calla lilly bead

[SandyQ]

OR is it Cala lilly?? At any rate, I have been asked to make some wedding jewelry and the bride really wants me to "try" to make a cala lilly bead for her necklace. I have searched the internet and have not found any tutorials on this. Would anybody know of any?

Thanks in advance!

Sandy Quiring chickadee_quiring@sasktel.net

[Marcy]

Hi Sandy,
Are you talking sculptural or regular rounded beads? Years ago, I took a class from Deanna Griffin Dove and the calla lillies we made were raised on a bead. It started out with a stem, and then we made a large white dot that we pulled into shape. Then we plunged a stringer on an angle to indicate the stamen. I'm not sure how clear that is, but perhaps you can imagine it. Also, on the cover of Deanna and Brad's Bead Review from last year, there was a drop dead gorgeous calla lily bead.

If you don't get other responses, pm me, and I'll try to dig up that ancient calla in my bead box and photo it and go into more specifics.

Good luck,
Marcy

[Solana]

The easiest way I know of (for a flush design) is to first add your stem with a thick green stringer. Then add a large dot in the color you want your flower to be at the top of your stem. Melt in the dot and use a raking tool or cold stringer (in the same color as your dot) to pull the top of the dot to a point or a taper (think spade). Next, add your stamen. I'd use a rod of dark yellow, heavily encased in clear and pull into a thick stringer. Heat the center the dot and push the thick stamen at an angle into the bead (don't push the stamen at a 90 degree angle to the surface of the bead). Use your rod nippers to nip off the excess stamen and melt it into the bead. Then, encase the entire bead to add depth and to give the flower more of a 3D look.

I'll try and make one tonight to post a picture tomorrow. :)

Hope that helps!

Karla

[mystykbead]

Oooohhhhh I can't wait to see a pic, I am having Cala Lilly's in my wedding and am planning on making my own jewelery.

[barb]

This is what they look like as a sculptural bead.

Calla Lily:

Green for barrel
Yellow/Cream/White for Flower

1. Make a small barrel bead
2. Add first the yellow as a stripe 3/4 way around the barrel - do not melt all the way in
3. On top of the yellow add the Cream/white for 4/5 layers - do not melt in
4. Heat up this yellow/white
5. Using your tool flatten the yellow/white until it looks like a petal
6. Warm the petal and with your marver flatten it against the barrel then wrap it around the
barrel until it forms your calla lily.
7. Heat so that it is smooth but still sculptural
8. Heat the tip of your petal at the highest point and using the rod pull it out to a point.

Barb

[J. Savina]

If your looking for round beads with calla lily designs, it's not too difficult to do. Start by encasing your stamen color rod with clear and pull. make your bead, add vines if you want, then, put your small dots where you want your lilies to be, than spot heat each, then, with a sharp razor, crease just the top, then cover each with clear, melt it, then spot heat and poke your stamen rods, encase in clear. Well, that's how I make mine. I don't do many sculptural beads. Here's a picture of one I did a while back. Have a great day!!!
J.

[SandyQ]

Oh My Gosh, Thanks You All~!!

[SandyQ]

WOOPS, I hit something on the keyboard and it submitted my message...LOL. Silly me! At any rate thank you all for your ideas. Once I find time to get to the torch, I am going to try all of these ideas. I really appreciate the help. Lampworketc is such an awsome place, I SWEAR it is! :)

[Heather/Ericaceae]

If you're comfortably with off-mandrel work, you can make one that way too. This was my 2nd try and I'm still working on my o/m skillz, so probably just about anyone can do this!


1 - Make a gather on the end of a white cane. Use mashers to squish it into a lollipop - as thin as possible!
Add a stripe of yellow stringer in the middle of the lollipop, closer to the base of the cane.
2 - Gently heat the edges of the lollipop to soft-but-not-liquid. Roll the edges gently to overlap at the base of the white cane.
3 - Take a second , shorter white rod with a melted tip to be your punty. Heat the end and also soften the end of your rolled-lollipop. Fuse on the punty (don't bother cold-fusing, since you'll be making a pointed end anyway so it's easier to just flame cut) and pull out a nice, even point. Keep the punty attached at the end for a handle!
4 - Soften a 1/2" of rod from base of the calla-lily upwards. Remove it from the flame and pull it gently into a thick stringer.
5 - Use the rod to pull it smoothly into a loop and stick it to the back of the lily near the top. Flame cut the loop off. You can heat and shape the remaining mini-blob but mostly leave it alone! It'll be at the back and it's easy to mess up your loop. Also see Mary Moth's off-mandrel loop tutorial for a different approach.
6 - Flash the whole lily in the flame to warm it (but don't soften it). At the same time, warm a pair of long-nosed pliers or long tweezers in the back of the flame. Grab the lily in a flat area, flame cut the punty off (quickly) and melt the point so it's pointy-but-not-sharp. Pop it in the kiln very quickly.

