Susan Midlarsky of Aspiring Arts: Lampwork Bracelet

[Refuge51]

Beautiful and very much in demand right now:)

[kmperry1220]

Thank you for inspiring me to do something I have wanted to do for a long time!!!

Your bracelets and beads are beautiful.

Great Video!

[susanrm]

@kmperry1220 Thank you so much... it means a lot that you wrote this. Enjoy your hot glass!

[willardky]

Was wondering if you have to have a kiln when making glass beads or will the fiber blanket work? If anyine knows let me know.Thanks Loved the video

[susanrm]

Glad you liked the video! Please see the above comments. You do need a kiln to anneal them, but you can put them in fiber temporarily to let them cool slowly until you can get to a kiln.

[armymom718]

I am a newbie to lampwork and you gave me confidence! I like the dremel to clean out the hole...I've been reaming like crazy!

[susanrm]

I don't recommend it, actually - too much electricity near water. Now I use a flexible shaft tool that has no power near the water. But you can also use a battery-powered dremel that will make it safer.

[MaestroMike673]

Beautifully done! When I did lampworking I found that whenever I tried to encase the inside in clear glass, it got way too hot and the inner colors quickly diffused throughout the bead. You are a real pro :)

[sheelea05]

Susan your bead and bracelet are beautiful!

I just want to say that by putting a lampwork bead into a fiber blanket you are just allowing the bead to cool down slowly to avoid shocking and cracking the bead. To allow a bead to be annealed it must be annealed in a kiln. This will ensure your glass is stable. Allowing for it to become more shock resistant as it is still glass.

[susanrm]

Sheela, thanks. This very important indeed! So I don't mind that it's repeated, but if you read through the other comments, you'll see this was already addressed. :-)

[amber0307]

Hi Susan,

Oh, I'm sorry, I totally missed that comment :(

Your bead is lovely by the way, you make it look so easy!

x

[susanrm]

Thank you so much!

[VBGRIM]

my wife just started making beads, the chain is a great idea. Any better instructions on making the chain and parts that hold the bead etc. I'm sure she'd like to try it.

[susanrm]

If you go to the HGTV website and search on "chainmaille," you'll get my full step-by-step instructions. There are also great books and DVDs with instructions on how to make these chains.

[norocketscientist]

So complicated, I had no idea!

[FunWithGlass]

Very cool :D. One thing i could recomend is when encasing your flowers put on good sized dot of clear over the whole to make a perfect bubble everytime. Then go ahead and encase from there :D

[susanrm]

Yes, that was the technique, if you mean "hole"! :-)

[FunWithGlass]

lol yeah i type so fast i don't even catch that stuff.

[viliblna]

So I have to put the white stuff on the metal stick ? Or I have to buy one ??

[susanrm]

For more details on how to make glass beads, please go to lampworketc-dot-com or wetcanvas-dot-com, where there is lots of step-by-step info and many experienced people to question.

[QuakeconRocks]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! lol i have been making beads for a while now and would like some tips on certain things. I have never found a sight to ask experienced people. Thanks.

[viliblna]

what's thet "mandril" ????? end what is on thet stick ? thet whyte thing ?

[susanrm]

A mandrel is the "stick" you mentioned. The white stuff is bead release. If you don't put the hot glass on that, it will stick to the metal mandrel, and you'll have a plant stake, but not a usable bead.

[thebeadnut]

The problem I have with this video gives the impression that this bead is ok to use as is. The bead should be annealed. Not just put in a fiber blanket.

[susanrm]

I totally agree. The editors removed this as well as a number of other safety statements I made in the final video, much to my chagrin. (This is six hours of video edited down to six minutes.)

[QuakeconRocks]

i agree but people like me can't afford a khiln :( so it's fiber blankets for me