You can make these colorful beads and add as many seeds as you like. I enjoyed making a variety of shapes (oval and round whole melons, pie-shaped cuts, and slices) and putting them together on a necklace. The easiest shapes are the uncut watermelons; just make a round or oval bead and decorate the outside with stripes (you won't need to make a red center, just a green bead and stripes). With a little practice you will be making these beads by the dozen! Make a set and wear them to a picnic and have some fun.
Required Materials: Moretti Effetre glass. See project for complete list.
Tools Needed: Goggles, lampworking torch, mandrels dipped in bead release, tungsten rake, brass shaper, marvering pad, annealing kiln, alcohol, rag. See project for complete list.
Techniques Used: Lampwork
Originally Published: Beadwork, June/July 2003