I am a Lampwork Bead maker based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Individually created art glass beads can be considered small works of glass art.
I create art glass beads out of "soft glass" or soda lime glass. Working in my studio, each bead is created by melting glass rods and wrapping the melted glass onto a steel rod. My torch uses an oxygen propane mixture. The bead is shaped, decorated and place in a kiln. The kiln then holds the beads at a constant temperature. While being worked in the flame, stress is created in the glass. Holding the beads at a constant temperature and then allowing them to cool slowly allows the molecules in the glass to realign. This relieves the stress which can cause cracking or breaks. The process is known as Annealing. All of the beads I create are properly annealed to prevent stress cracks. 
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2021 Show Schedule
As we all know 2020 was a difficult year. After a year of cancelled art shows hopefully this year we will be able to return to the festivals that are enjoyed by so many. Applying for a show does not guarantee acceptance. There are many excellent artists & limited space at every show. The first show for this year! Chesapeake RotaryArt Show June 26 & 27 Chesapeake City Park 900 City Park Drive Chesapeake, VA Santa's Stocking Nov. 20 & 21 Kempsville Recreation Center Sat, 9-5 800 Monmouth Ln Sun, 9-4 Virginia Beach, VA |