Thankyou for taking the time to find out more about my beads.
I put my heart and soul into making each and every bead.
They are a reflection of how I am feeling at that moment,
the glass captures emotion and expressions.
I love working with glass, its reactions and flow amaze me.
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Lampworking
Lampworking Is Glassworking Using A Torch (I Also Use A Supply Of Oxygen) To Melt And Manipulate The Glass. The Art Form Has Been Practiced Since Ancient Times. Lampworking Became Widely Practiced In The 14th Century In Murano, Italy. The Italian Artists Kept The Techniques Secret. In The Mid 19th Century The Lampwork Technique Was Extended To The Production Of Paperweights Primarily In France.
Then, Around Years Ago, Some American Artists Began Experimenting With The Glass They Had Available. As They Shared Their Information and Techniques, Some Of Them Started Small Businesses Developing Tools, Torches And Other Equipment.
The Glass I Use Is Under The Category Of 'Soft Glass' It Is Called Soda-Lime Glass.
The Rod Of Glass Is Slowly Introduced Into The Flame, Then Heated Until Molten. It Is Wound Around A Specially-Coated Stainless Steel Rod (Mandrel), This Forms The Base Bead. The Thickness Of the Mandrel Determines The Size Of The Bead Hole. The Bead Is Then Decorated And Manipulated With A Variety Of Techniques And Materials. The Bead Must Be Kept At Similar Temperature Throughout Or It Will Shatter. Once Finished The Bead Must Be Slowly Cooled (I Use Vermiculite) Then Kiln Annealed To Prevent Cracking Or Shattering.
Annealing A Bead Is To Heat Until Its Temperature Reaches A Stress-Relief Point - A Temperature At Which The Glass Is Too Hard To Deform, Yet Soft Enough For Internal Stresses To Ease. The Bead Must Soak In this Heat Until Its Temperature Is Uniform.
The Bead Is Then Cooled At A Slow Rate Until Its Temperature Is Below A Critical Point, Where It Cannot Generate Internal Stresses, And Then Can Safely Be Dropped To Room Temperature. - Relieving The Internal Stresses.
This Resuls In A Bead Which Will Last For A Long Time. Beads Which Do Not Undergo The Annealing Process May Crack Or Shatter Due To A Minor Temperature Change Or A Slight Knock. When Buying Beads Please Buy Beads That Have Been Annealed Properly. The Bead Will Be Stronger and More Durable. (The Beads Are Glass, So May Still Break If Dropped!)
A Little About Me:
I Am Self-Taught Lampwork Artist And Jewellery Designer.
My Studio Can Be Found In The Beautiful County Of North Yorkshire, In The Heart Of England.
The Glass I Use Is COE (Co-Efficient Of Expansion) 104
Double Helix, Effetre (Moretti), Lauscha, Vetrofond, Creation Is Messy (CIM)
These Glasses Are Italian, German Or American.
The Glass Is Melted Over A Gas Fuelled Torch.
My Beads Are Then 'Annealed' In A Digitally Controlled Paragon SC2 Kiln.
The Beads Are Thoroughly Cleaned, Temporarily Strung Or Made Into Jewellery.
Best Of All I Love Making Them...Let Me Know What You Think.
Features & Press
Press:
Wetherby News 22nd Feb 2008
Excelle Magazine April 2008
Features:
BBC North Yorkshire Artists Quarter
PLEASE KEEP BEADS AWAY FROM CHILDREN AS THEY ARE A CHOKING HAZARD!