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Glass Bead Discoveries: 5 FREE Projects using Lampwork Beads for Making Glass Bead Jewelry a bead maker’s workshop What do you need to lampwork glass beads? Creativity, enthusiasm, and the right equipment. BY MICHELLE WALDREN HOTHEAD TORCH SETUP here is a commonly held belief in the bead and jewelry world that you can never have too many tools t n HOTHEAD TORCH – The Hothead is n GRAPHITE PADDLE – This is used for – and I certainly wouldn’t want to disagree! good for the beginner who is limited on “marvering,” or shaping the bead while still However, it’s even more important to space and funds. hot. You can roll, tuck, mash, etc., but try not to use it too much – bead release, when have the right tools. Any aspiring bead n HOSE SET FOR HOTHEAD – This is great dry, is somewhat brittle, and too much maker who has had a well-meaning friend because you don’t have to limit yourself to using a small MAPP gas cylinder; you can marvering will cause the bead release to or relative give them a welding torch and buy the larger container and hook the torch break and the bead to spin freely on the welding glasses as a gift knows this. Their up with the hoses. We have had a bit of mandrel. I use a 2" x 4" paddle. heart may be in the right place, but you difficulty finding the larger container here in n SPARK LIGHTER – To light the torch. Alaska, but it’s easier in the Lower 48. need bead making tools for making beads. n GLASS – You’ll probably want between I started off with a lot of the wrong tools n WORK SURFACE – A flat, stainless steel four and 10 pounds to start. Moretti has the because I didn’t know what I was doing. work surface will hold the torch head and/ largest color palette, but I also use Bullseye or the MAPP gas cylinder, and will also keep (a very good glass) and Czech glass, and I Now, before I buy, I research to see what is you from burning holes in your table. hope to use borosilicate, Lauscha, and Satake out there, and what will fit my needs. There glass. It’s safest to stick to one kind of glass n DIDYMIUM SPECTACLES OR AURa-92s are many good vendors; for most of my – Didymium spectacles are the minimum per bead, as different types of glasses are not tools (and some glass), I use Arrow Springs protection that you should have; they always compatible. in California, and for most of my glass (and protect your eyes from the bright sodium n GLASS NIPPERS – For cutting your glass flare and ultraviolet and infrared rays, and rods to a usable length. some tools), I use Frantz Bead Co. out in allow you to better see your work. I started Washington. Both are very helpful and n VERMICULITE OR A FIBER BLANKET with the didymiums, but when my produc- – Once a bead is done, you need to cool it carry quality products. tivity picked up and I found myself making down slowly so it won’t break. If you don’t The following checklist includes a a lot of beads, I started to get eye fatigue. I want to buy a kiln right away, you can make switched to the Aura-92s, which give better do using one or the other of these, then find breakdown of what you’ll need to get protection. I let observers use my extra started using two commonly used torches someone to anneal your beads for you later. didymiums, since they also need to wear The vermiculite, a material that resembles – the Hothead and the Minor. There are glasses at all times. very small wood chips, is poured into a many other wonderful torches out there n ROD REST – This is to lay your glass rods metal bowl, which is in turn placed on a hot – Nortel has the mid-range and the Major on when the ends are hot. plate; bury the bead in the vermiculite , and let it cool slowly. Fiber blankets are about an Burner, Glass Torch Technologies has six n MANDRELS AND BEAD RELEASE – inch thick, and the bead is placed between different torches from the Bobcat to the Glass beads are made by, roughly speaking, wrapping glass around metal mandrels. them to cool. During the cooling process, Delta Elite, and there are other torches by The mandrels are dipped in the liquid bead you can still lose beads as a result of stress, Premier and by Carlisle. release, which then dries so that the glass or from peeking. Just as with a cake rising in Glass Bead Discoveries:won’t stick to the mandrel and can be the oven, do not peek at your beads to see if 5 Free Projects using Lampwork Beads they’re done! for Making Glass removedBead Jewelry when done. I use Sludge Plus and/ or Super Blue Sludge. n BEAD ANNEALING KILN – If you find n yourself