"Santa Fe" - a signature bead set
I've been making lampwork beads in my Ann Arbor studio since I got my first torch for Christmas 2000. My passion is making fun, affordable beads for other jewelry designers. A set of my beads was used in BeadWork Magazine's Challenge feature in the Feb/March 2010 issue. My beads are always available at Stony Creek Bead in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Twice a year (March & October) I participate in the Bead Bonanza sponsored by the Great Lakes Bead Workers Guild. I'm treasurer of Northern Lights, a group of lamp work artists. We've had a booth at the Bonanza since March 2003.

A Bit About Lampworking

I use glass known as soft glass (or soda lime) from Italy, the United States, and China.

The glass is melted in the torch until it reaches approximately 1400 Deg. F. then melted around a mandrel to form the base bead. Shaping is done with a combination of heat, gravity, and tools. Decoration is achieved by adding more glass, glass frits and powders, or even thin metal foils. The possibilities are endless.

All of my finished beads are annealed and cooled at a controlled rate in my kiln, which removes internal stresses and enhances durability. Beads that haven't been annealed are prone to cracking, and even shattering, and should be avoided.

Below, in my postings, are photos and prices of bead sets for sale. I'm happy to recreate most any set you see on my blog, with more or less main beads or spacers. Just ask!

Monday, March 22, 2010

My 15 Minutes of Fame

My bead set and some matching seed beads and fire-polished rounds were featured in "the Challenge" article of the February/March 2010 issue of Beadwork magazine.  It was so exciting to see my beads pictured in an international magazine and to read the comments of the jewelry designers who used my beads to create their pieces.  Thanks to Stony Creek Bead who helped me put the kit together that I submitted to the magazine.

The lampwork bead set as shown is available for $32.  The accessory beads are available from Stony Creek Bead.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Bead Sets for Sale Group #7

Click on photo to enlarge.  Caution - colors may vary slightly by monitor.  Sold sets can be recreated.





BB658   $44 Sold
BB659   $38 Sold
BB660   $42 Sold
BB661   $50
BB662   $30 Sold












Bead Sets for Sale Group #6

Click on photo to enlarge.  Caution - colors may vary slightly by monitor.  Sold sets can be recreated.


BB647   $27 Sold
BB648   $29 Sold (pixie dust)
BB649   $34 Sold
BB650   $30
BB651   $15
BB652   $25 Sold
BB653   $39 Sold
BB654   $29 Sold
BB655   $24 (pixie dust)

BB656   $24 Sold (pixie dust)

BB657   $35 Sold





 

Bead Sets for Sale Group #5

Click photo to enlarge.  Caution - colors may vary slightly by monitor.  Sold sets can be recreated.

BB636   $34
BB637   $34
BB638   $24
BB639   $23 Sold
BB640   $27 Sold
BB641   $31
BB642   $24 Sold (pixie dust)
BB643   $24 Sold

BB644   $25

BB645   $35 Sold
BB646   $27 Sold

Bead Sets for Sale Group #4

Click photo to enlarge.  Caution - colors may vary slightly by monitor.  Sold sets can be recreated.




BB596   $25
BB625   $32
BB627   $32
BB628   $32
BB629   $24 Sold
BB630   $24 Sold
BB631   $24 Sold
BB632   $24 Sold
BB633   $24 Sold
BB634   $18 Sold
BB635   $18 Sold

Bead Sets for Sale Group #3

Click photo to enlarge.  Caution - colors may vary slightly by monitor.  Sold sets can be recreated.

BB575   $34
BB576   $34 Sold
BB577   $36 Sold
BB579   $30 Sold
BB580   $37
BB581   $26 Sold
BB582   $23 Sold
BB584   $26
BB590   $35
BB591   $25 Sold
BB592   $25



Bead Sets for Sale Group #2

Click photo to enlarge.  Caution - colors may vary slightly by monitor. Sold sets can be recreated.

BB544  $23 sold
BB548  $21
BB549  $32
BB552  $17
BB553  $17
BB561  $25 sold
BB563  $43 sold
BB567  $25 sold

BB568  $27 sold

BB569  $17

BB574  $45





Bead Sets for Sale Group #1

Caution - colors may vary slightly by monitor.  Click photo to enlarge.  Sold sets can be recreated.


BB500   $30
BB502   $31
BB505   $31
BB509   $25
BB510   $28  SOLD
BB512   $37
BB521   $29  SOLD
BB536   $33
BB537   $33
BB539   $33
BB543   $23  SOLD