Amy's Glass Blog

Originally published at Two Glassy Ladies. You can comment here or there.

Happy Mothers day to all the moms out there! Here is another preview from my upcoming book “The Goddess Journey.” The goddess pictured here now belongs to my own mother… it only seemed right. Click to enlarge.

Originally published at Two Glassy Ladies. You can comment here or there.

This week I have been playing with Val Cox’s “Champagne Rain” frit blend. Amazing warm tones with some bling, and this reactive glass gave me all sorts of great results. If you are interested in purchasing any of these sets, some will be available in my Etsy shop, and most of them are also available as made-to-order directly through my website.

This frit, sold by Val Cox, is “a luxurious blend of opaques and sparklingly gold tones–perfect for when you want to play dress-up. Melt slowly and avoid sustained heat.”

Beads & Info by Amy Hall

“Toffee Crunch Swirls”
Core of Moretti 016 Transparent Dark Topaz with Moretti 266 Opal Yellow and Val Cox Champagne Rain frit.

“Champagne Rain”
Moretti 018 Transparent Light Brown with Val Cox Champagne Rain frit.

“Champagne Rain”
Moretti 008 Transparent Pale Amber with Val Cox Champagne Rain frit.

“Amber Pistachio Crunch”
Moretti 014 Transparent Medium Topaz with Val Cox Champagne Rain frit.

“Champagne Rain Swirls”
Val Cox Champagne Rain frit swirled in and speckled on Moretti 004 Transparent Clear.

“Encased Champagne Rain”
Moretti 049 Straw Yellow with Val Cox Champagne Rain frit, encased in Lauscha clear.

Test bead – Val Cox Champagne Rain frit on Moretti 064 Transparent Black

Test bead – Val Cox Champagne Rain frit on Moretti 204 Pastel White

Originally published at Two Glassy Ladies. You can comment here or there.

I have a bunch of sets listed on eBay right now, starting at prices that are about 20% below my regular cost. I’m trying to re-establish myself on eBay since I haven’t been selling there in a few years. This week I have encased rounds, lentils, and crystal beads. Many of these sets don’t have bids yet so this is a great opportunity to take advantage of a good deal for my beads! (Just please don’t forget to leave feedback – it’s really important to be trustworthy on eBay).

I’ve also listed a bunch of my spacer beads on eBay, at my regular great prices.

Here is the link to my eBay items

So you might be wondering why I’m not promoting my Etsy store so much these days, and why I am selling on eBay again. I left eBay quite a few years back because it felt very commercialized – it was so hard to compete with all the cheap imported “lampwork.” I loved Etsy because it was a handmade, crafters community. It didn’t have that vibe that eBay did, that made you feel like you were shopping at Walmart. My beads certainly wouldn’t belong at Walmart.

But lately, Etsy seems to be really changing their focus. They are allowing more and more mass produced items on their site, and what’s worse, they are not policing stores who are marketing these items as “handmade” even when complaints are filed. I think the reason is, these big stores are making money for Etsy. Which I guess I can understand – Etsy has grown, it’s attracted big reseller type stores, and now these stores are bringing Etsy lots of $s. Why would they want to shut them down?

It’s been affecting me personally in the lampwork section of Etsy. Since a certain shop that I am certain is not a single artist, or even a small collective, has been flooding Etsy with items and dominating the search listings, my views and sales have been notably down. I did send in a complaint, as have many other lampwork artists. I was sent a letter back saying they’d look into it – this certain shop is still up and running though, a few months later, so I’m thinking that they aren’t going to be doing anything about it anytime soon.

And just recently there has been a major scandal with an Etsy featured seller, uncovered by “Helen Killer” of Regretsy fame. This one sells furniture, so it’s not going to directly affect me, but it still sets a really bad tone for our Etsy marketplace. It’s bad enough that Etsy does little to police these reseller stores, but to actually feature one?