I have a funkadelic version to show. White would be much easier.

[dla]

Thanks to all of you that posted tutorials on the calla's ! I have attempted these beautiful flowers on several occasions with little luck but now, I do believe I am good to go ! lol !
Thanks so much !
Debbie A.

[barb]

If you're comfortably with off-mandrel work, you can make one that way too. This was my 2nd try and I'm still working on my o/m skillz, so probably just about anyone can do this!


1 - Make a gather on the end of a white cane. Use mashers to squish it into a lollipop - as thin as possible!
Add a stripe of yellow stringer in the middle of the lollipop, closer to the base of the cane.
2 - Gently heat the edges of the lollipop to soft-but-not-liquid. Roll the edges gently to overlap at the base of the white cane.
3 - Take a second , shorter white rod with a melted tip to be your punty. Heat the end and also soften the end of your rolled-lollipop. Fuse on the punty (don't bother cold-fusing, since you'll be making a pointed end anyway so it's easier to just flame cut) and pull out a nice, even point. Keep the punty attached at the end for a handle!
4 - Soften a 1/2" of rod from base of the calla-lily upwards. Remove it from the flame and pull it gently into a thick stringer.
5 - Use the rod to pull it smoothly into a loop and stick it to the back of the lily near the top. Flame cut the loop off. You can heat and shape the remaining mini-blob but mostly leave it alone! It'll be at the back and it's easy to mess up your loop. Also see Mary Moth's off-mandrel loop tutorial for a different approach.
6 - Flash the whole lily in the flame to warm it (but don't soften it). At the same time, warm a pair of long-nosed pliers or long tweezers in the back of the flame. Grab the lily in a flat area, flame cut the punty off (quickly) and melt the point so it's pointy-but-not-sharp. Pop it in the kiln very quickly.

I have a funkadelic version to show. White would be much easier.


That is a beautiful flower. Now I need to go learn how to draw on the computer.

Barb

[Heather/Ericaceae]

That is a beautiful flower. Now I need to go learn how to draw on the computer.

Barb

Thanks Barb! Nowhere near your lovelies, but I'm progressing! The drawing was really easy - I just used Microsoft Paint (the free one that comes in Accessories beside the calculator). My "trick" is using the curved line... you lay it down and can then "bend" it in one or two places to make nice curves. Then I just copy and paste. It took me about 20 minutes to make.

-Heather

[barb]

Thanks - I'll try that tonight. It's so much easier to explain with drawings then pictures.

Barb

[danelady]

This thread is GREAT!! Does anyone have a pictorial of how to do the Dot method on a Tab or lentil type bead (or tube bead) I'd love to try it but I can't "picture" it!
thanks!

[SandyQ]

OH MY GOSH.... WOW.... THANKS! I have been busy all week with the daycare, a craft fair yesterday...baby shower for someone I don't know today (lol...long story), and I just got a second to look at this thread again. Thanks SOOOO much for all who have shared. Please give these methods a try and post pics. Once I find an hour or two of time, I am going to go try these and see where I get with them. I SO EXCITED! :)

[x_phoenician]

I'm so glad to see this thread! I've been in the mood to make large sculptural flowers, thanks to everyone that offered tutorials!

[Marcy]

I tried it with the opalinos to see how the lollipop style worked and it was nice. That glass is rather gooey and moved around really easily. I think the white is too transluscent to look right as a flower though.
Thanks for all the hints, it was fun.
Marcy

[HannahRachel]

So many ideas!
Thanks, everyone, for wonderful tutorials!

[Byrdbeads]

Great tutorials! Now im going to have to try all of them! LOL

Robyn
www.thefirewithinbeads.com

[Heather/Ericaceae]

*grin* This thread inspired me to try to make off-mandrel calla lilies again, since I hadn't done one since the blue and red one pictured above. I'll try to get some pictures up in the next few days. Does anyone else want to share pictures of their versions?

