They’re the very best in contemporary glass beadmaking, 1000 dazzling and unique examples by an international array of artists. This color survey has it all: the beads come single or in multiples, in jewelry or sculptural pieces, flameworked and kilnformed; and their diversity and beauty are amazing. Julia Skop’s intriguing Secret Surprise showcases clear glass beads with millefiori slices at the ends. Bruce St. John crafts his beads out of diachroic glass, then fuses and coldworks them at the lapidary well after completion. Nebula Black Necklace, from Rene Roberts, features an organic-looking focal bead adorned with fine metal leaf, glass shards, and a subtle dot decoration. An artist’s comment and detail image accompany many of the photos. A Selection of the Crafters Choice Book Club.

Features biographical sketches and the work of glass bead artists. Illustrates lampworking techniques.

Table of Contents Making a Basic Bead Preparing Mandrels 27 Igniting the Torch 28 Forming a Bead 30 Extinguishing the Torch 34 Removing Your Bead from the Mandrel 34 Finishing Touches 36 Simple Variations Shaping Your Beads 38 Overwraps 43 Multicolored Beads 44 Spots, Dots & Eyes 45 Stripes & Trails 47 Pulling Stringer 49 Fun with Stringer 53 Raked Patterns 56 Taking the Next Step Mixing Colors 59 Ribbon Cane 60 Twisties 61 Making Your Own Filigrana & Cased Stringer 64 Combing, Feathering, Side-Shifting & Furrowing 68 Pinching, Poking, Snipping & Plunging 71 Adding Metals 74 Inclusions & Surface Treatments 77 Commercial Millefiori 78 Advanced Techniques Making Your Own Millefiori 82 Cased Beads 87 Dichroic Glass 90 Sculpted Beads 91 Hollow Beads 98 Buttons 99 Marbles 101 Core Vessels 102 Appendix A. Jewelry-Making Basics 105 Appendix B. The Nature of Glass 108 Appendix C. Troubleshooting 110 Contributing Artists 111 Acknowledgments 112 Index 112.

A guide to the popular craft offers beadmakers instructions for how to torch, wind, and cool beads; directions for creating various designs, including barrels, cones, and discs; and strategies for achieving a variety of colors and patterns.

"These stories interconnect the friendships of four First Nations people spanning over two decades against the cultural, political, and historical backdrop of the 1990s and early 2000s."--

Millefiori, foil, Klimt, Miro – these are just a few of the colorful Venetian glass bead styles taking center stage in Kathy Fox’s illuminating book. Fully detailed and beautifully photographed, the step-by-step instructions for 24 modern jewelry projects using wire wrapping, bead crochet, knotting, stringing, and simple stitching will entice any reader into becoming a Venetian glass bead artist. She also shares the rich history and tradition behind this old-world art form, and provides useful tips for identifying authentic Venetian and Murano beads, guiding readers to informed buying decisions.