Lampwork Beads are created by heating special glass rods over an open flame. Once heated the glass is spun onto a steel mandrel that has been coated in a solution called Bead Release. Various colours are then added and manipulated into patterns and shapes... I find this is best described as painting with hot glass. This entire process must be completed in one sitting as once the bead has cooled it cannot be returned to the flame. Once completed the bead is gradually cooled in an insulated environment. The beads are then annealed to strengthen the glass, this means they are placed in a kiln and slowly heated to 520 degrees.

These miniature works of Glass Art have up to 25 layers of glass, feature Cubic Zirconia and take several hours flame work.