Swirl necklace
Technical project to have fun with.
Make this eye-catching necklace and watch it take you through winter and into summer.
The simple design of this necklace uses gravity to create a stunning effect. I have used lapis blue and white glass beads spaced with a plain white bead, but any combination of colours can be used, with some interesting effects if a mixture of transparent and opaque glass is used.
The necklace shown is approx 38 cm long and has 15 swirl beads and 16 plain white beads.
The Artist
Lesley Rands
Flame work glass bead and jewellery artist. Contact her at www.lesleyrands.com
Email: lesleyrands@talktalk.net
Tools & Materials
- Blue and white glass rods
- Torch, mandral, beadrelease
- Kiln
Step 1
Using a 1.6mm mandrel coated in a bead release, begin your swirl bead by laying down a footprint bead in lapis blue opaque glass of approximately 12mm in diameter.
Step 2
Keeping the bead warm, pick up the white opaque rod and place a large white dot on the bead to cover the entire width of the bead.
Step 3
Using the blue rod again, place a second equal size dot next to the white, positioning it such that it joins up with the white dot. Continue working around the bead placing alternate coloured dots until the base bead is completely covered. An even number of dots is required to ensure an equal swirl, with eight dots, I find, being the ideal number.
Step 4
Now heat the bead up in the hottest part of the flame to melt the dots in and to form a rounded bead.
Step 5
Now for the fun part - put the bead back into the flame and heat thoroughly until the glass becomes very fluid. The trick now is to keep the mandrel turning in a steady, even manner and keeping the flame directed at the centre of the bead.
Step 6
As the bead becomes hot, the centre of the bead will start to flow downwards. Keep turning the bead faster if necessary to create the swirling pattern. If the glass becomes too fluid, take out of the heat for a few seconds to gain control. The longer you keep the bead in the flame, the finer the swirls. Allow the bead to cool off slightly and ensure that the bead is rounded.
how to wear your lampwork beads
Make a statement or keep it subtle the choice is yours. Get noticed, turn heads, these beads are handmade, bespoke and yours. Bright bold beads are so now. Link them onto chain to make a bracelet or combine them with charms and chain for a more dramatic statement. Bohemian girls will love the layered look.
Summer/Spring 09 Inspiration
Tassel fringed handbags
Bright and bold stilettos
turn heads