Frequently asked questions........ I don't have any yet!! But I'll attempt to explain some of my policies should you be curious.

 

Lampwork is a technique where glass rods are melted down with a torch and wrapped around a stainless steel rod, voila the bead. My torch is a piranha, sounds baaaaaaaaad doesn't it?? I use propane in a tank and 2 oxygen concentrators. Works pretty good. Of course it's like everything else, I'd like a bigger hotter torch but I can't complain about what I've got.

 

I mostly use "soft" glass as opposed to "hard" glass aka boro or pyrex. I'm dabbling in boro but it's a slow process and there is a mystery about boro I haven't solved yet. So stay tuned for further dabbling! The glass I mainly use is imported from Italy and Germany. Moretti, Vetrofond and Lauscha.  The colors are beautiful and I can usually get the shade I "need". There are more American made glasses coming out CIM (Creation is Messy), ASK, Double Helix (gorgeous but at $100/lb it's used sparingly!!) It's a never ending need for new glass!! Sort of like, can you ever have enough beads???

 

Most of my beads are made on 1/16 or 3/32 inch mandrels. I use a lot of presses and these two sizes work best in the press.  I use a lot of frit (which is a four letter word for little tiny glass pieces).  Yes I love working with frit and I'm a swirler!! Love mixing the colors and swirling them.

 

My beads go into a Chili Pepper Kiln as soon as they leave the flame. The kiln is programmed to slowly cool the beads to prevent any type of stress fractures. This is the annealing you've heard about. It's a necessary step.

 

Usually the kiln cools overnite, then the beads are removed from the mandrel and cleaned of any remaining bead release.  After they're cleaned and inspected, I usually string them on a piece of wire. Then the beads, my camera, and whatever background I'm using at the time head out to the front porch. I usually take the pictures on my porch swing, cause I get a pretty good light. Unfortunately, sometimes I get "help" with my pictures.Yep he's a lot of help!