Unique Handcrafted Jewellery Designs - Use Artisan Glass Lampwork Beads
Lampworking is a skill that takes a huge amount of practice and patience, and I imagine that as a beginner you would have to learn by your mistakes.
Knowledge of how far to heat the glass to make it flow, how the different colours of glass react with each other, and when to add decoration to the glass bead, is all vital in producing a durable bead that also looks beautiful.
I find the lampworking technique for making beads fascinating, as the choices of colour and decoration of the beads are endless.
This means that if the beads are artisan-made, it is not difficult to design and make a piece of jewellery that is totally unique.
Many layers of glass can be used to give depth to the finished bead, and small dots or lines may be added either to the surface of the bead, or put into the centre to form unusual designs.
Glass particles called 'frit' may also be used to decorate the bead.
Once finished, the beads must be annealed in an oven to prevent them cracking or shattering.
The lampworking technique was invented by a Murano glass-worker in the eighteenth century, and there are still many glass factories producing beautiful beads and gifts on the Venetian island.
Whilst sourcing new beads for my jewellery designs I came across 'boro beads.
' These are beads made from borosilicate glass, which is a hard glass that is heated to a much higher temperature during lampworking than ordinary glass, and results in jewellery pieces that are very durable.
Surprisingly, the boro beads are also very light in weight which is a distinct advantage when designing earrings.
These beads have several vivid colours at the centre, which change with the light, and they are often encased in clear glass which enhances them and adds depth.
Once the beads are made they are then kiln-annealed at a specific temperature for several hours in order to strengthen them.
Sizes of beads vary, from tiny spacers and small beads specifically made for earrings, to large focal beads which look stunning as pendants.
These beads are definitely my favourite so far, as each one is a tiny piece of art in itself.
In sourcing beads for my jewellery, I have bought from several established lampworkers in the UK, and also one based in the US who produces the most beautiful boro beads, using borosilicate glass.
Knowledge of how far to heat the glass to make it flow, how the different colours of glass react with each other, and when to add decoration to the glass bead, is all vital in producing a durable bead that also looks beautiful.
I find the lampworking technique for making beads fascinating, as the choices of colour and decoration of the beads are endless.
This means that if the beads are artisan-made, it is not difficult to design and make a piece of jewellery that is totally unique.
Many layers of glass can be used to give depth to the finished bead, and small dots or lines may be added either to the surface of the bead, or put into the centre to form unusual designs.
Glass particles called 'frit' may also be used to decorate the bead.
Once finished, the beads must be annealed in an oven to prevent them cracking or shattering.
The lampworking technique was invented by a Murano glass-worker in the eighteenth century, and there are still many glass factories producing beautiful beads and gifts on the Venetian island.
Whilst sourcing new beads for my jewellery designs I came across 'boro beads.
' These are beads made from borosilicate glass, which is a hard glass that is heated to a much higher temperature during lampworking than ordinary glass, and results in jewellery pieces that are very durable.
Surprisingly, the boro beads are also very light in weight which is a distinct advantage when designing earrings.
These beads have several vivid colours at the centre, which change with the light, and they are often encased in clear glass which enhances them and adds depth.
Once the beads are made they are then kiln-annealed at a specific temperature for several hours in order to strengthen them.
Sizes of beads vary, from tiny spacers and small beads specifically made for earrings, to large focal beads which look stunning as pendants.
These beads are definitely my favourite so far, as each one is a tiny piece of art in itself.
In sourcing beads for my jewellery, I have bought from several established lampworkers in the UK, and also one based in the US who produces the most beautiful boro beads, using borosilicate glass.