Pickling and Labeling Glass

I'm taking on a big venture and I'm not even halfway done. My studio is just about set up. The walls are painted (thanks to my mom). Everything is in it's place (thanks to my hubby and boys). I'm working on pickling (cleaning) and labeling EVERY glass rod I have. Yes, it's going to be a huge project but after trialing the pickling of the clear rods and seeing them sparkle, I just have to do them all. Not to mention, I get very frustrated that I have rods here and there that aren't labeled. It seems they never get used because I'm "afraid" of them. Also, it will make it easier to order glass when I know which ones I'm actually low on. I read about pickling glass on the Frantz newsletter and read more about it on LE (a lampworking forum) and I'm so glad I found out about it. Scummy clear is always a problem. Well, hopefully, not any more. I'll take pictures of some clear encased beads after I'm all done with this venture to show you the details of pickling. To read more about pickling, hop on over to the Frantz newsletter blog and it should be in the December 2010 archives if its not on the first page.
As for labeling my rods, I'm making excel spreadsheets with the color, maker or brand of the glass and the ID number and taping it on each glass rod. I may make a little tip section on how to do this in case other lampworkers are interested. I'm on a mac so this is the easiest way I have found to do this. There is another way using a program that another LE member came up with but it's only compatible with Windows. Also, if you want my spreadsheets that I've done so far, you an email me and I'll send them on over for you. My email is karen dot e dot colaneri at gmail dot com.

Preparing to go to Town!

I'm getting ready to go to town making beads and discs tomorrow. I have been preparing by coordinating colors and making twisties and stringers. I'll be making them in shades of blue and a touch of green.

Studio Cleaning & Organizing Spree!

I was out making beads when I kept getting all my blacks mixed up. I ended up having spiderwebs in my bead designs, which are a good thing when that is the design intended, or my spots that I wanted black were purple. I also have colors that my friend Linda would give me or colors that I bought at a local glass place that are all mislabeled or not labeled at all. That lead me into the biggest organizing spree ever. I decided I am going label each and every rod if it kills me. I mean, we are going to be moving in a few months so they would all end in a big jumbled mess anyways. This way, the virgo inside me will be happy. Nice, clean, organized work area with LABELED glass. What a shocker.

I got my shipment in the mail yesterday with blacks and a batch of Precision Diamond Clear, my new favorite clear. As long as it doesn't crack my beads like the last rod did. I'm still at a loss on where I got that rod from to determine if the rest I have here is from the bad batch as well. That was a total bummer that I made all those pretty encased beads, made them into earrings and crack, crack, crack. Wasted beads and wasted silver. Not a good mix at all. Oh well... onto more beadmaking. It's not like I ever tire of it.

Just a final note... I made over my etsy shop to match my blog and added google analytics. YAY me! I love when I get things accomplished!

The Little Things

Yesterday was a good day. It was a beautiful day out. Spring Break started for the grade schools and the beaches were packed. The time with kids was great. The simple things really make a difference. We had Good Humour Strawberry Shortcake and Chocolate Ice Cream bars and played with balloon punch balls. Ahhh the little things that make kids smile!

On another note, I passed my Community Health Nursing Theory and Practicum class with A's and my Health Assessment class with a B. I was floored. I've been busting my butt and would forget assignments and I was considering dropping at one point. I'm so glad I persevered. Now onto Nursing Research and Legal and Ethical Nursing.

And, of course, my little artistic touch to this blog post. I took my lampwork bracelet out of the tumbler yesterday. Inspired from Kerry Bogert and her Totally Twisted book.

Quickie Beads

I couldn't wait to post some beads I made after not being able to get out to the torch in awhile. One bead is still stuck on the mandrel, its the other aqua one. So, I took a quickie pic with my video recorder out the door. Kinda crappy for a picture but I sooo love these beads. I never make beads this small and I really like how they turned out.


Thanks for looking!