And one tip - I found that using tweezers to fold the petals (step 2) resulted in too much of a tool-mark. I had better luck just pushing the folds in place with my torch marver. It worked out more as a soft roll that way instead of a fold, also.

[x_phoenician]

I tried Heather's version using both the tweezers and roll on the marver. I also started laying the stamen off-center before I rolled and tried to get one side to fold over a bit at the bottom.

Thank you Heather!

It was weird working off mandrel, it just didn't "feel" stable and I kept worrying it was going to crack and fall off the rod. I definately need more practice and I'd like to work larger.

49948

~Tracy

[Marcy]

Tracy, I love those. It looks like you got it!
Marcy

[Heather/Ericaceae]

Those are great, Tracy! I love the colours you used. The variegated stem is a really nice touch and the pink and orange blushes to the centre are lovely! Is this really your first time working off-mandrel? You're a natural! (My first tries were HIDEOUS!) Keep practicing and the weird feeling will go away. It's definitely a different approach from on-mandrel work!

I look forward to more pictures of any of the techniques - old beads or new!

-Heather

ps - Sometimes it *can* crack and fall off the rod... It's rare, but to be safe, always manipulate it over your worksurface, NEVER over your lap.

[glasscelr]

Everyone is just wonderful and you all give me warm fuzzies with your williness to share your knowledge. I'm really glad to have stumbled across Lampworketc.
Thank you,
Connie

[Heather/Ericaceae]

Here's some pictures of mine. I like Tracy's better. :) But I had fun making these. I had an alabaster blue one that was really nice, too, but it sold before I could get a picture. I hope people post more of their calla beads, pendants and designs!

[x_phoenician]

Wow, thank you Marcy and Heather!

The bottom greenery was just stripes of green stringer I spaced on the white rod after smashing it, and then when I added the loop, I twisted. I was actually trying to twist the flower petal more but this seemed to work out anyway. The inside pink was a rod leftover from when I had pulled stringer of white with oro rubino stripes (before I started using mandrels as punties for that).
Seriously though, I love these you just posted up there Heather! Yours look very "classy" and artistic. They'd be great made into a vase too! I don't know if you work that big but even small little vases where the top half forms a calla lily, I think that would be awesome.
No, I don't remember working off mandrel before..probably just for that reason that it was awkward. But maybe I did in the beginning and blocked the experience (and probably an ugly bead)from memory? :p :lol:
I know I had wanted to learn how to do a wig wag pendant at one time, but need to actually see it done to grasp it.

[barb]

Beautiful lillies!! The biggest problem I have working off mandrel is remembering to keep my body parts out of the flame area because I tend to twist my entire body working on the piece - it's definitely a challenge of a different color.

Barb

[Rose Leslie]

I have to take some photos of mine. Just haven't had the time to do so. Every ones are really beautiful.

[Rose Leslie]

Here are my lillies and peace lillies. Sorry that it took so long.

[Heather/Ericaceae]

Great work, Rose Leslie! It looks like you used a number of different techniques. I like the leaves you added to the sides of some of your flowers! Thank you for posting! :) -Heather

[SandyQ]

56045 This was my first attempt at a calla lilly bead. I think I failed horribly; however, I do want to thank everybody for their ideas, tutorials, et cetera. I am going to try again.... :)

[SadiesJewels]

Beautiful flowers everyone ... I love all the lillies!

Great tutorials too ... I hope someone gave this five stars.

Sadie

[SandyQ]

56524I tried some more with calla lillies....Needs some more practice... You just KNOW that hurts my feelings... (NOT) hehehe

[barb]

Actually Sandy if everyone posted their first attempts at any flower you would see that yours are similar and yes it is a matter of PPP. Keep practicing and posting. One thing you might want to watch is the heat of the flower when you are working. Once you form it then don't soak it again - just flash it or keep it higher in your flame so that it doesn't melt back together because it really just wants to be a dot.

