Ask me anything! - Page 3

jonibird · #61 2011-02-01, 7:52pm

Hey, thanks! That sounds right!

mdimatteo · #62 2011-02-01, 8:42pm

What a great offer to make. Thank you. If you don't want to answer this question please don't, but I'd like to know how you price your beads... ? I think this is a question many beaders struggle with. Thanks for your generosity you've already given so much!!!

Kalera · #63 2011-02-01, 9:50pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdimatteo

What a great offer to make. Thank you. If you don't want to answer this question please don't, but I'd like to know how you price your beads... ? I think this is a question many beaders struggle with. Thanks for your generosity you've already given so much!!!

They're mostly priced based on how long they take me... I aim for $60-$90/hr of torch time, which translates to $20-$30/hr when off-torch work is factored in. After business expenses and taxes, I get to keep about half of that, so it's not an especially well-paying job, but it does pay the bills. Most of the time!

Deborah · #64 2011-02-01, 10:24pm

Kalera, how nice of you to do this. I'm cracking up though...I saw your post this afternoon. I had to get some work done, so I figured I'd think about your offer and figure out what I wanted to ask you. (So much!) Anyway, a few hours later, and you're up to three pages. I love it!

I'm going to go read the whole thread before I add to it.

Thanks again for your generosity!

Kalera · #65 2011-02-01, 10:30pm

Thanks Deborah! I'm actually excited that so many people like my beads enough to ask about them... it sure is a nice confidence-booster!

PerfectDeb · #66 2011-02-01, 11:04pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by erose

So, what is the meaning of life?

Seriously, that is a kind and generous offer.

42

artwhim · #67 2011-02-02, 12:29am

I'm late to the party, any chance you want to do one more reveal? I love your set called Earthenware.
http://www.beadwife.com/detail.tpl?ItemID=9151

Thanks!

effemess · #68 2011-02-02, 3:09am

As you already know Kalera, The Beadwife is my boro bead inspirational site and by trial and error Im slowly figuring out boro frit. Thank you for your immense generosity in starting this thread. I confess to chasing down all your posts in the boro room,,,, Kalera said "work closer to the flame, very close".. so I do.. Kalera said "these are my favourite three boro frits",,, so I try them over everything, just to see what works, In the last two weeks I realised that you pull a lot of your own boro cane for beads,, so you can guess what I've been doing, and yes, lots of mine are just yuk.... but even if you don't realise, you are teaching me to be more adventurous, so once again, a massive Thank You

Pia Kaven · #69 2011-02-02, 4:13am

Oh, you have no idea how I want to pick your brain!!! Thank you so much Kalera for offering this! I have always loved your beads, and especially the frit beads, and the dot beads... I could fill the whole thread with questions, you have so many so yummy creations, I would love to know each one of them, but for now I will just ask the recipe for two of them.
I would love to know how you made these two sets:

Pia Kaven · #70 2011-02-02, 4:22am

Oh wow, that Earthenware IS one gorgeous set! <3

mdimatteo · #71 2011-02-02, 4:51am

Thank you Kalera,
You give an expanded definition to the word generous and your beads are just beautiful

PattyK · #72 2011-02-02, 8:41am

Thank you so much Kalera!!

It's so helpful to have these recommendations!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kalera

Oh, yes! Cobalt 1114, turquoise 1116, deep royal purple 1128, emerald 1417, sunset coral 1305, dark rose brown 1109, aquamarine 1108, garnet 1322... I know there are more, as well! BE has so many incredible transparents.

mdimatteo · #73 2011-02-02, 9:01am

These beads are stunning. Do you remember the color?
http://www.beadwife.com/detail.tpl?ItemID=12092

I notice you use a lot of bullseye. Is that your preferred glass and do you prefer it because it's stiffer or because of the colors?
Mary

GlassTorturer · #74 2011-02-02, 9:02am

Wow....just Wow, Kalera! Your generosity is staggering. I'm eating this up with a spoon, and thinking about expanding my glass collection - I don't really have BE, and my only Gaffer is Chalcedony (which I've put aside until I decide to waste more with my ill attempts).

Thank you soooo much! Your tut would be a sure thing - please consider it!

Judy

Ari'elle · #75 2011-02-02, 10:26am

Pia, I believe she offered the basic frit recipe in post 8. They are gorgeous beads! Thank you so much, Kalera! And I'd buy a tutorial by you too!

Quote:

Originally Posted by piakaven

Oh, you have no idea how I want to pick your brain!!! Thank you so much Kalera for offering this! I have always loved your beads, and especially the frit beads, and the dot beads... I could fill the whole thread with questions, you have so many so yummy creations, I would love to know each one of them, but for now I will just ask the recipe for two of them.
I would love to know how you made these two sets:

Kalera · #76 2011-02-02, 10:34am

Quote:

Originally Posted by artwhim

I'm late to the party, any chance you want to do one more reveal? I love your set called Earthenware.
http://www.beadwife.com/detail.tpl?ItemID=9151

Thanks!

It's an ongoing offer... you are never too late! "earthenware" is simply R-106. http://www.glasscolor.com/products/d...D=111&pID=1064

I love this glass and use the frit in a lot of my organics; it's downright bizarre in the flame, runny and boily, going from white to blue to brown, and devitrifies like mad, and I LOVE it! It's like a brown version of Z-99.

