Showing posts with label emma mackinintosh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label emma mackinintosh. Show all posts
Saturday, 30 July 2011
Wine bottle dragon oil lamp - Ivy
Check out this gorgeous beast! A sculptural wizard with Borosilicate glass, our Emma Makintosh has an Etsy shop that is a real treat for the eyes. You can find more from Emma here at http://www.etsy.com/shop/flyingbead
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
A Buyers Guide to Quality Lampwork
As members of Frit Happens, we are all lampwork enthusiasts who appreciate quality handmade glass items and want to spread the word. Artisan lampwork items are unique and personal, created by an individual who has spent time and effort bringing work to the market that is not mass-produced.
We have put together a short guide to help buyers understand what they should be looking for in good lampwork.
This is not meant to be an exhaustive source of information but a collection of informative pointers illustrated with some lovely examples from our team. We hope buyers find it helpful.
General structure, look and integrity – beads should be well-balanced to hang properly,with no sharp edges and no cracks. The bead should look properly shaped – for example, round beads should look well-rounded.
Donuts/tyres should be nicely shaped with puckered, not sharp, holes.
Bicones/diamonds/ovals should be reasonably symmetrical, again without sharp holes.
Bead ends/holes - should be smooth and clean. Hole edges should feel smooth and flat or slightly indented/puckered. Edges should not be sharp, cracked, rough or pointed. Sharp holes can cause thread/wire to fray, damage or break.
The inner hole should be clean. Bead release (a clay-like substance that dries to a hard powder and stops beads sticking to mandrels) should be cleaned out. Many mass-produced beads have a thick layer of bead release still left in the hole. Good quality handmade beads should not. The inner bead hole may still be slightly rough where it has been in contact with the bead release, leaving the hole visible in transparent glass – this is normal.
Surface marks – chill marks are concentric circles or ripples on the surface of the glass caused during pressing or shaping with tools. These don't affect the strength of the bead but a good flameworker will generally smooth them out, unless there are good aesthetic reasons not to.
These are not to be confused with spiral lines which are added as part of the design.
Some glass can burn or cause 'pitting' on the surface of the bead. This should not be evident - the bead surface should be smooth and unpitted, unless clearly part of the design of the bead
Surface decoration – stringer, fine silver wire, dots, where used should be properly attached and not in danger of breaking or popping off easily.
Bubbles – some are unavoidable and part of the handmade nature of the product. Bubbles are also used as a decorative accent for many pieces. However, if bubbles are very large or very close to the surface, they can cause stress and should be avoided.
Encasing – generally, encasing should be tidy at the ends, without excessive smudging of the design being encased (unless this is part of the intended design of the piece).
Annealing – beads should be kiln-annealed to eliminate internal stresses that may be introduced during making and to ensure longevity of the product.
We have put together a short guide to help buyers understand what they should be looking for in good lampwork.
This is not meant to be an exhaustive source of information but a collection of informative pointers illustrated with some lovely examples from our team. We hope buyers find it helpful.
General structure, look and integrity – beads should be well-balanced to hang properly,with no sharp edges and no cracks. The bead should look properly shaped – for example, round beads should look well-rounded.
Pandora by Sarah Bedwell
Donuts/tyres should be nicely shaped with puckered, not sharp, holes.
Gin Fizz by Trudi Doherty
Bicones/diamonds/ovals should be reasonably symmetrical, again without sharp holes.
Cadeau by Diane Cook
Bead ends/holes - should be smooth and clean. Hole edges should feel smooth and flat or slightly indented/puckered. Edges should not be sharp, cracked, rough or pointed. Sharp holes can cause thread/wire to fray, damage or break.
Luck,Happiness by Sabine Little
The inner hole should be clean. Bead release (a clay-like substance that dries to a hard powder and stops beads sticking to mandrels) should be cleaned out. Many mass-produced beads have a thick layer of bead release still left in the hole. Good quality handmade beads should not. The inner bead hole may still be slightly rough where it has been in contact with the bead release, leaving the hole visible in transparent glass – this is normal.
Silver Waters by Sarah Downton
Surface marks – chill marks are concentric circles or ripples on the surface of the glass caused during pressing or shaping with tools. These don't affect the strength of the bead but a good flameworker will generally smooth them out, unless there are good aesthetic reasons not to.
