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#11
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Yes, that does happen on occasion. They are glass beads, after all. I had
a flower pop off one of my beads fresh out of the kiln two days ago. I was so ticked off - this hardly ever happens. But we're not infallible, we lampworkers - as much as we like to believe we are! -- Kandice Seeber Air & Earth Designs http://www.lampwork.net I suspect it varies from maker to maker. And well-annealed lampwork isn't totally immune, either. I had an artisan lampwork bead split right down the middle the other day. So ... the reputation of Indian and Chinese lampwork is a -generalization- only. *IN GENERAL*, it is prone to more problems. But bead by bead, it may be just fine... Deirdre On 20 Sep 2003 22:19:49 GMT, ospam (Kaytee) wrote: In article , vj writes: I go out of my way to avoid glass from India, Turkey, and China. Those beads are usually not annealed and are very weak and prone to cracking and breakage. Just a note: at least some of the Chinese beads seem to be OK. I have a couple on an ID holder neckstrap-- they have been clanked together and against hard surfaces, as well as dropped on cement, ceramic tile and blacktop for over a year (maybe over 2 years...) and they are still intact. These are humungous (30+mm) sized round beads with "painted" type designs on them (look like Chinese brush paintings, but all done with glass). The smaller "sputnik"/"Warring States" type beads also seem to hold up pretty well, judging from unplanned bounce testing. Kaytee "Simplexities" on www.eclecticbeadery.com http://www.rubylane.com/shops/simplexities |
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#12
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isn't there a way to put your blown bits in a case or cupboard, or
something? or restrict the cats to the non-work area? Or put a colander upside down over the beads? ~~ Sooz ------- "Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance ~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links http://airandearth.netfirms.com/soozlinkslist.html |
#13
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i was trying to make a distinction between Western and
European. New World lampwork. ~~ Sooz ------- "Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance ~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links http://airandearth.netfirms.com/soozlinkslist.html |
#14
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why not? i like supporting "American Artists".
That counts out Australia, and people like Arondelle (Switzerland). ~~ Sooz ------- "Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance ~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links http://airandearth.netfirms.com/soozlinkslist.html |
#15
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The only suggestion I would make is that you could elaborate a little
more on annealing... a subject about which little is commonly known, even to many newer lampworkers. "kiln-annealed". ~~ Sooz ------- "Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance ~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links http://airandearth.netfirms.com/soozlinkslist.html |
#16
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Bwahahahaaaaaaaaa! Yes, you are.
-- Tink www.blackswampglassworks.com Sign Up Now For Fall Workshops! Hollows, Vessels & Florals... "vj" wrote in message ... vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Tink" : ]*swoon* I just LOVE small-scale blowing!!! Of course, this leads to more ]hardcore stuff: I'm shopping for an electric crucible and small glory hole ]now. OH, SH*T! i am in SO much trouble! ----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books) http://www.booksnbytes.com (Jewelry) http://www.vickijean.com ----------- It's not what you take, when you leave this world behind you; it's what you leave behind you when you go. -- Randy Travis |
#17
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There may not be any way to tell ... until it breaks. But the same is
true for artisan lampwork. The artist may do everything in his or her power to insure that the bead is sound before they release it to the world. But it may still bust -in spite of all the care they took-. And an Indian or Chinese bead may luck-out and survive in spite of the low-tech conditions under which it was made. For me, one of the big stoppers when it comes to buying low-tech lampwork is the powdery haze of bead release that dulls them to the point of being a whole lot less than attractive. I've bought Indian lampwork I wouldn't be ashamed to use from Bead Monkey in the Twin Cities, and when I asked why their Indian lampwork looked so much better than other people's Indian lampwork, they told me they ran their shipments through a couple of cycles in an automatic dishwasher, and did some serious culling before putting the survivors out on display. Deirdre On Sun, 21 Sep 2003 13:08:56 -0700, vj wrote: it's the "how to tell" part i'm having real trouble with. |
#18
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How about linking it to the level of technology involved instead of
making it regional. A Chinese lampworker who used the same setup as a Western lampworker, and who had learned the same skills, and had access to equally decent materials could certainly turn out lampwork of comparable quality. It would be good -- IMO -- to link quality to *skills, materials and technique* rather than nationality. Less ethno-centric, dontcha think? Deirdre On Sun, 21 Sep 2003 13:10:25 -0700, vj wrote: vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from Deirdre S. : ]Are you sure you want to make your category for artisan lampwork ]specifically *American* lampwork? That suggests that we are the only ]bastion of artisan lampwork in the world... you're right. i need to find a different way to do that. since i have lampwork from Canada and hope to have from Australia, too. [as it says near the bottom] maybe "Western Lampwork"????? ----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books) http://www.booksnbytes.com (Jewelry) http://www.vickijean.com ----------- It's not what you take, when you leave this world behind you; it's what you leave behind you when you go. -- Randy Travis |
#19
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I guess I make fewer fine distinctions between artist and artisan,
