Can you help an old beadmaker out?

[Jinx Garza]

As some of you know from my thread in the Sun Room, I had to stop beadmaking five years ago due to a brain tumor. It was removed last year, and this past April I had radiation on the residual tumor. My recovery has gone very well, and yesterday I actually got to make beads for the first time in five years! Look what I made:
126070
126069
126065
Woohoo! I'm back! It was so much fun.

One of my minor deficits is some memory loss. I had to email a friend of mine to ask what the settings on my regulators and kiln should be because I couldn't remember. I forgot to ask her though, and she's out of town How long should the beads soak at the annealing temperature? Help!

Also, I used to buy marquis cut CZ's from Rio Grande but they've discontinued them...arrgh! I've checked Fire Mountain, Glass Diversions, even JustBeads and eBay but no luck. Do you know a source for 2x4mm marquis cut CZ's?

I'm also looking for etch-all. Seems like the suppliers I checked carry other brands but I'd like to work with what I was used to. Please let me know if you have a source for etch-all.

That's all my questions for now. I'm sure I'll have more. And I know I can come to you guys for help. Thanks!

Jinx

[NLC Beads]

I anneal at 960 for an hour, ramp down 100 degrees an hour to 840, soak for 1/2 hour, then let it cool on it's own.

I'm looking for the CZ's... I got Etch-All at Michael's, but they were clearancing it... Here, too.
http://www.lbsupplys.com/category_48/ETCHALL-DIP-N-ETCH.htm

CZ's - link from Keewin's bulk buy.
http://www.pehnec.com/cz_white_marquise.htm

And of course your beads rock. :love:

[kandice]

Welcome back Jinx - it's so good to see you! Your beads are AWESOME!

I get my Etch All at Michael's, too.

I soak my beads at 950 for an hour, then follow my kiln's annealing schedule, which steps down to 850 after an hour, then to 750 for another hour, then cools.

As for CZ's - sorry, no idea there. :)

[coyotesfamily]

I am so glad you are back to making beads! that just makes my day!!!!

[Gelly]

wow Jinx!! It doesn't look like the 5 years off had any ill effects on your talent at all, they are awesome! If I go 5 days without torching, it seems like I have to relearn everything, lol!

I think I got my big bottle of Etch-All from Howaco

[AZ Joolz]

how great to hear you are back at the torch! Those are awesome!

[DesertDreamer]

OMG I'm so happy for you!!!!!!!! From the looks of those pix, you are most definitely back! Hooray!!!!!!!!!

[CarolS]

Wow Jinx, it's like you never skipped a beat! Welcome back! {{hug}}

Don McKinney pre-set all his kilns to soak at 950F for 1 hour, ramp down to 750F over an hour and a half and soak there for .5 hour and then shut off to finish cooling. I bumped it up to 960F for Bullseye. I think it was Craig from Arrow Springs who advised my friend to put in a third slow ramp to 450F before the kiln shut down if she had inclusions in her beads.

[lenora]

Wow! Those are amazing!!! I'm so glad you are doing so well!!!

[sunnyone]

glad you are back! you havent missed a beat! awesome as usual!

crystal

[*Naos*]

Fantastic, Jinx! I'm so happy you're back in the saddle! :) Looks like you got all the info you need. I buy Etch-All directly from Etch-All. It's about the same price.

I just wanted to add that, if you pick up some of the silver glass, it tends to need to be annealed at 920 and soaked for a bit longer (1.5-2 hrs before ramp down) so the crystals don't start moving again. I'd love to see you do some eyes in silver glass! :D

[Nanette Marie]

You can get Etch-All from Rings and Things:

https://www.rings-things.com/cgi-bin/hazel/hazel.cgi?action=search&SEARCH_KEY_TERMS=etch-all

Don't know about the cz's though.

[Rebekah]

I'm so glad to see you making beads again! When I was a wee glass newbie, I used to lick my computer screen when I saw your eye beads. I can't wait to see what direction you're going to take them now!

[Retta]

That one in the middle with the gold dust in the iris just speaks to my soul, wow!

[rusticstudio]

Wow! After 5 years and you can still do that great! I'm with Gelly, if I miss 5 days I feel like I'm starting over.

Congrats on your recovery and getting back on the torch again!

