The Art of Lampworking or Flameworking involves melting glass rods of various colours over an open flame.

I use mainly Effetre / Moretti glass which is imported from Italy. The glass is melted in the flame and then wound onto a steel rod called a mandrel. Once the design has been added by using dots and swirls of melted glass, the bead is then worked into the desired shape using gravity and a number of different tools specifically designed for use with hot glass.

When the bead is complete it is then placed directly into a digitally controlled kiln to be annealed, soaked at the desired temp for approx 1 hour and then cooled gradually, usually overnight. Once the annealing process is complete the bead is then cleaned and inspected to ensure that the piece is ready for use.

Although all of my work has been annealed for added strength and lasting beauty it is helpful to remember that they are still made of glass and must be handled with a certain level of care.