In creating glass beads, I experience the “left brain/right brain” transition in the creative process first-hand. Glass bead making involves melting colorful soda-lime glass rods around a mandrel with a propane/oxygen torch and then embellishing them. The combination of color and techniques, while maintaining control of hot glass, is an exciting dance on an incredibly small palette that takes me out of myself and into the moment. I get to play with fire!

Designing jewelry pieces incorporating these glass beads is a separate discipline that I thoroughly enjoy.

Weather permitting, I will be demonstrating the bead making process during the tour, otherwise, some wire-working techniques.