The Blue Brick | Photography and Handcrafts by Shireen Nadir

It’s official, I’m obsessed with glass working. The tipping point came when I realized I’d finally started making beads nice enough to create jewellery from them. It is so satisfying to wear something where even the actual beads are made by you!

This isn’t my bead – it’s Tito’s. I stole it from him as soon as I saw it. He’s been quite gracious about the theft – especially after he saw the cute overlong necklace that I made ;) It’s my colour anyways – doesn’t that mean that it’s mine?

This one is mine – I love the pendant on an overlong chain, but I’m also pleased with my budding abilities at decorating the actual bead. This one had dots that were melted in, then I poked holes in it with a pick, and covered it with a layer of clear to form little bubbles in the glass. The entire thing was melted smooth afterwards. For extra shiny the base bead is created with a hematite finish glass for that metallic look.

I love this one! after created nested dots in blue and white and melting them smooth I took the pick and lightly swirled my design. Love the results!

And of course my obsession with etching continues – I love the effect I got on these two beads – still working out what to do with the rectangular one.

Best of all… I took all the beads that were a reasonable match from this round and finally did something with them. Add a few bead caps and some pretty spacers and I got this, which I am proudly wearing even as I type:

I’m finally getting confidence with the torch, and it shows. I’ve got another round coming out of the kiln today, can’t wait for my goodies!