Making a black base bead

Welcome Friend and Enter.

My hot glass art history in a nutshell
I started making jewelry with glass beads in 2004, but I have a long history of being fascinated with glass and glass crafts. In the 1980s I worked with flat glass, making stained glass windows, panels, sun catchers, boxes, whatever I could imagine. I also dabbled in glass blowing, working out of a furnace and a glory hole in a friend's studio, making small vases.

A lifelong love of glass
I took a break when my kids were small because glass shards and the chemicals used in making glass windows are hazardous to baby feet, fingers and lungs. But I never stopped appreciating the beauty of glass and collecting glassware, even as I channeled my love for art in other directions. Taking up bead work again brought me a lot of joy.

Discovering the wonders of lampwork
At the start of 2008 I began to study lampwork and officially became a soda lime addict (soft glass is a mixture of soda lime and other silicates). I felt I had returned to my artist roots and found myself fascinated with the art and craft of flame work. As a new artist in the media, I am offering my beads to you at a reasonable "introductory" price.

A few technical facts:
My beads are made on a Nortel Mega Minor surface mix torch, using American and imported glass cane, stringer and frit. They are wound on 3/32" mandrels (unless otherwise stated) and run through a complete annealing cycle in my digitally controlled Chili Pepper bead kiln.

My flame work journey continues
I have taken private lessons from lampwork experts and will continue to study with well known lampwork artists in the coming months. I hope you will come along with me on this journey and enjoy the color, design and creativity of the beads and bead jewelry I offer to you.

Decorating a bead with a twistie

What is a Self Representing Artist (SRA)?
A self representing artist is someone who creates and sells their own work. A self representing artist does not sell mass produced beads under the SRA logo.

Why buy from Self Representing Artist?
A self representing artist spends a great deal of time perfecting their work. They love their work and want their clients to love it to. The love of the art is what keeps the self representing artist creating. A self representing artist's reputation for creating and selling quality items is very important to them. Self representing artists have quality standards. If you have a problem with an item purchased, the artists will work with you to make it right.

What should I know about mass produced glass items?
In many circumstances the glass items may not have been cleaned properly. In the case of lampwork beads, the holes may not have been cleaned of the bead release, which can cause an inhalation hazard. Beads may not have been properly annealed, which can result in stress cracks. Bead holes may be rough or sharp and can cut stringing material. You simply can not find the unique beauty of original one-of-a-kind works of art in mass-produced beads.

What is annealing?
Annealing is a process of holding and cooling the glass at the proper temperatures. Different types of glass have different temperature requirements. If the glass is cooled too quickly, the glass has stress. This stress can cause the glass item to break immediately, months or years later.

What does the SRA logo mean?
When you see this logo, you will be assured that the seller is selling only their personal work. They have been approved by a committee to display the logo. SRA artists come from all around the world. When you buy from an SRA artist you are supporting the artist directly.