Artist's Notebook
Below are terms that we commonly use to describe the processes used in creating your glass beads and original jewelry!
Annealing ~ Once a bead is completed, it's heated to 940 - 1050 degrees in a kiln until it reaches its "stress relief point", and held at the temperature for a short time. It's slowly cooled down to prevent stress and thermal cracking that can occur when a bead is not properly annealed. All of our beads are kiln annealed using this process.
Decorating the bead ~ Beads can be decorated by melting stringers, or fibers of glass on the surface, creating dots or lines. With a sharp pointed tool, feathers, hearts or other designs may be produced. Metal decorations of copper, silver, gold, palladium and platinum are applied as metal leaf, wire, mesh or fuming.
Encasing ~ The process of applying a transparent color (encasing) over a base color or bead, thus giving it more depth and appeal.
Encased Stringers ~ The process of encasing a rod of glass with a transparent color and pulling it into long thin strands to be applied as surface decoration.
Etching ~ Etching is a chemical process that removes the top layer of glass giving it a soft and smooth matte finish. This process gives the beads a soft velvety feel and removes the "shine" on the surface of the glass.
Fumed ~ Fumed- Fuming consists of heating silver or gold in the flame, metal vapors "fume" microscopically thin layers of particles onto the glass. The vapors are depostited onto the hot glass causing it to change color and porduce one of a kind interesting effects.
Fine Silver Wraps ~ Thin fine silver wire is wrapped around the bead while it's hot and fired in place in the flame of the torch. The silver reacts with the glass creating an earthy organic look.
Frit ~ Frit is crushed glass used to create varying effects on a bead. It comes in different sizes and reacts uniquiely with each typy of glass. Many artists make their own frit as needed by heating a rod or rods of glass in a kiln or torch flame, the hot rods are plunged into water, breaking them into small pieces that are sifted, dried for future use!
Marvered ~ The process of using a graphite paddle to shape and form hot molten glass into a desired form.
Raku ~ Raku glass is a striking glass, it passed through the flame and cooled multiple times to acheive a wide range of colors. It strikes to beautiful earthy shades that range from blue to purple, green and cream.
Reactive Glass ~ Glass that produces beautiful colors and effects when "striked" or "reduced" in the flame of the torch.
Reduced ~ The process of reducing the oxygen or propane on the torch and bathing the bead in the flame until the desired effect is achieved. Beautiful colors can be achieved with this technique, all of our organic beads are made using reduction and/or striking methods making each one a visual piece piece of art and one of a kind.
Shaping a bead ~ Beads are shaped using a combination of heat, gravity and tools such as graphite paddles, mashers, tweezers, and picks. Presses to create shapes and indent patterns into the glass are also used.
Striked - The process of repeatedly heating and cooling the bead in the flame of the torch until the desired color is achieved. Beautiful colors can also be achieved with this technique, all of our organic beads are made using reduction and/or striking methods making each one a visual piece of art and one of a kind.