My Glass beads are Lampworked. This is the art of melting colorful glass into pleasing shapes and designs with a torch. At one time, long ago ( this is one of the oldest art forms around) this was actually done over an oil lamp, and hence the name. Today, we use modern torches and kilns to produce tiny works of art that can last for generations.     For a bead, this is done on a steel rod called a mandrel. When the bead is removed from the mandrel, you are left with a bead hole. All the designs are applied, or painted on to the hot base bead with more hot glass. Layers of glass are built up, shaped and manipulated while making sure the bead is not too hot, or too cool. As I was told at the beginning of this adventure, you will get cut, you will get burned. How true!     The Lampwork artist has a lot of challenges to make something that can last that long. The materials can be finicky . Different kinds of glasses can’t be mixed. There is tremendous stress built up in glass from the constant heating and cooling that is required to get to the end result. This can only be alleviated with the proper use of a kiln, and careful control of the temperatures.     An unbelievable amount of practice and trial and error are needed to get a handle on making this 2000 degree mass of molten moving glass behave in the way your mind is picturing it!     All of my beads and sculpture are made by me, in my home studio. For a long time I worked on a hot head torch, but have since moved to a torch that uses a propane and oxygen mix. I use a digitally controlled kiln to properly anneal my creations. Of course, this is glass, and a certain amount of care is needed to keep them around for years, but when made properly they can withstand a lot more than you think!