Art Clay Scotland's Jewellery studio is home to a dual fuel Lampwork torch, because Emma Baird isn't just known for her beautiful Metal Clay creations but also for her beautiful Lampwork beads. Emma has been melting glass for many years, and has written several tutorials for the UK's Jewellery Making and Beading Magazines, and also features in the Book "Creative Lampwork". The very first Lampwork tutorial ever published in Bead Magazine was on how to make Emma's stunning "pansy" beads pictured below.

Emma offers taster sessions in Lampwork for a maximum of 2 people. The cost is £50, or £75 for two, for two hours. Additional hours can be added if required, at £25 an hour. Sessions are arranged at a time to suit. Torch hire will be available to those who have experience with a dual fuel torch from early 2012. Torch hire will be supervised but not tutored. To book a taster session call us on 0131 228 5058.

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.