Fireseed - Louise Ingram - From Monkees to Magic!

Since I started my adventure in recreating historic glass beads, I seem to have been pulled further and further down an amazing rabbit hole!

Recreations of Egyptian faience beads circa 1bc-4ad

I can't believe the intricacy of some of the styles that were created well over two thousand years ago!
One of… Continue

I am struck by the intricacy of this style of bead from Fustat in Egypt.
The are created by laying twisted glass canes next to each other to create a bead, giving a zigzag look to the design, you might think they are raked or combed but look closely and you'll see that the lines of colour do not match up.

Here are my first attempts at recreating this style of bead -

… Continue

I've created quite a little pile of ancient styled beads now but have been finding myself torn between leaving them looking shiny and new or trying to give them a more aged appearance.

These are some that I distressed while I was making them. Another option is etching -… Continue

Warring States beads are known as such because of the period and location that they originate from.

Here's an example of some I have made - I took artistic license with the colours ;o)

Originally created in China circa 500BC – a time when regional warlords annexed smaller states around them and consolidated… Continue

My desire to recreate Viking beads has led me to spending hours looking at pictures of ancient beads online.

Most of the beads I see are not Viking at all but come from many different cultures, continents and ages.
Many of them are so beautiful that I am finding a growing excitement at the thought of try… Continue