My Lampworked Beads
Lampwork beads aren't just for jewelry...my kittens, puppies, fish and other critters are
ready to hang from a necklace designed especially for them, a simple chain or leather, or
even from your rear view mirror or maybe a window in your home...they're all very
versatile and looking for loving homes.
I am currently making all of my beads on a GTT Lynx using an On-Site Oxygen Generator.  My beads go
directly from the flame to my Aim kiln for annealing.   The process of kiln annealing is required to stabelize
the glass after melting and shaping, it also strengthens the glass.  Annealing takes around 12 hours and once
the beads are cooled to room temperature I give them all a nice soak.   This soaking loosens the "bead
release" so the beads can be removed from the mandrels.  Once that days batch of beads are all off their
mandrels they soak a little longer and then I clean the bead holes of any remaining release (clay) with a rotary
tool or hand reamer.  I inspect the beads for any defects and then let them dry.  After they've dried I
assemble any "compound" beads using sterling silver wire or headpins.
And then they're finally ready for you !