Hot Rocks by Kate Sullivan
These are not to be confused with spiral lines which are added as part of the design.
Powder Beads by Jolene Wolfe
Some glass can burn or cause 'pitting' on the surface of the bead. This should not be evident - the bead surface should be smooth and unpitted, unless clearly part of the design of the bead
Surface decoration – stringer, fine silver wire, dots, where used should be properly attached and not in danger of breaking or popping off easily.
Fields of Bubble Flowers by Becky Fairclough
Sunbaked Beads by Julie Fountain
Bumpy Bead for George by Karen Baildon
Short Horned Dragon by Emma Mackintosh
Bubbles – some are unavoidable and part of the handmade nature of the product. Bubbles are also used as a decorative accent for many pieces. However, if bubbles are very large or very close to the surface, they can cause stress and should be avoided.
Victoriana by Manda Muddimer
Pleated and Bubble Bead by Diane Turton
Encasing – generally, encasing should be tidy at the ends, without excessive smudging of the design being encased (unless this is part of the intended design of the piece).
Floral Focals by Kathryn Greer
Mermaids Garden by Julie Haveland Beer
Annealing – beads should be kiln-annealed to eliminate internal stresses that may be introduced during making and to ensure longevity of the product.
Saturday, 21 August 2010
Meet The Team
I thought it was high time that we FHFteam admin volunteers introduced ourselves (mug shots and all!). We keep things ticking over by doing all sorts of administrative tasks, trouble shooting with technical stuff and the general kicking around of promotional ideas for FHFteam.
Jolene Wolfe
My name is Billie, I am a self-representing artist handcrafting flameworked glass beads in my home studio in France. As well as UK publications, my work has been featured in Step by Step Beads magazine (collaborative piece with Lynn Davy/Nemeton), and can be seen on pages 46 and 125 of the Kimberley Adams/Michele Sauvelle published book - Verre et Flame: Creation de Perles de Verre. I sell my work predominantly through The Art of Good Taste gallery in Limpertsberg, Luxembourg and on Etsy. I am SRA and SRAJD registered, and a member of GBUK. As well as being a glass artist, I am mum to two beautiful girls - Daisy (aged 6) and Ruby (aged 4), wife to James, and carer of two house rabbits - Twinkle and Lulu. www.billiejeanlittle.etsy.com
Three little people call me Mummy. Some friends call me Jules. But most people call me simply Julie :D I speak with an accent, and probably type with one too - it originates from the beautiful west coast of Norway. In 1996 I married a true Devonian, and we live in Westward Ho!, where every day I wake up to the sight and changing moods of the Atlantic Ocean.
I started bead making two years ago, after several years of creating jewellery using chain maille techniques, PMC and fusing. When Jolene initiated the Frit Happens! Etsy street team last year I saw that as a great opportunity, opened an Etsy Shop and joined.
My main admin duties within the team have been to help with the layout of the team blog and making sure all our members’ Etsy shops are linked to it. I have also assisted our members in setting up twitter and hootsuite to work for them.
I'm Emma, I live in the heart of the Lake District with my partner, several rapidly growing-up children, cats and ducks. I am a lampwork artist working with borosilicate glass to produce beads, knobs, cabochons and other items. My work has become increasingly sculptural and off-mandrel and my aim is always to produce work that is useful in some way as well as looking good. One of my lampwork knobs was featured in the Flow Magazine Spring edition gallery, having won second place in the Glass Challenge Sept/Oct 2009, and my work is for sale through Etsy and from my website, www.theflyingbead.co.uk
My name is Jolene, though most people call me Jo and I have been smitten with lampworking since June 2007. I think of myself as a tame pyromaniac. In April 2008 I took a week long class with Sally Carver and Diana East, July 2009 a class with Dora Schubert and in April this year I spent two days on a glass master class with Andrea Guarino.
My Daughter Ruby arrived in September 2008 and she totally changed the direction of how I approach lampwork. I often feed my addiction to melting glass by making twisties, shards and murrini, projects that could be picked up and put down to suit baby nap times. my website for glasswork is www.kitzbitzartglass.com I do also make beads sometimes which I sell on Etsy I am expecting our second baby in October this year.
I started FHFteam last year after seeing that there were quite a few people on Frit Happens! who were interested in belonging to an Etsy Street Team and now my jobs for the team involve general admin tasks, new member info and managing the FHFteam Etsy Hub Page.
