Ruth Nichols
2007-03-15, 5:26pm
Hi Everyone!
I thought I would share this info here for you to use and try since I posted it over on the other forum. I had promised it over there but I don't see any reason not to share it here too.
Snowdrops Bead Tutorial
First thing you will want to do is chose your base color(s) and make a shape that is pleasing to you. You can start your base bead in white, ivory, clear or what ever color you choose. I used white.
61991
Make the shape as you will want it to look at the end of the bead with nice ends and good smooth shaping. I used white for my base color and one a deep transparent green and one a transparent blue or deep purple for the sky. Start encasing the bead by winding the glass on from the end of the bead toward the center and stop. Wrap around the bead with the green first then doing the blue or purple side last. Placing the green at the bottom of the bead with the blue or purple at the top.
6199361994
Have pre-made plenty of green leaf stringers or vine stringers and some white stringers handy for your flowers. Make sure you have a sharp edged tool (knife or a CGM) to be able to manipulate the glass and flatten it in some areas.
After making the base bead, stripe on a selection of different lengths to make "stems and leaves of the flowers. Curve over some of the tops, leave some strait. Try some different colors for the shorter blades if you like.
6199761995
Next, taking your white stringer, (I used black in this illustration because it shows up) make 3 short swipes for the flower head. It will look like an upside down V with a leg in the middle. BUT... this is important! Make your middle leg first as this will help in placement of the other two petals.
61996
After you have the flower heads in place take a sharp edge tool and define the edges between the petals. Like an upside down V or almost a U shape. Here you can take your graphite pointing tool or a sharp blade and clean up the edges of your flower petals.
Don't admire your work to much! Put that baby in the kiln!
62004
If you would like a list of the tools I used let me know.
I thought I would share this info here for you to use and try since I posted it over on the other forum. I had promised it over there but I don't see any reason not to share it here too.
Snowdrops Bead Tutorial
First thing you will want to do is chose your base color(s) and make a shape that is pleasing to you. You can start your base bead in white, ivory, clear or what ever color you choose. I used white.
61991
Make the shape as you will want it to look at the end of the bead with nice ends and good smooth shaping. I used white for my base color and one a deep transparent green and one a transparent blue or deep purple for the sky. Start encasing the bead by winding the glass on from the end of the bead toward the center and stop. Wrap around the bead with the green first then doing the blue or purple side last. Placing the green at the bottom of the bead with the blue or purple at the top.
6199361994
Have pre-made plenty of green leaf stringers or vine stringers and some white stringers handy for your flowers. Make sure you have a sharp edged tool (knife or a CGM) to be able to manipulate the glass and flatten it in some areas.
After making the base bead, stripe on a selection of different lengths to make "stems and leaves of the flowers. Curve over some of the tops, leave some strait. Try some different colors for the shorter blades if you like.
6199761995
Next, taking your white stringer, (I used black in this illustration because it shows up) make 3 short swipes for the flower head. It will look like an upside down V with a leg in the middle. BUT... this is important! Make your middle leg first as this will help in placement of the other two petals.
61996
After you have the flower heads in place take a sharp edge tool and define the edges between the petals. Like an upside down V or almost a U shape. Here you can take your graphite pointing tool or a sharp blade and clean up the edges of your flower petals.
Don't admire your work to much! Put that baby in the kiln!
62004
If you would like a list of the tools I used let me know.