Glass, all by itself, is pretty wonderful. A medium that transforms from hard to molten and then back to hard again after I’ve changed its shape. Available in transparent, translucent, and opaque… So we take advantage of all that - and it leaves us wanting more…

Often I refer to SIS or silvered ivory stringer - another form of silver use in lampwork… where a silver coated piece of ivory glass that’s been drawn thin - into stringers - is used to actually write designs onto a hot bead… the silver obediently migrates to the middle of the line and forms that dark line… LOVE THAT.

Then a company like Double Helix Glassworks adds silver to the glass… and our horizons explode. Now - with a simple change to the actual chemistry of the flame - we can achieve luster… Below is a pendant that has the purest form - a few variations of use - straight from the flame with an oil slick of colors (in a good way) that gives it a timeworn feel. A stark contrast against the ivory that’s been fumed by the bleed-off of silver from the glass as it melts in… giving the surface a nicely aged and crackled appearance.

Then - again - a very thin silver wire is held under a layer of clear encasing glass - and upon much direct heat - eventually melts and forms silver droplets under the top layer of clear… giving sparkle and a playful quality to the finished piece. Love the fact that maintaining the silver is carefree - as it never needs polishing - but adds depth and another design element to my work.

Then in its purest form - is the wrap… layer upon layer, upon layer that has been gently fused to the bead surface add a certain richness to work that little else can. Quite nice. I find though that I like to antique it

Then the Jetstream beads - that have a double silver whammy… silvered glass, and silver wire - encased in clear to amplify and protect. Often quite hard to achieve because the clear is so thin and yet the silver wire underneath has not balled up. Beads here measure 1/2”D

I cannot think of another element that adds so much diversity to my work - and yet - I’m sure there are many other applications I will discover tomorrow, next month, or maybe ten years from now. Smiles - Jill