Making Beads Doing the Twist

Making Beads Doing the Twist

Not too long ago I came across a package of beads deeply hidden in my stash.  I had purchased them at least 10 years ago in Freeport, Maine at The Beadin' Path, a wonderful bead store that is no longer in business. 
There was a strand of beads that I really love nestled in among that long ago purchase.

Strand of Vintage Czech Glass Mottled Twist Brown Beads

 

 I thought I would try to make a set out of ceramic clay.  The tag gives a small  clue on how they might be made. ( see text under photo above)

I tried rolling out some round beads and twisting them but that didn't work.  Then I got the idea that if they were first made into a 3-d disk bead that maybe that might  work. That seemed to be the answer but the twist was more complicated that I had thought.  I put my fingers on the glass Czech bead to get an idea of how to I would have to twist them.  It was quite awkward as the fingers on each hand would have to go in the opposite direction.  I persevered and the first set of beads I made is in the picture below.
 

 

Since I did not take into account that my clay shrinks 12% during the drying and firing process, mine are rather smaller than the original strand but I am  happy to use them in some of my freeform peyote stitch work.  I have a bracelet I am working on that they would go well with.

 

photo

 

I also made some in blue and white to see how they would look. 

 

If I make more of the blue and white beads I think I will skip the white part and just have them in blue.    

 

But the first set of beads--  I am just crazy about the color and have been trying  it on other pieces as well.

 

Small stoneware pendant  by Mary Harding

I was quite happy with  how the above pendant came out and surprised how the colors had morphed during the glaze firing.

 

So I tried it again on a larger piece and was more than happy with the result

 

              Statement size pendant by Mary Harding  trying out what i learned from the smaller one.

Statement size pendant by Mary Harding  a variation on the one above

For me what works when I am creating is to follow my passion on however circuitous a route it takes me.  In the end it will bring me directly to my heart and soul.
Thank you for stopping by and reading my post.
Mary

 

Posted by Mary Harding at 10:05 AM