Kalera · #77 2011-02-02, 10:35am

Quote:

Originally Posted by effemess

As you already know Kalera, The Beadwife is my boro bead inspirational site and by trial and error Im slowly figuring out boro frit. Thank you for your immense generosity in starting this thread. I confess to chasing down all your posts in the boro room,,,, Kalera said "work closer to the flame, very close".. so I do.. Kalera said "these are my favourite three boro frits",,, so I try them over everything, just to see what works, In the last two weeks I realised that you pull a lot of your own boro cane for beads,, so you can guess what I've been doing, and yes, lots of mine are just yuk.... but even if you don't realise, you are teaching me to be more adventurous, so once again, a massive Thank You

Thank you!!!

Experimentation is where it's at... and if a cane comes out ugly, you can use it as a base for Amazon Bronze frit.

Amazon Bronze rescues anything!

Kalera · #78 2011-02-02, 10:37am

Quote:

Originally Posted by piakaven

Oh, you have no idea how I want to pick your brain!!! Thank you so much Kalera for offering this! I have always loved your beads, and especially the frit beads, and the dot beads... I could fill the whole thread with questions, you have so many so yummy creations, I would love to know each one of them, but for now I will just ask the recipe for two of them.
I would love to know how you made these two sets:

Pia, the recipe for the frit is in post #8... the base glass for those two sets are Uroboros Amazon Green and Uroboros Riviera Blue, respectively.

Kalera · #79 2011-02-02, 10:47am

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdimatteo

These beads are stunning. Do you remember the color?
http://www.beadwife.com/detail.tpl?ItemID=12092

I notice you use a lot of bullseye. Is that your preferred glass and do you prefer it because it's stiffer or because of the colors?
Mary

That's a BE special production color from a while back... I want to say "Ivy"? I am really bad about labeling my SPCs, and so I have a ton that I don't know the name of.

I do love Bullseye, and I have a ton of it, mostly because if I'm going to encase anything that's the glass I usually use. It's reasonably cheap, consistent, readily available, has a full palette, and great clear. I feel the same way about 96 but the big drawback, for me, to 96 is a lack of medium-to-light-saturation transparents, and that I haven't yet found a 96 ivory-type glass that reacts with silver, and that's the basis for 90% of my encased beads (if anyone knows of one, please let me know!). I prefer 104 and 96 for organic and dot beads.

Lorraine Chandler · #80 2011-02-02, 10:50am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kalera

Thanks Squidly!

Lorraine, Dawn Canyon is a mix of frits in varying sizes that includes R-108, R-106, R-227, K-66, Z-74, and Z-99. There is also a medium, slightly translucent blue, and a cobalt that is a total mystery. It's on a base color of Uroboros 2342.

The way some of these frits, like this one, got born was essentially via happy accident. Oftentimes, it's what I do with a bunch of leftovers or samples that I couldn't do anything with. Worse yet, sometimes I don't know what those frits are... an early mistake I'm learning not to make!

I think I know enough of the components of this one to more or less replicate it. I hope. I have half a baby food jar of it left!

Ochoco Pixiestone is half R-108 and R-736 frits, size #1, gravity swirled over some vintage German light blue transparent.

Thank-you kalera! This has been a very fun thread and we sure need more of these right now.

(((hugs and thank-yous))))

Kalera · #81 2011-02-02, 10:52am

Hooray, thank you Lorraine! You're welcome! It's 2011... let this be a year of fun, experimentation, and prosperity for us all!

Beadanna · #82 2011-02-02, 10:57am

Kalera this is a wonderful thing you are doing.
I'd like to think it's the way of the future so that things can really move into a better state.
Generosity, kindness, helpfulness. You have them in abundance. I love it!

artwhim · #83 2011-02-02, 12:57pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kalera

It's an ongoing offer... you are never too late! "earthenware" is simply R-106. http://www.glasscolor.com/products/d...D=111&pID=1064

I love this glass and use the frit in a lot of my organics; it's downright bizarre in the flame, runny and boily, going from white to blue to brown, and devitrifies like mad, and I LOVE it! It's like a brown version of Z-99.

I've used that glass a lot too, but NEVER have I gotten it to turn that lovely color. You must have the magic touch! I've always been frustrated that I seem to loose the pretty blue in the kiln. They still have some blue coming out, but never as intense. Fun, fun glass! Will have to play with it some more to see if I can get the color you did. The slightest phase of the moon seems to yield different results with this one. Thanks!

Darlene Balkcum · #84 2011-02-02, 1:10pm

Kalera,
You have inspired me today, and not only with your beads but with your kindness and camaraderie.
Do you know of any other reichenbach colors that devitrify? I like that quality sometimes.
Darlene

Angie09 · #85 2011-02-02, 1:53pm

Well....already placed orders with That Frit Girl and Val Cox ... guess I'll round it out with Glass Diversions. Kalera, you should get a cut of all the frit that is going to be selling in the next few days thanks to your kindness and willingness to share! THANK YOU!!

LeahBeads · #86 2011-02-02, 2:09pm

Wonderful thread, Kalera. Thanks for sharing!

Leah

2xMI · #87 2011-02-02, 2:25pm

Thanks so much for both your generosity and the inspiration!

Mimi

dichromary · #88 2011-02-02, 2:31pm

Kalera, I love all your Romance beads. So I plan to whip up a batch of the frits and play. Thank you for the story too. I just wish all my mishaps turned out as nice as yours.

tammydownunder · #89 2011-02-02, 3:01pm

Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with us. I can't wait to get on the torch but with the temps in the high 90's, I'm going to have to wait.

beadmama · #90 2011-02-02, 3:23pm

Kalera, this thread has been so much fun to read , a special thanks for sharing your recipes and reminding me to experiment.