Need color suggestions ... please

[Angie09]

I am looking to make beads that resemble the sea ... blues, aquas ... with color variations. Any suggestions? Pictures are always welcomed!!!

Much appreciated!!!

[Bunyip]

Turquesa & Multi from Northstar come immediately to mind. Layered over star white perhaps.

[Angie09]

Originally Posted by Bunyip

Turquesa & Multi from Northstar come immediately to mind. Layered over star white perhaps.

Turquesa and multi together over white? Or independently??

[Three Muses Glass]

I don't know if maybe something like this is what you're looking for?

If so, I can't tell you exactly the colors but it would start pretty much like this-
Take a clear rod about 10mm and coat it with unobtanium. Then I'll put other colors down like irid, maybe some asian amber (it'll look green over the unobtainium), maybe some triple passion..you can get some blues with that. I sometimes like a few thin stripes of encased disco, I like the sparkle. Then I'll twist it down to a 3-4mm rod and make encased beads.
That bead up there probably has some AP or triple passion in it, you probably don't want that. Turquesa sounds nice! I'll have to try that. Maybe some Mystery Aventurine too....
Hope that helps some.

[Angie09]

Originally Posted by Three Muses Glass

I don't know if maybe something like this is what you're looking for?

If so, I can't tell you exactly the colors but it would start pretty much like this-
Take a clear rod about 10mm and coat it with unobtanium. Then I'll put other colors down like irid, maybe some asian amber (it'll look green over the unobtainium), maybe some triple passion..you can get some blues with that. I sometimes like a few thin stripes of encased disco, I like the sparkle. Then I'll twist it down to a 3-4mm rod and make encased beads.
That bead up there probably has some AP or triple passion in it, you probably don't want that. Turquesa sounds nice! I'll have to try that. Maybe some Mystery Aventurine too....
Hope that helps some.

Yeah ... that's what I'm looking for. I'll try that tomorrow using the Turquesa that was mentioned before. Thanks so much!!!

[orion]

oh my gosh, I love that bead!!!

[Three Muses Glass]

You're welcome Angie and thanks Dee.
I thought I should clarify...the reason I can't tell you the exact colors in there is that I don't remember as I don't write things down or if I do it's usually on a paper towel or something. lol

[Juln]

Thankfully, this range is covered great in boro! There are two categories of colors to chose from: the polychromatics, and the um.. monochromatics.

From GA, I'd go for Peacock, Twilight, Agua Azul, Persian Blue and Mint for the WYSIWYG colors. Maybe also Jupiter Sparkle, Neptune Sparkle and all the Chameleon versions of the first 4. I made this bead with Peacock and Amazon Night: http://www.etsy.com/transaction/6528349

For GA polychromatics, Indigo Luster makes some nice blues. Blue Passion, too. You can get deep aqua-teals from over striking Purple Luster. I know other GA polychromatics do a nice greenish-blue, but they're not coming to mind at the moment.

Alaska Night from Momka's Glass is amazing in the right context, too. Lustrous Blue is really nice. See these bead I made forever and a 1/2 ago to see the neato oceany color sheen Alaska Night can get: http://www.etsy.com/transaction/5114378 and http://www.etsy.com/transaction/5626382

For NS, they have similar to the 1st four GAs I listed - Deep Sea Blue, Blue Spruce and Opaque Aqua are great. Also, Ice Blue and Glacier Blue are fantastic tints in that color range. Midnight is a nice dark, dark water blue. Indigo Aventurine might count, as well as unobtanium. Alaskan Thunder is similar to Momka's Alaska Night, too.

[deb tarry]

Those are some nice colors Juln.

[Juln]

Thanks Deb!

One great new color that is fantastic for greens and blues is GA Dragons Eye. I love it, it's like an Amazon Night or Lagoon that doesn't go muddy. It stays in the beautiful blue-green range. It has copper, though and will turn pink on the surface if reduced. Later on I'll post a pic of a honeycomb blown bead I made earlier...

[Angie09]

Oh I have Dragons Eye but haven't used it. What's the best way...over white?? Does it strike???

