****I am BACK IN PARIS,FRANCE so all beads will ship priority from here. Please allow a couple days for them to pass customs.****

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. Be wary of sellers with hundreds of Lampwork bead offerings. There is absolutely no way that a real 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 or 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 too quickly. Annealing is as important a step as decoration. Properly annealed beads can last generations.

Artisan glass beads are usually made with higher quality glass and materials. Beads offered for sale by some so-called 'studios' are often dirty and the holes are filled with bead release which is hazardous to your health. Breathing in the dust from any kind of bead release is unhealthy. That is why artisan beads are properly cleaned before you even get them, it's a very important step.

IF you get beads with bead release inside of them, please do not try to clean them dry. let them soak in water for a bit and use a pipe cleaner or craft chenille to remove the bead release. Beads that are properly annealed will NOT break if submerged in water, if someone tells you otherwise they are not selling properly annealed beads.

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.

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 Creations In Glass---www.creations-in-glass.org <-----My website 

Hi! My name is Laurel and I am a bead addict. I have been making beads since February 2003 and have been loving every minute of this adventure. I have a digitally controlled kiln (I have a Chilipepper Bead Annealer with a Bartlett Controller), two great torches to melt my glass,tons of fantastic colors and all kinds of other goodies to play with in my Paris, France studio.

I Love beads. Yup, I do. I trade beads, buy beads, hoard beads, make beads. I wear beads, give beads as gifts. I make things with beads, necklaces and such. I use my own beads and the beads from several very talented people on ebay and other venues to complete and accent my work. Don't be surprised to see me bidding on other people's beads, esp lampwork. I often buy them as inspiration, teaching tools (for myself.. to see shapes and things), and just because I like them.

I am a proud member of LAMPWORK,ECT!! Come see us for all you would ever want to know about making glass beads (and then some, hehehe)We love meeting new people, sharing tips and tricks and just chatting about life in general.