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Garden of Art Jewelry and Spa Products
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LAMP WORK GLASS BEADS Glass bead techniques used today are the same as those used by ancient man. Each bead is individually shaped and decorated. Many designs incorporate minute decorative elements rendered in contrasting molten glass that require a steady hand and discerning eye. When creating a bead, glass is heated to the molten state using a torch fueled with propane and oxygen. The molten glass is then wound around a stainless steel mandrel that has been coated with a thin layer of clay. The mandrel forms the bead hole and the clay coating will allow the bead to release from the mandrel after the bead is completed and cooled. Temperature manipulation is one of the most important techniques of the bead making process. Glass is brought to different temperatures and viscosity’s to achieve the desired form and level of detail. When completed, each bead must be annealed in a kiln to remove any internal stress. Glass may be combined with many other elements to create endless designs. Each bead is an individual work of art. No two beads are exactly alike.
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