blown glass

Sometimes it means they make their own furnace glass-- that's how Mingo describes the first part of the process, at least. Or, they CAN make blown glass beads-- like the Venetian "bubble" type ones (very thin walled, hollow). Kaytee "Simplexities" on

Cool. Thanks. We have a guy who came into my sil's coffee shop and saw all the beading stuff. Said he makes beads. He's suppose to bring some in soon so I can check them out.

Sometimes it's a quick way to describe lampworking so that the layman understands, and sometimes it's the technique of blowing air through a tube into a blob of molten glass to create a hollow object.

Sometimes the term glass blowing is used for all the following as a shortcut.

"glass blowing" - the technique of blowing air through a glass tube directly into a blob of molten glass to form a hollow object - sometimes a bead, sometimes not. Sometimes a torch is used, sometimes a furnace or glory hole is used.

"lampworking" - "on the mandrel" - wrapping molten glass from the end of a glass rod directly onto a metal rod ("mandrel") to form a bead with a hole. This is done with a torch. Hollow beads can be made this way, using a glass stacking technique.

"lampworking" - "off-mandrel or off-hand" - the technique of forming beads or objects with the molten glass at the end of a glass rod (or "punty"), without the use of a metal mandrel. This is done with a torch.

"furnace work" - the use of a furnace or glory hole to keep the glass hot while working it, instead of using a torch, or along with a torch. This is how many of the larger glass sculptures are done.

Please, experts, correct me if these are wrong or incomplete. :) HTH!

Kandice answered it wonderfully. I just had to add a link to a site for genuine BLOWN beads that I got to fondle today in Tucson. They're SO clever and intricate and absolutely hypnotic. I'm in serious beadlust here.

and how about Doni Hatz.... she's from Cincinatti Ohio check her Boro Beads here -- see the one on the top right? It's really an ornament - but she makes flower arrangements and then encloses them inside the globe!

That's awesome. I am learning so much.

Zowie!! That's beyond cool....

Remember Chad? I have one of his hearts. It was the first bead I bought.

The only thing I can say is WOW

But slowly. I've had merchants be surprised (and pleased!) that I knew enough to understand the difference, or had even *heard* the term "lampwork". They said they're used to people calling it "blown glass" all the time.

Celine

Remember Chad? I have one of his hearts. It was the first bead I bought.

Barbara Dream Master

If you want to make God laugh, tell him your future plans. Woody Allen