FHFteam 2010
Showing posts with label fhfteam 2010. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fhfteam 2010. Show all posts
Sunday, 5 September 2010
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
A Buyers Guide to Quality Lampwork
As members of Frit Happens, we are all lampwork enthusiasts who appreciate quality handmade glass items and want to spread the word. Artisan lampwork items are unique and personal, created by an individual who has spent time and effort bringing work to the market that is not mass-produced.
We have put together a short guide to help buyers understand what they should be looking for in good lampwork.
This is not meant to be an exhaustive source of information but a collection of informative pointers illustrated with some lovely examples from our team. We hope buyers find it helpful.
General structure, look and integrity – beads should be well-balanced to hang properly,with no sharp edges and no cracks. The bead should look properly shaped – for example, round beads should look well-rounded.
Donuts/tyres should be nicely shaped with puckered, not sharp, holes.
Bicones/diamonds/ovals should be reasonably symmetrical, again without sharp holes.
Bead ends/holes - should be smooth and clean. Hole edges should feel smooth and flat or slightly indented/puckered. Edges should not be sharp, cracked, rough or pointed. Sharp holes can cause thread/wire to fray, damage or break.
The inner hole should be clean. Bead release (a clay-like substance that dries to a hard powder and stops beads sticking to mandrels) should be cleaned out. Many mass-produced beads have a thick layer of bead release still left in the hole. Good quality handmade beads should not. The inner bead hole may still be slightly rough where it has been in contact with the bead release, leaving the hole visible in transparent glass – this is normal.
Surface marks – chill marks are concentric circles or ripples on the surface of the glass caused during pressing or shaping with tools. These don't affect the strength of the bead but a good flameworker will generally smooth them out, unless there are good aesthetic reasons not to.
These are not to be confused with spiral lines which are added as part of the design.
Some glass can burn or cause 'pitting' on the surface of the bead. This should not be evident - the bead surface should be smooth and unpitted, unless clearly part of the design of the bead
Surface decoration – stringer, fine silver wire, dots, where used should be properly attached and not in danger of breaking or popping off easily.
Bubbles – some are unavoidable and part of the handmade nature of the product. Bubbles are also used as a decorative accent for many pieces. However, if bubbles are very large or very close to the surface, they can cause stress and should be avoided.
Encasing – generally, encasing should be tidy at the ends, without excessive smudging of the design being encased (unless this is part of the intended design of the piece).
Annealing – beads should be kiln-annealed to eliminate internal stresses that may be introduced during making and to ensure longevity of the product.
We have put together a short guide to help buyers understand what they should be looking for in good lampwork.
This is not meant to be an exhaustive source of information but a collection of informative pointers illustrated with some lovely examples from our team. We hope buyers find it helpful.
General structure, look and integrity – beads should be well-balanced to hang properly,with no sharp edges and no cracks. The bead should look properly shaped – for example, round beads should look well-rounded.
Pandora by Sarah Bedwell
Donuts/tyres should be nicely shaped with puckered, not sharp, holes.
Gin Fizz by Trudi Doherty
Bicones/diamonds/ovals should be reasonably symmetrical, again without sharp holes.
Cadeau by Diane Cook
Bead ends/holes - should be smooth and clean. Hole edges should feel smooth and flat or slightly indented/puckered. Edges should not be sharp, cracked, rough or pointed. Sharp holes can cause thread/wire to fray, damage or break.
Luck,Happiness by Sabine Little
The inner hole should be clean. Bead release (a clay-like substance that dries to a hard powder and stops beads sticking to mandrels) should be cleaned out. Many mass-produced beads have a thick layer of bead release still left in the hole. Good quality handmade beads should not. The inner bead hole may still be slightly rough where it has been in contact with the bead release, leaving the hole visible in transparent glass – this is normal.
Silver Waters by Sarah Downton
Surface marks – chill marks are concentric circles or ripples on the surface of the glass caused during pressing or shaping with tools. These don't affect the strength of the bead but a good flameworker will generally smooth them out, unless there are good aesthetic reasons not to.
Hot Rocks by Kate Sullivan
These are not to be confused with spiral lines which are added as part of the design.
Powder Beads by Jolene Wolfe
Some glass can burn or cause 'pitting' on the surface of the bead. This should not be evident - the bead surface should be smooth and unpitted, unless clearly part of the design of the bead
Surface decoration – stringer, fine silver wire, dots, where used should be properly attached and not in danger of breaking or popping off easily.
