|
|
The Lampwork Glass Process
All of my beads are created individually in the flame of a torch at my studio located in Virginia Beach VA. In the picture you will also see my loyal studio buddy Ace. Sadly we lost Ace in the summer of 2019 but I have a new studio buddy in training named Taya. She is a recue from Puerto Rico and is still learning the ins and outs of life in the studio. Now if I could just get her to stop digging her way to China out in the yard while I'm working! That's her in the picture on the right, surveying her kingdom!
I have two torches and two kilns in my studio that I use. All of my beads are kiln annealed for strength and durability. Kiln annealing is the process used to relieve any stress within the bead after it has left the torch. Stress is created in the process of making the bead from the manipulating of the glass to achieve the shape and design of the bead. The kiln allows the glass bead to sit at a temperature at which the glass is most comfortable (usually around 960 degrees for the glass I use) for a specific amount of time (30 to 60 minutes depending on the size of the beads). After the beads have sat and the glass is relieved of its stress, the kiln will very slowly cool down the beads to avoid adding any additional stress to the bead while cooling. This process can take up to 5 hours before the kiln is cool enough to open. This insures that before the glass beads go into your jewelry, it is a strong and durable glass bead that... with care, will last a lifetime. The beads must then be cleaned before being taken to a seperate area of the studio to be assembled into the finished jewelry pieces.
All of my beads are created individually in the flame of a torch at my studio located in Virginia Beach VA. In the picture you will also see my loyal studio buddy Ace. Sadly we lost Ace in the summer of 2019 but I have a new studio buddy in training named Taya. She is a recue from Puerto Rico and is still learning the ins and outs of life in the studio. Now if I could just get her to stop digging her way to China out in the yard while I'm working! That's her in the picture on the right, surveying her kingdom!
I have two torches and two kilns in my studio that I use. All of my beads are kiln annealed for strength and durability. Kiln annealing is the process used to relieve any stress within the bead after it has left the torch. Stress is created in the process of making the bead from the manipulating of the glass to achieve the shape and design of the bead. The kiln allows the glass bead to sit at a temperature at which the glass is most comfortable (usually around 960 degrees for the glass I use) for a specific amount of time (30 to 60 minutes depending on the size of the beads). After the beads have sat and the glass is relieved of its stress, the kiln will very slowly cool down the beads to avoid adding any additional stress to the bead while cooling. This process can take up to 5 hours before the kiln is cool enough to open. This insures that before the glass beads go into your jewelry, it is a strong and durable glass bead that... with care, will last a lifetime. The beads must then be cleaned before being taken to a seperate area of the studio to be assembled into the finished jewelry pieces.