Swirly Girl Beads
All Swirly Girl Beads are individually handmade by Victoria Plouffe, making each bead a one of a kind creation. The beads are kiln-annealed for strength and durability and then crafted into various pieces of jewelry. Swarovski crystals and sterling silver are used to further accent each piece.
As many of the pieces shown in the collection are sold, please feel free to contact me for custom work or to purchase a piece similar to those shown.
What is Lampworking?
(excerpt taken from Wikipedia)
Lampworking is glassworking using a torch to melt and shape the glass. It is also known as flameworking or torchworking, as the modern practice no longer uses oil-fueled lamps. Although the art form has been practiced since ancient times, it became widely practiced in Murano, Italy in the 14th century. In the mid 19th century lampwork technique was extended to the production of paperweights, primarily in France, where it became a popular art form, still collected today.
Early lampworking was done in the flame of an oil lamp, with the artist blowing air into the flame through a pipe. Most artists today use torches that burn either propane or natural gas for the fuel gas, with either air or pure oxygen.
Lampworking can be done with many types of glass, but the most common are soda-lime glass, sometimes called "soft glass" - and borosilicate glass, often called "hard glass. Different colors of glass must be carefully selected for compatibility with each other, both chemically and in terms of coefficient of thermal expansion (COE).
How are lampwork Beads Made?
- Preparing the mandrel - The beadmaker starts by dipping a mandrel, or wire (stainless steel welding wire, cut into lengths into a clay based substance and letting it dry.
- Heating rod and mandrel - The flameworker selects rods of glass to heat in the flame of the torch. When both glass and mandrel are sufficiently warm, the beadmaker starts rotating the mandrel while allowing the glass to wind upon it.
- Shaping the bead - Beads are shaped using a combination of heat, gravity and tools such as graphite paddles, mashers, tweezers, and picks. Presses to create shapes and indent patterns into the glass are also used.
- Decorating the bead - Beads can be decorated by melting stringers, or fibers of glass on the surface, creating dots or lines. With a sharp pointed tool, feathers, hearts or other designs may be produced. Metal decorations of copper, silver, gold, palladium and platinum are applied as metal leaf, wire, mesh or fuming.
- Striking - If silver based colors are used (striking colors), the bead must be heated for a few moments in the torch flame or kiln to allow crystals to reform in the glass. This temperature is slightly over the stress relief point.
- Annealing - Once completed, large or complex beads must be heated to 940º-1050ºF(depending on type of glass used), until the piece reaches it's "stress relief point", held at that temp for a short period of time, then slowly cooled to avoid shattering from thermal shock.
About Me
I adore jewelry and especially enjoy combining my handmade glass beads into unique pieces. I love when others comment on my jewlery and ask where they can buy the same thing – only to be told it is a one of a kind. Even on the dullest of days my Swirly Girl Beads make me feel fresh, fun, flirty, and funky!
I live in Calgary, Alberta, on the edge of the Canadian Rockies with my handsome husband, two adorable babies and crazy golden retriever.
