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Just a lovely mix of recycled glass beads from all sorts of glass objects including gin bottles, harlequin glasses, a vase and a wine bottle.

I said to someone the other day that making glass beads from recycled glass sources was “quite a process” and when I went on to explain it all to them, they agreed! It all starts with a glass object, usually a bottle, that needs to have labels removed and cleaned. Then once the bottle is clean and dry I put it into a pillow case and use a hammer to break the glass. I warm the glass on a hot plate before I put it in the flame, otherwise there would be shattered glass everywhere. Well, there still is a lot of glass everywhere, but warming it up helps the transition to the flame. Next step is making the bead! The fun part. After the bead is made it goes into the kiln, goes through an annealing process and the next day I can take the beads out, take them off their mandrel, and then clean the holes. THEN….they are ready to make into jewellery!

I honestly would have said the glass was purple but it turned out the most pretty shade of grey! I have etched the beads to give them a softer look.

It was nice to find these recycled glass beads in my collection this morning. Making this bracelet was a lot of fun. Beads are from a Banrock Station wine bottle and decorated with purple frit.

Loving this mix of recycled glass beads. From wine bottles, to old glasses, to Green Depression Glass! The little splash of purple keeps this fresh, and the coloured wire adds to the interest of this necklace.

Flower beads made from a Tanqueray Gin bottle! Oh gosh, what a colour! I said to my mum over the weekend….if I am going to spend the weekend at Womadelaide, I really need to make sure I get inspired with some new ideas. Ok, here’s one of my new ideas! I really like how these earrings sit just under the ear lobe too. Super cute.

Inspired by Monday. Today I get to hang out at Womadelaide again. It has been an awesome weekend and I have loved so many things about this world music and dance festival. I was lucky to get a job volunteering there and have made the most of my four day pass, watching and dancing to some amazing bands that I would never normally get to see. Today I have made a necklace using assorted recycled glass beads in a range of greens. I love mixing different shades of green like this. I also like the simplicity of this necklace. I think it will be visiting womadelaide with me today!

Loving this simple and pretty recycled glass bead pendant necklace and earrings. Made from various glass objects like old glass cups and wine bottles.

Behind the scenes Saturday. My studio is a light-filled room in my house where I can make beads on one side and then make jewellery on the other side. I don’t need a huge space for either of these activities, but I do need a space!

I had such high expectations for this perfume bottle, I am an eternal optimist I guess! I should have known, as soon as I started warming it up, that it wasn’t going to work out, but I kept going and in the end…it just turned out to be clear glass after all. Oh well it was still worth a shot.