A new twist

I decided to try new things in my glass bead making. Since I really like skulls, and one of my daughter's friends is crazy about bats, I got a tutorial for Halloween beads from Lori Peterson. I also wanted to try some colors that have reactions with other colors, like using turquoise for the base color and then decorating with a color that doesn't move around too much, so I practiced my stringer dot placement on one bead, melted it in and then pressed it and added dots of ivory. I think it turned out pretty well since I am so new to all this. I love the little skulls, and even added a bow to the little one. I also thought I wanted to try making a bone bead. I bought some fabulous sculptural beads from my friend Paula, a cat for me and a cute little dachshund for my cousin Nick and had wanted to add a bone or two to a necklace for him. The one you see in the photo here was my first attempt. I think it worked out pretty well, don't you?! I also tried putting a flower on a heart, not so great, huh. Well, I knew I could make a heart of purple for the Beads of Courage. I finished with a perfectly round black bead dipped in raku iris orange frit, reduced and turned into pretty metallic spots. I love the shiny finish, don't you?!! Don't forget you can click on the photo to make it larger, oh, and click on the names of my friends and visit their shops.