It all started after a weekend Anniversary trip to Venice ... I never expected that trip to change my life in the way it has! The glass factory on the island of Murano was one of the most amazing places I have seen - the artistry of the craftsmen, the amazing colours and the incredible pieces of glass art took my breath away. We visited many jewellery and bead shops, but one in particular was the turning point for me ... it was a small shop, full of handmade jewellery made with beautiful Murano beads, in one corner the owner was sat making this jewellery, chosing her beads from an enormous array of colours and shapes carefully displayed in front of her. I watched her making a beautiful green bracelet and I knew from that moment that this is what I wanted to do - make jewellery, and although I would never have guessed at the time, eventually make my own glass beads ...
I felll in love with these little Murano birds, but unfortunately they were just too expensive to bring home.
This is my studio where all my lampwork beads and jewellery designs are made. It's small but perectly formed, put together with the help of my ever supportive husband ...
I felll in love with these little Murano birds, but unfortunately they were just too expensive to bring home.
This is my studio where all my lampwork beads and jewellery designs are made. It's small but perectly formed, put together with the help of my ever supportive husband ...
thank you Mike!
Lampworking workbench with minor burner torch.
For those who may not know - Lampwork beads are made one at a time by melting glass rods in the flame of a specially designed torch. The molton glass is wound onto a steel mandrel (rod) which is coated in a release compound to enable the bead to be removed when finally finished.
Each bead can be as complicated or simple as desired by adding different colours of glass, the use of precious metal foils such as gold and silver, as well as a variety of frits and powders - the design possibilities are endless!
For those who may not know - Lampwork beads are made one at a time by melting glass rods in the flame of a specially designed torch. The molton glass is wound onto a steel mandrel (rod) which is coated in a release compound to enable the bead to be removed when finally finished.
Each bead can be as complicated or simple as desired by adding different colours of glass, the use of precious metal foils such as gold and silver, as well as a variety of frits and powders - the design possibilities are endless!
The finished beads are then placed directly into a hot digitally controlled kiln to be annealed, usually overnight. This is a very important process in bead making as it allows the beads to cool at a slow and controlled rate to prevent stress in the glass. When they have reached room temperature the beads are removed from their mandrels, thoroughly cleaned and inspected ready to make into beautiful jewellery - or just to collect and display!
A floral bead in the process of being made.
Focal beads with many layers of decoration and encasing can take anything upto an hour to an hour+ to make ...
A selection of finished beads.