Barb

[SandyQ]

This is the latest attempt... Thanks Barb for the advice... The leaves I made out of several layers of different colored glass, starting out with ivory, cobalt trans blue, ivory, sage green trans, and then like a bright green opaque (sorry, can't remember the exact color) - then pulled that into a thick stringer and placed dots and then "encouraged" them to look like leaves :)

59867

[Marcy]

Sandy, I'm seeing big improvement. Keep working on that heat control as Barb mentioned- even if you crack a few beads, it will be worth it to see how cool you can keep your beads and get the most crisp lines out of it.

Good luck,
Marcy

[barb]

59867

Sandy, definitely an improvement. Are you using a tool or razor at all?

If you heat up the front of the [white] part of the flower then rock your razor it will make it more defined like a lily which is one petal wrapped over itself. I like the razor when I want just a slight touch. Another way is to make the cut then lay in a slightly darker very thin stringer in the cut so it accents the petal if it melts back together. I do this using enamels but thin stringers work well or you can just lay your stringer then make the cut right on top of it.

Morning Marcy!!

Barb

[SandyQ]

Hi Barb and Marcy - Sorry for my delay in response. I run a daycare for 12 (gawsh) LOL... and I've been TIRED and have not been on computer much lately. To answer your question, I never used a tool/razor at all, but now that you mention it -it sure would make sense to :) I am going to go play some today at the torch (I deserve it!) LOL. Thanks again for your suggestions - from everybody. This has been such a fun journey!

[nnicolini]

For a beadswap i tried several types of calla's, but they all tend to crack or even break. Any suggestions?

76280

These both have cracks in the white flowerleaf, it looks as if the crack started where the tube makes contact with the leaf.

76281

These tend to break at the point where the stamen ends. Is the leaf to long, or to thin?

Greatings,
Nathalie

[Marcy]

Hi Nathalie,
I think they're very pretty. I have a feeling that the problem might be more in how you're keeping them warm while making them. Perhaps, not warm enough. Can you tell us a little more about your process and I bet we can figure it out. Also, what colors of glass are you using in your top tubes? Is there perhaps a different brand of clear that is less compatible with the white glass?
Marcy

[nnicolini]

Hi Nathalie,
I think they're very pretty. I have a feeling that the problem might be more in how you're keeping them warm while making them. Perhaps, not warm enough. Can you tell us a little more about your process and I bet we can figure it out. Also, what colors of glass are you using in your top tubes? Is there perhaps a different brand of clear that is less compatible with the white glass?
Marcy

Hi Marcy,

thank you for your compliment and thinking with me. I work on a Volcano and am very careful in keeping my beads warm.

For the bottom two beads i make a base bead and then i melt a blob of white, which i flatten. Once flattened i reheat it to add a bit of frit, melt it in and flatten it again. Then i melt of this leaf and add it to the base bead. Then i add the stamen. After that i heat the right side of the base of the leaf to flatten it a bit and fold it over. Same with the left side. Sometimes i need to reshape the top of the leaf (pointier). Then i reheat the whole bead, let the glow go and put it into the vermiculite.

Some do survive, but more than 50% of them brake right where the stamen ends (see picture). My kiln (originally a PMC oven) doesn't take beads with their mandrel attached, so i have to batch anneal. No use with broken beads though....

The top two beads are all Moretti (pea green, white with rubino, some dark yellow / orange for the dots), could it be the rubino?

Sorry if i make mistakes in my English, but it is not my native lanquage...

Greatings,
Nathalie

[nnicolini]

:cry: Does nobody have a clue? :cry:

Nathalie

[Marcy]

Hi Nathalie,
After reading about how you make them, it seems like all of that is a good way. I have a feeling that it is because you can't anneal them right away, which causes your breakage. You have different thicknesses in your bead which all cool at different speeds. I do a lot of sculptural work, (look at my etsy shop), and I wouldn't want to make those beads and then bet on them making it until they are annealed. Here's my one little suggestion, check the way you are cooling them to room temperature. Are you putting them in a fiber blanket or vermiculite? Do you have a warm space that you can slowly cool them in which insulates them even more? Some people here use a crock pot which is a large electric pot and put their vermiculite in it to keep it a little warmer. I suggest that you examine what you do for cooling and try to adjust that system. Sculptural beads with different thicknesses are so much trickier to cool than round beads of the same dimensions.

And by the way, your English is excellent. Feel free to contact me if you need more help. I'm not sure that I can, but I'll try. I don't alway visit the forums, but you can pm me and I'll answer as soon as possible.

