An Evening with
JC Herrell
Using Stringer to Draw Stuff on Beads!
Thursday, April 22, 2021
In 2001 JC Herrell was given a lampworking set-up to satisfy her desire to melt glass. Unsure what to do with the equipment, the local stained glass shopkeeper asked her if she wanted to make “tiny little teapots” or glass beads. After a moment of thought and having never heard of a use for “tiny little teapots” she decided she wanted to make glass beads and left the store with Cindy Jenkins’s book, “You Can Make Glass Beads”.
In 2001-2002 JC had drafted a few versions of a letter to Ms. Jenkins calling her different versions of a liar, but never sent the letters as she did eventually make a round bead and in doing so, found joy in making glass beads. By 2005 JC discovered that other people also made glass beads, had connected with them and also found the time to practice enough to feel confident as a full time seller and maker of glass beads.
A few years later she also started to teach bead making classes, eventually traveling the globe to share her techniques. Today JC continues her practice to enhance her skills and precision while teaching from her home studio on the northern California coast.
You can see more about JC and her work on her website.
After the Demo Update!
(If you missed it, remember that members can watch the recorded demo on the Facebook Members’ Page, check it out! And if you aren’t a member but would like to be, visit the Membership page)
JC’s attention to detail in her amazing stringer work begins with a solid foundation. She begins by slowly heating her bead release to get it ready to accept the glass. JC told us that she slowly heats it for at least 30 seconds to bring it up to temperature, according to the advice she received from Craig at Arrow Springs.
She says stringer work is her “Jam” and she stresses the importance of a smooth base bead to ensure all the layers are the absolute best they can be. Her favorite base is white glass, and she shared her specific reasons for that. JC takes her time, and keeps the bead in balance the entire time she is building it. She is a master of heat control, and uses that control to make her job easier each step of the way.
Her unique way of alternating colors of transparent glass and placing them on the white base bead to make the colored background creates a special blending and a smooth transition from light to dark with the different shades. JC demonstrated her way of clear encasing to maximize a smooth and bubble free layer which gave more dimension to the bead. She then showed us her fantastic stringer work on the surface and even shared how to correct a slight error that might appear.
JC also donated the bead she made to be given to someone who attended her demonstration. The virtual wheel was spun, and the lucky bead winner was Roberta Connelly, but watching this demo made us all winners!
Thank you JC, for sharing your time and expertise with us!
To see more of JC’s Etsy shop to see more of her beautiful work.
If you would like to show some appreciation for her generosity in sharing her skills with us, you can send JC something for her tip jar (any amount, large or small is welcome.)
Dragon members have access to this recorded presentation, found on our Facebook Members Group.