For as long as I can remember I have loved art.

While other kids came home from school and watched cartoons, I was watching Bob Ross oil painting lessons on PBS.

When I was 10 years old I created my first landscape oil painting in Bob Ross’ traditional style.

Over the years I’ve dabbled in everything from needlepoint to soapmaking, settling back into painting using water-based acrylics. I even taught painting lessons for several years, wanting to share what I knew to help others be inspired to express their own artistic talents.

I came upon lampworking unexpectedly (as many wonderful things in life often do). I had ventured into the world of fusing glass which I enjoyed, but found somewhat limiting. It did not allow me the full range of creative freedom and expression I longed for.

I once saw a live demonstration of someone lampworking and instantly assumed I would never try it for fear of working with an open flame. Also, I had no idea that lampworking went so far beyond making simple round beads, and the opportunity there was to create wonderful such a wide variety of wearable art pieces with glass beads.

Then one day, by chance, I happened to stumble on a lampworking website while searching for glass fusing supplies. I was absolutely amazed by the things that could be done in this art medium. I never dreamed that glass could be manipulated in such ways.

The colors, the shapes, the special effects, and the unique reactions that glass could produce mesmerized me and I just knew right then and there that I had to try it.

With a new enthusiasm for art that I hadn’t felt in a long time, I overcame my fear of working with an open flame and found lampworking to be the most fulfilling way to express myself artistically that I have ever experienced.

The magic of creating an extraordinary piece of art from something so ordinary as glass is completely captivating.

All my beads are handmade by me, Christina Catherine, in my home-based lampworking studio here in sunny Southern California.

I work with many different brands of the highest quality glass from around the world including Italian Effetre/Moretti, German Lauscha, as well as American brands such as Bullseye, and CiM on my duel fuel lampworking torch.

I love to incorporate special effects into the glass whenever I can, such as fine silver, dichroic glass, goldstone, enamels, and reactive silver glass for added flair and interest.

Once formed and flame polished, each and every bead is immediately placed into a preheated firebrick kiln which is digitally controlled to precisely anneal the glass for maximum strength and longevity.

Upon removal from the mandrel, each bead hole is thoroughly cleaned by hand with a diamond coated tool to ensure no excess bead release is left behind for a professional finish.

Every step that goes into making my beads is done with the utmost care and attention to detail using only the finest quality materials available.

Each piece I create is as special and unique as the person who will wear and enjoy it for years to come.

Christina Catherine of CCGlassArt

P.S. I am proud to say that I have now had my work published! Soda Lime Times (www.sodalimetimes.com), a beadmakers magazine, several times. It was such an honor and a privilege to be asked to participate! :-D