My Etsy shop is an expression of my continuing exploration of color.I began on this path with ceramics, loving throwing pots but even more enamored with creating glazes, sample tiles, experimenting with possibilities. While taking a glaze class, I happened to look into the hot glass studio where faces were bent over torches, intent on their careful melting of rods of glass. I had never heard of making lampwork beads, or even of the ability to melt glass without a furnace ,.. It captured my imagination and my interest was fueled by the multitude of colored rods available.
My racks of Italian and German colored glass rods now hold more than 300 colors and still I must buy every new color that is released. The adventure widened in scope when I realized that each color interacts with others according to their chemical composition, the colors to work with in hot glass are limitless. Sulphur, copper, silver, gold,manganese, etc. are the basis of color development. Now American glass makers have taken up the challenge of producing “silver” glass at $100.00 a lb. These colors are wildly reactive and unpredictable but also extend the range of color possibilities.
I am a recently retired teacher loving the freedom to work at the torch for hours centered on the glow of the flame. I create mostly bead sets but also enough sculptural work- flowers, fish, birds because they are simply fun!. When I began in 2005, I sold custom made jewelry made of sterling silver and my beads. I do occasional commission pieces but like to focus on designing the beads and letting jewelry designers create with them.
One of the joys of selling on Etsy is my international buyers! I have a world map with pins of the far flung places my beads have traveled to, (places I'll probably never get to visit.) Another pleasure is the contact with my buyers, their convos, emails, and heart warming feedback. I feel I have made new friends and contacts the world over. I have open studio hours when some of my local buyers can come in, watch the process and share the fun of creating with hot glass.
I do have an old website of my sold jewelry at www.catalinaglass.com