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Title: Exotic Duckies
Artist: AJGlass
Image created by: AJGlass using a Panasonic DMC-LZ7 Lumix 7.2 MP camera and PhotoShop.
Medium: Glass
Type: Soft Glass (this means it’s not borosilicate)
Description: Glass Beads
Details: These glass beads are each around an inch and a half in length except for H and K, which are both closer to an inch and a quarter in length. All AJGlass beads have been properly annealed. Due to the differences in monitor settings, the colors of these beads may look slightly lighter, slightly darker, or otherwise different on your monitor than the beads themselves. The “straight white lines” on these beads are light reflections. Letters are provided for purposes of identification.

Status: For Sale – G, H, and I.
            Sold - J, K, and L.

Item: Six handmade, duck head shaped, enameled glass beads.
Price: $20.00 each + $4 S&H per shipment (or $5 S&H per shipment outside of the continental United States).
Contact: Please note me if you are interested in purchasing any of these beads.
Payment: PayPal. Other payment options may also be accepted.
Shipping: I ship beads via US Post in packaging suitable for glass beads.
Delivery: Please allow one week for delivery, longer for international orders. Weather permitting, I ship the following business day after payment has been received and cleared. Beads will be shipped with delivery confirmation.

Discussion: I think that these beads would make for excellent centerpieces in necklaces and that they would also make interesting subjects for, or additions to, several wire wrapping projects. I also think that these beads would make for unique discussion pieces. J and L have interesting enameled textures and they have a nice tactile feel to them. These beads are created from glass, and like all glass they can chip or break if dropped/thrown/crushed or otherwise abused. These beads are NOT suitable for small children, and they pose a choking hazard if swallowed.

Creation: A Ducky bead is created by melting two inches of a rod of glass onto a bead-release-coated mandrel and then forming the molten glass into a round bead. The bead is allowed to solidify but is kept hot. It is then rolled in Thompson Enamel after which it is briefly placed back into the flame where the enamel is melted to adhere it to the bead – sometimes just enough to create a unique texture.

Then the torch flame is turned down from five to two inches in length and the bead is kept still in front of the flame. The result of keeping the bead still in front of the smaller flame is that half of the enameled bead slowly slumps downward and the glass oozes its way through the enamel. The other side of the bead is not affected by the flame and thus it stays round. Once a bead has slumped down, it is then removed from the flame and allowed to solidify before being put directly into a hot kiln where it is annealed.

A comparison of Thompson Enamel to other glass powders can be found in my scraps by clicking here.

Further Comment: If you’re into ducks or exotic colors, or if you have a very unique fashion sense, then these Exotic Ducky glass beads are for you. I am pleased to be able to provide them as pieces that I am offering for sale online. Note me if you are interested in purchasing any of these pieces.

Sales history: As a member of The Southeastern Michigan Glass Beadmakers Guild, I sold many of my glass pieces at the 2007 Winter Wonders Glass Show in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. More recently, I sold numerous glass pieces as a participant in the 2008 Spring Bead Bonanza show, which took place in Southfield, Michigan and which is a show that I have been participating in for many years.

Guarantee: I will do everything that I can to make sure that you are satisfied with your purchase. So if you are not satisfied with these beads for any reason, please return them prepaid in their original condition and in their original packaging for a full refund. Shipping costs are the responsibility of the purchaser. Please request return authorization in advance.

Legal: Copyright © Aaron J. Greenblatt. All rights reserved. Commercial use prohibited. This image and commentary may not be used for any reason without the expressed written consent of Aaron J. Greenblatt.


Please click here for more images of my glass work.

Please click here for images of my glass studio.

Please click here to view my photography work.