
LynnieOne of my pet peeves with twisties is all the glass you end up with that isn't really good for anything after you pull the twistie.

I made a twisty from this tutorial for the first time last night. I was SO impressed! I loved that you can make 2nd and 3rd pulls after your first one has hardened and it looks just as good. So little waste of glass this way! They look gorgeous on beads also.

(edited to add) The one thing I did differently is that instead of using pliers to pull, I used a mandrel on the other end also. Makes it easier for me to twist quickly.

Thanks Kimberly!

Sigrid

[Rhonnie]

Thank you so much, I am hoping to try this tonight. The cone shape makes so much sense! I hate wasting the big glob that gets left over at the bottom of my water jar.

Oh, and I like the hiss sound too.

Rhonnie

[Donna T.]

It's been over a year since reading this and I must say I can make pretty good twisties now thanks to Kimberly. And I love using them for organics and encased stripey beads.
I need more twisty recipes though. I have a few written down that people have shared. The ones I try to come up with usually don't work out so well incorporated into a bead. :(

[C-Ann]

Thanks for sharing this Kimberly - I have been twistie impaired but you have made me hopeful again - I missed this thread and I am glad it was bumped!

Love those seahorses!!!!

[MerryFool]

I can't wait to try out your technique, Kimberly. Thanks!
(*crossing my fingers and toes...*) I'll post pics of how they turn out!

[mewsicmama]

I'm awfully late to the party, but wanted to thank you for providing such great instructions for something I am eager to try. So, THANK YOU!!!

[firegrl]

I love this

[BeadieEyedWoman]

Possible you could do a tutorial on the sea horses...mine look so pathetic :pout::sad:

[squid]

Possible you could do a tutorial on the sea horses...mine look so pathetic :pout::sad:

She did do a tutorial - it is in The Flow magazine.

http://www.theflowmagazine.com/pdf/Affleck-Seahorse.pdf

[Shrimp]

Well thank you Kimberly for SHARING! Way too generous! Thank you Squidly for the link!

[Vicki Ellen]

Thanks so much Kimberley. I needed an "aha moment" and was so surprised when my first twisty flowed out so smoothly, almost by itself, that I dropped the tweezers!

[Ifatahyo]

Long time lurker, first time posting to LE. Found this tutorial by Kim and had to try it!

Attempt the first
87320

Attempt the second
87321

Attempt the fourth (the third one cracked, that's what I get for mixing Lauscha and Morettii)
87322

[JanithS]

Wow - those are gorgeous.

[fannydotson]

Okay, so I made some twisties today using this technique, and they turned out GREAT! My question now is, how do you get the glass off the end of the mandrel? Should I have had bead release on the end? I feel dumb for not asking befor I began, but I have about 6 mandrels with little, but pretty and colorful, blobs of glass on the end, without bead release. Do I use a hammer and smack them to get the glass off? Can I use the mandrels for regular bead making again? Thanks!

[fannydotson]

Those are GREAT!

[AcidFly]

I just heat the glass on the end real hot and stick it in my water jar. The glass cracks right off just like if you were making homemade frit. But just the glass on the end tho don't go up to far on the mandrel or when it hits the water it might bend a little. Try it you will know right off the bat what I'm trying to say :). Theirs probably better ways but that's fast and easy for me and you can do it at the same time your done with it.

AcidFly

[Katie Gee]

Fanny, as soon as you are done pulling your twistie, superheat the pretty blob and dunk it into water. The glass will shock, shatter, and fall off the mandrel. Make sure you keep it under water 'til it's done or some of it might shoot across the room (not a good thing)- don't ask me how I know this, LOL.

[Katie Gee]

LOL Acid, we answered at the same time!! Great minds think alike. :wave:

[fannydotson]

Okay, now that I know how to do it, I CAN'T STOP!!!!!!! I am so in love with this technique! It is amazingly easy. The first time I tried to do it, I made a GREAT twistie!!!!
Kimberly, you're my hero!!!!!!

[Pat]

She's everybody's hero. :)

[angelique_redhead]

Bumped for Katie Gee's twistie give away thread. Thanks, Kimberly! :love: Angelique

[Rose Leslie]

Thank you so much for doing this tutorial. It is the best.

[Katie Gee]

Kim, you and this FREE tutorial of yours is how I learned to make
twisties. If it weren't for you, mine would still look worse
than crap, LOL !! THANK YOU !!

[LisaF]

Kimberly - I also make all of my twisties based on your tutorial. Thank you!

[penny5658]

Hi
I can't believe this is still helping people after 5 years! Thanks for your generous nature Kimberly! I know when I first joined the forum in 2005 this helped me too.
penny5658

[Sadie Mae]

I have a ton of shorts I can use in this--thanks a bajillion!
Smiles, Sheri

[Poet?]

Thank you for sharing this.

[*ShirlAnn*]

I wish I could find your free tutorial for the seahorse. I've looked everywhere for it, but can't find it.
Thanks, Shirl

[Eileen]

Here you go:
https://www.theflowmagazine.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=774:seahorse-web&Itemid=151

[*ShirlAnn*]

Hi Kimberly,
Do you know when you might put the Twisted seahorse tutorial back on? I really would like it. Thanks.
Shirl

[Eileen]

Did you click the link I gave you? It is there.

[*ShirlAnn*]

Thanks Ellen. I did find it. It's so beautiful. Hope I can make one someday, but in the meantime, perhaps I man make stringers using her method.
Shirl