Gallery of Sold Items August 3, 2009 at 2:02 pm
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, LAMPWORK? August 2, 2009 at 3:13 pm
What Do You Mean, Lampwork?
First a bit of techincal info:
Using a torch to melt and shape glass in ancient times was called lampwork because artists used oil lamps to melt the glass. They blew air into the flame of an oil lamp using a pipe, which made it hotter. The artform is now goes by many names, such as: flameworking, torchworking, glassblowing, or glass working. Although the art form has been practiced since ancient times, it became widely practiced in Murano, Italy in the 14th century.
Glass dates way back to early man, as the first mention of glass is found in the book of Job (28:17): “Gold or glass cannot equal it (wisdom), nor can it be exchanged for articles of fine gold.”
Clearly, glass was very precious and was not as common and available as today. The raw materials for making glass consist mainly of silica or sand, and oxides. To melt the sand to make glass, the furnace has to reach a temperature of approximately 3600°F. TMI? Ok, I’ll stop now.
The photo above is what lampworking looks like on my first torch, a Hothead that my sweet friend insisted that I take home and set up. After 6 months in the corner, we finally set it up and made a couple beads…then, it waited a few more months to be lit again. I upgraded in my studio to a dual fuel minor burner torch within 5 months. Now, my students learn on hotheads.
Hairsticks Tut(en) ~ Seven Styles Step by Step July 30, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Care and use of your handmade hair sticks: Be sure to treat your new hair stick gently, just as if it were jewelry. Always hold it by the stick and never by the decorative beading. Here are 3 popular hair stick designs. My dear cousin, Christine, was kind enough to demonstrate them in the following mini tutorials. Read these three top to bottom:
