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FAQ's
What, exactly, is "lampworking?" TOP
The term "lampworking" refers to working glass over an open flame and comes from the time when people actually worked over a small oil lamp.
Today we use gas/oxy torches specially made for beadmakers. They're much smaller than the ones used by the so-called "glassblowers" who make those fancy filigreed glass ships and unicorns and flowers you see at Disneyworld or in tourist type places. Those people are using borosilicate glass (you may know it by it's trade name of "Pyrex." Which brings me to the next question ...
What kind of glass do you use? TOP
Personally, I prefer soft glass and use imported Italian glass from a couple of different manufacturers. My primary stock is from Effetre. You'll hear it called "Moretti" which is the name of the family that founded that particular glass company. It was sold to the Effetre company several years back but old habits die hard and many people still refer to it as "Moretti."
I also like to use certain colors of Vetrofond which is a spin off of the Moretti family's original company. They use the original recipes and I just adore their pale ivory. It is scrumptious. Their black, I feel, is a better black than Effetre's. And I love their clear.
I also use Bullseye (made in the USA); CIM; ASK; Double Helix and Roccio's R4. But not all in the same bead!
What is "kiln annealing" and why should I care? TOP
I used to have a whole spiel embedded in my auctions about kiln annealing. Wish I'd kept it. Well whaddya know! I found it! Here it is:
Wondering what the heck "properly kiln annealed really means" and why it's such a big deal? Wonder no more. When glass is heated to high temps (and we're not talking oven heat) it develops stress as it cools. Prozac won't help. The stress is a result of the outside cooling faster than the inside. Ever handle hot taffy? Technically, according to Gil Reynolds's The Fused Glass Handbook, "Annealing is the term given to the process of slowly cooling glass between its softening point and its strain point."
Got that? So to be properly "kiln annealed" a bead must be held at the softening temperature for a set amount of time then cooled to its strain (stress) point and held there a little longer (usually about 30 minutes) and then allowed to cool to room temp.
So how do you know what the annealing and strain points are? Well, you can always work yourself past your strain point by trying to figure it out on your own or you can get it from the factory that produces the glass.
Finally, if you've been asking yourself what does the phrase "annealed overnight in a computer contolled kiln" got to do with anything? The answer is, frankly, nothing. It can take up to 12 hours for the beads to cool down to room temps and some beadmakers run their annealing sequence overnight. That's all. The computer controlled part just means they have a controller that handles the rates of cooling and holding so they don't have to babysit the kiln.
Beads were made for thousands of years without being annealed in a kiln and a lot of those beads are still around today. Proper annealing just gives modern beads a better shot at staying around a little longer. Especially some of those near paperweight sized beads! Now those really do need annealing or CRACK! Thermal blast.
Do you do special orders? TOP
I'm always happy to discuss your requests with you. Special orders are made at full retail pricing so if you're used to buying my beads from ebay or JustBeads.com you may get a bit of sticker shock.
And, sadly, sometimes life gets in the way and I simply don't have the time (or sometimes the motivation) to get something done.
But don't let that stop you from asking. If nothing else I love to chat.
How do you get the hole in there? TOP
LOL. That has got to be my all time favorite question and it's usually the first one someone will ask when they finally understand (sort of) what it is I actually DO.
In a nutshell then. I start with a small, stainless steel rod (I buy brazing rod from the local welding supply store and cut them into 3rds) which has been cleaned and the end roughened just a bit. This is called a "mandrel."
I dip one end into what is called "bead release." This is a commercially prepared concoction that includes high fire clay, water and few other components. Secret recipes and all that. I usually dip anywhere from 1-3" depending on how big a bead I think I may make or how many beads I'll be making on one mandrel. This is allowed to air dry.
When I'm ready to make a bead, I start by slowly bringing the glass rod (which is about the diamter of a pencil) into the flame. When it begins to soften I bring the mandrel up under the heated rod and catch the end of the melting glass onto the mandrel. I turn the mandrel, winding the softened glass into a rough bead shape.
The rule is "hot sticks to hot." So you don't want the hot glass sticking to the mandrel because you'd never get it off the mandrel. This way it sticks to the bead release which, once the bead has been annealed and is at room temperature, will break free of the metal thus releasing the bead.
Now all that's left to do is clean the hole that is left behind by the space the mandrel once occupied.
Neat, eh?
So what's with those Chinese imports? TOP
Unless you've been in a cave the last year or so, you're probably already aware of a certain "beadmaker" who has basically taken over ebay's "US Lampwork" category. The SRA's (self representing artists) who frequent the Lampwork Etc and Wet Canvas forums have been beside themselves over this.
So why all the hubbub? Well ... for starters the listings are full of unfounded claims (that's a polite way of calling them lies). These beads are not made by an SRA but by sweatshop workers in China. They are NOT annealed in a kiln, they are NOT properly cleaned and they ARE ripping off designs and actual photos of the REAL sra beadmakers.
A quick aside here. Why should you care if they are cleaned? Dry bead release can cause lung irritation at the very least if inhaled. No one really knows WHAT the Chinese are using in their release so it could contain toxic ingredients. Note, I said COULD. I have no idea what they're using. Secondly, do you really want to spend all that time making a beautiful piece of jewelry only to have it shed all over you or, worse, your customers?
This seller reportedly tells people who buy their beads NOT to get them wet (?!) and that the normal movement of the stringing material through the bead will clean it out. Seriously.
Frankly, I don't give a rat's backside about these beads. I am adult enough to understand there's room in the marketplace for all levels and prices of beads. What aggravates me is the fact this seller is misleading people and giving the entire industry a black eye. If you are new to buying and using lampworked beads and you start buying on ebay and THINK you're getting artisan quality beads from a SRA beadmaker only to find what you've bought is crap, will you buy anyone else's beads or assume they're all like these?
Honestly in advertising is all anyone wants.
Do you offer a discount to designers? TOP
Yes. Any order over $300 gets an automatic 20% discount.
What do your customers have to say about your beads? TOP
Over the years I have sold literally thousands of beads. Here are just a few of the comments I've received from my customers:
Prompt shipping and beautiful beads as always. Thanks! — sparklyworld_baubles
Gorgeous beads as usual! — sarahnlivvie
Never a dissapointment!Highly reccomend!Fast&smooth transaction!ThankU Darleen!! — dmfsparkles
Love these oh-so-feminine colors. Always a pleasure to do business with! — pajones2
Outstanding beads--even prettier than pictured. — pajones2
Lovely beads, thank you !!! — murfs65h8
Beautiful product, quick shipping, good communications — zeeypsi
Beautiful work Darleen! — 4azcats
As always, absolutely stunning beads. Fast Shipping! — 4azcats
Extraordinary colors! How could you not love glass after seeing these beauties?! — letsgosabres0
Lovely beads, thanks so much! — sharebear0_0
Gorgeous beads and great shipping. A++ Seller! — dolceboutique
Beautifully made beads, prompt delivery! A real artist and an A+++++ seller — bluemamere
BEAUTIFUL! Great seller and friendly! A+++++++++++ — jcrewgrl
Another beautiful set of beads! Always well packed, fast shipment. AAA+ — zimway4
Great beads!! thanks!! — tracym2043
Absolutley the most perfect symmetrical lampwork, colors are sweeeeetttttttttttt — pkdezigns
great service and beads!! — bluedoxi
Safely received, very nice beads -- thank you! :-) snurcher
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