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My love of glass and its ever-changing rainbow of color and light began several years ago. Glass is the most exciting, challenging and ever-changing medium I have ever worked with, the possibilities are endless. My jewelry designs all feature focal pieces of my hand-crafted hot glass. One-of-a-kind pieces of wearable art are created using other mediums such as gemstones, sterling, crystal and metal clay to showcase the art glass. |
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Early lampworking, or flameworking, was done in the flame of an oil lamp, with the artist blowing air into the flame through a pipe. Most artists today use torches that burn either propane or natural gas, and pure oxygen. My beads are created using a torch and Moretti, Effetre, Vetrefond, Lauscha, Double Helix, and Borosilicate glass, and can be embellished with gold and silver leaf, enamels and acid-etch solutions to create a variety of designs. The glass is melted at temperatures in excess of 2000 degrees F, and later annealed in a kiln. My fused glass pendants, sculptured bracelets, earring and accessories are made with Spectrum and Bullseye glass, cut and layered in various intricate designs, then fused in a kiln at temperatures ranging between 1325 – 1450 degrees. Some pieces are hand-painted with liquid enamel paints prior to fusing to create pattern and texture, often several firings are required to achieve the desired effect. My metal focal pieces are comprised of either silver or gold PMC (precious metal clay), or Bronzclay, unique products consisting of pure silver or bronze metal powder, water and binder, and can be manipulated like regular clay. When air-dried and later fired at a high temperature, the water and binder burn off, leaving solid sterling and bronze one-of-a-kind pieces. I've been asked many times what inspires me to create, the driving force behind what I do. All I can say is that I enjoy every moment I spend in my home studio, which is neither fancy, nor tidy, but my haven when the right side of my brain finds the inspiration to create. Hope you enjoy my work as much as I enjoy doing it! Thanks for visiting, come back again.
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