POLICY

Please, take a moment to familiarize yourself with our policies. We would like to ensure the best service possible, and in order to achieve that, we would like to make sure you understand the rules of good and honest business. Thank you!

Note! My lampwork beads are all handmade, which means that no two beads are alike. Also, the shapes and sizes of the same kind of bead may vary slightly.

PAYMENTS

We utilize the secure services of PAYPAL, we also accept money orders (simply print out the credit card form and mail it to us). Feel free to purchase our products on Ebay or here, in our online store. New products are frequently listed and updated on both. The new items that can be seen on our website are subject to be discontinued to ensure variety for our customers.

SHIPPING

~ USPS
~ Certified Mail
The items are packed securely to eliminate damage or tamper during shipping. The cost of shipping and handling is determined by the weight of the item and it will be paid by the purchaser.

How my Lampwork Beads are Made

Glass is an organic material. It is made out of soda, lime, sand and different natural metals. With a little help from electricity or the occasional lightning bolt, Voila: glass is born. The different colors are the effect from the different metals. Ever find a glass rock on the beach? Amazing isn't it? Lampwork beads are handmade glass beads made with a hot torch. They are made using a centuries-old process called lampworking - a term which refers to the oil lamps once used to melt the glass. Modern beadmakers, such as myself, use a variety of torches, tools and glass to produce individual glass beads which may contain remarkable detail and artistry. I work with an oxygen and propane torch to create my beads. My studio is in my garage for ventilation and safety reasons.

To put the process simply, a slender rod of glass is slowly melted in the torch at around 1700 degrees (F) and the molten glass is then carefully and continuously wound around a specially-coated steel mandrel ( the steel rod is coated in a bead release material that looks like mud) . As the molten glass is added to the mandrel, it is sculpted and shaped, additional colors added, all with the intent of forming a variety of different effects and designs. This process can take some time - often hours for a very large and intricate bead. Once the bead is completed, it is removed from the flame and either immediately annealed, or allowed to cool slowly in an insulated blanket or container of vermiculite and annealed later in batches with other beads. The process of annealing refers to heating (or reheating) the bead to a preset temperature for a particular length of time, dependent on the size of a bead. "Soaking" in this high heat allows any stresses in the glass bead to "relax" and bond, which ultimately provides a durable lasting strength to it's beauty. Beads that are not annealed are prone to cracking sooner or later.

Further cleaning and/or processing will be required before each distinctive and unique glass bead is ready to then be fashioned into a piece of my jewelry.