How Our Beads are Created

The process by which we make our beads is called lampworking.  Each bead is individually created in our studio.  The process begins by dipping a stainless steel rod, known as a mandrel, into a releasing mixture (this  will later allow the formed bead to be removed from the mandrel).   A torch is used to heat and melt the glass.  When the torch is turned on and properly adjusted the artist takes a mandrel in one hand, and a glass rod in the other.  The glass is slowly heated to avoid thermal shock and when a sufficient amount is melted on the end of the rod it is spun onto the mandrel.  To make the bead symmetrical, the mandrel must be turned and constantly adjusted.  Additional colors and decoration are added to the base color using various methods.  Stringers are thin strands of glass that the artist has previously pulled out of a larger rod.  They are used to add dots and lines to the bead and can be manipulated further by pulling the stringer lines with a metal tool.  Frits are also used, these are small pieces of broken glass that add interest to the bead.  Through skill and various tools the artist has an unlimited variety of techniques that add images, textures, depth, and interest to each bead.  When the artist is finished the bead must be properly annealed and cooled at a very slow rate to ensure the quality of the bead.

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