Crafts: Lampworked Glass Beads

July 01, 2007

Lampworked Glass Beads

Ah, a new craft to explore! Playing with fire and glass, what could be more fun than this?

I wondered, when I first started making beads, why the suppliers were all in the south or southwest, or even the northwest, but not in the north or northeast. When the temperature dropped with the change of seasons, I found out right away - making beads is a seasonal activity here in New England. Good ventilation is mandatory for a healthy work area. All the air exhausted to the outdoors from a warm house is replaced by outside air, so when it's below freezing for the winter I just don't make beads. The heating bill increase would be enormous, and it would still be cold indoors! It makes sense now that the suppliers are where folks can work year round. In cold weather I suffer withdrawal from the challenge and thrill of daily torch time.

Below are some beads from my second bead making season, 2008:

Here are some pics of beads and finished items from my first bead making season.

These are my very first beads:

Here are some various beads from my second week of beadmaking:

This is an experiment with how certain colors react with each other. Here the turquoise over the dark ivory creates a black edge with interesting thready edges. Some have black added, most do not!

Now an exercise in making two beads the same, and hopefully round. Some successful, some not, but an interesting group anyway. I read the suggestion to use one color combination for different sizes and configurations of beads so they could be used together if they work out. That was a good idea! This group is the size of a bracelet, and may become one despite the flaws.

Beads from July-August 2007, third week of beadmaking and beyond:

First, some earrings and bead sets for earrings:

More bead sets, and individual beads. It is still difficult to make beads exactly the same! I may someday be able to do that, with LOTS more practice!

Earrings from 2007 beads

Bracelets

Zipper pulls from 2007 beads.

Some trays of beads, but not all of them by any means.

Posted by jacquie at July 1, 2007 12:27 PM