fourtailslampwork's Profile

Bio

ABOUT ME: Four Tails Lampwork is a one-woman, three-cat craft studio in steamy Atlanta, Georgia. I am owned by three vocal cats who collectively are three of the four tails for whom my storefront is named. (The fourth feline now lives with a friend, where he is much happier.) My beasties are quite sure that I can't create without their input, inspection, and Quality Control. Recently I acquired a rescue lab/shepherd/spitze mix, and he has enthusiastically joined the inspection team.

I hand-craft all the items in the store. While I specialize in organics, I am more than a little bit dillettantish. So keep checking back, because you never know what style or bead type you will find.

My sister (Etsy store Ironmountain01 and ThatFritGirl) is to blame for the glass art--she got me hooked! Around two years ago she plopped me down in front of a Hot Head, and showed me how to wind my first spacer bead. The results were horrible, but I was so proud of them! And, of course, I was hooked.

I am a member of the Self-Representing Artists list, #W-50, a member of Southern Flames, the Etsy Creative Glass Guild,the Etsy Supplies Street Team, and the Glass Haven Etsy Street Team.

WHERE ELSE CAN YOU FIND ME?:

http://fourtailslampwork.com, http://www.talentdatabase.com/channels/21-Crafts/profiles/946401-Four-Tails-Lampwork, http://etsylove.ning.com/profile/FourTailsLampwork

Those have my blog and portfolio items, but for sales will lead you right back here!

Other Questions:

HOW DO YOU GET THE HOLE IN THE BEAD? Glass beads are made by melting pieces of glass (in rod or chunk form) and winding the molten glass around a stainless steel rod (called a mandrel) that has been dipped in bead release. Bead release keeps the glass from sticking to the mandrel, in theory. The glass can be added to, shaped, decorated .. you name it. When it cools in a kiln, it can be removed from the mandrel. Where the mandrel was --- is the hole!

HOW DO YOU MELT THE GLASS? You can use a single fuel torch, such as a Hot Head. I use an oxygen/propane torch, the Piranha. It can get up to 2400 degrees in the flame! My oxygen comes from a concentrator, like the ones patients on oxygen use, and I use tanked propane as my fuel.

THAT SOUNDS DANGEROUS! Beadmaking is not a safe activity, but beads can be made safely if you are careful about several things. You need good ventilation! Glass contains some pretty nasty stuff, such as cadmium, cobalt, and other things that you really don't want to breathe. Lampworkers also work with powdered glass and gold and silver leaf, which are not good to inhale, either. You also need good eye protection. I cannot stress this enough. You only have two, and you can damage them by looking too long at the flare (especially with borosilicate glass) or by being hit by flying glass particles. Keep a fire extinguisher handy--glass does pop off the rods or the mandrels, and it is heated to 2200 degrees! That makes it combustible, and painful if it lands on you. I have not set myself on fire (thank you, God) but I have friends who have done so. However, glass is so addictive that we lampworkers Do It Anyway. I used to ask my sister why she did something that gave her little burns all over her hands. Now I know.

THAT SOUNDS NEAT. CAN I SEE HOW BEADS ARE MADE?
Yes! Go to YouTube and do a search on "making lampwork beads". You will find numerous demonstration videos. You can also look at books. I recommend Cindy Jenkins, "Making glass beads," and Kimberley Adams, "Making Lampwork Beads."

Here are some videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtmR8Ib5z2s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2jjm-8VxpU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OetQWfI2dTU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ABt-FM7eao
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIobh-SsyVE&feature=related

BUT I CAN GO TO A BIG BOX STORE AND GET LAMPWORKED BEADS FOR A LOT LESS. WHY ARE YOU MORE EXPENSIVE?
Yes, you can get inexpensive imported lampworked beads. These beads, however, are often not made using the same quality control that an artisan lampworker will use. They may not be cleaned, and the holes may be sharp. And the workers may not be working in proper conditions with good ventilation and eye protection.

If you buy from an artisan lampworker, you are paying for individual handcrafting, for good working conditions, and for quality. Take a look at those videos to see how long it can take to make even a simple spacer bead! You are also supporting small businesses and individual artisans rather than a large company -- and isn't that the ETSY ethos that we all share?

WOW, I WANT TO LEARN! Contact local bead stores for instruction. If you have a glass store in your area, likely they will offer classes. You can check with the International Society for Glass Beadmakers to find a chapter near you. They will likely have several members who teach or who will know where the best studios are.

Some great communities:
Lampwork etc.
The Angry Mandrel
The Glass Haven
Wet Canvas

and, of course, the International Society of Glass Beadmakers.

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Until ETSY is able to sort out the glitch in the Amazing Disappearing Shop Policies, I will duplicate my policies here so that you can find them even when they disappear.


"BESPOKE" WORK: If you see something you like in my "Sold items," or have something in mind, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will also accept other custom order requests, as I have time, on the following basis: I will do my best to fulfill your request on spec. When I am done, I will convo you with a picture, and if you like the beads, great--I will post a reserved listing for you. If not, no worries--but that's it. They either worked or they didn't.

I reserve the right to turn down custom work for any reason. I do have a full time job--teaching adults returning to college, and at some times during the semester I am simply to overcommitted with that work to accept custom orders and do a good job for you AND my students AND my employers :) I'd rather not take on too much than do a poor job. Another reason that I might decline an order is if I do not have any more of the materials. Some glass colours are "accidents," and the manufacturers cannot replicate them. When that glass is gone, it is GONE.

JOIN MY MAILING LIST!!! If you would like to know when I add new items to my shop, please send me a convo with your email address and I will add you to the list! I do not send promotional emails to you unless you have actively joined my list--I hate spam, and I bet you do, too. Purchasing my beads does not mean you are stuck with my email messages for the rest of creation (unless you tell me you want them!).

The QUALITY CONTROL OFFICERS are NOT FOR SALE.

THE ALPHABET SOUP! What are all those blasted acronymns???

TGH--The Glass Haven Etsy Street Team

SRA; SElf Representing Artists

CGGE: Creative Glass Guild of Etsy

Team ESST: Esty Supply Street Team

LEST: Lampwork Etcetera Street Team

Born on November 14

Favorite Materials

glass, sterling, paper, fiber