Murrini Mania: Part 4 + More Hollow Ramblings
I'm back! I promised to show you the results of the latest murrini batch, so here we go.
First of all, some focals:
I learned a couple of interesting things making these.
1. "Fuzzy" spiral murrini actually produces cool effects, as you can see in the two top beads (I know how to make smooth spirals now, though.
)2. Most murrini chips will look very different when encased and unencased - making each cane like two different kinds of murrini, in a way.
I used #2 in this set, which I am very fond of. It's called "Freshness". Check out how the murrini looks kind of like open and closed flowers (I only used one type of murrini in this set).
I still have a lot to learn and a lot to pull. My optic mold finally arrived a couple of days ago and I've been trying it out. I'm not sure if I like it. Now that I'm used to making stuff without it, it makes things a bit awkward. I need to practice some more before I can come to any final conclusions though. My Murano Millefiori from Florida has not arrived yet - but to tell you the truth, I don't think I really want it anymore (I knew this was going to happen. I knew it). Making my own is much more fun. It's still quite time-consuming and not nearly as precise, but it's mine. Besides, mine has no crappy white in it, which does make life a bit easier. And I don't have to constantly scold myself for using up all the good colors.
Here's an unrelated set, called "Possibly Maybe" (I'm all about Bjork this week). No extreme murrini usage here - just a few transparent ones, with cool colors and some gold. I LOVE dark transparent lavender. I want to marry dark transparent lavender and live in a house made of dark transparent lavender in a city made out of dark transparent lavender. Seriously, I think the whole planet should be encased in dark transparent lavender.
I need to get more dark transparent lavender.
All beads from this post are now on the Bay!
Have you noticed that ever since my first set of hollows, I haven't made a single un-hollow bead? I'm not sure how long it's been, or how long this is going to go on for. Something just feels right about them - like this is what glass is supposed to be. Round, transparent, reflective - and besides, they have such a large surface for decoration (we'll be discussing that some more tomorrow
)! They are still a challenge, but my technique is getting better. I can even make fairly large ones now. There's something endlessly satisfying about watching a lump of hollow wonkiness melt into a perfectly round shape. I guess I hadn't made round beads in general in a while either. There's something about round beads. There just is.
Besides all the hollowness, there's another thing I like about my latest work - since I got back from Murano, I guess. My latest beads haven't been dependent on any "special" glass, reactive colors or hard-to-get odd lots (not that there's anything wrong with that). There's something refreshing about going back to the simplest, most basic colors. Hey, glass is beautiful even if it doesn't cost $100 a pound. I'm happily using up colors I forgot I even had, in combinations that never even occurred to me before. Particularly transparents - after a couple of years of using them mainly to encase opaques, I'm now learning what some of them look like on their own. You gotta love the hollowness.
I'll end with some happy news for my Aussie students: since I'm so into hollows and all now (as you may have noticed), I've decided to incorporate a hollow bead into each one of my workshops in Australia, as a little "bonus" demo. This is, of course, purely for selfish reasons - I couldn't possibly go a whole month without making any hollows. But either way, it should be fun!
I'm leaving in two weeks from tomorrow! I still can't believe it.
Hi Sarah
Excited about the news of the hollows in your australian classes (am doing the last two).
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WOW, i loooove them!!! I watched someone use the optic mold and it is weird how they just plunge it in quick and out! Sooo, why don't you move to Burano in a dark lavender house with everything lavender or within that color range and of course that color of laundry hanging? I really like the open and closed on one bead. i never thought of doing them differently on one bead, however, i still am not any good at it. The mood has not struck me to do the murrinis alot or the hollow alot. i have one i tried and it is neat how it is not round and then it is, VOILA! weird! I love these hollows Sarah especially in a set! Peace,
steph
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I think Sarah is liking hollows! I love your enthusiasm and bubbling-over excitment about hollows. I had tried one a while ago. Obvious failure. But, you've inspired me to try a few more and I have one that's actually pretty. I'm shocked. I'm having trouble with pointy ends, but I'm amazed I'm getting the hollowness. You're enthusiasm is contagious!
And, you're right on the transparents and simple glass - I've been "giving in" to the prettiness and the reason we do glass beads...the transparent pretty glass...my simplest and most basic beads are the ones people love. All that work on decoration and people love my simple beads best. *Sigh*
But, I just don't have the color sense and combination sense you have with all the reactives yet. Whenever you get to the US, my friend and I are THERE for your classes.
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Sarah, You are right! Your murrini are so very special and unique. Your beads are GORGEOUS and the color combinations are just wonderful. You are so lucky to be able to make them. All the best, Michele Petno
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Hi Sarah - only 28 sleeps to go before I get to do your classes here in Australia - I'm doing the last 2!! So excited that you're including your fabulous hollows as well. So looking forward to it - hope you are too! See you there!
Cheers
Sandy
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Hey Sarah - love the beads, actually wearing the one you so generously gave me in Tel Aviv - everyone has commented on it here in Toronto. I wish I were going to OZ but will have to take a rain cheque - BONZO vacation for you mate - and 'dash' (regards) to the nutcases from Murano (miss you guys LOTS)
take care, have a SAFE FLIGHT, and beware of the gorgeous Ozzie SOUTHERN MEN....
E
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