I also do a lot of blogging about the team and run the team twitter feed.
My name is Rachel and I have been working with glass since 2000. I have a degree in it from Edinburgh College of Art, graduating in 2007, although it took another 18 months before I bit the bullet and went into business for myself with my own studio in January 2009. There are very few glass disciplines I have not tried and I've even mastered a couple of them too! The studio is mainly equipped for kiln work with a few torches thrown in for flamey fun. My work can be found in various exhibitions in the UK and sometimes abroad, with details of current events on my website and I also sell from my Etsy shop too. My website also has details of any workshops I'm teaching as well as my CV, which has full details of all my past glassy deeds, if that's of interest!
My role within the FHFTeam is basically living in the world of Facebook and helping others to use it to full advantage with various easy yet effective activities. I'm also happy to help in any way I can with all things glassy having a knack for being able to troubleshoot my way out of most problems!
I'm Lynn and I make things out of beads - mostly tiny seed beads. I love lampwork and use lots of 'lampies' in my designs, although I'm too much of a wimp to torch myself ::) Colour is my 'thing', preferably lots of colours put together in an interesting and possibly random way, although recently I've been experimenting with more monochrome and structural ideas too. I've had quite a few projects published in various beading magazines since 2006, with more in the pipeline, and I sell tutorials, kits and the occasional piece of finished beadwork at www.etsy.com/shop/nemeton. This year I made it into the finals of the US 'Bead Dreams' competition for the first time, and was a finalist in the Ugly Necklace Contest for the fourth time in a row - kind of 'from the sublime to the ridiculous'! But that just about sums up my approach to beading ;D
I'm George - not Bob - and I'm primarily a metalsmith and mailler. I work with mainly with silver, but with other metals too, but have a passion for glass and love to combine it with other materials.
I worked in advertising for nearly 20 years before having my daughter, and wanted to get back to making things with my hands, which led me through paper and mixed media to metal and beads. As well as making jewellery, I make a range of specialist findings for other designers and makers, with many created especially to compliment lampwork beads. I sell on Etsy and through my own website www.designedbygeorge.co.uk and I am hugely proud to be the inaugural chairman of the Guild of Jewellery Designers
Making lampwork beads is my hobby - I don't make beads to sell, and don't really want to, but I do occasionally sneak a few of my own beads into finished jewellery.
Jolene Wolfe
Billie Jean Little
My name is Billie, I am a self-representing artist handcrafting flameworked glass beads in my home studio in France. As well as UK publications, my work has been featured in Step by Step Beads magazine (collaborative piece with Lynn Davy/Nemeton), and can be seen on pages 46 and 125 of the Kimberley Adams/Michele Sauvelle published book - Verre et Flame: Creation de Perles de Verre. I sell my work predominantly through The Art of Good Taste gallery in Limpertsberg, Luxembourg and on Etsy. I am SRA and SRAJD registered, and a member of GBUK. As well as being a glass artist, I am mum to two beautiful girls - Daisy (aged 6) and Ruby (aged 4), wife to James, and carer of two house rabbits - Twinkle and Lulu. www.billiejeanlittle.etsy.com
Julie Haveland-Beer
Three little people call me Mummy. Some friends call me Jules. But most people call me simply Julie :D I speak with an accent, and probably type with one too - it originates from the beautiful west coast of Norway. In 1996 I married a true Devonian, and we live in Westward Ho!, where every day I wake up to the sight and changing moods of the Atlantic Ocean.
I started bead making two years ago, after several years of creating jewellery using chain maille techniques, PMC and fusing. When Jolene initiated the Frit Happens! Etsy street team last year I saw that as a great opportunity, opened an Etsy Shop and joined.
My main admin duties within the team have been to help with the layout of the team blog and making sure all our members’ Etsy shops are linked to it. I have also assisted our members in setting up twitter and hootsuite to work for them.
