KNOW THE QUALITY OF YOUR BEADS

The beads pictured in my auctions were made by me, a self-representing lampwork artist. With the explosion of interest in lampwork beads for jewelry making, the market is becoming flooded with beads that are claimed to be made in an artists studio but are actually poor imitation, mass produced imports. Many, from sweat-shops in third world countries. BEWARE of sellers with hundreds of Lampwork bead offerings. There is absolutely no way that a true lampwork artist can make hundreds of bead sets every week. Don't be fooled into thinking they are of the best quality. Many are not even cleaned NOR annealed. Annealing is the process of using a kiln to slowly cool the beads and  release the pressure/stress in glass which can lead to breakage if the beads are cooled to fast.  Annealing is as important a step as decoration. Properly annealed beads can last generations.

Lampwork is an art that takes years and years to learn.  Support the art of glass beadmaking by purchasing from self-representing artists, who lovingly make one bead at a time, creating glass treasures that will last a life-time.