I Guess Nikki was Just Bored...

because,

my good friend, Nikki, of

NLC Beads on Etsy

opened another store called

Saving Throw Dice.

I just ordered some items from her new store.  

Let me show you what I ordered.

These are for ME!!

MINE MINE ALL MINE!!!

These are a gift!!!

I do like the purple ones better!!!!

These are fun and the prices are right!!!

Now let's take a quick look at 

NLC Beads

Oh, and Nikki is still busy making beads!

Never fear!

Whether you're Irish or not, 

You've gotta' like this shamrock sheep.

Click HERE to see the other side of Nikki!!!

It's a Screaming Alien!!!

Click HERE to see it!!!

Then there are the organics!

WOW!

Click HERE to see them.

So much to see and do in 

Nikki's stores.

Now, just go on over and have some fun!!!!

Wanna' see some new beads I made?

Here they are.

Fun, aren't they?

 Here's another one!
This one is going to
Beads of Courage.

 Here are a couple more whispy beads.

You can't see it very well, but this is a whispy bead, too.  It's blue on blue.

How did I learn to make these beads?

These beads are made courtesy of a tutorial in Nikki's monthly
newsletter.
Here's the link.
You will enjoy it.
And while you're there,
sign up.
It's fun to get, and you get to hear first about Nikki's sales!
Enjoy!

I don't know if you saw this post on Facebook or not, but

Nikki Carollo taught us how to make her lizard beads.

Here's the post:

Nikki tells how she makes her beads!

Here's how we do end of day beads in the studio:
1. Put a white short on the end of a (undipped)mandrel.
2. Wrap matching transparent colors around it - 2 are green, 2 are blue, 2 are mixed.
3. Don't forget to find some sparkles to add in,

we love sparkles.
4. Add some random white stringer or clear on top to make sure it's enough glass for a base bead - lizards are needy.
5. Melt it together, wind the hot mess directly onto a mandrel (with bead release this time!) and shape it as needed.
6. Add lizard, or frog, or leave it be as a fun focal bead.
7. Fini.

So, I decided to see if I could make lizard beads like Nikki.

Here's the result!

 Okay, so it's not as good as Nikki's is, but it was fun to make,

and

it's now in my BOC bowl.

Thanks, Nikki!!!!

Be sure to visit her Etsy store for more eye candy!!!!

And if you decide to try Nikki's directions,

let's see what you do!!

Nikki Carollo - The Sheep Goddess

I absolutely love Nikki's work! I'd love to walk through her brain as she processes the ideas that become her wonderful beads. Now, you'll notice how small this photo is.---------------------------------------------------->
I'm sorry, but when I tried to hijack bead photos from Ebay, it wouldn't let me. Dang it! However, this sheep is just an example of why Nikki was nicknamed The Sheep Goddess on Ebay. Nikki will tel more of her story in just a minute. (I hate to admit this, but I borrowed the interview from her website.)

Here's part of the interview that I, uh hum, stole, I mean, borrowed.
Nikki makes so many wonderful beads, and I'll show them to you during this, uh hum, interview.
Look at her lizard bead! Wow! ---------------------------------------------->

Who are you, again? Why am I here?

My name is Nikki Carollo, and my favorite obsession is melting glass...

When it all began...

I started making beads in a roundabout way. My father wanted to learn stained glass, so he took a class, then taught me. We both worked on stained glass for about a year, and during trips to the local glass shop, I noticed the glass rods. They were mesmerizing, the colors, and the entire concept of glass work being instantly gratifying - well, I had to try it! I did, in January 2003, and I haven't looked back to my stained glass since...

So tell us about the beads and technique.

I am a lampwork bead artist, which means I make beads individually in the flame by shaping molten glass. I use mainly 104 COE glass and my trusty Hot Head torch hooked up to bulk propane - at least I used my Hot Head until May of 2009. I then switched to an M-15 oxycon and a Minor torch. I feel I have a range of bead styles, from sculptural silliness in sheep, aliens, frogs, and lizards, to sculptural elegance in dragonflies and goddesses. I'm also proud to have accomplished encased florals, which I wanted to do since I saw one.

I love her aliens! -------------------------------------------------->

And the sheep?

I was doing a demo at Artful Hands Studio, one of my homes away from home. At that time I was mainly making cat faces, fish, and plainer focal beads. Someone came up and asked if I could do a sheep. The first one was done as a sheep face - it involved dots and dots and dots, and about halfway through I swore I wouldn't do another. Until I saw how cute it turned out... I think I left with three sheep that night, and I've lost count how many since. An eBay group christened me as The Sheep Goddess - it's a title I proudly use.


Okay, so it's a cat and not a sheep. I still love it----------------------------->









One of the things I most admire about Nikki is her involvement in Beads of Courage.












I am so thrilled to say that I own one of Nikki's gorgeous butterflies! I cherish it, too.

Please read more about Nikki's work for Beads of Courage here. Her dedication to this organization is amazing! Nikki, you are an inspiration! Thank you!