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The Little Bead Shop is home to a purpose built Lampwork Studio. Our In House Artist Emma Baird can often be found at her torch creating little glassy works of art. Emma has been making these beautiful beads for years now and has trained with Sarah Hornick, Sally Carver and Mindy Macgregor. She is a member of the prestigious British Lampwork, GBUK & is also a Self Representing Artist. Her style has evolved from mainly "organic" beads to intricate patterns made up of layers and layers of minute dots. She regularly sets an afternoon aside during which you are welcome to come into her studio to watch as she works. Open Studio times and dates are always announced in our scrolling news which you can see on the right. |
Emma recently discovered that she came runner up in the National Lampwork Competition run by the magazine Beads & Beyond. This was her entry below - a set of nine lentil beads in Emma's favorite combinations - dots & pink!
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The process by which these beads are made is called Lampwork, or Flamework in the States. It is a type of glasswork that uses the process of melting glass rods over an open flame. The glass rods come in a huge variety of beautiful colours and the open flame comes from a special beadmaking torch (currently a minor burner in Emma's case). Once the artist is ready to to begin working the glass rod is slowly introduced into the flame. Working slowly in this way helps ensure the glass does not suffer from thermal shock and crack. The glass is heated until molten and is then would around a steel rod called a mandrel, which has been dipped in bead release to prevent the glass from sticking. The glass is heated and the mandrel rotated until gravity helps form a prefect base bead. From here various tools and techniques can be used to further shape and decorate the glass. Once completed the bead is placed directly into a hot kiln for annealing, ensuring it cools slowly and thus avoids thermal shock. This means the beads are strong and durable and with care can last a lifetime.
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Once the beads have been cooled to room temperature they are removed from their mandrels, lovingly and carefully cleaned of their bead release and put on display on the Little Bead Shop Floor. We are proud to be one of a very few bead shops in the United Kingdom where you can buy beads that were made on the premises. Buying Emma's Lampwork beads not only supports a local artist but also ensures that your beads are unique. You can make them into a very special piece of totally unique jewellery, give them as a special gift or simply keep them as they are.
Freshly baked beads are now available online here- but be quick - they don't hang around for long! |
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Untitled Document
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Welcome to our news!
Here you will find up to date news of whats going on at here The Little Bead Shop & Art Clay Scotland. Courses, Guest Artists, Events, Publications, Open Studios, even parties - its all here! Simply hold your cursor over the scrolling text to slow it down.
***Level One Certification Course***
We are thrilled to announce the first Level One Certification of the new year. Taking place in March this course is for experienced students looking to take their metal clay work to the next level. Over three days students complete 7 set projects, providing a thorough education in all the basic methods of working with metal clay. Upon successful completion you'll receive an world recognised certificate and enjoy a substantial discount on your Art Clay Silver products purchased from us. Read more here
New In Store - Making Jewellery Issue 12
The latest issue of Making Jewellery is now available in our online store. Featuring a Faux Bone project by our own Emma Baird, as well as other fantastic projects this really is a must have magazine! Dont forget Bead Magazine with Emma & Gil's collaborative project of stunning crochet chains & fine silver bead caps and clasp. View all magazines online here.
Scottish Bead Fair
An essential day out for any bead fanatic and jewellery maker is the Scottish Bead Fair. Held in Perth on the 14th of March is really is a great day out. Come along and catch Emma's FREE demonstration on Precious Metal Clay! Find out more on here.
Precious Metal Clay Courses
The full day Introduction to Precious Metal Clay Class on the 14th February is now FULL. A new course has been added on Sunday the 21st of March. This course is the ideal grounding in metal clay and will give you the confidence to continue working with this incredible material at home. Cant wait that long?? Then take a look at our Wednesday evening courses. All of our courses will give you the knowledge and confidence to continue working with the clay at home ! Find out more on our Art Clay Course pagehere.
Hattie Sanderson Master Classes - June 2010
We are delighted to welcome Hattie Sanderson back in June 2010 for two brand new Master Classes: Magnetic Focal Clasp & Serenity Ring. A place on each course can be reserved with a small non- refundable deposit. There is also an early bird discount of 10% for all bookings paid in full by March. We expect that the spaces on these two fantastic new workshops will go very fast! Read more about Hatties courses here.
Silver Fingerprint Jewellery - Express Drop in Day
We are pleased to announce our newest service - Saturday Drop in Day for Silver Fingerprint Charms. Between the hours of 2:00 - 5:00 on Saturdays you can simply "drop in" to have your own, a child's or loved ones fingerprint immortalised in pure Silver. Come along early and we'll even have your jewellery ready for you by tea time!!!! Pure Silver Fingerprint Jewellery makes an ideal gift for anyone. Find out more here
Metal Clay Artist Magazine
And finally - the eagerly anticipated 2nd Issue of Metal Clay Artist Magazine is in store now!!! Dedicated to Metal Clay this really is a MUST READ for any metal clay enthusiast - whether a beginner or advanced. This month you'll find a great ring project by Hattie Sanderson as well as an interview with Gordon Uyehara. Call us to reserve your copy or buy online here.
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