Some of my Beads Amaze Me!

When I work on the torch making a bead, I often have a specific idea in mind of what I would like to accomplish. Sometimes it's the use of specific colors for reactions. Most often, it's a technique I would like to practice. The beads that I have showcased here were beads that amazed me when they came out of the kiln. The final product was not what I had intended and had not been planned. I didn't see the result on one bead until I attempted to photograph it and held it in the light.

When I looked at this bead, I immediately saw a Christmas or pine tree. I had used a special glass called filigrana to see if I could achieve a different effect. The result was not what I expected. Can you see the tree?

I've shown this bead before. I used a combination of shards (thin pieces of hand blown glass that are broken into pieces) and fine silver wire. I melted in the shards to the molten glass that was already on the mandrel, then I added the wire which melted into droplets of silver. I pressed the bead, and put the bead in the kiln. I knew that both sides of the beads would be different after soaking. I didn't know how different they would be. What do you see on the second bead? I see a lady in the stars with the lights of sunset behind her.

This bead is the bead that amazed me only after I tried to photograph it with the light behind it. What do you see? I see a side portrait of a man in the transparent blue.

The last bead is one I have named Tornado. I added different glass colors to this bead, including silvered ivory stringer (SIS). I just wanted to rake the layers to mix the colors. When this bead came out of the kiln, I saw it! Tornado!

Let me know. Do you see what I see or do you see other things? I'd really like to hear your ideas!