Resources & Links...
Here's a list of American online suppliers, recources & links. (a work in progress. If you have something to add, contact me!)
GLASS . SUPPLIES . TOOLS
Specialized Suppliers
- Glass Finishing Tools cleaning, coring/lining,
electroforming, etc.
beadable utensils, barware, etc.
changeable jewelry findings
torches, kilns/annealers,
oxygen concentrators, glass storage
SETTING UP YOUR STUDIO
ventilation, enameling, etc.
studio tours, etc.
INSTRUCTION
watch video, bead color guide, info, etc.
from beads & findings to raw materials
& tools for silversmithing
BEADS OF COURAGE...
To many, a bead is just a bead: A simple piece of decoration that can be used for a variety of jewelry. But for many children battling cancer & other serious illnesses, a bead can be so much more. Through the nonprofit Beads of Courage, children battling cancer are given a bead to represent something brave and challenging he or she went through during treatment like needle pokes, transfusions, dressing changes, clinic visits and hair loss. Each child is given a purple heart when they go into remission. Parents who lose a child are given a butterfly bead. Check out their website to see how you &/or your local lampworking group can help.
Bead donation address
Beads of Courage, Inc.
5301 S Houghton Road
Tucson AZ 85747
Feel free to contact our Director of Bead Donations for questions related to beads, Robert Simmons
BEADS OF COURAGE COLOR GUIDE:
Bone Marrow Aspirate/Biopsy
Course of Chemotherapy
Central Line/Port/PICC Line Inserstion & Removal
Clinic Visit
Emergency/Ambulance/Unusual Occurence
Hair Loss/Thinning
Isolation/Fever/Neutropenia
Lumbar Puncture
Morphine/Dopamine/PCA Infusions
Pokes(IV Starts, Blood Draws, IM injections, Port Access)
Radiation Treatments
Tests/Scans(EEG, ECG, ECHO, MRI, CT, Bone Scan, Gallium)
Transfusions
Tube Insertions(Catheter, Chest, NG, Foley)
Sleep over at Hospital/Patient Admission
Stem Cell Harvest/Dialysis/TPN
Surgery
Transfer to the PICU
MILESTONE BEAD COLORS
Special Accomplishments and Recognition
Bone Marrow Transplant
Completion of Treatment
Bereavement
Beige
White
Orange
Blue
Magenta
Brown
Lime
Tortoise
Purple
Silver/Black
Glow in the Dark
Light Green
Red
Aqua
Yellow
Dark Green
Silver
Square Heart
Special Selection
Fimo or Glass Selection
Purple Heart
Butterfly
GLASS . SUPPLIES . TOOLS
General Glass & Tool Suppliers
...both large & small suppliers who carry a wide range of glass manufacturers...104, 96, 90 & 33 COE. Glassworking tools, supplies, protective gear. Studio equipment: torches, kilns, oxygen concentrators, etc. (additional info by each)
ABR IMAGERY - great glass prices at 2 & 5lb quantities
ARROW SPRINGS - home of Milliron Tools...specializing in artist designed tools.
BLUE MOON GLASSWORKS - home of The Creation Station. Lampwork, fusing, stained glass supplies
DELPHI - art glass supplies & education
FLAMEDAME - carries a little bit of everything, including LAUSCHA German Glass.
FRANTZ ART GLASS - main US distributor of Italian glass, quantity discounts.
GLASSCRAFT, INC - ventilation systems
ROCIO STUDIOS - Precision/R4 Glass creator.
SUNDANCE ART GLASS - lampwork, fusing & hot shop glass.
WALE APPARATUS - coldworking equipment, scientific glass, etc
WINSHIP DESIGNS./ GLASSCRAFT west coast
METAL CLAY
METAL CLAY SUPPLY - Metal Clay supplies, tools, textures, findings, etc.
COOL TOOLS - Metal Clay supplies, tools, textures, findings, etc.
METAL CLAY INSTRUCTION
- Sculptural Metal Clay - fantastic instructional book, covers everything: basic to advanced techniques, safety, etc.
HADAR JACOBSEN - Berkeley, California
JEWELRY MAKING SUPPLIES
metalworking supplies:wire, sheet metal, casting materials, tools, bench equipment, etc.
....plus beads, findings, etc...
METALLIFEROUS - everything to make jewelry...silversmithing tools & equipment, raw materials, beads, findings, etc.
MONSTERSLAYER - everything to make jewelry...silversmithing tools & equipment, raw materials, beads, findings, etc.
RIO GRANDE - everything to make jewelry, bench tools & equipment, metals (sheet, wire, tubing, raw materials), metal clay,
beads, findings, gemstones, boxes, displays, etc.
THUNDERBIRD SUPPLY - everything to make jewelry...silversmithing tools & equipment, raw materials, beads, findings, etc.
SILVER SUPPLIES.COM - everything to make jewelry...silversmithing tools & equipment, raw materials, beads, findings, etc
FUNDAMETALS - essential tools for creating wire & metal jewelry
BEADUCATION - tools & supplies for jewelrymaking...metal stampings, etc. Online classes, too.
Jewelry making & bead stringing supplies, tools, etc...
RINGS-N-THINGS - jewelry making & bead stringing supplies, tools, etc.
FIRE MOUNTAIN GEMS - jewelry making & bead stringing supplies, tools, etc.
INM CRYSTAL - SWAROVSKI crystals, metal beads, findings, jewelry making supplies, etc.
WUBBERS - Quality jewelry making pliers & tools
Beads & Findings
BALI BEADS - Bali silver beads & findings
BALI HANDMADE - Bali silver beads & findings
JAMN GLASS - beautiful hand dyed silk ribbons
CAHOOTZ - viking knit supplies, hand dyed silk ribbons, resin kits, findings
HEATHER FERMAN - viking knit caps
GREEN GIRL STUDIOS - unique handcrafted pewter & sterling beads, findings
ONLINE Classes & Tutorials
Lampwork Tutorials to Purchase
LAMPWORKING TUTORIALS TO PURCHASE ONLINE - a fantastic list compiled by Hayley Tsang on LampworkEtc. of tutorials & e-books that are available to purchase from a variety of talented glass bead artists. (w/ some wireworking tutorials thrown in there, too)
Free Lampwork Tutorials
LAMPWORK ETC. - Tutorial section... free tutorials... from basic lampworking tips & techniques to specific bead or decorating techniques. Great resource!
Jewelry Techniques Classes
BEADUCATION - Online step-by-step video classes...beading & jewelry making... plus tool & supplies sales.
Recommended Books, DVDs & Magazines
Beadmaking Instruction Books - SOFT GLASS
More Than You Ever Wanted To Know About Glass Beadmaking - James Kervin
"The most comprehensive book on glass beadmaking", all the information you need to set up your own studio and operate
it safely, plus beadmaking techniques & such.
Beads of Glass - Cindy Jenkins
Creating Lampwork Beads for Jewelry - Karen Leonardo
Glass Notes, a reference for the glass artist - Henry Halem
Making Glass Beads - Cindy Jenkins
Passing the Flame - Corina Tettinger
The Complete Book of Glass Beadmaking - Kimberly Adams
Glass Beads: Tips, Tools, and Techniques for Learning the Craft - Louise Mehaffey
BORO Beadmaking Instruction Books
Contemporary Lampworking: A Practical Guide to Shaping Glass in the Flame (Volume 1 and 2) - Bandhu Scott Dunham
Flameworking: Creating Glass Beads, Sculptures & Functional Objects - Elizabeth Mears **BORO
Beadmaking Instruction DVDs
Soft Glass
Hard / Borosilicate Glass
Boro Basics - Volume One - BRENT GRABER, aka. Mr. Smiley
Bead Porn
1000 Glass Beads - Valerie Van Arsdale Shrader
Masters: Glass Beads: Major Works by Leading Artists - Lark Books
Jewelrymaking Books
Designing Jewelry with Glass Beads - Stephanie Sersich
Magazines
Glass Magazines
Beads & Jewelry Magazines
Interweave Publishing
- Jewelry Artists Magazine - aka Lapidary Journal
Kalmbach Publishing
- Bead & Button Magazine
- BeadStyle Magazine
- Art Jewelry Magazine
Glass Teaching Studios
ARROW SPRINGS GLASS - Shingle Springs, California
BLUE MOON GLASSWORKS - Austin, Texas
ED HOY's - Warrenville, Illinois
FLAME TREE GLASS, INC. - Roswell, Georgia
FRANTZ ART GLASS - Shelton, Washington
GLASSCRAFT, INC - Golden, Colorado
GLASS FIRENZE LAMPWORK STUDIO - Eagle River, Alaska
GLASSHOPPER STUDIO - St. Louis, Missouri
HOT SHOPS ART CENTER - Omaha, Nebraska
M & D DESIGNS - Chinook, Washington
POTEK GLASS / BIG DIPPER GLASSWORKS - Minneapolis, Minnesota
PUBLIC GLASSWORKS - Kansas City, Kansas
ROCIO STUDIOS - Cocoa, Florida
THE GATHERING PLACE - Naperville, Illinois
THE MANDREL Flameworking Studio & Supply - Torrance, California
THIRD DEGREE GLASS FACTORY - St. Louis, Missouri
Professional Societies
BEADABLE PRODUCTS & FINDINGS
Beadable utensils, barware, keychains, etc.
KAREN THOMAS DESIGNS - beadable products...utensils, barware, pens, desk sets, keychains, jewelry, etc...
Beadable findings
McDUCK CREATIONS - changeable bead findings
SETTING UP YOUR STUDIO
SAFETY INSTRUCTION / INFORMATION
Ventilation issues & specifications, Enameling precautions, etc.
BOOKS...
I've heard nothing but great things about this book... sounds like it's a MUST HAVE when setting up your studio (& there's some beadmaking techniques in there, too!!)
More Than You Ever Wanted To Know About Glass Beadmaking - James Kervin
"The most comprehensive book on glass beadmaking", all the information you need to set up your own studio and operate
it safely, plus beadmaking techniques & such.
DO IT YOURSELF
GLASS STORAGE
My glass storage is super easy to do yourself (directions here, thanks to Tink for sharing!) using vinyl fence railing purchased at Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, etc. You just need a saw. I duck-taped mine together & they're just sitting on a shelf.
FRIT STORAGE
My frit storage works great... keeps my workspace free to clutter w/ other things :o) ...but is close to access while I have a bead in progress. I purchased a couple of 24 pc packages of these 4 ounce square tins & epoxied some rare earth magnets to the corners.
GLASS STUDIO EQUIPMENT
Torch Manufacturers
*most glass/tool suppliers @ top of list sell these torches
Dual Fuel Bench Mounted Torches
BETHLEHEM BURNERS - S.S. Minnow, Betta, Barracuda, PM2D-WC Water Cooled Bench Burner
CARLISLE -Mini CC (MY torch of choice for soft glass), Wildcat, Black Widow, Hellcat, Lucio burner, CC Bench Burner, CC+
GTT-Glass Torch Technologies - Cricket, Bobcat, Lynx, Cheeta, Scorpion, Phantom, Mirage, Delta Elite & Mag, Cobra, Python
NORTEL MANUFACTURING, LTD. - Minor, Mega-MInor, Mid-Range, Mid-Range Plus, Major, Red Max, The Rocket,
Fuel Only Torches
HOT HEAD TORCH - designed by Cindy Jenkins.
A great torch for beginning beadmaker because it's fairly inexpensive, but many established bead artist continue to use it.
Kilns / Bead Annealers
GLASSHIVE ANNEALERS - glass kilns made specifically for bead artists
Oxygen Concentrators / Generators
Glass Storage
GLASSHIVE is a great supplier of glass storage systems
Ventilation Systems
Glass Finishing Tools & Supplies - cleaning, coring/lining, electroforming, etc.
ART IN THE ROUND - BeadDreamer, bead cleaning tool . Impress Bead Liner, bead lining tool
JIM MOORE TOOLS - BEAD PRESS bead capper/liner, Bead Releaser tool,
NORTEL BEAD CORE LINER - bead capper/liner
RETRO GLASS TOOLS - hand-held Bead Liner tool
GINKO DESIGNS - supplier of the best tubing made specifically for lining Pandora size beads. Bead caps, too.
SILVERSUPPLIES.COM - sterling silver tubing for lining beads.
Electroforming Equipment & Supplies
DALMAR - copper electroforming solution
GLASS DIVERSIONS - electroforming kits & supplies
SHERRI HAAB - E3 Etch/Eform kit (dual purpose controller electroforms & etches)
RIO GRANDE - electroforming kits & supplies
SAFER SOLUTIONS - water based conductive paint
TINK MARTIN - electroforming kits & supplies
Electroforming Instruction
TINK MARTIN - electroforming e-booklet, great information to get you started
KATE FOWLE MELENEY - "Small Scale Studio Electroforming"... electronic PowerPoint & 120 page PDF download, includes list of
materials needed to get started for under $100
Glassworking Supplies & Shaping Tools
...general glass suppliers above carry tools, but these companies specialize in tool sales.
ARTCO INC. - vast inventory of glassworking tools & supplies. No online shopping cart, but great customer service.
BEARFOOT ART GLASS - "Revolutionary Glass Tools" by Scott Bouwens...engineering meets lampworking...
Electric Mandrel Spinner, marvers, hand stabilizers, Enamel & Frit Vibes, etc.
BURNING BRASS - brass shaping tools
CARLO DONA TOOLS - high quality glassworking tools...only available directly from maker in Murano, Italy. Road trip anyone??
....ooh, I found a US Carlo Dona supplier...SPIRAL ARTS
CATTWALK - brass bead shaping presses & tools
CG BEADROLLERS - graphite bead shaping tools
JIM MOORE TOOLS - high quality glassworking tools...paddles, tong shapers, texture crimps & stamps, sheers, etc.
KAREN LEONARDO - fantastic glassworking tools...Petal Puller, feather & fishbone tools, imprint tools, etc.
TAPCRAFT - reasonably priced lentil tongs (this is what I use for lentils!)
ZOOZII'S - brass bead shaping presses & tools
Glass Frit, Shards & Murrini
...handblended or handmade
DRAGONFLY GLASSWORX - soft & hard glass frit blends.
GLASS DIVERSIONS - soft glass frit blends, shards, CZs, foils & leaf, wire & mesh
GLASS TAFFY - soft glass frit blends
JET AGE STUDIO - handmade murrini & reactive frit
LORI & KIM - handmade murrini in 104 & 90 COE
THAT FRIT GIRL - soft glass frit & frit blends...104, 96 & 90 COE frit blends
VAL COX FRIT - soft glass frit blends
Specialized Glass Suppliers
...glass manufacturers or suppliers specializing in a specific COE glass or specialty glass.
AVENUE BEADS - unique handmade glass stringers (streaky, veining, goldstone), cane (vine, stamen, steaky, ribbon, twisted),
shards, frit, confetti, murrini, dichro strips, etc.
BULLSEYE - 90 COE glass manufacturer
COE90 - Bullseye Glass (90 COE) supplier for lampwork, fusing & stained glass.
DOGMAW GLASS - Japanese Satake Glass, frit, murrini
DOUBLE HELIX GLASSWORKS - manufacture of premium silver rich glasses.
GAFFERGLASS USA - Gaffer 96 COE lampwork cane & glass blowing rods, frit & tools,
GG GLASS - unique handpulled cane (veiled, dual colors, dual cores, fancy), frit blends, shards...silver leaf, foil, mesh, etc.
GLASS ALCHEMY - 33 COE borosilicate glass manufacturer
GLASSDADDY - Lauscha German Glass
OLYMPIC COLOR RODS - lampwork cane & glass blowing rods, frit & tools, Reichenbach 96 & 104 COE, System96
TREVS GLASS - 33 COE borosilicate glass, tools & supplies
INSTRUCTION
