Little Lampworks Sets

My package from Arrow Springs arrived yesterday so I had some fun new glass colors and tools to try out at the torch last night :) A few of the things I wanted are on back-order and I am also waiting for a few things from Rio Grande, so the fun should keep on coming as the rest of my lampworking supplies arrive. After a night of lampwork and a morning of cleaning bead release from the holes in my newest beads I strung together a few little sets (see the photo above, which I took with my phone just before heading to work this morning). I used frit (crushed glass chunks/powder) for the first time last night--another first in my lampwork repetoire :) The frit I used was large-chunk "egyptian blue" on top of a "bullfrog" green base color resulting in the pair of large spotted beads on the far left of the picture above.

Agony of Anticipation

Since my last post about lampworking shortly after I received my "starter kit" from Rio Grande and set up my studio, I have whiled away multiple hours behind the torch melting glass, twirling mandrels and pulling stringers. I have just about run out of glass from the assortment of rods included in the kit. There really is a good amount of glass left, but the rods are getting too short to hold in the flame without some sort of tool doing the grasping to prevent singed fingers. Clearly, it was time for me to reinvest some of my Etsy profits and order a few tools and more glass! I am now waiting for two orders to arrive with my lampworking tools and supplies--and the waiting is agonizing. I think I must be hooked ;)

Lampworking--My New Adventure

After talking about it for what seems like years, I've finally gotten myself set up to start lampworking (making glass beads) at home! I purchased the HotHead Torch Kit from RioGrande several months ago and after a fantastic 1:1 lesson from Sheri Fiegelson (the mother of a co-worker who happens to be an extremely talented lampworker) I gained the confidence to set up in my garage and give it a try on my own.


Already, I am complely hooked! Melting glass is SO much fun, and although I'm still figuring things out I've already made a few beads that I have deemed worthy to be made into jewelry :)

All things considered I was rather surprised at how easy it was to set up my lampworking bench. In addition to the kit (which comes with the torch, an assortment of glass, mandrels, bead release, a few tools, safety glasses, etc.) I had to purchase a few cans of MAPP gas (available at hardware stores--I got mine at Lowes for about $7.50 per can) and I had to fire-proof my table. I used some mismatched ceramic floor tiles that I had purchased for photo backdrops (also from Lowes). I've read that you can also use cookie sheets--the main goal being to make sure your table/bench has a heat-resistant surface.

Of course, now that I'm hooked I could easily spend a TON of money on the hobby......right now I'm using the fiber blanket that came with the kit to cool my beads, but in the long run purchasing a kiln to anneal my beads will be a must (annealing is the process of slowly cooling the lampworked glass to reduce stress within the glass slowly for greater strength/durability and to reduce the likelihood of cracking). I've already purchased some additional mandrels from a fellow Etsian since the kit only came with 10 (and running out of mandrels when you're on a roll making beads is no fun!) I could go on about this new adventure forever, but need to stop and make dinner so I can get back to melting glass! Anyone who is interested in getting started lampworking feel free to contact me for a beginner's perspective :)

Another Great Ocean-Themed find on Etsy: Laffinggull

I found another great shop on Etsy today full of ocean-themed items: Laffingull! Follow the link to see more great lampwork creations!