Projects
  Bead-making Studio
  Magyar Headdress
  Magyar Earrings
  My Jurta
  A New Door

My Latest Obsession: Glass Bead-making

Handmade glass beads

Introduction
My introduction to glass bead-making was through a friend who had attended an SCA event in California and met up with beadmakers there. She came home very enthused, immediately put together a beadmaking kit and started showing anyone who would sit still how easy it was.

My first attempts at beadmaking were disastrous. The beads came out all gray and ashy. I later found out that we were using the wrong kind of torch head and gas, but at any rate it was fairly discouraging for "instant-gratification girl" and it was probably a year before I tried it out again.

I was reintroduced to glass bead-making via another friend, Stacy, who was holding weekly workshops at her apartment. At that time, she had been working with hot glass for about three years and had developed some real proficiency. She was a patience instructor, introducing me to proper technique, equipment and safety precautions. Working with her was very exciting and I couldn't wait until I could by my own kit.

Getting Supplies

Beginners kit for glass bead-making

I did a lot of shopping around on the internet before finally landing on a kit from Sundance Art Glass Center.

Moretti glass rods in a variety of colors

I feel fortunate that the city in which I live has several options locally to purchase glass and glass supplies. That said, I still get most of my glass off of Ebay.

There is one merchant in particular that I have had an excellent experience with: Moretti and More. I have ordered glass from him several times and it has been very reasonably priced, well-packaged, very prompt and the communication has been excellent. The other thing I like is that I can buy glass by the 1/4 pound. That's about 6 or 7 12-14 inch rods.

Creating a Workspace
The thing that I found is that, for me, making beads is about availability. My supplies need to be out and ready for me whenever I get the urge to create. That has been really difficult when the only place I had to put my equipment was on the dining room table. It was definitely not conducive to spontaneous glass bead-making. I found it very frustrating.

Glass working "studio"

Eventually, I identified a well-ventilated space off my kitchen that would hold a small table and book shelf for supplies and, of course, books. After cleaning out the clutter than had inevitably collected there, I was able to find a fairly narrow pine desk that worked beautifully as a work surface. The Ikea bookshelf came from another area of the house, and held extra glass, books on bead and jewelry making, and tools.

MAPP gas and glass rods	A selection of bead-making tools

My little glass studio is far from finished. Eventually, I would like to purchase a bead-annealing kiln, but that is pretty far down the road. There are many other books I would like to have. I'm working on collecting more colors of glass. I'd like a different chair and would like to upgrade my torch set. But that is far in the future. In the meantime, I think I'll go make a few beads.

UPDATE

I've added some new things to my studio and it's shaping up nicely. I have still have yet to make any big purchases, like a kiln or surface mix torch, but nonetheless, I'm a pretty happy camper with my hobbiest setup.

Books
Making Glass Beads (Beadwork Books) by Cindy Jenkins