Hobby & Craft Forums

Has anybody had a go at lampwork?? - I have seen bits and pieces about it, and I think some of the results are qute amazing.. I would be tempted to have a go, and then worried I might like it (what AM I going to do with a lot of beads afterwards!).. Is it the kind of thing you can do relatively inexpensively?? or do they see crafters coming and tempt you in with pretty things while your credit card and bank account miraculously haemorrhages??

Presumably uoiu can use the technique to do things other than beads too??

I have to say sparky I knew nothing about lampworking until 2 months ago.... I was struck by seeing one particular bead and its just gone from there. i'm now like a kid in a sweetshop.

I've had no other interest in crafts other than my silversmithing for nearly 14 yrs but now i've seen this lampworking I wanted to find out more about it.

As you might know i've got a large studio / workshop so I have now organised 3 lampwork demo days, I'm fortunate enought to have some absolutely fantastic friends around here who are brilliant. Two really good glass artisans come to my free open days and bring all their kit and sit and do demos all day(one travels down from the other side of London to do this for me, my next one is this Saturday and so far I have about 18 or so coming down.

The skills involved are very demanding and so many techniques and yes you can make more than just beads.

I was fortunate about a month ago to have an artist come over from Andover who was actually taught, trained and worked on Murano ( where it all started) her work is simply stunning.

As for kit, a basic set is going to cost you arounf £150.00 to get started but if you get into it big style then look at shelling around £800 for a good setup or £2000 for the dogs doodahs.

Carl Martin wrote:I have to say sparky I knew nothing about lampworking until 2 months ago.... I was struck by seeing one particular bead and its just gone from there. i'm now like a kid in a sweetshop.

I've had no other interest in crafts other than my silversmithing for nearly 14 yrs but now i've seen this lampworking I wanted to find out more about it.

As you might know i've got a large studio / workshop so I have now organised 3 lampwork demo days, I'm fortunate enought to have some absolutely fantastic friends around here who are brilliant. Two really good glass artisans come to my free open days and bring all their kit and sit and do demos all day(one travels down from the other side of London to do this for me, my next one is this Saturday and so far I have about 18 or so coming down.

The skills involved are very demanding and so many techniques and yes you can make more than just beads.

I was fortunate about a month ago to have an artist come over from Andover who was actually taught, trained and worked on Murano ( where it all started) her work is simply stunning.

As for kit, a basic set is going to cost you arounf £150.00 to get started but if you get into it big style then look at shelling around £800 for a good setup or £2000 for the dogs doodahs.

I knew it.. I will just go and get "SUCKER" tattooed on my forehead before I go to the crafts suppliers! that, and a blank chequebook!

I know roughly where you are Carl, I used to live just up the road, and still have a house there, but sadly you are 300 miles from here, or I would be there (yes, with cake!) for your open days and stuff... sadly things like that always seem to be the other end of the country - I am having the same problems with finding a massage course.. nobody seems to actually run them up here (listed in prospectuses, but come the day, they dont run!)..

It is a bit of a bind really, by the time I have a job, and thus spare cash to indulge in these things, I will have given up my spare time! typical!

I too have had my interest in lampwork beads tickled over the last week, whilst searching for these particular glass pearls on ebay that I wanted, all the lampwork beads were coming up (with the glass keyword), at first I was taking no notice of them, but then one particular style would catch my eye, then another, then more. Not sure if I want to make them yet, but I am interested in how they are made.

Unlike my dichroic glass fetish - I would love to be able to make that. The only thing is, I would want to keep most of what I had made for myself - the lady I was talking to about it at the last craft fair said what each piece comes out like is a mystery until it comes out. She was helping me match up earrings with a pendant in a particular shade of pink. She agreed with me in that for the first few months she too wanted to keep everything.

Ohhh, just relised you need a kiln. That counts me out - they are not cheap.

no they're not cheap Karen, I looked into buying one a few weeks ago and nearly fell over lol! They do have very small hobby ones on ebay though for around £100-£150 which are great for smaller things like beads and pendants etc!

Oh right - thats a little more affordable. I must have missed them - will have another look.

Never one to hangabout, I've been working on a few projects - one is collaboration - Got my new line up for 2010 two glass artisans coming to join me in January, teaching & making etc etc. One does lampworking, one does fused dichroic glass - been spreading the word today and intending to get my website hits up.
Upwards and Onwards.

Would love to do both of those Carl but you're so far away.

Shall we start looking for your second workshop in the North West .

makeitbig wrote:Would love to do both of those Carl but you're so far away.

Shall we start looking for your second workshop in the North West .

I second that!!

unless you do the course Makeitbig, and then teach the rest of us!