Beads from Panda Hall for PWF

My order from Panda hall came Monday. I ordered different finishes and contents to test which works best for the PWF technique. I have them all checked in an put away/organised.
  I have divided them up into nickel free and not nickel free, the success of the beads depends hugely on the content of the beads ( iron, copper, alloy etc......), and then different finishes within those groups. I am hoping panda hall is accurate in their descriptions :)

The first group I tried was beads with nickel, in the finish "nickel". I had mixed results, I wouldn't say they were overly successful, nor would I say they were a disaster. My favorite bead in the group (shape,look wise) fired ok but didnt seem to accept the enamel willingly (first 2 photos). It took a few layers, 4, and still they look under covered. I specifically stayed with the same colors of enamel to  help gauge the results as I think the different enamels have different rates of success. I will try another color combo with this bead and see what that does in the next round of testing.

Some of the beads in this group took the enamel great and look awesome, well covered and shiny (round bead in first 2 photos, 3rd and 5th photo). While others seemed to have the same trouble I have with the black finish, although not as marked a problem as the black.  The smooth round that I ordered enameled great, so pretty and shiny, but one of them shed the entire coat of enamel almost immediately (4th photo) while a second bead already has the tell tale crack lines. 2 of them look fine , still pretty and no cracks, but I am holding my breath. Interestingly enough the 2nd and 3rd smooth bead I did, I did do in a different color scheme, for something different, not as a part of the testing. These are the beads that didnt chip (last photo).

HMMMMM........  so many variables!


The nickel free beads were clearly more successful. They fired well and they covered well. The beads I tested nickel free were in the antique bronze finish. They were filigree and the pumpkin, or corrugated type.

That is all the beads I ordered. I have bead caps and flowers and such to try in different finishes. I will continue to post my results. I have ordered some new enamel colors that should be here in about 10-12 days. I ordered white so I will be able to use a white base coat instead of trying to use the off white. I don't think the off white works well AT ALL, in any finish, any content, or any other variables. Is any one having success with off white?

Oh, and also, yes the order arrived with vegetable matter mixed in with the beads, this seemed to only be in the antique bronze finish ( the one that works best so far, of course!)
 I fired one. I first let it burn until the fire extinguished itself thinking that would mean all the stuff inside was gone. I was wrong. I enameled it and it enameled fine, but some of the stuff inside stuck into the enamel by poking out the holes and left a bumpy surface so before I can use them I have to figure out what to do with the "stuff" inside. Anyone have an idea? Anyone experience this?

More as the testing continues.
Danielle

Painting With Fire E-course

I am having lots of fun with this ecourse. I have learned a lot and I feel like I have found something I am really suited to and , really importantly, something I CAN do! I am really hopeful that I won't have to give it up anytime soon and can get good at it while enjoying my passion for COLOR! I will post some pictures of the  beads I have done soon. They are addicting and lovely! I am grateful to have overcome the problems. Thank you Jesus!

My teacher, Barbara Lewis, is awesome! She has a web site you can look at but unfortunately only class members can see the course site ( no, really? ha ha. Duh!)
Take a look
http://www.paintingwithfireartwear.com/

Good evening all

Painting with Fire, will I continue?

I have started an online workshop with Barbara Lewis called Painting with fire. Which is an enameling technique. Full of color possibilities. I really like it.
 Then the same old c**p .  The pain gets too bad to sit at the torch for more than 5 or 10 minutes. I pray I can figure out a way to set up my torch to alleviate the pain, and that then nothing else pops up that prevents me from continuing.

This is a little of my history. Its a little whiny so plz feel free to pass over it. Anyone who knows me knows that my original artistic incarnation was as a textile artist. I dyed my fabrics, did shibori ,Katazome, surface design, etc...
For me the joy and expression was the manipulation of color. How all the different factors could be exploited to achieve simply sublime color.

Unfortunately I am no longer able to do those things. I have had a hard time with that. Its been hard to deal with my issues alone and I think I have been in color mourning.

So I was thrilled to have found something similar in Painting with Fire. Not just a "Coloring in" process but the expression of color that I so enjoy. I am on the edge of despair that I may be unable to do this as well.

Again I am wondering why the Lord would make me this way without making me strong enough to pursue the passion. My faith tells me that He knows best and I trust that, completely. So then the doubt and confusion lands in my lap, its got to be me. What the heck am I doing wrong? What am I interpreting so incorrectly? And what am I to do about it?  Pray? Oh I have been, telling myself to be patient for the answer. I know its not Him, its me. He is Abba and has provided for all things.
So what the heck is my problem!? The Lord only knows, and believe me He isnt talking about it!

Bead soup

As is obvious, I didn't get into the last bead soup :( 
But guess what? The wonderful lady who puts on the Bead soup blog hop/party is doing another one!Woo Hoo! And this time? EVERYONE gets in! YaY!
If you want to find out what a Bead soup blog party is , or would like to join, here is a link to Lori Andersons blog page about it -
Lori Andersons's Bead Soup

Good luck to all that enter. All get in so everyone gets to stretch, learn and socialise!

Bead Soup, anyone?

It has been awhile since I have blogged about anything. I have not been healthy enough to pursue fabric dyeing/embellishment for quite some time. I think I have been mourning that loss, or perhaps just mourning the health situation in general. Who knows, it is such a fine line of difference I don't know that it matters.

I have been enjoying my beads and some of my other, smaller, endeavors. Trying to find my direction, my way.

I have joined a beading swap/challenge, The 5th Bead soup Blog Party. Participants will be selected by lottery for this party. Only 200 will be allowed to participate. I hope and pray I get selected! I am very excited! Both to see what I will do with the items sent to me and what someone will do with my pieces, if I am selected :)

I will be blogging about it and posting pics in the weeks, and months, to come.

The reveal date, or blog party date is March 3rd. If you have a moment, please pray that I am selected, Lords will be done. Thank you! Don't forget to come back and see what He has chosen.

Danielle