Why I Love Artisan Lampwork Glass Beads

I mentioned my addiction to lampwork glass beads the other day...well what an addiction it is! I don't dare tell you how many tackle boxes full of them are in my bead closet! These beads are handmade by glass artists and each one is a special little work of art. I absolutely love them and use them all the time, especially when I'm designing one-of-a-kind pieces. They're lovingly handmade one at a time by winding molten glass around a metal mandrel to form a bead and then decorating it. There are so many different glass types, glass colors, embellishement methods, etc. that the possibilities seem to be endless. I love looking to see all the newest ones, but then of course looking leads to buying...and buying...and buying. See how I ended up filling those boxes?!? It's so easy!

Well, I've been wanting to share information about these beads and the artists who create them and I've finally gotten around to it! I put up a page about Artisan Lampwork Glass Beads on my website. And I've started extending invitations to some of my favorite glass artists to come over and put up a page telling us about themselves and their work. I thought that would make things more interesting. Check 'em out! I think you'll enjoy them.

Two glass artists already have pages up...
Susan Elliot of Doodletart Glass who makes some of the most gorgeous hibiscus beads you'll ever find...



and
Kimberly Nicole of Bastille Bleu Lampwork whose beads are just beautiful and so much fun to work with...



I love hibiscus, flags and hearts so I can't even tell you how hard it was for me not to keep these for myself! I didn't though...I actually used these beads in a couple of my Jewelry for Charity pieces. That heart of Susan's was used in my Valentine Hearts for Haiti piece to raise money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake via Yele Haiti...


and Nikki's awesome flag beads (from the set pictured above and another set she made) were used in my Fourth of July Fireworks in Honor of Those Who Serve piece to raise money for Soldiers' Angels...


 I try to put their beautiful beads to good use! They spark my creativity that's for sure :) Thanks ladies!!

~ Debi