The flowers in the garden are blooming, they're gorgeous, - but - I wanted to talk about something else. I've set up a camera at my torch... and am filming through a filter - so you can actually see the detail... I have to (ahem) clean up my worksurface though - as last time I posted, - seemed everyone commented on the surface clutter - rather than the item being created.

But this came as a result of a person writing to me - regarding my tile beads - saying that she was sure I was actually slicing them with a wet saw and then drilling the mandrel hole. Really?? I only hope that I maybe missed the tone, and that was a joke?? Anyway - it was suggested that maybe I show some of these goodies being made to quell the doubt. hmmm?

So - that being said - I'm willing to take suggestions as to what you'd like to see - maybe I'll actually make a tutorial... any comments welcome. When I sat down the other day - I filmed some quick trials of things that I thought pretty basic... disks, pulling stringer, making a round bead... etc. While they're simple - they're building blocks - and the basics for any beadmaker. I had revisited a set of beads I'd made probably 18 years ago - and realized that skills certainly DO improve with practice... and time - and while I DO work faster than most - I aim for perfection. Does perfection make them look machine made?? hmmm???

oh, by the way - I have cleaned up the worksurface, and it no longer looks crazy like the image above. That's not saying it won't get that way again - just that occasionally I can actually see the metal sheet underneath! SMH... smiles, Jill

OK, I can't resist...
the flowers. OMG - they started out white - then went pink streaked, then gorgeous pink. I'm floored!!