From the time I could walk and talk, I wanted to create beautiful things. Stringing seed beads on fishing line to creating designs with beads on my elementary schoolbag, I have always played with colour and texture in art. Self taught as a bridal designer, I created limited edition hand-beaded gowns with an excess of 100, 000 beads among the lace and silkof each gown. Inspired by medieval and Tudor England, my favorite designs were historical in nature and created using old world craftsmanship.



While on a family vacation in British Columbia in 2006, I thought it would be fun to take a beginner's lampworking class and from my first completed bead, I was hooked. Although mainly self taught, it has been the guidance and instruction of the lampworking community throughout the world, with their generosity and knowledge that inspire me to experiment and refine my skills.



My true passion has always been to satisfy the creative urges within, whether that be in my daytime IT role, my professional certification in clinical hypnosis or my lampworking art. Residing in the Berry Mills community, just outside of Moncton, New Brunswick, I have 2 grown children and a wonderful husband. At times my friends wonder how I manage to find time to explore and develop my talents. I tell them that I have always felt that the very core of me was not satisfied unless I could pursue my love of art and all things creative.



There are infinite possibilities with glass - shape, color, inclusions, surface treatments... all these make my palette limitless, and the idea of making something so timeless, yet so practical appeals to me. It is exciting to know people are using my creations to incorporate into their own designs. Like a pebble dropped into a pond, the ripples continue to radiate outward ---those designers sell their creations, the person buying the piece may be giving it to their mother or sister or friend, and it may not stop there!



Darlene Collette

Pendragonfyre Designs