ArtFire

Red With Metallic Shards Handmade Lampwork Glass Lentil Bead Trio Set

This is a bright and festive handmade lampwork glass bead set. This trio of handmade beads were made using my favorite medium red. I added some expensive Double Helix Kronos shards onto them, melted them in and pressed them into lentil beads. Shards are a very thin layer of broken glass. I made them by heating up a molten glob of glass on the end of a tube mandrel. When it gets just right, I blow through the hole and create a blown up bulb, kind of like blowing up a balloon or Christmass bulbs. I break them up and place the different shapes onto the bead and melt them in. Each glass bead turns out different. These have a beautiful oil slick or metallic sheen of blues to creams. You can see the metallic sheen towards the outer edge of the beads. They are difficult to photograph due to the shape of the bead. They look scrumptuous against the red.

Qty: 3 beads
Measures approximately: 18mm & 15mm
Mandrel Size: 3/32

All lampwork glass beads are handmade by me, Covergirlbeads glass artisan, Charlotte Hayes. My handmade beads are made one at a time in my studio along the Texas gulf coast.


TAKE PRIDE AND BUY HANDMADE

Support your worldwide and local artisans. Buy handmade! You'll be getting unique beads, jewelry and handcrafted items that only a few will ever own. Some items are even one of a kind!


SHIPPING

I use domestic shipping with delivery confirmation and ship internationally at reasonable rates. International buyers are responsible for any and all customs duties, taxes, vat or any other expense that may be added to your package entering your country.


LAMPWORK - THE PROCESS OF MELTING GLASS

I melt glass using my Carlisle mini cc torch winding it onto a mandrel (metal rod) that has been dipped in bead release (a silica based clay) to prevent the glass from sticking to the mandrel.

I use a variety of Moretti/Effetre Italian glass, Vetrofond, Lausha, CIM, Double Helix, Reichenbach, Bullseye, and TAG glass. I also use CZ cubic zirconias, dichroic glass, .999 fine silver, copper, silver leaf, gold leaf and palladium to add interesting designs and create elegant to organic styles of beads. After forming the bead, it is placed in the kiln to go through the annealing process.


ANNEALING

Annealing is a MUST. It is the process where I place my beads in my preheated digitally controlled Glass Hive kiln and allow them to rest for several hours in a glowing heat bath until the glass is the same temperature all over. This relieves stress in the bead. Then the temperature is slowly ramped down overnight until the beads are completely cooled to room temperature. This process takes hours and adds strength and durability to each bead. BEADS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ANNEALED HAVE A GREATER CHANCE OF CRACKING DUE TO STRESS AND THERMAL SHOCK.


CLEANING

Cleaning the bead release out of the hole is very important. I use an electric dremel with a diamond bit to clean each bead individually. Clean bead holes make for a nicer construction for artisans to assemble their jewelry. If you will inspect the cheap imports, you will notice they are filled with bead release and you should question whether or not they were kiln annealed. Always buy handmade!


PHOTOGRAPHY

Numerous pictures are taken in an effort to get just the perfect photo for you to view. This is can be very time consuming but worth every minute to ensure you see quality photos. Sometimes beads can be very stubborn and nearly impossible to show their true beauty.


Member of Self Representing Artists SRA #H98

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