Frit Beads

A much better day at the torch, although I didn't update yesterday as promised. Yesterday I straightened up the house, and then collected my neighbor's dogs for a week-long stay, much to the disgust of my Quality Control Inspectors. They see a dreary week of living under my bed during the days; I know that they'll be used to the dogs within three days. Plus Milo, the puppy, and Diamond, the two year old, are both crate-trained and sleep at night in their boxes (much to THEIR disgust, as they are used to sleeping in their owner's room). Then I had a lovely dinner with a friend whom I haven't seen for a long while. We had chickpea tomato soup, and talked, and garlic bread (we both share the idea that if there aren't at least four cloves of garlic per meal that there's something wrong!), and salad, and blueberries and cream for dessert.

Anyway, I did some plain frit beads, and had a more productive day. First I started testing a frit blend developed by my sister, who sells frit and beads on ETSY as Iron Mountain Jewelry and That Frit Girl. It's a lovely bluegreen. Maybe Mountainside as a name? I don't know. Anyway, in the picture from left to right there's the frit on Moretti white, on Moretti light ivory, on clear, on white with silver, on white and swirled, and on white, encased. The encased bead cracked, but I don't know if it was the frit or if it was the wrong COE clear. I want to do one of my Kalera Long and Lean series ... which I need a name for. Some shards of cobalt would look great with this frit as a base.

Then I did some plain sprees in a frit called "Aphrodisiac," on sky blue for a base, with tiny flat-leaved flowers.
Those went fast and were fun to do. I swirled the frit because I was afraid the frit blotches would compete with the plain flowers. On balance I think I'd leave them be next time. It made a nice, straightforward set that went pretty quickly. I actually made eight beads, but one chipped when I was cleaning it, and one I hadn't firepolished well enough.

Finally I tried Copper Green and Purple frit, which came out beautifully. I thought something was missing, though -- a texture or interest point -- so I added a layer of fine silver foil, and that got the look I was hoping for.

This morning I have to grade papers in earnest--in an eight-week semester the chore never ends, not if you want to be responsible and give regular feedback so students can grow. Maybe I can torch this evening.

Meanwhile, the canines are barking at my neighbors, and it is time to bring them in!

Back from the show!

Dogmaw and I had a good time in Charleston at the Down the Street Bead Show. We enjoyed talking to everyone, and her husband Chris's bead "critters" were best sellers. Kudos to all who came out despite the weather! And we ate ... oh, my. Friends told us to go to the Boulevard Diner, and they weren't wrong. Spinach-potato pancakes with crab remoulade sauce, grouper sandwich, and shrimp etouffee ... oh, man.

Meanwhile, my sister sent me some pictures. The other day my BiL saw a deer lying on the side of the road, and he stopped to make sure it was dead and not lying there suffering. The doe was dead, but there was a bitty fawn shivering near momma. M brought him home; they are feeding him goat's milk with the right additive for deer growth. At first they thought it was a doe, too, and they were hoping to release him to the deer family on their property, but the baby's a buck. Looks as if one of the doctors, who is caring for "Jet" while M and L are away, will take him over; the guy as a large amount of acreage, runs cattle, and doesn't allow hunters. If Jet can't readapt to the wild, he can live on Doc X's fenced property. Deer fencing can work the other way ... we hope.


Once Jet discovered what a bottle was for ....



Oops! walking on the slick Pergo isn't for babies.



Umm ... no, Draco, this isn't a snack.



He's so BITTY when he curls up! Look at Jet's size relative to Nosemonster and Sasquatch:



And here: the picture perfect publicity shot: