From the Bead Maker's Perspective: Lampwork/Glass Bead Making Video Tutorials
Introduction Video (Subtitles In Italian)
Detailed, 1st-Person Perspective Glass Bead Making / Lampwork Video Tutorials by Bijou Arte's own Tim James.
The goal of this FREE video series is to simulate a one-on-one glass bead making lesson. From beginner to advanced, we examine in detail the glass bead making process; From tips on lighting the torch, holding the mandrel and introducing the glass rod to the flame, to suggestions on how to consistently form a good base bead, pull stringer, make different bead shapes, encasement of beads, create cabochons and MORE. TONS of useful tips for beginning bead makers!
Tim James is a glass bead maker and instructor. He lives in Tuscany, Italy with his jewelry designer wife Lily. He has been working with glass since 2002 and teaching glass bead making since 2005.
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Fundraiser: Help Tim LIVE With Stage 4 Cancer HOLISTICALLY
Tim and Lily are American artisans who moved to Italy in 2001. In June, 2021, after more than a year of symptomatic illness and clinical tests, they were informed that Tim has stage 4 throat cancer. YOU can help!!
GoFundMe Campaign Link:
https://gofund.me/dce9e591
Video 1: Glass Bead Making Basics
In this inaugural video we examine in detail the glass bead making process; Tips on lighting the torch, holding the mandrel, introducing the glass rod to the flame and the transfer of glass from the rod to the mandrel. TONS of useful tips for beginning bead makers!
Video 2: Recap - Let's Speed Things Up A Bit (Subtitles In Italian)
In this 2nd lesson we'll move more quickly through the bead making process. Remember, Practice & more Practice builds muscle memory which facilitates your growth as a bead maker. Tips on lighting the torch, holding the mandrel, introducing the glass rod to the flame and the transfer of glass from the rod to the mandrel.
Video 3: Easy Barrel Beads (Subtitles In Italian)
In this video tutorial we learn how to consistently create beautifully balanced and centered barrel-shaped beads with nice dimpled ends. We also talk about the importance of flame-annealing.
Video 4: Spacer Beads & 4-Corner Beads
In this video tutorial we begin by making spacer beads, 3 beads per mandrel. This strengthens dexterity and concentration as you'll need to keep ALL the beads warm as you work. Also, we are going to make a 3-bead set of 4-corner beads. Both of these bead sets help you continue to fine-tune your process.
Video 5: Disaster Averted! Stringers, Dot Grid Pattern & More (Subtitles In Italian)
While taking my latest multi-camera setup for a test drive, dot placement suffered. BUT the bead and its design were salvaged; come see how! We also look at pulling stringers, adding dots in a grid pattern, melting dots in so the edges don't blur and raised dots.
Video 6: Fun & Easy-To-Make 5-Bead Set
Using the basic skill sets we already have in our bead-making arsenal, we'll create a set of 5 beads. Plus we'll look at flattening beads, adding dots in a grid pattern, squaring bead edges, utilizing different parts of the flame and some tips on how to successfully recreate bead styles. We'll even delve into the Zen of glass bead making...
Video 7: EASY Balanced & Centered LONG Beads & Barrel Beads (Subtitles In Italian)
When I first started making glass beads, I AVOIDED doing longer beads because I just couldn't get both sides of the bead equally balanced. But at one point a realization hit me and now Balanced & Centered LONG Beads are Easy As Pie! Come and see how easy it can be...
QUICK Tutorial 1: Lighting The Torch / Using The Oxygen Generator / Setting Gas Mix
A beginners guide to understanding and safely lighting your glasswork torch. No need to worry!
QUICK Tutorial 2: Holding The Mandrel / Warming The Bead Release / Transferring The Glass
A beginners guide to properly holding the mandrel, warming the bead release without cracking, building up your gather of glass and transferring your glass in a controlled manner.
QUICK Tutorial 3: Using The Flame & Mandrel To Facilitate Balanced & Centered Beads
A beginners guide to properly holding the mandrel and using the flame in such a way as to help you create beautiful balanced and centered beads every time.
QUICK Tutorial 4: A Detailed Look At The Melt Process From The Side Rather Than The Front
A beginners guide: This detailed side view perspective of the melt process will help you understand how properly using heat and your position in the flame will help you create beautiful balanced and centered beads every time.
QUICK Tutorial 5: Balanced and Centered Barrel Beads
A beginners guide to Barrel Shaped Beads. In this lampwork Video Tutorial we learn how to consistently create beautifully balanced and centered Barrel Shaped Beads with nice dimpled ends. We also talk about the importance of Flame Annealing.
QUICK Tutorial 6: Spacer Beads & Multiple Beads On One Mandrel
A beginners guide to Spacer Beads. In this video tutorial we'll make Spacer Beads, 3 beads per mandrel. This strengthens dexterity and concentration as you'll need to keep ALL the beads warm as you work. It's a great way to practice your Glass Bead Making process!
QUICK Tutorial 7: Adding Dots To Make 4-Corner Beads (3 Beads Per Mandrel)
A beginners guide to dots. We are going to make a 3-bead set of 4-corner beads by Adding Dots, 3 beads per mandrel. Working on multiple beads at once strengthens dexterity and concentration as you'll need to keep ALL the beads warm as you work. It's a great way to practice your Glass Bead Making process!
QUICK Tutorial 8: EASY Balanced & Centered LONG Beads
A beginners guide to longer beads. There is a process that simplifies creating longer beads that are equally balanced on both sides. In this video we'll take a detailed look at that process. It's EASY!
QUICK Tutorial 9: Pulling Stringers & Adding Dots
A beginners guide to pulling stringer and dot creation. Stringers are small glass rods that are often used to make dots. Pulling your own is easy and fun and we'll take a look at that. And while we're at it, we will use those stringers to decorate a bead.
QUICK Tutorial 10: Flattening Beads & Using/Removing Chill Marks
A beginners guide to squishing beads. Doing it wrong can throw a balanced bead OUT of balance. We'll take a detailed look at flattening beads. Plus, the chill marks left behind from squishing a bead can be a very useful guide. We'll look at that use and how to best remove the marks.
QUICK Tutorial 11: The Importance Of Flame Annealing
A beginners guide to Flame Annealing. I cannot stress enough the importance of incorporating Flame Annealing into your bead making process. It is the last thing I do with EVERY bead that I make. Not only does it provide added durability and lifespan to you bead, it also greatly increases the likelihood that your beads will survive the cooling process by ensuring that they are of an equal temperature when they enter the kiln or insulating material.
Just Playing: This, That & The Other...
I originally posted this with Led Zeppelin songs playing in my studio as I worked but Youtube called it out as copyright infringement (took them less than an hour to spot it - and they were nice about it). I've replaced Zep with a Russian dance song. Does it work? You tell me...
Night-time snippet of the making of a Massive 3-rod Hollow Core glass bead. Music is an impromptu jam session by Lily and Tim and our friends Warwick and the lovely Katharina. This musical moment was captured during our Lost Year living in a tiny medieval village near the french border...