Fields of Bubble Flowers by Becky Fairclough
Sunbaked Beads by Julie Fountain
Bumpy Bead for George by Karen Baildon
Short Horned Dragon by Emma Mackintosh
Bubbles – some are unavoidable and part of the handmade nature of the product. Bubbles are also used as a decorative accent for many pieces. However, if bubbles are very large or very close to the surface, they can cause stress and should be avoided.
Victoriana by Manda Muddimer
Pleated and Bubble Bead by Diane Turton
Encasing – generally, encasing should be tidy at the ends, without excessive smudging of the design being encased (unless this is part of the intended design of the piece).
Floral Focals by Kathryn Greer
Mermaids Garden by Julie Haveland Beer
Annealing – beads should be kiln-annealed to eliminate internal stresses that may be introduced during making and to ensure longevity of the product.
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Most Wanted! Best of the Best of the FHFteam
Most Wanted! Best of the Best of the FHFteam A stunning treasury showing the "most hearted" items in the shops of the FHFteam members on Etsy - a collective of very talented lampwork bead makers and other glass artists from the UK and Europe, curated by helbels
Monday, 30 August 2010
Fall for Glass
Fall for Glass glowing and golden autumnal tones, a showcase of beautiful glass from FHFteam, curated by kitzbitz
FHFteam 2010
FHFteam 2010
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
Little boy blue by helbels
Little Boy Blue A treasury featuring some wonderful silver rich-beads by the FHFteam - all in shades of blue and green, curated by helbels
Monday, 23 August 2010
Pick of the week - Maple syrup
Copper Cored Big Hole Lampwork Bead by dilunah
Maple sunshine by flyingbead
Sublime delights by sublimebeads
Hot lava fused pendant by helenbluefairy
Moorland Haze by SarahDownton
Maple sunshine by flyingbead
Sublime delights by sublimebeads
Hot lava fused pendant by helenbluefairy
Moorland Haze by SarahDownton
A selection of golden sweet tones, the ambrosia of summer sunshine captured in glass. FHFteam 2010
Enjoy, Jolene.Thursday, 19 August 2010
Stringer control by Helbels
Stringer control awsome heat control and skill, a showcase of FHFteam and international talent by helbels
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Rachel Elliot is front page news
I am so thrilled to be able to tell you all that our very own Rachel Elliot is front page news on Etsy right now with one of her cute bottled nature scenes. Jar O'Hare is bottom row far right in this delighful front page spread of hares and bunnies. You can find out more about Rachel on her Facebook Fan Page, personal website and of course on Etsy Too.
You can find all FHFteam members shops from our FHFteam Etsy Hub Page
Jolene
Here is a closer look at Jar O'Hare - bottled nature scene
You can find all FHFteam members shops from our FHFteam Etsy Hub Page
Jolene
Monday, 19 July 2010
Pick of the week - Summer Pudding
Pure silk ribbons and strings - Raspberry by SowZerE
Red Mist Micro Galaxy by steampunkglass
Heart of a Showgirl by Shineon2
BHB pink with floating bubbles by dawnsbeadboutique
Tikli, set of 5 Borosilicate lampwork bead by flyingbead
Red Mist Micro Galaxy by steampunkglass
Heart of a Showgirl by Shineon2
BHB pink with floating bubbles by dawnsbeadboutique
Tikli, set of 5 Borosilicate lampwork bead by flyingbead
Luscious berry tones for summer from FHFteam 2010
Enjoy, Jolene.Sunday, 18 July 2010
Happy Birthday FHFteam
Frit Happens! Forum Etsy Street team has just had its first birthday. Thank you everyone for all of the hard work you have put in over the last year to promote the team, Etsy in the UK and quality handmade jewellery and lampwork.
To mark our achievement and celebrate I have put together this beautiful and inspiring Treasury East to showcase some of our brilliant creations.
You can find all FHFteam members shops from our FHFteam Etsy Hub Page and all member listings with the search tag FHFteam 2010 Enjoy, Jolene.
Happy browsing, Jolene
To mark our achievement and celebrate I have put together this beautiful and inspiring Treasury East to showcase some of our brilliant creations.
You can find all FHFteam members shops from our FHFteam Etsy Hub Page and all member listings with the search tag FHFteam 2010 Enjoy, Jolene.
Happy browsing, Jolene
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