I don’t want to give up on Etsy altogether. I am hoping that changes can be made to make things more like they used to be. I am also trying to diversify, which is why you have seen me selling my work on my website directly, and on eBay. And, I am joining a silent protest for defending genuine handmade. On May the 10th, I will put my Etsy shop in Vacation mode as an act of solidarity with other genuine handmade crafters and artisans. Visit Protesty.com for more information.

Originally published at Two Glassy Ladies. You can comment here or there.

This week I have been experimenting with Val Cox’s Oriental Blue frit blend. A beautiful blue! These beads are available in the Two Glassy Ladies Store, and some are available in my Etsy Store.

In addition, I am offering some of my made to order designs on eBay. I haven’t sold on eBay in a while so I do not have much of a following there currently, but I thought it couldn’t hurt to branch out more! The designs are auctioning at a discounted price to help me build my reputation on eBay once again, so feel free to take advantage!

Frit sold by Val Cox. “A rich aquamarine transparent which is quite vibrant and simple to work with either on the surface or within an encased bead. Pairs wonderfully with the violets and pink tones.”

Beads & Info by Amy Hall

Base of Moretti 038 Transparent Very Pale Aquamarine with Val Cox Oriental Blue frit and silver foil, encased in Lauscha clear.

Base of Moretti 050 Transparent Pale Blue with Val Cox Oriental Blue frit.

Core of Moretti 034 Transparent Light Aquamarine with Moretti 219 Pastel Copper Green and Val Cox Oriental Blue frit.

Base of Moretti 232 Pastel Light Turquoise with Val Cox Oriental Blue frit.

Core of Moretti 036 Transparent Dark Aquamarine with Moretti 266 Opal Yellow and Val Cox Oriental Blue frit.

Base of Moretti 204 Pastel White with Val Cox Oriental Blue frit.

Originally published at Two Glassy Ladies. You can comment here or there.

This week I have been experimenting with Val Cox’s “Tutti Frutti” blend. Pinks with some gold tones mixed in. Perfect for summer! As usual, these beads can be found for sale in the Two Glassy Ladies store, and some of them are also available on Etsy.

“A classic favorite of five transparents in pink and gold tones. Fuss free and wonderful with silver foil. Especially nice on a clear or pale base or a non-reactive white or pink.”

Beads & Info by Amy Hall

Base of Moretti 038 Transparent Very Pale Aquamarine with Val Cox Tutti Frutti frit.

Base of Moretti 068 Transparent Pale Rose with Val Cox Tutti Frutti frit.

Base of Moretti 204 Pastel White with Val Cox Tutti Frutti frit.

Val Cox Tutti Frutti frit swirled in (and speckled on top of) Moretti 004 Transparent Clear

Base of Moretti 068 Transparent Pale Rose with Val Cox Tutti Frutti frit and silver foil, encased in Lauscha Clear.

Base of Moretti 046 Transparent Pale Purple with Val Cox Tutti Frutti frit, encased in Lauscha clear.

Core of Moretti 022 Transparent Medium Grass Green with Moretti 266 Opal Yellow and Val Cox Tutti Frutti frit.

Core of Moretti 082 Transparent Pale Lavender with Vetrofond 955 Seashell Swirl Special Odd and Val Cox Tutti Frutti frit.

Last but not least, I thought I would share a little preview of a work in progress. I am working on a book of pictures based on my goddess beads. Each goddess in the book represents an inner piece of all of us. Stay tuned for more on this project as I hope to have the book available to purchase later this year.

Originally published at Two Glassy Ladies. You can comment here or there.

I have been experimenting with Val Cox’s “River Dance” frit this week. What a beautiful blend of blues! These beads are available to order in the Two Glassy Ladies store, and most of them will also be available in my Etsy store as well. All orders placed through the Two Glassy Ladies store will include a free surprise gift – promotion ending this Sunday!

This frit is sold by Val Cox. “This is a beautiful blend of aqua-toned shades, both opaque and transparent. When combined with silver foil, the effect is quite nice. The opaques push the silver aside while the transparent floats above.”

