Beads    FAQ                  Handmade Art Glass Beads Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Handmade Art Glass Bead and how does it differ from beads you can purchase at the local craft store?

The beads you purchase in your local craft store are mass made, either my machine or in sweat shops. The person making them probably doesn't know about the properties of glass or how it reacts under different environmental situations. The holes may not be properly cleaned, and they probably haven't been annealed which relieves the stress in the glass making them prone to cracking and breaking.

When a Handmade Art Glass Bead is purchased from a Lampworker, you can be assured that it was made with tender loving care - as if it were being kept for their own. They are pretty much one of a kind - though a pattern may be done more than once, the resulting beads are different. It's for this reason that I offer my beads with spacer beads made at the same time as the focal bead. If I try to go back and make them after the fact, they may or may not match because even the properties of the gas and how large the flame is can affect the final outcome. The holes on any of the beads pictured on this page have been cleaned, and the beads have been annealed for lasting beauty and durability. The beads are pictured on a short Gold or Silver Ribbon. Unless otherwise noted, the beads I make have a 3/32" hole, to allow you to string the bead on a cord, or on a chain.

How do I purchase one?

Send me an e-mail telling me which one you are interested in. I'll let you know if it's still available.   I will send you an invoice for the bead set via PayPal. Sorry, but for these bead purchases, all payments must be made in 7 days via PayPal. Once the bead is paid for, I'll get your bead in the mail to you.

What does the glass look like before you make it into a bead?

It looks a little like a long pencil. Here is a shot of the glass holder in my studio.

How do you turn those into a bead?

Rather than re-invent the wheel, I'll just point you towards How to Make Glass Beads from eHow.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to email me and ask!

You can contact Kitty by emailing her at kay@listen-up.org.

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