Catherine Howard

Personal website www.chbeads.com

I began making glass beads in 2001. I use soft glass from Italy, Germany, and the United States with a duel-fuel torch (propane and oxygen).

As the glass becomes molten in the flame, I wrap it around a steel mandrel and continue to work it in the flame until I am happy with the size, shape, texture, and colors of the bead. The reactions of different glasses together, as well as the effects I can create with different surface applications and reducing (fuel-rich) and oxidizing (oxygen-rich) flames are endlessly fascinating.

Immediately upon finishing each bead, I place it in the kiln at approximately 950F and then I anneal the beads, which is a process that cools the beads very slowly. Annealing beads so that the inner part of the bead cools at a constant rate as the outer surface of the bead is important, to ensure that the bead will be strong and durable during its lifetime.

I can use different colors and treatments together, as long as my glass is compatible in its coefficient of expansion. Enamels, metals (silver and gold leaf) and frits (fine powdered glass) can be applied to add to the the depth, luminosity and visual beauty of the beads. I can shape the bead while it is still hot, using brass and graphite tools made especially for this purpose.