Since the 2010 Rochester Gathering, I have had the opportunity to create sample beads on some of the test batches Double Helix being offered at the annual International Society of Glass Beadmakers conference. After skipping the last two years due to the pandemic, I am thrilled to be doing this again even though the 2022 Gathering is virtual. It’s not as good as holding them in your hands but hope you will find the write up and pictures helpful.
My favorite this year is the HxOpl batches – there will be four (subject to change!) – a rich pink that opacifies into yummy translucency when worked long but never goes completely opaque and retains the pink (and sometimes lavender) hue.


CFO- 855 is a yellow opal – Leaf beads were made four hours apart with the right one (over Rhea) being the last bead made.

Two striking silver glass. First one – KS-853 – yields a range of hues depending on how long it’s worked. Long Svelte bicone lost color so more silver glass was added at the end to strike to this beautiful magenta and purple. Center of that bead is HxOpl! Yummy luscious pink! Second one – KS-858 – is the first ever transparent striking silver glass and has sooooo much potential! It does get a bit translucent when worked long. See captions for more details.



There are also a couple of UV Opal batches but since I don’t have a black light, the beads pretty much just look white.