MagicFire BeadsMagicFire Beads
I hope you are enjoying your visit here! In case you are interested, here is a little about myself and what I do.
I have been lampworking (in other words, making beads out of glass) for over 5 years now. I use a Lynx torch, oxygen and propane to melt the glass in my basement studio, and wrap the glass around wire mandrels to make the beads. After the beads are formed and decorated, I put them directly into a digitally-controlled kiln and anneal them at 960 degrees for at least an hour to remove stress from the glass. I then let them cool gradually overnight. The annealing process makes the beads extremely durable, and they should last hundreds or thousands of years.
I have been married for over 20 years to a great guy, am a mother of 2 teenagers (one 16 year-old and one 14 year-old) and reside in suburban St. Louis. My road to glass has been a long one! Although I started college as a music major and changed my major a couple of times, I ended up with a degree in German with a minor in Spanish from the University of Kentucky. I got married, moved to Louisville, KY and worked as a bookkeeper for a while, then sold fabric and taught a few classes in one of the largest fabric stores in the country. I eventually stayed home for a while to have kids, then switched to selling shoes. I have to say I was pretty successful at that...but you can only work in retail so long before you get burned out (at least that was true for me!).
When my youngest started school I got the bright idea of working at their school too. It seemed like the perfect job...same hours and calendar as the kids, and I could make a little money too! Next thing I know I'm a Computer Specialist/Aide in 2 elementary schools, running computer labs and helping teachers and students. I loved it! Next step was to go back to school and get my post-degree certification in German and Spanish. Then student teaching. I actually taught High School Spanish for a year.
Somewhere in there I realized that I didn't really want to teach foreign languages and I loved libraries. I finally put two and two together and decided to switch to Library Science. So I started on my MLS at Mizzou (over the Internet) and have been working on that for 3 years now. I also worked as an elementary school Librarian for those 2 years. Next I moved on up to the High School level, and am now a Library Media Specialist at Normandy High School in St. Louis.
What does all that have to do with glass, you ask? Well, nothing really...but it does help you to know me a little better. There is another side to me...
All my life I have worked with my hands. You name the craft, I have done it. I have sewed ever since I can remember, and spent several years learning to quilt and digitize embroidery. But one day I saw a woman making glass beads on her TV show and I knew that I had found my calling. I bought a hothead torch, some glass rods, and Cindy Jenkin's book "Making Glass Beads". I have been happily melting glass ever since!
I have only had a few classes...my first class was with Erna Garber here in St. Louis at the Craft Alliance. She is a wonderful lady and very talented lampworker. I have also had classes with Dustin Tabor and Jennifer Geldard, Libby Leichtman, Kim Fields, Leah Fairbanks and Michael Barley. Each one has influenced my work in their own special way.
It has been a very exciting 5 years since I found glass. The more I learn, the more I can express my soul through this incredible art form. I believe that is what we are all here for; to share our individuality through whatever medium calls to us. For me that medium is glass.
