Where I'm at with the beads right now

I've been making a lot of jewellery recently. I've had several "Where are the loose beads, Laura?" messages and emails and I thought I'd explain why there is a lack of them.

Right now, my beadmaking time is limited. I make beads in the mornings and then I study in the afternoons so in effect my bead production time has been halved. However, my financial needs haven't; those archaeology books cost money. Also, the cat needs food.

I know that if I make some beads and turn them into something wearable, I am more likely to sell the jewellery than I am the loose beads. It also means that I can make my beads 'go further'. For example: one set of seven daisy beads can become seven Little Something necklaces. Additionally—and this may sound crass or harsh—as jewellery, I am able to get the 'correct' price for my glasswork. Some people would argue with me, but my loose beads are very much underpriced; as jewellery I am able to ask for, and sell them for, what they are actually worth.

So for now, expect more finished jewellery than loose beads. There will be loose beads but just not as many as usual.

In a similar time-related vein, I also get several "Can you do a video or a tutorial for...?" requests a week. It's really lovely to know that people find my videos and tutorials helpful but right now I just do not have the time to create them. So there will be no videos, tutorials or magazine articles for the foreseeable.

I'm aware that this sounds like a misery-moan post, but it's not intended to be. It's just me explaining why I'm doing and not doing the bead things that I'm doing and not doing.

Now, I must away to the shed...

(PS: Some of the jewellery featured in this post is currently available on my website.)

Another question for you

Above is a shot of some Luminobeads taken before I packed them up and sent them off to their new homes.

Big thanks to all of you who have been so wonderfully encouraging about my book idea and thank you very much for all the suggestions you've made about what you'd like to see in the book.

A couple of you have mentioned videos in your comments and emails and you'd like some more bead movies.  That's great and I'm happy to oblige but I'm stuck for ideas so once more I turn to you, lovely readers, and ask you - what you would like to see me demonstrate in my next lampworking video?  Answers on a postcard, please ..... or in the comments section.

Have a good afternoon,

New Video : How to strike CiM 'Sangre'

I've just uploaded a new video to my YouTube Channel.

After my CiM Sangre post I had lots of emails from people asking about how you actually strike this glass. It's one of those things that is easier to show you rather than to put into words so I've made a video.

Apologies for the aeroplane noise near the end of the movie. We live quite near an airfield so it's a pretty regular occurrence. You can still hear me, though.

I hope you find the video helpful.

I'm on the YouTube!

Following the great response to the Basic Thick Encasing tutorial I thought I'd do one on regular encasing. Chris was down here for the weekend and I asked him to do my step-by-step photos for the written tutorial and then we had the brainwave of making a little bead movie.

So, after Chris got all Spielberg he edited the footage for me and we're now pleased to present my first how-to video. It's of me showing you how I make a basic encased bead. Please excuse my burnt workbench, Hampshire accent and occasional slightly stern instructions ..... "DON'T touch the mandrel!" Anyway, I hope you like the video and that it is of some use to you. I'd like to say a big thank you to Chris for helping me with all the technical video stuff. If you like the movie do let me know and we may well make some more . Please click here for my YouTube channel.

I will do the written version of this later so do check back for that tonight.