A beginner and intermediate guide to making lampwork beads, 'Reflections: The Diary of a Glass Beadmaker', glass bead making ebook in pdf form, which will be available to you for download directly after payment. This ebook is filled with handmade lampwork glass tutorials from Laurie Ament of Isinglass Design.
Included are short but complete tutorials on things such as making patterns with dot masking, making glass fish, butterflies, leaves and twirls on the side of a bead for beginning and intermediate glass bead makers. There are also tips and instructions for making, selling and giving classes about lampwork glass beads. Please view photos for a preview of what's inside.
*** NOTE: a portion of the information that is in this book is also available on my public blog. There have been many new photos, updates and many new articles written for this book.
What's it all about???
This is not a beginner’s instruction book for making beads, but rather a book for advanced beginners and mid-range lampworkers. It includes ‘beyond basics’ ideas and mini tuts to teach technique rather than how to make a specific bead. There is no list of colors used; you will choose those yourself. This is meant as, hopefully, helpful information to help bring your beads to a new level. Have trouble with sculptural beads? There are general tips as well as instructions and photo tutorials to make butterflies, fish, leaves and hollow beads.
It all begins with a few basics, which you may already know- an intro to lampwork, a glossary and primer to help you find the things you need to start your own beadmaking journey. Tips on making a first bead, good for both students and teachers, cleaning your glass, making shards and frit are included in the ‘basics’. Then there are some more difficult techniques, such as rescuing beads that have broken bits and using rubino oro.
In the ‘Rambling Thought on Beads, Art and Business’ section near the end, there is general information about things as varied as bead wear-ability, the theory behind deliberate mistakes and button technology. In the standard blog style, there are outside links for further reading on many of these subjects. Most of these missives are simply things I think I’ve learned during the many years of my beadmaking journey. A little window into my thought patterns will be opened to you.
Because some of this information comes from my blog, it is available publicly. Blog publication dates are included for general interest, but things have been reorganized in a more sensible order. There are many updates, lots of new photos and information; things like how to make masked patterns and twirly bits on the side of a bead. Also included is a short treatise on inspiration called ‘Keep Your Mojo Workin’ as well as notes for giving demonstrations and classes for those ready to move out of their studios and into the public arena. There is also some information about selling at shops and shows.
This is an e-booklet in pdf format that will be available to you for download after payment. Please let me know if you do not receive the link for the download or cannot open it and I will email it to you as a pdf file. You will not receive a hard copy, though you are welcome to print one out for yourself. If you are interested in buying a hard copy from me, please let me know. I am currently researching the possibility of having a workbook-style spiral bound copy for sale for an additional cost.
It is my sincere hope that you will find this book useful and enjoyable to read; that you will learn some new things and get ideas to further your beadmaking skills and, hopefully, your general skills as an artisan. There may be better techniques for some of the bead styles than appear here, there are certainly other ways, these are simply my ways!
** If you have any problems with the download, please be sure and include your email address when you message me. If no email address is given, it will be sent to the email address associated with your etsy account.
** The file is about 79 pages long and contains loads of photos.
** Of course you will be given all tech support needed- if you have questions, just ask!
There is no refund available on this item. It includes only an emailed pdf version, no physical copy will be sent. Please use the tutorials as you like- making and selling the beads in any venue is fine. I also encourage you to work on these methods with other lampworkers in gatherings or class settings. I would prefer that you not make copies of the actual pdf for others.