Emma Mackintosh
I'm Emma, I live in the heart of the Lake District with my partner, several rapidly growing-up children, cats and ducks. I am a lampwork artist working with borosilicate glass to produce beads, knobs, cabochons and other items. My work has become increasingly sculptural and off-mandrel and my aim is always to produce work that is useful in some way as well as looking good. One of my lampwork knobs was featured in the Flow Magazine Spring edition gallery, having won second place in the Glass Challenge Sept/Oct 2009, and my work is for sale through Etsy and from my website, www.theflyingbead.co.uk
Jolene Wolfe
My name is Jolene, though most people call me Jo and I have been smitten with lampworking since June 2007. I think of myself as a tame pyromaniac. In April 2008 I took a week long class with Sally Carver and Diana East, July 2009 a class with Dora Schubert and in April this year I spent two days on a glass master class with Andrea Guarino.
My Daughter Ruby arrived in September 2008 and she totally changed the direction of how I approach lampwork. I often feed my addiction to melting glass by making twisties, shards and murrini, projects that could be picked up and put down to suit baby nap times. my website for glasswork is www.kitzbitzartglass.com I do also make beads sometimes which I sell on Etsy I am expecting our second baby in October this year.
I started FHFteam last year after seeing that there were quite a few people on Frit Happens! who were interested in belonging to an Etsy Street Team and now my jobs for the team involve general admin tasks, new member info and managing the FHFteam Etsy Hub Page.
I also do a lot of blogging about the team and run the team twitter feed.
Rachel Elliot
My name is Rachel and I have been working with glass since 2000. I have a degree in it from Edinburgh College of Art, graduating in 2007, although it took another 18 months before I bit the bullet and went into business for myself with my own studio in January 2009. There are very few glass disciplines I have not tried and I've even mastered a couple of them too! The studio is mainly equipped for kiln work with a few torches thrown in for flamey fun. My work can be found in various exhibitions in the UK and sometimes abroad, with details of current events on my website and I also sell from my Etsy shop too. My website also has details of any workshops I'm teaching as well as my CV, which has full details of all my past glassy deeds, if that's of interest!
My role within the FHFTeam is basically living in the world of Facebook and helping others to use it to full advantage with various easy yet effective activities. I'm also happy to help in any way I can with all things glassy having a knack for being able to troubleshoot my way out of most problems!
Lynn Davy
I'm Lynn and I make things out of beads - mostly tiny seed beads. I love lampwork and use lots of 'lampies' in my designs, although I'm too much of a wimp to torch myself ::) Colour is my 'thing', preferably lots of colours put together in an interesting and possibly random way, although recently I've been experimenting with more monochrome and structural ideas too. I've had quite a few projects published in various beading magazines since 2006, with more in the pipeline, and I sell tutorials, kits and the occasional piece of finished beadwork at www.etsy.com/shop/nemeton. This year I made it into the finals of the US 'Bead Dreams' competition for the first time, and was a finalist in the Ugly Necklace Contest for the fourth time in a row - kind of 'from the sublime to the ridiculous'! But that just about sums up my approach to beading ;D
George Harper
I'm George - not Bob - and I'm primarily a metalsmith and mailler. I work with mainly with silver, but with other metals too, but have a passion for glass and love to combine it with other materials.
I worked in advertising for nearly 20 years before having my daughter, and wanted to get back to making things with my hands, which led me through paper and mixed media to metal and beads. As well as making jewellery, I make a range of specialist findings for other designers and makers, with many created especially to compliment lampwork beads. I sell on Etsy and through my own website www.designedbygeorge.co.uk and I am hugely proud to be the inaugural chairman of the Guild of Jewellery Designers
Making lampwork beads is my hobby - I don't make beads to sell, and don't really want to, but I do occasionally sneak a few of my own beads into finished jewellery.
Friday, 21 August 2009
FHFteam Prize Anagramathon Vol 2
Etsy Treasury - FHFteam Prize Anagramathon
The prize - Peacock Pink Outstanding Knob by Emma Mackintosh
Log in to Etsy and get clicking for your chance to win this beautiful piece of glass art - full details of how to enter are in the treasury itself.
Good luck x
The prize - Peacock Pink Outstanding Knob by Emma Mackintosh
Log in to Etsy and get clicking for your chance to win this beautiful piece of glass art - full details of how to enter are in the treasury itself.
Good luck x
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Outstanding Knobs - Emma Makintosh on Etsy Front Page
One of our FHFteam members Emma Mackintosh got featured on the front page of Etsy Yesterday with her beautiful unique Lampwork borosiliacte glass draw pull. Congratulations Emma.
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