Monday, December 1, 2008

How To: Sketch Fine Lines On Your Beads


When was the last time you wanted a thin line and stringer control and it didn't quite work out the way you want?

Well, so often it just doesn't happen. And I wanted to do a little experimenting. Here I used the Pine Tree Alabastro glass by Effetre. There are two ways that I generally work with fine lines. One is to case my glass with clear and pull into stringer. Or the other is to just use a very, very low flame with very thin stringer.

This time, I decided to try commercial Effetre white filigrana that I pulled to an even thinner stringer. I wondered whether it would be more controllable because the clear casing is even thicker than what I usually use.

These photos show the bead much larger than it's 1 inch size. If you look carefully, you can see a little of the clear casing with the sketched trees.

I was quite pleased with this effect and know I'm going to try more filigrana in my designs that I've been planning I like the "sketch" look to it. It gives it a casual, but kind of "hip" look.

Do you have a design you'd like to sketch on a bead? What will you try that is different?

You can see a few more shots of this bead in my shop. And don't forget to stop by for my BOGO 1/2 Off Sale. See yesterday's post for details.

7 comments:

  1. What a great look Marcy! I can't wait to see what else you come up with!!

    Yay I can post comments again!!!

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  2. Marcy, thanks for sharing that tip with everyone! You're so generous with your know-how. You'd told me something similar a long time ago, and I'd forgotten about it. I've been feeling a stringer work itch lately. . .you're encouraging me to scratch that itch, ya know, LOL

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  3. Marcy, once again you've been very creative. This is a wonderful bead.

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  4. I love that bead. Looks like a Christmas card!
    I do my fine lines the same way. I just encase a color in clear and then pull the skinniest stringer I can. It helps keep colors from bleeding, too, and keeps everything crisp.

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  5. Thanks for the suggestion, Marcy. I love filigrana, but I had never thought to use it that way.

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  6. Just fabulous! I love, LOVE pine green. It's my fave for Christmas!

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  7. Oh thanks Marcy, I love this look and fine stringer work, I will give it a try as mine just end up in blobs as I pull such thin stringers and have no control over them!!

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