[MaryBeth]

Those are beautiful! I'm so glad you're back:love:

[Melinda]

Eye have missed seeing your Eye's!! They are beautiful!! I can't believe it's been 5 years. Soooo glad to see you melting glass again. Will you be selling at Ebay?

Melinda

[Kalera]

Wow girl, you are BACK with a vengeance! Those beads are beautiful!

[BonfireBeads]

Just as beautiful as I remember. So glad you are back!!!

[jaime68427]

Jinx, I own two of your FABULOUS beads!!!SO GLAD YOUR BACK, cause I NEED MORE!!!!!LOL!!!!

[Vickie]

Yay! Looks like you've not lost your touch! I'm so happy for you.

[sundaisy]

WOW! Awesome comeback!! Looks like you never missed a beat. Great job!

[GinnyHampton]

Hey Jinx!! I'm so glad to see you back on the torch . . . those eyes are wonderful :)

[Aleigh]

Wow! They are stunning!

I get my CZ's from Pehnec.com

Amy

[andreajane]

Those beads are just yummy. Wow.

So when are you going to start selling again? :D


Andrea

[susanlambert]

Jinx I always admired the eyes you make. So glad to see you back. You have great talent.
Susan

[gwacie]

Awesome! I can renew my prowl for the perfect Jinx eye for me. YAY! Glad you are back and enjoying the melt.

[Karen Hardy]

Welcome back!
You are back with a vengeance!

[Tammie]

Great restart Jinx! It's great to see you back.

[Melodie]

I've always LOVED your eyes ... so glad to see you back at it again. Those are stunning, definitely couldn't tell you've been away from it for so long!

=D>

[Canyon Echoes]

Jinx what awesome news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am just tickled for you. Missed your work so much and am thrilled your back.

[Sue H-K]

It is so good to see you and your eye beads back again! I have so missed them!!!

[KathyB]

Welcome Back!

[wolfotter]

Hi Jinx! So glad you are back!

Andrea

[loribeads]

You have no idea the overwhelming JOY I felt seeing those Jinx eyes. I am so, so grateful to the universe for your recovery. Your talent is incredible and you are a force to be reckoned with.

[Lara]

Yeah Jinx. I didn't realize this is why you stopping making beads. I'm so glad to hear that you were able to get back on the torch. I miss seeing your eye beads.

[Jinx Garza]

Aw, man. Thanks for the amazing feedback and welcome back. I have no words to express how much I appreciate it because I’m all choked up and have tears in my eyes! As if I wasn’t excited enough to be a) healthy again and b)making my evil eyes! I might just be the happiest person alive!

Pehnec looks good. I’ll have to buy a minimum of 3.5 million CZ’s but it’ll be worth it! I’ll just make 3.5 million beads! And they have my size in Violet!! I’ve never used colored ones before. I’m so excited! Thanks Nikki and Amy!

I went to the www.etchall.com site but it says Cannot find server. I’ll check my Michael’s, Howaco, and oh, well lookie here, Rings-n-Things has my little etchall all ready to come home to mama. And Trey, thanks for the tip; I’ll give that a try too.

Thanks for the annealing schedules Nikki and Kandice . I think I undersoaked my batch last night. I’ll get with the program on tomorrow’s batch. I remembered how to make pupils and eyelids and irises but nothing about the kiln, lol. I have an old fashioned non-programmable giant Paragon I bought in 1996 I think. Thanks also for mentioning the third ramp for inclusions, Carol, and for the 920 for silver glass Amber. I haven’t tried it yet, but it’s definitely on my list.

You guys are AWESOME! I knew I could count on you for information.

I do plan on trying eBay again. It was so good to me before, but I read here about how much things have changed. Will it be again? Don’t know but I’m taking the plunge anyway. Life is just one big adventure to me now. I want to practice and build up some stock for a few weeks, then we’re going on vacation to visit my family in Detroit, so I’ll probably start eBay in late July. I’ll add a link to my signature when I do.

I'm sure I'll be back with more questions. Amnesia is a real trip, let me tell ya. :roll:

Again, thanks for the warm welcome and generous praise. It sure means a lot when it’s from your peers. Hugs for everyone!

Jinx

[Jayne]

Nobody can do eyes like you! Glad you're back; you're one of the reasons I started torching :grin:

[McDuck]

Jinx, it is so wonderful to see you back. You have been missed! And even better you are healthy and happy! Many huggs

[Chelle]

Jinx, it is so good to have you back. Man your eyes look like you've been making them all along.

