What are flamework beads?

Flamework beads are made by using a torch to heat a rod of glass and spinning the resulting thread around a metal rod. When the base bead has been formed, other colors of glass can be added to the surface to create many designs. Precious metal foils or leaves, or enamels can be used for special effects. The term “lampwork” was coined centuries ago and came from the use of oil lamps to produce the heat and flame needed to melt the glass. Today lampworkers (or as I and many others prefer flameworkers) use torches that mix both propane and oxygen for a much hotter flame and finer control.

Why do you anneal your beads?  

Annealing, in glassblowing and flameworking, is the process of heating, and then slowly cooling glass over a few hours to increase durability. This process relieves the internal stresses, making the glass much more durable. Glass which has not been annealed will crack or even shatter when subjected to a relatively small temperature change or other shock. This cracking can occur hours, days or weeks after the piece was created. Inexpensive imported glass beads are seldom annealed.

Why are flamework beads expensive?

They are more expensive because of the time it takes to make them and the time it takes to develop the ability to make quality beads.  Each flamework artisan spends many hours perfecting their craft through practice, studying with mentors and keeping up on the latest techniques and tools. Also, I may incorporate silver, copper, or gold foil, glass enamels or other expensive special treatments.

Why are imported flamework beads much cheaper?

Placed side by side there is no comparison between a well-made US artisan made bead and a mass produced import. There may be similarities in the design, however the execution of that design will be much better in the US made bead. Also most of the imported beads are NOT annealed, which makes their strength questionable. They will more easily break and jewelry designers should avoid using any glass that is not annealed. If they are used then the jewelry made with them should be priced accordingly since they are of inferior quality. Another reason that the imports are so cheap is that they are made in sweat shops in poor working conditions where workers are abused and underpaid. If a flamework bead is very inexpensive it is probably from one of these shops and is being resold as American made after being imported here.

How long does it take to be able to make nice beads?

It takes literally hundreds of hours (and lots of glass!) to learn to make beads that are evenly shaped, have nice puckers on the ends, good color combination/design, etc. Taking classes with the masters, while expensive, can speed up the process but nothing takes the place of practice, practice, practice. My garden is full of ugly beads I tossed there-I couldn’t think of anything else I would use them for!