The Blue Bead

[lunamoonshadow]

I miss SaraKay.

[angelique_redhead]

So do I. She was sweet. I miss several of our friends that aren't here any more. Angelique

Originally Posted by lunamoonshadow

I miss SaraKay.

[Mustang Dawn]

It's so sad....

[pittypat]

I think it would be really nice to have a memorial section on LE for those we miss. And so many of our new peeps don't know them, but could see why we miss them so much. It would be a special place to leave comments like this. Just an idea...

[JavaGirlBT]

I feel like I missed out on getting to know her better. I took it for granted that she'd always be here. I do that too often.

[lunesse]

I really like Pat's idea.

[Mina]

My attempt at a blue bead. Doesnt look anything like the one in the tutorial, but I like it. Sorry it is a little blurry

[carolinesbeads]

Nice job Mina, I think you need to burn all the silver in so that you can only see little drops on the surface then switch your flame to a reducing flame. If you are on a Hothead cover the holes on the torch with foil flash your bead in the flame then cover with clear.

[Mina]

Thanks Caroline. So I burn the silver off before I encase?

[carolinesbeads]

Yes I think that's right I am not sure if you need to reduce or not. It doesn't say so in the directions.

[Mina]

thanks, ill try it again

[LampLit]

Originally Posted by sarakay

Here's the recipe for the blue bead.

You need:
Clear
Transparent cobalt
silver foil

1. Make a base of transparent cobalt.
2. Add threaded clear stringer and melt in.
3. Wrap in silver foil and burnish.
4. Apply more threaded clear stringer.
5. Melt in slowly, watching for the robin's egg blue reaction.
6. Case with clear, keeping the base bead out of the flame.

You must be sitting right in your chair, the stars in the right alignment, and holding your mouth right. In other words, this is a really hard chemical reaction to reproduce.

Threaded Stringer

Heat a small gather of glass.
Out of flame, touch the gather to your bead and spin your bead to pull out thin strands of glass.

Do you think you'd get the same effect with another colour? Your bead is beautifull, but I'm not a "blue" person - just wondering if it would work with a lilac, pink or green?

[echeveria]

Originally Posted by LampLit

Do you think you'd get the same effect with another colour? Your bead is beautifull, but I'm not a "blue" person - just wondering if it would work with a lilac, pink or green?

Try it.

[LampLit]

Originally Posted by echeveria

Try it.

And that's exactly what I did. I need to work on the shape of my long focal beads but I am very happy with the colours.

I am so glad I ran across this post. I didn't realize when I posted the first time that she is no longer with us. Very sorry to see we lost such a talented lampworker. She seemed like such a wonderful person from what I have read.

[echeveria]

I love it on green!

[DeevaaS]

I read this tutorial early on when I was on my HH and didn't try it. I was reminded by the new thread Corri started of people's favorite threads. I am on a mega-minor now and thought I would give it a try. I never knew of the original author until too late but she has left a lovely legacy of friends and of this tutorial that continues to inspire new lampworkers to try her technique. I am very happy with my beads but I definitely do NOT have that stringer technique down.

[Moucnicka]

What a great tutorial, I can't wait to try that. moucnicka

[KEW]

Seeing Sarakay'so name made me catch my breath.

[KayTStudio]

Yeah, me too. But I love this tut, I made it in a bunch of colors, they were some of my favorites.

[AVTrout]

The bead under water photograph is super cool!

[Beth S]

I just found this tutorial today. Thank you Sara for contribution to fellow lampwork artists! Your flame lives on.

[Sdumortier]

Thank you very much...