New photos ahoy!

Well I have updated my Flickr account with some new pics of some of the cabs which I got back on the weekend. I can finally start making some jewellery with this stuff now that it has been annealed! Yippee. Very excited. I am going to have another play with one or two pieces this afternoon so I may have some other new photos up soon too since the weather has been so nice.
Link To Flickr

On another unrelated note to beading I went to Taronga Zoo yesterday with my boyfriend and thought I would post up a photo or two of the cute little animals we saw.

New pics soon

Well I am going to pick up my first batch of annealed cabs on Saturday. Finally!! I have left them at Nats place for a month now, I feel really slack. But even better I get to take some others over so they can get annealed. AND EVEN BETTER...I should have some new photos up because I'll be getting some back which I didn't get time to take some photos of. Yippee!!

This post isn't that exciting just thought I needed to update!

Tacking Continued & New Fused Glass

This is actual pictures of the tacking that I have been trying out. This isn't the exactly photo but is a general idea of what I started out with in the beginning.

Then after I had done my melting to the point that I was happy this is the result! One side has melted a little more then than the other, not sure why but that doesn't really matter.

I was doing another one like this with clear rods to place on top of this one to make a pendant. But the glass rods kept rolling everywhere and I think they may have fused some of the dust residue from the fire paper inbetween where the rods are tacked. I will have to have a look once it has cooled down. If it has then I will probably just melt this one a little but longer and just have the pendant as it is. I will have to grind the edges to make it a bit more smooth and even. Another step in my glass adventures!

Also I have updated my Flickr account with some more fused glass photos. Go and check them out!

New Technique - Tacking Glass

I'm not sure if this is the correct term but I am calling it tacking glass. This is the next step in my glass adventure.

Basically with the glass rods that I have been given recently I find it hard to stack them onto each other without them rolling away. So I have decided to try a techniques which I am sure is called tacking the glass. This basically is melting the glass to a point in which is adheres to each other but hasn't lost its shape. I don't have any photos at the moment (which I hope to have tomorrow) but I have done some simple diagrams.

Before the rods are 'tacked'. See how even they are at the joins.

After the rods have been 'tacked'. The edges where they meet have become a little more uneven and have adhered to each other.

With my glass fusing I have found it is best for me to go through 4 different steps just to avoid any glass breaking from any temperature changes too quickly. I have found to tack this type of glass (which is COE 104) I have to go through my first 3 steps but leave the last step.

Tacking can not also be used for this sort of work but it can also be used to keep a raised texture on glass pieces or it can be to simple attach one glass piece to another without completely losing the shape. My pictures aren't the best but hopefully I will have some photos tomorrow once I charge the batteries in my camera and take some photos!

More generosity

Well this morning I went and met another one of the ladies from the Beading Forum, Lyn. She had sent me a message saying that she had some glass rods which she didn't need anymore and if I would like them. Of course I said YES!! When I got there I got to meet all of her lovely animals (which I loved!) and she also gave me a couple of 2mm Cubic Zurconias in Lavender. They are very pretty! I must get my dremel out and get practicing with these CZs! Below are some pics of what Lyn gave me. They aren't the best photos but you get the idea!

Bullseye COE90

Effetre COE104

2mm Cubic Zurconias - Lavender

Then of course I had someone else get in on the photoshoot!

I hope to get to have a little play with my glass tomorrow sometime! I have been so busy getting assignments done lately that I've had to put it on hold for a little while.