You are an inspiration to me. I've been worried that I will be starting from scratch because I haven't been able to torch since 2005. I had to give it up because of a light stroke. Now I feel that when my studio is up and running, I won't have as much trouble.

Hugs!!!

[elle]

Woohoo! :)

[Listenup]

I'm so glad you're able to make your wonderful eyes again. The one thing I did not get a chance to do before I moved away from the DC area was to meet you. I concider that to be a major loss on my part.

Keep on with the great work.

112555

[bluecatbeads]

I am so very very happy that you are back making your evil eye's like others have said before no one can make them like you do. I know when I first started being an Ebay visitor to see all the wonderful things I just thought I had to have, your eyes were always some of my favorite to look at. I remember you made the most amazing goat eye bead, and sometimes I still dream about it... ha ha hows that for crazy. I am truely happy that you are back and making beautiful things again. I look forward to seeing all the new things that you are doing.

[Bobby]

Hooray for Jinx............she's back ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Looking forward to more eyes.......

Bobby

[beadsoncypress]

One of my best friends, proudly showed me your "eyes" from her collection.....just amazing...I sent her this link...I kow she will be thrilled to hear you are back!

[Miriam]

I read about your surgery and a am so glad for you you are back. Your eyes are amazing and it is not noticeable you have been away from the torch for some time.

[Lea Zinke]

Hey Jinx, welcome back to the beady world, been reading your recent LE posts and glad you're doing so well! Re: eBay, I just returned to eBay after 8 years off (wowza, time flies) and it was still pretty user-friendly and easy to navigate! If you need any help, just PM me!

Best,
Lea

[Mr. Smiley]

Jinx, Welcome back... you have been missed! :love:

Hey, Where do we buy your new beads? ;)

[Lara]

=D>=D>=D>=D>=D>ACK, I forgot to say, congrats on being healthy and have a good recovery.

[nancyinvermont]

What gorgeous eyes, Jinx! Love the gold middle one. From a newbie, I'm glad to know you're back to doing what you love, and darned good job too.

Warm regards,

[fadaway]

OMG Jinx.....you know how much I've been waiting patiently for you to step on that bicycle.....see.....I told you.......BTW... I'm the one witht he collection that Beadsoncypress was talking about......your beads and Maher's were the start of my collection..............I can't wait for e-bay........wooooHoooooo

luv Chris

[Yvon]

Gorgeous beads - you haven't forgotten a bit about making theml!

[Jinx Garza]

Well a lot has changed since I last wrote. When I opened the kiln this morning two beads said to me, "Auction me! Auction me!". I'd planned to wait until I get back from vacation in July, but the beads changed my mind and I listed one! Ack! It's all so different. I'm trying to figure out how to use larger pictures before I list the second one. All clues welcome. Link is in my signature! Check it out!

Thanks everyone for the encouragment. See what you've done!

Jinx

p.s. Hi Chris! :waving: Nice to see you here.

[artwhim]

What wonderful news and fantastic beads!

Would these CZs work?

http://www.gemresources.com/index.php?subcat=177&gclid=CKeilZe3lpQCFRYLIgodmSPAtg

[Jinx Garza]

What wonderful news and fantastic beads!

Would these CZs work?

http://www.gemresources.com/index.php?subcat=177&gclid=CKeilZe3lpQCFRYLIgodmSPAtg

YES! OMG, what an assortment. They're perfect! Thank you so much!!

Big Hugs,

Jinx

[BrakerBeads]

Jinx....I am so glad for you! My little 10 yr old niece is a brain cancer survivor.....every moment you get is a treasure!!! I am glad you are returning to give us all glass joy as we see your creations. I remember you when I started making beads eons ago.....and you've always had buckets of talent and an extra measure of kindness.

Congrats on your continued recovery.....your eyes are beautiful. ~NancyB

[Jinx Garza]

Thank you so much, Nancy! Aw, your poor niece. So young to have to go through such an ordeal. But the good news is, the young are often more resilient. I will keep that little angel in my prayers. You are so, so right about every moment being a treasure. I am so very grateful for all the blessings in my life, including all the sweet and helpful LE-ers!

Hugs,
Jinx
p.s. LOVE that Metallic Nyx set on your site! Just gorgeous.