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The Very Good Thing about lampwork

June 16, 2010 - by limamike

As you probably know, I’ve been trying my hand at lampwork this year, making my own little glass beads and trying to learn how not to burn myself.  No, seriously, the not burning myself is a big part of it.  So far I’ve remembered not to touch hot glass, but have managed to touch a hot mandrel (not good), try to adjust the mandrel rest in the kiln (also not good), and forgotten all the warnings about not trying out opalino rods until I’m REALLY ready (shocky shocky shocky).  I have a few interesting burn marks now, but I can at least say I’m no longer QUITE as afraid of the propane tank.  And that is a Very Good Thing.

So far, I haven’t had a lot of time to devote to making beads — an hour here and there — so the only thing I can do with any proficiency is make a spacer bead.  But they’re pretty good spacer beads, if I do say so myself, with no sharp ends at all and a fairly consistent evenness.  I’ve found a peace making these simple beads, and being a very high-strung Type A person, zen-ing out is also a Very Good Thing.

I’ve also discovered that making simple jewelry with my own simple beads brings a silly grin to my face.  These little bracelets aren’t ornate, nor are they my usual style, but they’re made with MY beads, and someone out there will love them.  I’ve made a few, all with varying shades of color, all from my experiments with the tons of sample packs of glass I’ve bought over the past months.  And sample packs are Very Good Things.

When I was first setting up my studio, I treated myself to a lot of frit samplers — lots and lots.  I’m still trying to figure out what goes with what and how to make this react and that behave, but on occasion, I hit it just right.  I was ultra-pleased to actually get an entire set of frit beads to come out in the same shade, the same size, and in just the right amount to make a bracelet.  And you guessed it.  It was a Very Good Thing.


All of this may seem like no big deal, but to me, it’s an enormously good feeling to get this far.  It’s not very far at all in the grand scheme of things, of course, but considering some of the hurdles I’ve had to jump and the limited amount of torch time I get (really, rarely more than a few hours a week) — I’m happy with my progress.  I have so much, so MUCH, to learn, but I’m getting there, and THAT is a Very Good Thing.

Lori Anderson designs jewelry full time in her studio in Easton, MD.  She blogs at Pretty Things and An Artist’s Year Off.

Riveting with Tracy Stanley at WireFest/BeadFest

May 11, 2010 - by limamike

Finally, I got to go to WireFest/BeadFest!  For the past five years, I’ve always had to either prepare for or exhibit at a craft show, but this year, of course, I took the time out to go to classes

I opted to take two classes with Tracy Stanley so I could immerse myself in riveting, metal texturing, dapping, and basically all things metal.  I was nervous, a complete wreck going into that classroom, let me tell you!  Here I am, a jewelry designer that works in color and glass, and I’m getting ready to work with anything but!

The first class dealt with metal stamping and riveting with metal wire.  Unfortunately, I’m not finished with that project yet, so you can expect to see it in a future post.  But the second class was an intensive all-day extravaganza of hammers and dapping blocks and learning to both rivet with tubing and eyelets.

Instead of a bracelet, I decided to make some pendants.  So far, I finished this one:

Each dapped circle is textured, patinaed, and riveted.  The bottom one has a lampwork bead riveted to it, and I used a combination of brass, sterling, and copper.  (You can click on it to see a larger photo).

The next pendant started out as a ring.  I cut my band, looked at it, and decided I didn’t really WANT a ring.  So again, another pendant came about.

This one has a dapped disk, a tiny river rock, and a Bali spacer, all on copper.  The width of the pendant is only half and inch.  This one will end up on my web site for sale.

I know that my current customers are going to be hesitant about this new style of jewelry as they’re used to my funkier, more colorful side, but there’s got to be a way I can meld the two.

I’d be interested to know what you think!

Lori Anderson designs jewelry full time in her studio in Easton, MD.  Her work can be seen at www.lorianderson.net.  She blogs at Pretty Things and An Artist’s Year Off.

The Spacer Queen

April 19, 2010 - by limamike

I’ve only been lampworking for a little over a month now and it’s been an interesting experience.  I’ve had to restart my torch a few times because I’m so nervous about my propane that I haven’t given it enough fuel to stay fired for very long.  I still jump at the slightest pop.  I have a couple of burns in interesting places.  But I’m still caught by the glass bug, and keep working away at it.

It’s been frustrating because it takes a while to get anywhere in this endeavor.  Going beyond the basic bead shape and design is asking a bit much of a one-month lampworker.  I tackled frit last month, and a bit of encasing, but I’m still playing with the basic spacer.  I tried dots yesterday and thought I’d lose my mind — either too much caffeine or not enough Zen, I don’t know which.

So back to spacers.  Boring, sure, maybe.  But with spacers, I’ve found a calm, a peace, that this Type A+++ person needs.  I’ve also found that learning to nail this basic shape more times than not will help me make cooler, more intricate shapes, further down the road.

I’ve gotten a lot better at making these, and have actually found myself being a little proud of the results, even though these are the humblest of lampwork beads.  I’m learning control, but I’m also learning patience, something that I am trying to carry over into everyday life.  Type A+++ personalities could use a bit of that.

I’ve still got SO much to learn.  Some days I despair of ever getting past being the Spacer Queen.  But I don’t see myself stopping when I’ve just gotten started.  I wonder what I’ll see six months from now?  One thing I do know — I can always use spacers.

Lori Anderson designs jewelry for www.lorianderson.net.  She writes for blogs Pretty Things and An Artist’s Year Off.

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