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October 13, 2005
Crash and Burn...
Catch that Trick or Treater this season...Scare the kids who ring the doorbell...I dare ya...
I had such high hopes for a new frit I was playing with last night...when the beads went into the kiln, they looked great..but coming out this morning all the color had disappeared and the beads were 'blank'...! That's part of learning how to manipulate a new frit, trial and error...but its always a bummer when the first trial doesn't pan out properly...
So, I'm still working on the Mosaics, only one strand left to make, then I'll be emailing everyone who had asked for one...If anyone drops out, I'll be glad to offer them on the site, never fear...
Just got an email that Monarch butterflies are migrating thru the city in the coming days...I need to keep an eye out..we still have new butterflies hatching each day just outside my studio window, I see them fluttering, drying out their wings, getting used to the outside world...Lady likes to jump at them, and Clementine is fascinated watching them with her big eyes...So far, no casualties from animals, but some do die on the vine while cooking...I dunno what happens, but the cocoon starts to turn funny colors and then its done...I pluck those guys off...I have some fat juicy caterpillars waiting to turn, should be in the next few days...
We've put up our outdoor Halloween decorations, we have a lighted pumpkin patch, a lighted arch, two flaming cauldrons, a large smoking, bubbling cauldron and various sconces and bats lit around the yard...its quite fun...I would take a pic, but the ones I took last year never turned out...i need to adjust my camera for night shots and, well, that might never get figured out...we'll see...
Are the trees changing in your part of the world?
Posted by Donner at October 13, 2005 11:49 AM
Comments
Care to share the interesting things you learned about Raku last night? Would love to hear it.
Posted by: Elizabeth at October 13, 2005 12:50 PM
when it comes to Raku, I always share my info much to the delight (or chagrin) of my fellow beadmakers...its a tricky glass to get a handle on, but once you follow these steps, it becomes easier:
1. you can use any Raku from any source- frit, rod, chunk, etc..I've not seen any end results that differ from source..(ooo...technical jargon)...2. the glass needs to get 'screaming hot', so using a HotHead torch often will not give the results you expect...(not a slam, just my own experience speaking here)...3. Once you've applied the Raku, melt it in, then take the bead down to the cones, and super heat the glass, as if you're going to burn it...you'll see the Raku go from opaque to transparent...take it out of the flame, get the bead on-center and then press with a tool to super chill it quickly...4. The faster you press, the deeper the color will be...dark blue and deep purple happen when the bead is pressed while extremely hot...aqua's come in a cooler temp...maroons and pinks tend to appear on black glass more, but that's also just my observation...Raku has a lot of silver in it, so the silver is reacting with the metals of the other glass..Black is high in magnesium- and the two create neato colors...As for what I learned, well, lets just say it has to do with everything I just mentioned here...so now you know...go play and report back your findings...!
Posted by: Donner ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.blackberrybeads.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 13, 2005 01:53 PM
The Monarchs have been in SW Mo for a few weeks and moving through. I always know it is fall when I see the Monarchs and see the sumac turn red. Our trees are not pretty so far this year. It has been too dry! Enjoy the butterflies!
Posted by: Dana at October 13, 2005 03:04 PM