though I know there may be grounds for distinction. And I wonder if some people, like the Czech lampworkers, wouldn't -be- closer to the definition of artists, if the cultural emphasis on traditional forms and methods were lifted a bit. They clearly have the skills, but not their environment's encouragement toward individual expression, IMO. In a more open atmosphere, some might experiment more, perhaps be inspiringly innovative. But, we can't really know that unless it actually happens. And maybe those artisans who do aspire to artist-like individual expression find they have to emigrate to explore that path... Deirdre On Sun, 21 Sep 2003 21:23:59 GMT, "Christina Peterson" wrote: Actually, Deirdre, I'd probably refer to the cottage industry (like in Czech) beads as "artisan". Tina "Deirdre S." wrote in message .. . Interesting stuff, Maynard. And a good way to introduce people to what the terms mean, and the differences in regional styles, techniques and attitudes. Are you sure you want to make your category for artisan lampwork specifically *American* lampwork? That suggests that we are the only bastion of artisan lampwork in the world... Deirdre On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 12:27:27 -0700, vj wrote: vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Kandice Seeber" : ]Do you want a more detail explanation - or will that work? I am certainly ]not a writer, so if anyone wants to attempt a better explanation, please ]feel free. i'm not ignoring you, Kandice - i was waiting to see if others chimed in. this is what i have so far, [and i did get permission from the website i stole the first part from to use it] but it's open to modification, and i'm hoping others can use it, too . . . --------------- [image of Tink bead] American Lampwork: Lampwork is an ancient technique of using a flame to melt glass. It involves the process of melting glass in a hot flame on a steel mandrel. The molten glass is wound around the mandrel until the desired size and style are achieved. The flame used to melt the glass is produced by mixing gas, either natural or propane, and oxygen. Thus, the flame produced is hot enough to melt glass. A torch is the primary tool for the flame. Once a bead is formed and the artist is finished with the actual creation process, the bead is then placed in a kiln to start the annealing process. Annealing is the process of bringing down the temperature of the glass very slowly. Annealing makes a glass bead very strong and durable. When a bead is taken out of the kiln, it is still on the steel mandrel. The cooled bead is soaked in water to soften the bead release agent. Once the bead is removed, the holes are cleaned and filed. Artist made Lampworked glass beads are one of a kind, and should be considered artwork that is wearable. No two beads are identical. If you own lampworked beads in jewelry you can be sure that you own a one of a kind piece of jewelry - an heirloom for your family. What you are NOT getting are the mass-produced lampwork beads that are imported, unless specified as Czech. [see Czech lampwork] I go out of my way to avoid glass from India, Turkey, and China. Those beads are usually not annealed and are very weak and prone to cracking and breakage. Lampworked glass beads are not "blown glass", this is a different technique entirely. Most of the lampworked beads I use are handcrafted in the United States, Canada, or Australia by glass artisans, who utilize a high level of safety in their lampwork process. When you purchase jewelry from me that contains lampwork, the artist will be specified. Czech Lampwork: The glass bead industry in the Czech Republic is well established and has been there for over 100 years (if not longer). While the firepolished and pressed glass is made in factories, there are many factories and none of them would be considered huge by American standards. The lampwork beads are a completely different story - or at least they used to be. Lampworking is a cottage industry in the Czech Republic utilizing many individual families making beads at home. The techniques are passed from generation to generation starting at a very young age. These people are VERY skilled artisans and by their own country's standards, very well paid. They make beads only in the styles that have been mainstays of the industry for decades, so they may look 'mass-produced.' For them, the beads are a product to make well but they are NOT necessarily an expression of an artist's sensibility. The beads are contracted for through either the factory owners or other middlemen - the families rarely, if ever, produce beads for direct marketing. As for quality, I can only assume that their glass industry knows how to make beads that last considering how long it's existed in that area. If they didn't make a quality product, it wouldn't have flourished as it has. There is a dynamic difference between the way European glass beadmakers and the new generation of US beadmakers view 'production work' vs 'art beads' European glass workers (they seldom refer to themselves as artists) HIGHLY value skill, precision, expertise, experience, & the level of experience/mastery of who they studied with. The common (uncommon in the states) is generational passing of knowledge and the demanding perfection that accompanies it. Form and function are of UTMOST concern - technique is stressed over 'interpretation' or art. In fact at some points, those in apprenticeship are not considered prepared to venture outside the level of skill they are currently mastering. Pride and purpose for many European glassworkers/beadmakers is to create a technically perfect bead or item upon demand, over and over, flawlessly. It's a different sort of 'bar' than we think of here in the US where art glass, especially bead-making, has been born in the warmer glow of expression, personal statement and variation. I go out of my way to buy from people I know I can trust - lampworkers, beads, silver, and finding suppliers. I use sterling silver or copper wire for wire wrapping, natural stones, Czech and Japanese seed beads, sterling silver findings [mostly Bali], and pewter, glass, and porcelain charms. When you buy jewelry from me, you will often know who made the beads and where they live. ====================== suggestions are welcome. i haven't found anything like this for the Bali silver or Hill Tribe silver yet [couldn't find the right posts]. i do have the link for Bali i can use on my site, but need to figure out what to put on the actual flyers that go with my jewelry display. ----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books) http://www.booksnbytes.com (Jewelry) http://www.vickijean.com ----------- It's not what you take, when you leave this world behind you; it's what you leave behind you when you go. -- Randy Travis |
#20
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I think Kalera meant the bead I had which was a domestically made art
lampwork bead from an identified source, not the mass produced stuff. I suspect that the Indian and Chinese lampworkers know their stuff breaks, but they aren't in a position to have a whole lot of what you might call 'creative control'. I suspect they do the best they can within the conditions they're stuck with... Deirdre On Sun, 21 Sep 2003 21:52:20 -0700, vj wrote: vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from Kalera Stratton : ]YOu should let the artist know and even send it to them, not just for a ]replacement, but because it's possible that they are inadvertantly using ]colors that aren't compatible, as with me and my Pink Tourmaline and ]Denim sob!. when they're in China or India, and the beads are wholesaled to companies, that's a tad hard to do! ----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books) http://www.booksnbytes.com (Jewelry) http://www.vickijean.com ----------- It's not what you take, when you leave this world behind you; it's what you leave behind you when you go. -- Randy Travis |
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