This is an original Val Cox color that became an instant classic in the lamp working community. From this muddy brown, the most intense shades of fuchsia pink, violet, blue and green can emerge.

To really bring out the colors, you need to give it intense heat. Then cool the bead--generally with a marver. Repeat until colors emerge.

Sorry, but Hot Heads probably won't be hot enough to get the colors.

In the sample shown, the top beads are encased, that's when the Raku pastel shades emerge. All are over a base of clear, with a bit of transparent pink or blue at the core.

The barrel beads are raku pulled into a stringer and encased within the clear.

The set shows a Raku bead in the foreground.

The set of three barrel beads are using raku in a twisty with a dark transparent pink, then snaked around the bead.