My beads are created from Borosilicate glass, aka Pyrex. Each bead is created one at a time, in the heat of my torch flame, and have been fully annealed in a digitally-controlled kiln for long life. Their hole size is 3/32 (approx 2.5mm) unless otherwise stated, and the bead release (the clay inside their holes, deposited from when I created them on steel mandrels) it has been cleaned out.
I have written a blog post relating to Boro glass and its chemistry. The colors of my beads are achieved by many variables ~ the heat of my flame, the oxygen/propane ratio of the torch itself, the kiln temperature, and amount of time the beads soak at that temperature and many, many other factors, up to and including the position and lunar cycle of the moon and the stars! It is for these reasons that I am sorry, I cannot accept any special orders for my Boro beads.
Ive been making Boro beads for more than 6 years, and absolutely, positively cannot wait until the morning after the day before so I can wake up at the crack of dawn when I can open up my kiln once the beads inside have cooled down.
Ive used my Borosilicate glass beads in many of my own jewelry designs, (some of which you can view in my Gallery), as well as having sold many beads over the years to jewelry designers to incorporate into their own designs. I hope you enjoy viewing them, and have pleasure using them in your own work.
Thank you for your interest in my work!