Good luck and let us know about the cooling.
Marcy

[nnicolini]

Hi Marcy,

thank you very much for your suggestion! I think your sculptural beads are great!

I used preheated vermiculite to cool down the beads, but the vermiculite cooled down faster than i expected it to. It makes sense to me that the breaking / cracking has to do with the different cooling rates of the thicker and thinner parts of the beads. Yesterday i made an other one and it cracked exactly where the thicker and thinner parts meet. I did notice that the ones who have survived until now (still have to batch anneal them), all have a shorter and thicker end of the leaf.

I looked for those crock pots in the Netherlands, but they are very expensive, gonna try a little frying pan instead. That will keep them warm! I'll let you know how i'm doing with these beads.

Greatings,
Nathalie

[A_Glass_Bash]

I'd sure like to see someone do a semi demo on this. I think I understand but I don't. ARGH But that's a beautiful bead!!

If your looking for round beads with calla lily designs, it's not too difficult to do. Start by encasing your stamen color rod with clear and pull. make your bead, add vines if you want, then, put your small dots where you want your lilies to be, than spot heat each, then, with a sharp razor, crease just the top, then cover each with clear, melt it, then spot heat and poke your stamen rods, encase in clear. Well, that's how I make mine. I don't do many sculptural beads. Here's a picture of one I did a while back. Have a great day!!!
J.

[sislonski]

Heres one I did quite a while back.

[Marcy]

That's really pretty.
Marcy

[margoke]

thanks for the wonderful tut :waving:

this is what i made and i will make more of these :rolleyes:
but on de mandrell its voor me easyer
9924499243

greatings margoke

[Marcy]

oh that turned out so well. And I love the leaves with it. Congratulations!
Marcy

[Rachel]

I wanted to thank you for this tutorial. I was able to make this over the weekend using what you said. Thanks!

99189


If your looking for round beads with calla lily designs, it's not too difficult to do. Start by encasing your stamen color rod with clear and pull. make your bead, add vines if you want, then, put your small dots where you want your lilies to be, than spot heat each, then, with a sharp razor, crease just the top, then cover each with clear, melt it, then spot heat and poke your stamen rods, encase in clear. Well, that's how I make mine. I don't do many sculptural beads. Here's a picture of one I did a while back. Have a great day!!!
J.

[Crazy Woman]

Here's one that I did in a class with Margaret Neher ~ boro http://www.margaretneher.com/
99270

[Holly'sFolly]

Hi, I do my surface callas a little differently but thought I would post in case it helps anyone.

http://www.hollysfolly.com/images/beads/custom/calla2comp.jpg

I realized I knew how to make a calla after taking Leah Fairbanks class...She had us make heart shaped leaves by making a stinger gather and swiping up, out and down for the right side of the heart and repeating on the left side.

I took that leaf and turned it upside down (this can be awkward holding the mandrel as callas go up but you can hold the mandrel with hemostats) so the bottom of the heart shape is up. Then I spot heat the white and stab it with the yellow stringer at an angle & cut the stringer with a flame.

Everyone's callas are so pretty!! Thanks for sharing everyone!

[theglasszone]

Wow, beautiful additions to the thread, Rachel, Leslie and Holly! Isn't it amazing how different each artist's work comes out - all lovely, but unique! Thanks for adding...I'd love to see this thread live FOREVER!

DeAnne in CA

[Ever After]

here are some sculpted ones I did, I really Love , but cant seem to sell, lol
oh well finally a peice for myself!


96427

[Marcy]

Laurie, I bet they'd sell at Easter time. That seems to be more of the "season" for them.
They would be nice to keep too!
Marcy

[angelique_redhead]

I wanted to bid on those. Since I was out of play money from the Holiday Season that's the only reason I didn't bid. I also (like this any surprise to you :shock:) prefer the purple or pink calla lilies. :love: Angelique

here are some sculpted ones I did, I really Love , but cant seem to sell, lol
oh well finally a peice for myself!


96427

[Ever After]

thanks guys! xo

[Jo Ann]

Wow! These are beautiful. I gave my daughter the middle name of Calla (tricked the dh, he thought we were pronouncing it Kay-la, but I really loved the name Calla....told him the correct way to say it when daughter turned 10...she loves the name and the story) and I am going to try to make her some following your directions. Thank you for the tips and idea.