Beads & Info by Amy Hall

Base of Moretti 038 Transparent Very Pale Aquamarine with Val Cox River Dance frit and silver foil, encased in Lauscha clear.

Base of Moretti 050 Transparent Pale Blue with Val Cox River Dance frit.

Base of Moretti 073 Pale Green Apple with Val Cox River Dance frit.

Core of Moretti 026 Transparent Blue Green with Moretti 219 Pastel Copper Green, Val Cox River Dance frit, and silvered ivory stringer.

Core of Moretti 034 Transparent Light Aquamarine with Moretti 266 Opal Yellow and Val Cox River Dance frit.

Base of Moretti 204 Pastel White with Val Cox River Dance frit.

Val Cox River Dance frit swirled in (and speckled on top of) Moretti 004 Transparent Clear

Originally published at Two Glassy Ladies. You can comment here or there.

It’s just amazing to me how fast these little guys pile up.

Orphan Lot on Etsy

273 beads (if my count can be trusted), including tons of lentils, crystals, rounds, and spacers. A few discs and big hole beads too. These beads are all perfectly sound structurally, they are properly annealed, and the holes are carefully cleaned with a dremel – just like all of my beads. These guys are either extras, or colour experiments, or have slight imperfections in shape or colour that resulted in them not making it into a set. There is so much potential here for creating fantastic jewelry! These orphans are just waiting for a happy home.

Originally published at Two Glassy Ladies. You can comment here or there.

This week I have been playing with Val Cox Hyacinth Violet frit. An absolutely luscious bluish purple, super saturated, just gorgeous. These beads are available in the Two Glassy Ladies store as made to order designs, and most of them will also be appearing in my Etsy shop in the near future.

All orders from the Two Glassy Ladies store between now and April 8th will include a free gift! (A set of matching spacers, or a fun focal, or? It will be a surprise!)

This frit is sold by Val Cox. “This very rich violet leans slightly toward blue-violet. This one is concentrated so start out using just a little and add as you like. Too much and it will become too dark. Nice with silver but often where purple (and violet) toned frits are in contact with silver, they can turn (or rim) green. Pretty effect, but it may not be what you have in mind so test first.”

Base of Moretti 034 Transparent Light Aquamarine with Val Cox Hyacinth Violet frit, encased in Lauscha clear.

Base of Moretti 082 Transparent Pale Lavender with Val Cox Hyacinth Violet frit, encased in Lauscha clear.

Base of Moretti 038 Transparent Very Pale Aquamarine with Val Cox Hyacinth Violet frit.

Base of Moretti Transparent Pale Purple with Val Cox Hyacinth Violet frit.

Base of Moretti Pastel Light Turquoise with Val Cox Hyacinth Violet frit.

Base of Moretti 204 Pastel White with Val Cox Hyacinth Violet frit.

Base of Moretti 046 Transparent Pale Purple with Val Cox Hyacinth Violet frit and silver foil, encased in Lauscha clear.

Originally published at Two Glassy Ladies. You can comment here or there.

I did a guest blog spot this week at WhenShuttersClick.com. My topics were tips for using lampwork beads in jewelry, and tips for buying lampwork online.

In addition, I am going to offer a special deal to promote my online store between now and April 8th – if you buy something from my new store here at Two Glassy Ladies, I will include a free gift with your order! What you get will depend on what you buy… it might be matching spacer beads, or a fun focal, or who knows what else. It will be a surprise.

Originally published at Two Glassy Ladies. You can comment here or there.

The Two Glassy Ladies Store is now up and running, offering made to order bead sets based on designs I have created in the past.

You might see some of the same stuff that is on Etsy, and some different items as well. One of the benefits is that you will be able to directly order multiples of my sets, and in time I will hopefully have a much wider selection than what I am able to offer on Etsy.

I will still be selling my ready to ship sets in the Etsy store. I am just making an effort to branch out a bit and possibly reach different audiences.

So… that is all for now! Click here to go straight to the store.