this years Christmas bracelets.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
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- patricia
- I personally hand make all of my lampwork beads in my studio. Using a torch that’s fueled by an oxygen/propane mix, glass canes are melted to 1500 degrees until the glass liquefies and is pliable then a blob of glass is placed on a mandrel and shaped by hand into a bead. Some beads I make can have up to five layers of glass to achieve desired effects, for example: animal patterns, dots and stripes. When the layers and shape of the bead are complete, it’s put into a preheated kiln and annealed slowly for 8 to 9 hours. This process takes the stress out of the bead making it more durable and less susceptible to cracking during the cooling process. My beads are not super fragile, but keep in mind that they are made of glass and like anything made of glass if you drop it on a hard surface there is a chance of breaking.