[deb tarry]

So many colors so little time. (and money)lol.

[craignog]

try buying occasional quality glass at glass alchemys web site its only 22 a pound and it allows you to complete your glass pallet. i also watch for odds on sale at all the glass websites. my favorite green for inside work is experimental green by northstar. glass alchemy has the whole spectrum of opaques creamy greens and blues. an excellent blue over white is ga brilliant blue.ga agua azul, really teally, peacock, and twilight are opaque and complemnt each other. the amazons, carnivals and lusters are all fun too.

[Angie09]

Originally Posted by craignog

try buying occasional quality glass at glass alchemys web site its only 22 a pound and it allows you to complete your glass pallet.

What does "occasional quality" glass mean at GA? I don't see an explanation on their website.

[Juln]

Originally Posted by Angie09

Oh I have Dragons Eye but haven't used it. What's the best way...over white?? Does it strike???

It's a polychromatic, like Indigo Luster or Amazon Night. The Northstar exotics are the same sort of thing.

Yes, it strikes in interesting ways since it has both ruby and copper. Glass Alchemy invites you to try striking both for extra thrills! It's not that transparent when worked, but a thin layer over white might be nice looking.

I can't find this bead I made from it, alas. I have a bunch more D.E., and will post pics as soon as I can.

What does "occasional quality" glass mean at GA? I don't see an explanation on their website.

It's the 'seconds' quality. GA has Firsts, like Northstar's Firsts, OT (Out of Tolerance), which are like NS Odds - first quality glass, in off sizes or colors, and Occasionals, which are like NS Seconds. The rationale for the name is that you 'occasionally' run into stones or air bubbles.

I really like Odds/OT myself, since working around stones and bubbles can be a pain and the price:quality ratio is attractive. Some OCs/Seconds are perfectly good though, and a steal for the price.

[deb tarry]

You know the colors are made from different chemicals or minerals and mixed with each other or layered can give you different effects, so to know what the color is made from can really effect what you chose to layer over something or mix with to give you and different shade or color. this is very intriguing. Where does someone go to learn this stuff?

[Over the Moon]

Deb - there is a ton of information on the GA and NS websites. I've probably read them through dozens of times, and each time I always learn a bunch of new stuff. It's true - so many colours - so much to learn and play with... never enough time!

[gmkcpa]

I made some barrel beads (regular bead but double-wide) with a base of Asian Green, rolled in large Mystery Aventurine frit, and then covered with clear. My wife says it looks like Monet's 'Water Lillies' IHHO (in her humble opinion).

[dreambeader]

Originally Posted by Three Muses Glass

I don't know if maybe something like this is what you're looking for?

If so, I can't tell you exactly the colors but it would start pretty much like this-
Take a clear rod about 10mm and coat it with unobtanium. Then I'll put other colors down like irid, maybe some asian amber (it'll look green over the unobtainium), maybe some triple passion..you can get some blues with that. I sometimes like a few thin stripes of encased disco, I like the sparkle. Then I'll twist it down to a 3-4mm rod and make encased beads.
That bead up there probably has some AP or triple passion in it, you probably don't want that. Turquesa sounds nice! I'll have to try that. Maybe some Mystery Aventurine too....
Hope that helps some.

I LOVE this bead and have been playing around trying to make one that looks even a little bit like it, but am not having good results. All you can see is the unobtainium. Any suggestions?

[Angie09]

I tried it too but it came out wayyyy darker!! No luck here.

[Three Muses Glass]

What size clear are you guys using? Maybe make it a few mm thicker and the unobtanium is very, very thin. Hold you color rod like this l/ against the clear. Hmmm. Does that make sense? This "l" is the clear, this "/" is the color. So l/ swiping it down. Unob is kinda stiff so keep it in a tight hot flame and the clear just under.
You could try using stardust instead if it's coming out too dark. I never have but it sounds good plus it's sparkly. I love sparkly.

[suzanne]

That makes perfect sense Rebecca, you just encase a thick clear rod with the unobtanium.