really getting into this, you will BEAD MAKER'S WORKSHOP BLOOMING BEADSNEEDLE-NOSEAUTUMN MASHING BOUQUET PLIERS – I use these for pulling stringers, mashing, and any definitely need a kiln. I recommend the time I need to grab hold of the hot glass. Af991 from Arrow Springs. It has a door in the front, and you can put your beads into n TWEEZERS – Pointed tweezers are the kiln, mandrel and all. I am not an expert good for pulling stringers, but I mostly use on all kilns, but of the four that I have used, I blunt-end tweezers. find this the best. by MICHELLE WALDREN p. 1 by LAURI COPELAND p. 3 by LISA KAN p. 5 PHOTO: LAURI COPELAND RHUMBA PLAYING AROUND by JAMIE HOGSETT p. 9 by DANIELLE FOX p. 11 © F+W MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. F+W MEDIA GRANTS PERMISSION FOR ANY OR ALL PAGES IN THIS ISSUE TO BE COPIED FOR PERSONAL USE. BEADINGDAILY.COM page ii Glass Bead Discoveries: 5 Free Projects using Lampwork Beads for Making Glass Bead Jewelry Lampwork glass beads are an art in themselves. Hot • Once you’ve learned how to make your own glass beads, glass is carefully layered and shaped to result in a striking you’ll want to make jewelry with them! Look to projects like handmade glass bead for you to use in your jewelry-making Lisa Kan’s beautiful Autumn Bouquet beaded necklace for projects. Lampwork beads can be created in any shape or inspiration on how to combine handmade glass leaf beads with stitched beaded flowers. color imaginable, and today’s lampwork glass bead artists are always coming up with beautiful and innovative new designs • If you want to combine more stitching with lampwork glass beads, try the Rhumba bracelet by Jamie Hogsett. for our handmade jewelry and beading projects. This great beaded bracelet project combines my favorite But using lampwork glass beads in our jewelry-making beaded bead stitching techniques with colorful lampwork projects can be a challenge. Handmade lampwork glass glass beads. beads can be somewhat heavier than other types of glass • Danielle Fox’s Playing Around shows off some lovely flat beads, and their edges can easily cut even the heaviest of handmade lampwork glass disc beads. The combination of beading threads or cause wear on beading wire when strung bold glass bead colors mixed with silky ribbon makes for a in a glass bead necklace or bracelet. Combining larger fun, feminine bracelet. lampwork glass beads with seed beads can also be a chal- So dive in to your bead stash and dig up those lovely hand- lenge when it comes down to proportion and design in your made glass lampwork beads that you’ve been hoarding! With jewelry-making. these free beading projects using lampwork glass beads, Never fear! We have assembled five beautiful beading proj- you’ve got a range of options and techniques for showcasing ects that all incorporate handmade lampwork glass beads to these beautiful glass objects. Find that special lampwork inspire your jewelry-making with glass beads. Whether you love glass bead in your collection and turn it into a beautiful piece to do stringing or enjoy the serenity of off-loom bead-weaving, of handmade jewelry today! you’ll find a project in here to capture your imagination. Bead Happy, • Learn what kinds of tools and materials you need to get started making your own lampwork glass beads with help- ful information from Michelle Waldren. Her Bead Maker’s Workshop will give you a great start at setting up your own lampwork bead studio. • Next, try Lauri Copeland’s Blooming Beads glass bead mak- ing project! These fun glass beads will help you develop your skills at making glass beads at the torch. Jennifer VanBenschoten, Beading Daily editor Glass Bead Discoveries: 5 Free Projects using Lampwork Beads for Making Glass Bead Jewelry editor, beadingdaily JENNIFER VANBENSCHOTEN production designer JANICE TAPIA / photography JOE COCA, ANN SWANSON Projects and information are for inspiration and personal use only. BeadingDaily, Beadwork, and Stringing do not recommend, approve, or endorse any of the advertisers, products, services, or views advertised in this publication. Nor do BeadingDaily, Beadwork, or Stringing evaluate the advertisers’ claims in any way. You should, therefore, use your own judgment in evaluating the advertisers, products, services, and views advertised in BeadingDaily, Beadwork, and Stringing. © F+W MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. F+W MEDIA GRANTS PERMISSION FOR ANY OR ALL PAGES IN THIS ISSUE TO BE COPIED FOR PERSONAL USE.

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