Tips & Tricks – Cleaning Your Glass

Tips & Tricks – Cleaning Your Glass

Dirty Glass? Here are some Tips! Do you struggle with dirty clear glass? Are your beads plagued with…scum? Well we can help! It might just be how you’re cleaning that clear glass. Try some of these methods used by some of the best bead artists around: Here is...
Stringer Sorting Tip

Stringer Sorting Tip

Sorting Stringers We have all used items for something other than their original purpose. Sometimes we have to really “think out of the box” to find an items that can help us do something the makers did not foresee! This month’s tip comes from our own Jeri...
Karen Crown’s Critters

Karen Crown’s Critters

Lentil Soup with Karen Crown-Polzin Karen participated in our Speaker’s Series and demonstrated how to make a monkey bead. Then she sent us these photos of her favorite critters made in a similar way. She uses a lentil press to make the base of these Beads of...
Tips and Tricks for Newbies and the Forgetful

Tips and Tricks for Newbies and the Forgetful

Tips and Tricks for Newbies and the Forgetful: Use a craft scissor holder to store tools on your table, or an old poker chip holder found from an attic sale –               they rotate! Boro requires different strength didymium lenses than soft glass. Never melt...
For the Beginner & the Forgetful

For the Beginner & the Forgetful

For the Beginner & the Forgetful by Janie Jones   As long as glass is hot, keep the mandrel moving so the glass doesn’t sag. -*- To make sure your finished bead is cool enough to go in the kiln, hold it under the table to see if it’s still glowing. -*-...
Ventilation in the Studio

Ventilation in the Studio

The Importance of Proper Ventilation by Lisa Daigle   Proper ventilation is necessary in all studios using a bench burner, (or torch). Even if you are outside in a sheltered area, it is important to ensure that the airflow in your work area is carrying the mixed...