Last year at the Gathering in Oakland I bought some Double Helix odd lots. I did the same this year actually, but that’s not the point. The thing is that when I got home from the Gathering this year and I went to put my glass in my studio, there was not quite enough room. I have this wonderfully huge table and it’s covered with glass. So, I figured it’s time for me to use up some of the glass that’s been sitting there since last year.

It’s kinda difficult because I keep hoping that I will get good enough to produce lovely beads like the ones on the forums – perfectly shaped and encased. But as you can see here, my shaping skills need improvement. This bead isn’t encased, but that skill could use a little work too. I know I need to practice, but I didn’t want to practice on the expensive glass.

But then I made a bead out of the Luna2-dark that I got last year – a long bead like the one pictured here. And, my mother actually liked it! This was the first silver glass bead I had made (except the bead I made in Trey Cornette’s class) that my mother liked. I was impressed and pleased and felt that Julie Ferguson’s class had really paid off. So, I made a few more. And guess what – they weren’t quite as pretty. Still nice, but you need really bright daylight to see them.

Oh well. I’m turning the rest of my Luna-2 Dark into beads. I’m practicing shaping with it, and I’m having a blast! The glass has got to go. I have some NE-323 and Ekho that I’m now saving for when I get good enough to use it. I suppose I might have a similar de-stash next year, but for now I’m using up the L2D. I have three rods of it left, and it will be gone by next weekend. To see all the beads I’ve made with it (and other beads as well) check out my flickr photostream.