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I want to give you a little more...   so I'm going to be adding tips and tricks for variations of your sculptured  roses.

Tips for the Sculptured Rose:

TIP #1

This first tip is how  to make a "Victorian Cabbage" rose rather than the tea rose that is pictured in the tutorial (and above). 

Instead of using the toothless pliers in Step 4 of the tutorial, use your leaf mashers.  You'll only have to squeeze one time per petal using these mashers.  Continue until all petals are formed and then follow the remaining instructions curling only the outer petals of your cabbage rose.   Keep your petals fairly close to each other with more of a "cup" shape so they "wrap" themselves around the previous row of petals.

Your Cabbage Roses should look like this:

Don't be discouraged - this technique, as with most lampworking techniques, takes time and practice!

Extra -  Try using various colors to achieve more natural looking roses.  For instance, the rose pictured at the top of the page is done with carnelian as the first layer of color, and the tips with translucent yellow.    Also, notice the far right cabbage rose, this is yellow with a hint of trans pink on the outer portion of the petal to give it a light blush.   Also try adding some metallic gold stringer (bullseye lustre glass or gold  reduction frit) or goldstone for sparkle, at the tips of the petals to give it a true gilded Victorian look.   

TIP #2

This next tip is for making off mandrel long stem roses and/or rose pendants.   Rather than using the mandrel as stated in the tutorial, use a rod of green and add the rose color to the tip of your green rod.  Shape the end (rose base) according to the instructions for laying a base.  Apply your petals in the same manner as explained in the tutorial, then once your rose is complete, add the leaves using the same technique used for making your rose petals, but use a leaf masher instead of the instrument described in the tutorial, then pull the tips to a point to create realistic leaves.   Keeping your rose warm so it does not crack, heat your green rod and gently stretch and twist to create a more realistic stem.  Add a leaf or two to the stem then place in the kiln for annealing.

For a pendant, simply make a bail just under the leaves you created at the base of your rose with the green rod.   (I'll try to remember to make a pendant next time I'm at the torch so I can show you a picture here).

Extra - for the center of your rose, instead of using the technique for laying a base as explained in the tutorial, place a marble sized blob of the rose color on the end of the green stem rod.  Smash the blob flat with your mashers then quickly curl the flatted mass of glass to the rod with round nose pliers to create the innermost petal of the rose (See photo above right).    Begin adding the petals using your curled center petal as the base.