Featured Bead Artisan Part V: Michaela Carrington

Come and say hello to Michaela!

Another new find for me from The Big Bead Show back in April, Michaela had a great set up of glass beads and fused glass artworks.

How did you begin your craft?  

I saw some dichroic glass at a local craft fair and the lovely lady taught me how to cut glass. I wanted a hobby far removed from my day job as an Accountant. My obsession with glass started, soon to be followed by lampwork.

Dichroic glass hearts ready for making into pendants

Where do you draw your inspiration?

My biggest inspiration comes from my workshop students who come to my classes full of ideas, I just have to come up with the techniques! 

Students working hard!

Describe one of your favourite techniques to use in your work?

In lampwork I love the simple dot that transforms a plain bead, in fusing I'm loving mixing painting with frit work in the same piece.

My spotty bead haul from Michaela!

Some of the fused glass artworks at the show too.

Is there anything new you are itching to try and incorporate?

Fused box casting - first attempt this weekend! Have a look at my facebook page www.facebook.com/Michaela-Carrington-Designs for the results!

Fused glass trinket box with heart motif

What would you describe as your biggest professional achievement?

Being filmed for Bead.TV, jewellery projects using my very own lampwork beads.

The dotty beads make an appearance in this gorgeous bracelet!

Michaela also runs an online shop at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/micpru

New designs for Graceful Deviant

Although there is still some work to be done!

I have been wanting to doodle some more of my own illustrations for use in my Graceful Deviant work for a long while now but, as always, I thought too long and too hard about whether or not the designs would 'fit'.

Then I decided 'sod it'! It's my business and I can draw what I like! Ok, so what if some things are a bit more rocky/tattoo inspired as opposed to pretty/nature inspired - the name is Graceful Deviant after all and if I like it, there must be others that will too (she says!).

And because I tend to use only my black ink drawn ideas I think it still ties in to an overall 'look' which is what I'm panicking to achieve!

So the pen and paper finally came out and I got going.

I love all of them but unfortunately, once minimized to charm or stud size (just a wee 8mm for stud earrings!), the detail is lost. But that's ok, I know what I need to do to get these to work!

The star-like design was one of my favourites (along with my facebook fans too) but I could really only use the central part of the design.

I think I just started with a design that was too large and the lines are not wide enough so that when you shrink it down, you lose resolution.

This is why my peacock feather design worked so well. I drew it smaller to begin with so that once shrunk, the resolution was perfect.

It's strange but they look sooo much better in person! The camera makes them look slightly grainy but the clarity is spot on in real life!

Star Design Print Earrings now available on the website - click for link

When I first began Graceful Deviant I used to sell peacock feather studs in colour - it was just a photograph of the eye of the feather but through changing printers/papers/ making techniques over the years I never quite got them to look as good as when I made the very first ones.

So, I discontinued them but am so pleased I now have a hand drawn version.

I may add colour - what do people think?!

Peacock Feather Print Studs are now available on the website - click for link!

These are the designs I need to work on - they're almost there, just not quite perfect!

Just a few more tweaks and I'll have these ready - fingers crossed!

Featured Bead Artisan Part IV: Helen Chalmers

Give a big wave to Helen!

Ah, the wonders of Facebook! By the random act of 'stumbling upon' Helen via some of my other beady friends I am now a few £££'s poorer but the proud owner of some very pretty beads indeed!

Jinjo Lentil Beads made by Helen Chalmers

How did you begin your craft?   

      I was lucky enough to study Jewellery and Metal Design at Art College, and having had a taster session on the torch with my friend Emma Baird, got hooked on lampworking! There is an intricacy to it which lets me colour and pattern to my work in ways I never felt possible. I bought my first torch almost four years ago, and have used it nearly every day since. When I realised there was a demand for beads for jewellers and collectors and opened my Etsy shop, and started selling bead sets as well as using them in my own jewellery.

Electric Necklace made using her very own beads!

Where do you draw your inspiration?

         My inspiration mainly comes from travelling, and books (especially photographic ones) detailing different sites around the world featuring beauty and colour. All of my colour combinations are dawn from a picture or visual source initially, and then I just run with them and develop them as I work at the torch. I especially love Pinterest for digging out new colour combinations and inspiration. My page is: http://www.pinterest.com/helenjewellery/ in case you fancy a peek.

Great use of colour here.

Describe one of your favourite techniques to use in your work? 

         There are quite a few techniques in lampwork I love using, one at the moment is 24 carat gold leaf (not a cheap habit!), but it just adds such an elegance, especially to little beads. However, my ultimate favourite has to be using stringer to create dots. It is just the most effective way of building a pattern, and it is the case the majority of the time my sets will feature dots, I just can't resist using them.

Amsterdam Etched Beads

Ancient Persia Glass Beads with a touch of luxury - real gold decoration!

Is there anything new you are itching to try and incorporate?

         I'm currently trying to save up for a Sandblaster, but its going to take me a while :) I would love to be able to create some detailed illustrations in my work, and have spent a long time reading up on it, and coveting one. I would also love to try electroforming on glass, I think the copper covering is such a beautiful effect.

Handmade Glass Ring by Helen Chalmers

What would you describe as your biggest professional achievement?

         My biggest professional achievement so far would definitely be leaving my part time job in July 2013, and beginning working full time at my little business. I teach lampworking, and make and sell beads and jewellery and I'm still alive (for the moment at least!). Seriously though, it feels so wonderful to be able to get up in the morning and go to a job where I decide what I'm doing each day, and love every minute, even the accounting side of it. I wouldn't change it for the world.

You can find out more about Helen and view her work here:
http://www.helenchalmers.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/helenjewelleryglass
https://www.etsy.com/shop/helenjewellery

Tune in again soon when I introduce another of my more recent discoveries and show you some work I have created with her beads!