Welcome to my little piece of the world wide web. Here you will find information that I have gathered along the way of my Glass Bead Making journey as well as pictures of beads and jewellery that I have made.
My interest in making my own jewellery came about in September 2002 when I spied a Bead & Button magazine at a local newsagent. I sourced some supplies from retail shops before being introduced to eBay and before I knew it I was addicted… Yes, to making jewellery and to eBay… What fun.
I came across my first Lampwork bead on eBay in April 2003. I am proud to say that it was made by a fellow Aussie, Lorretta, the owner of Green Gecko Designs. I just had to email her to tell her how impressed I was by it, and I was even more impressed when I received a reply from her telling me that she had only been making beads for 8 or 9 weeks. I wish I had printed out a picture of this bead as it would have taken pride of place on my “Inspiration Wall”.
In August 2003 I reluctantly but necessarily quit my 17 year old job due to work related stress and within days had booked in to attend a 5 day Beginners Bead Making Class in Brisbane with Kathryn Wardill which was being held in September/October 2003. I found the process hard going the first couple of days but I persisted and eventually found that I could make a bead and by the third day I was well and truly hooked. I signed on then and there for the 3 day advanced class the following week.
I became firm friends with some of the ladies at the Bead Making class and would pack up my torch and glass stuff and travel to Brisbane once a month over the next couple of years to meet up with them and any others who came along for the day. I loved it. One lady, Jenna, would always bring her jewellery stash, so when I wasn’t making beads, chatting or taking photos, I would hover around her and watch her teaching others how to make things. Jenna makes the most gorgeous feminine jewellery I know. It certainly appeals to my ‘girly’ side.
A Hot Head torch, some glass and some basic tools were included in the costs for the bead Making class. I purchased a second hand Minor Burner in November 2004 and eventually had the hoses and gauges hooked up to it in June 2005.