Dotty

You know how last post I said that when I go down to the shed I just see what happens beadwise? Well, yesterday's beads are a good illustration of that. I had no idea what colours I was going to work with so I just selected one of my favourite colour combinations – purple and orange – and I pulled a few stringers and just sat and made.

I ended up arranging and stacking dots which is one of my favourite lampworking things. Whenever I start one of these beads I never know how it's going to end up. I make it up as I go along and there is something very zen about watching the dots move as they fight for space on the surface of the bead. Circles push themselves into rounded rectangles, triangles and petal shapes, and dding more dots distorts them further still.

Before you know it, half an hour has slipped by and a very groovy looking bead has been born.

I also made a couple of beads that have raised bumps.

These are asymmetric and the first one I almost abandoned because I thought it was too asymmetric. I couldn't think how anyone would like it or want to use or wear it, but something stopped me from plunging it into the water jug and I made another unbalanced one and resolved to see what they would look like together.

I'm calling them the 'Odd Couple' because they work as a mismatched pair. On their own each one looks like a weird little alien spacecraft but together they look quite happy and harmonious.

The beads all have 4mm holes and they'll be available in my next shop update. I don't quite know when that will be but keep an eye on my Instagram or sign up to my mailing list and I'll let you know.

I was going to make more beads today but I decided to have a crochet day instead.

I'm two thirds of the way with the squares now. The best bit about making a blanket is when it reaches a considerable size and it starts acting all blankety while you're working on it. Cosy knees!