Lampwork Painted Boro Dragon Eyes

Only had time today to play and make a couple of eyes
My daughter filled my living room with boxes from the spare room so they can move in to the house in a couple of weeks so had to spend time going through and tossing some things and putting clothes and shoes into bags to drop off at the thrift shop tomorrow -

but here are the eyes

Electroformed Painted Boro Lampwork Dragon Eyes

Not sure if I like - may start all over and lower the amps to a smoother coating - was going for the grainy style but not sure

need to find a more creamy/ivory for around the eyes


More Lampwork Boro Painted Dragon Eyes

Was able to make two more eyes plus just the pupil then ran out of propane
Was pouring out so I didnt make my way down to steal the BBQ tank till later

will be prepping the horns for electroforming later

these are made out of Boro and I have put a loop/bead at the back for hanging



Boro Lamprok Painted Dragon Eye


Today I painted some boro sheet for eyes and did a proto this afternoon
Because I have such a variety of glass I like to write on the glass what it is in case I mix it up - system 96 and boro look very similar as well as 104 and bullseye

I cut up 1" squares


then cut the corners off 

cleaned them and prepped them for ink 
I like to use a bit of windex to clean them up  and I have a pencil outline to follow 
I then fire the black trace outline  and then apply color and fire again 

I put them on the hot plate - painted side up 

The "Slime" Green was ok but maybe I'll do a dark one tomorrow and maybe take time to finish the lid better - but I wanted to see the eye finished 


Only time for one more proto - Painted Bullseye glass Dragon eye

did another painted eye proto last night -  I am thinking of painting some more in different colours for the eyes - some in 104 and maybe even  on boro sheet - looks a bit lizardy - time to play I hope this weekend

Ottawa Bead Show Oct 18-19

I think I may be going to Ottawa with Jean of Nortel to help with their booth - and set up a small sampling of my beads in the booth -  O MY -  I need to get home and electroform my eyes and make some more up - gotta get busy . busy busy .......

Bullseye Lampwork Painted Dragon Eye out of the kiln

Well....   I pulled  my proto out of the kiln


not bad could be more even - I like the painted eye  and may etch the horns 

I just painted some round pieces  as they dont have to be perfect as the glass will melt around the edges 


Waiting for Kiln to cool - to see the Lampwork Painted Dragon Eye

Just waiting for the kiln to cool

I did up some painted eye bases to go with the painted pieces for around the eye

Was a pretty good assembly -  the eye then the frame work and then added the painted glass

about 2 hours to go ..........

Made some more eyes and another set of painted pieces for around the eye

very anxious to see the results

More painted glass to make lampwork beads

I put some coor on the last of the sheets I made on the weekend   and my new project I made up the couple I  want to try and set out my glass for tomorrow night - had to find my bullseye clear stash (shott clear)  90 coe dichro etc   and hope for the best

Can you guess what I am going to do with the bottom pieces -


If you guessed to use around one of the eyes your right - to give it some depth and texture of a dragon -  could be a mess or it could come out ok - will give it a  try tomorrow

Great Weekend

Friday I got a lot done outside for the house for the winter - the horse field cleaned up, hay out for the horses - cleaned the water trough closest to house for winter and put the horses to the front field with another trough while the field was cleaned - Today got the barn cleaned out (the alley way - most of it  - hopefully by end of the week I'll have the rest cleaned out and keep up with this time) cleaned the pool , and readied my stuff for Saturday demo at the Glass Gathering then spent some time shoveling dirt against the house to angle it to direct the water away from the foundation - its freaking hot so gave up when the thunderstorm came

Had a great time at the gathering - woke up at 6:30  to no power  (my internal alarm got me up ) got ready and drove to Oakville (2 hour drive )  was raining by the time I got there but eventually cleared up

Saw so many amazing glass artists - and of course I hardly took any pics - duh......

 this amazing mosquito by Mathieu Grodet glass

another who makes Giraffe Pipes - so amazing- Matt Robertson




and Dwyn Tomlinson of BeadFX was demoing her Dragon Eye and well - I have so wanted to do this I got up on Sunday morning and dragged myself out of bed and to the studio to give it a try

so the eyes have it and thanks to Dwyn - I am addicted to making them now - was a bit lazy to go find the tool I needed for the iris and go pick colors - just wanted to see what I could do with what was on my table - I am so pleased

Step 3 - Make the bead - wrapping the glass around the bead

I rushed home last night and got into the studio and did up a few beads - it pays to practice first on something you hav'nt done in a while - the first I cracked but saved (the Kokopelli)   then the next two went well - just had to remember the moves .....



Some of my old ones 





Step 2 - Painted Beads - adding colour

I added c0lour and fired all the pieces so now they are ready to be made into beads -

I will only do up a few this week and leave a few to take with me for the demo on Saturday at Sheridan College - probably the kokopelli - my favorite

these sheets can be used for making beads or I can use them to make fused pendants as well


Winner of the August - Give-A-Way


Carol Cooper   I will try to email you but if you see this email before I do  email me at dread@deborahread.com with your mailing address and I will get your prize out this week

A new draw will be up shortly \