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

On our recent vacation in Maine, I visited Freeport for the first time. I had wanted to see the Beadin' Path and L. L. Bean. We went on the rainiest day possible which turned out to be the busiest day as well. That gigantic parking lot at L. L. Bean, which was empty when we arrived very early in the morning, was completely full by 10:30 AM. I had no idea what a nice and cute place Freeport would be. And best of all, I was able to visit the new and expanded Beadin' Path, and what a treat that was. The photo above is of some of the wonderful beads I took home from there. I am working with some of them this morning, which prompted me to get this post written. I had been planning on it for some time.

Those lovely greens and dark burgundy/orange reds are their sea glass, and the teal leaves are lucite. They come in every color imaginable.

In fact the store is wonderfully organized by color for each different category of beads. And well stocked, indeed!! I have more pics that I am saving for my newsletter which should be coming out soon. Meanwhile, I am enjoying a rainy day at home beading.