Julie Frahm - Glass Jewellery

Step 3 is to make the beads!

Sometimes in this stage I need to experiment, to test new things with the glass.  I might try some different shapes or some different finishes to see how they turn out.  I actually enjoy this part of the process, as sometimes things go in a new direction, which is exciting.  I will take photos of how the beads have turned out, and make sure I’m on track before making any more.  Often, when the customer can actually see the beads, they know if we are on the right track or not!

I always heat the glass on a hot-plate, so that when it is introduced into the flame it doesn’t shatter.  I then use tweezers to pick up the glass and make the beads.  It’s trickier than using glass rods, but the result is worth it!

Once I get the glass, I need to clean it and then smash it!  I use a hammer and a pillow case to smash the glass, however I’m sure there are better ways out there.  I break it into pieces big/small enough to work with in the flame.

Now, I am ready to start making beads.

 

I often get asked to make jewellery for people.  Sometimes they have seen something on my website, and would like it made in a different colour.  Sometimes, they have an old bottle or glass object that they would like made into a piece of jewellery.  I love doing both types of custom orders.

When someone trusts me to take their glass bottle or object and make beads with it, it’s quite an amazing process to go through with them, so I thought I would share the journey with you.

Recently a customer contacted me and asked me to make something for her from a Moet bottle.  The bottle had been a gift for her 50th birthday, and she was reluctant to just throw it in the bin.  She had seen my work before, and got in touch.  Having already made some beads with Moet bottles, I was able to let her know that the things we could do with a Moet bottle were more limited than with a lighter coloured glass.  We could embellish the beads with gold leaf or fine silver wire.  Or we could etch the glass to give it a matt finish.

Step 1 was all about that initial contact, discussing the options for the glass and the finished jewellery.  On this occasion we agreed to make a very simple necklace with small round beads, where alternate beads were etched.  A simple bracelet to match, and long earrings.

Tomorrow I’ll tell you all about the next step: Receiving the glass.

 

I have just finished working on a dozen pairs of new stud earrings for my Etsy shop.  They are very cute, very simple and easy to wear.

 

An article about the Wear a Piece of Adelaide exhibition.

 

I have started listing new jewellery in my Etsy shop!

Make sure you subscribe to my newsletter to find out about the special offer for March!

Here is a sample of what will be for sale.

I have made a bunch of new jewellery for my Etsy shop.  It has been ready for a while, but I have not been ready to photograph it!

I have been looking at different ways of photographing my work, different backgrounds, different layouts, and I think I might be finally ready to take all of the photographs needed to get my work listed.

Wish me luck!

I moved to Mount Gambier from Adelaide last year, and it’s been a bit of an adjustment.  I didn’t realise how settled I was in Adelaide until we moved away!  All of the things I had taken for granted, such as my hairdresser, were no longer surrounding me.  My family, my friends, my children’s friends!

It made me wonder how on earth I was going to adjust to being in a new, smaller town.  Forming new friendships/relationships.  Finding a new hairdresser!

I think the one thing that always makes sense to me is making glass beads and jewellery, and so whenever I am feeling uncertain about myself I immerse myself in this.  I plan exhibitions or new pieces of jewellery. I think about what I want my art to say to the world.

When the South East Art Society announced their annual award exhibition I started thinking about how I could contribute to that.  I started thinking about my sense of community, and how that has been challenged in the past year.  I thought about how we are all part of many communities really.  I’m part of the “art” community in Mount Gambier, and I’m also part of the “school” community now that my daughter has started school.  I’m part of a community of “mums” too.

Well, there has been a lot of thinking about my exhibition piece, and here is the finished version.