Book Review

Below is the review I wrote of Sherri Haab's new book for Amazon.com
Sherri Haab's new book Beaded Macrame Jewelry interested me from the start since I used to make a lot of jewelry using macrame. In fact that is how I got started making ceramic beads. I couldn't find commercial beads large enough to fit the hemp cord I was using then. Well now things have changed a lot. There are many wonderful handmade beads on the market that have large holes and wonderful new cords and material to use with them. This book is focused on using many of the new large holed handmade beads. Although lampwork beads are usually featured, the new ceramic beads you can find on Etsy and Just Beads on the Internet would work equally as well. And you know I am biased on the subject of ceramic beads. The book shows you the basic Macrame knots in clear large illustrations and then goes on to introduce you to a number of attractive projects. I have been having a lot of fun with the Japanese Cord Bracelet. I was attracted to this project because I had some of this wonderful Japanese Noro cording on hand in several different colors. By the way this stuff is gorgeous. Here is an example of my interpretation of the Japanese Cord Bracelet.

And now I am using this same technique to make a necklace.

There is another reason I love this book and that is the very simple sliding closure that makes it possible to adjust the size of any bracelet or necklace. She gives you two versions of this very handy adjustable ending.
There are many attractive projects in the book ranging from leather cord bracelets, macrame rings and earrings, to complex necklaces and even a purse using yarn and ribbon.
This book is available from Amazon.com and other books stores.

Hot from the kiln today

Here is a photo of some of the pieces I took out of the kiln this morning. I am putting them on my website under a newly created category, New Work. These pieces will be there for a month. They are one of a kind and are ready for immediate purchase.

Peeking Into My Ceramic Bead Class Kiln

Here is a preview of the beautiful beads created and glazed by my Ceramic Bead Glazing Class that I taught at the Handweaving Museum in Clayton, NY on July 16. This class gave students the opportunity to bring previously bisqued beads they had made or to have a selection of bisque beads that I had handmade to glaze. No wet clay in this class. Just glazes and stains. There are more beads under this shelf that I haven't even seen yet. I will be posting more photos soon. Trying hard to keep the beads in place so that I can read my map and get every one's beads in the right box to return to them.

Working on some Beads Today

These are some square beads that have been fired two times already. They just came out of the kiln with the cobalt blue stain fired on. Now I am going to glaze them with a clear gloss glaze and fire them again.

These are some pendants and two hole beads that have not been fired at all yet. They are dry enough now for me to trim and smooth. Then they will be fired for the first bisque fire which for me is cone 06. About 1850 degrees.

These are some two hole beads and pendants that are in various stages of being ready to fire for a third time. The two hole beads need some clear gloss glaze, the pine cone pendant has not yet been hand painted and the leaf tree pendant has been hand painted and is ready for the final gloss glaze.
This is how the kiln load I am firing right now looks. I am trying to get the kiln full without having a disaster. The beads are on high temp wire which can only hold a light load. The wires are held in place by the posts that are on top of them and making the next layer for more beads on high temp wire. This is my small AIM 88 Kiln which only measures about 8x8 inches by 9 inches high on the inside. This is not a particularly good example of how to stack an AIM 88. Yolanda at Yolanda's clay has some great photos on Flickr! on how to really fill an AIM 88. I am firing this kiln load at a low fire 06 cone. My kiln has a digital control which is a joy to use. I just push the button and on it goes. It takes about 4 hours to fire to cone 06.

Colorful Beads Pendants and Buttons By BOC Artists

I recently checked out the Beads of Clay photos on Flickr! and was excited to see so much color. It always amazes me that ceramic bead artists can create such tiny colorful wonders with clay. I want to devote this post to some of these amazing, brightly colored beads, buttons and pendants. You can click on any of the pictures to find out more about the artist and see their Flickr! portfolio.

Red and White
Originally uploaded by marlasmud

This is a great and colorful pendant by Marlasmud. Really exciting colors.

Originally uploaded by annieo2006

Gorgeous flower bead
by annieo2006

Flaming Heart Bead
Originally uploaded by Earthenwood Beads

These colors are truly flaming hot. A wonderfully playful bead by Melanie at Earthewood.

New Watercolors Series
Originally uploaded by offcentergallery

Gorgeous pinks by Joan Tucker at offcenterproductions.com

spotted fish
Originally uploaded by rusmar31

Wild and full of fantasy, this fish button by rusmar31

Three corset-like jackets
Originally uploaded by embroideredsoul

These jackets are so different, colorful and fun.
They are by embroideredsoul

Salsa bead bracelet
Originally uploaded by LadyBrook

Brightly painted salsa beads by LadyBrook

Tuan with Twisty Bead Drops
Originally uploaded by nataliegillihan

Colors and unique shapes from Natalie Gillihan

Ladybug Leaf Pendant
Originally uploaded by Shaterra Clay

Beautiful color combinations so skillfully achieved from
shaterra clay

Heart Button RAKU Love
Originally uploaded by Lisa Peters Art

Great red and silver combo by Lisa Peters Art.

long bead
Originally uploaded by MillerPorcelain

Incredible color and skill from Joan Miller of MillerPorcelain

JoelleBday
Originally uploaded by gaeac

Gaea's beautiful Day of the Dead necklace from gaeac

paz
Originally uploaded by Dilán

Exciting colors from Dilan

Tile Pendant
Originally uploaded by la_v_i_k_a

Great yellows in a cool format by vika

New Tie Dye Buttons
Originally uploaded by claybuttons

These incredible Tie Dye buttons are from Claybuttons. Hard to imagine how she did this. Cool.














A cameo in an incredible color by Yolanda Miramontes

Cameo Pendant
Originally uploaded by yoli miramontes

Multi colored vessel shaped pendant
Originally uploaded by maryharding

I guess I didn't want to leave myself out. A multicolored pendant with several stringing holes for added decoration by MaryHarding of MaryHardingJewelry.


These great colors are achieved by skillful use of glazes. My all time favorite for lowfire earthenware clay is Mayco Stroke and Coat. These glazes come in a wide selection of colors and are very reliable. If you want really bright colors you need to put on three coats. I often don't use such bright colors and with one or two coats you get more of a watercolor effect with Stroke and Coat. I have recently seen that Duncan has come out with some very bright Neon Colors. I expect to have the purple and light green in the kiln by tonight. Duncan also makes a line of colors like Stroke and Coat but I haven't tried them.
For high fire clays like porcelain and stoneware Spectrum and Georgie's make good glazes. But that is not an area that I know much about. A good subject for another blog post.