Some Beads to Show Off

The big pendant in the middle, dark blue pendant and the purple piece were made using the woodblock print stamps I bought at the flea market.

Yesterday I was supposed to post some pictures of the last firing I did on Saturday.  I don't know where the days go, but they sure pass by very fast lately.

The firing I did was just one firing where I glazed greenware beads and fired to the temperature the clay is supposed to be fired.  I liked this one firing doing, because it saves one firing for the bisque load (usually I do  two firings). Plus it saves time, electricity and also wear and tear of my joints.... just kidding! wear and tear of the kiln.  So those things are worth exploring and hopefully having the results all be 100% good will make it better.  The firing had about a ten percent of the beads  not come out well.  This could be blamed on the glaze being kind of old, or it is just not a good glaze to use in only one firing.  I've never had problems with it before...  so I will say it was the firing it only once.  So live and learn.  But most results were good this time, so I like that.

This glaze always look good no matter what clay I use.

I really liked this dark and deep blue.

I am going to continue exploring with different glazes for this one firing approach to save time most of all.  I have a show coming up and need to get lots of pieces done between now and then.  What do you think of these glazes?  I really like them!  they look very different from other pieces I have done with the same glaze.  I have used different clay to so that's part of the difference.

Next post will be about different textures made from an item that most crafters have in their house.... stay tuned.

The purple tear bead on the right and the three teal round beads were stamped with the woodblock I got from the flea market earlier this month.

psssst....  I had to come back and add this picture, I love these pieces.