Saturday, November 17, 2012

Saturday Share - Fun with Lampwork Disks

A  week or so ago, friend, colleague, and fellow AJE contributor, Sue Kennedy posted a few pairs of lampwork disks on her blog.  These weren't your basic disks, these had frit around the edges...they reminded me of candy sprinkles!  After clicking on her Etsy site and not finding them there, I left her a comment saying "Where are they? I want!".  Sue emailed me and sent me photos of what I could choose from.  Uh, oh!  I want them all!

Here is the photo I took after I received them...


As I am in production mode for a couple of upcoming Holiday shows in the next 2 weeks, I  totally justified getting them to create earrings for my inventory. At least, I figured I would be making earrings from all of them, after all, they are pairs, but once I starting working with them a few other ideas filled my head.

I thought it would be fun to blog about the designs I came up with, and after getting checking in with Sue, here we go!

 This is a group shot of all my works in progress...nothing is finished yet, but wanted to show you some of the possibilities of these gorgeous beads.

This quirky pair has mixed metals and will eventually have dangles on the bottom as well.  I plan to hammer the silver and add patina.

These have been connected to texturized copper disks and embellished with Czech glass leaves.  You can barely tell where the lampork ends and the copper begins!


Embossed copper squares hung on the diagonal - pardon the firescale!



More texturized copper...these have sterling disks and headpins.



More sterling...these reminded me of sea glass, so I decided they needed pearls as well!


Not quite so far along on these, but I know the green Czech glass leaves will be dangled underneath!

This is another unfinished project...with the addition of a few disks I had hoarded from Karen Leonardo, I decided these are going to be a charm bracelet...haven't decided if it will be one with just disks, or 2 with some Czech glass added.

I hope these have given you a few ideas about how to use these yummy colorful wheels.  This was just a drop in the bucket!  I think singles would make great button-style clasps. 

What about you?  Do you have any innovative or unique ways to use these gorgeous beads?  We would love to hear about them!

Melissa Meman
Melismatic Art Jewelry
Art. Life. Love

13 comments :

  1. Holy COW!! These are stunning! I love, love, LOVE what you did with them. Honestly, I have always been drawn to these kinds of pretty wheels, and never figured out what might be possible with them. Thanks for the inspiration! (And Sue, those frit edges are fabulous!!)

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  2. Love what you did with them. I love disk beads but struggle with how to use them.

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  3. Great ideas Melissa! I haven't worked with lampwork discs too much, so I hadn't realied that there was so much you could do with them! Love the frit edges and the colours Sue.

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  4. Wonderful variety!! I am always at a loss when it comes to using discs in jewelry.

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  5. Good job, kiddo! If I know you, there will be some Czech on the bracelet. Very nice designs!!! Great discs, Sue!!!

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  6. I think I said this already (over at your blog), but.... Thanks so much for sharing your innovative ideas--I wasn't having much fun with the disk beads I have, but maybe now those wheels will get into motion!

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  7. OMG I am amazed at what you have done with these. I fell in love with them when Sue posted them and wish for them myself!

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  8. Your earrings are great! What a fun way to use the discs. I love Sue's beads and scored some of those discs for my own designs as soon as I saw them!

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  9. These are awesome and I love your designs!

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  10. Wow! I'm blown away by what you designed with Sue's disks. Truly astounding designs. Fantastic ideas for disks. AMAZING!

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  11. I love all the different styles you've dreamt up using discs! Gorgeous work. Fun beads.

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  12. I commented on your personal blog, Melissa, but I LOVE what you did with all the discs!

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