Welcome to Renee's Lampwork Obsession

hey there, if anyone is in the Eastern Tenn. area
I'm starting my "Lampwork Bead Making Classes" at the Rose Center for the Arts this month.
The class calendar is on their web-site www.RoseCenter.org
If your in the neighborhood , drop by,
Renee Suich
www.reneesuich.etsy.com

1. searching for vintage iron skeleton keys, ( fun part of the process)

2. key is carefully dipped in a Bead Release, too much and the bead hole is too big,
too little and I can't get the bead to move on the key shaft,,,

3. I pick the glass colors, (not as easy as it sounds)

4. melt the glass in the heat of a torch and shape my bead onto the key shaft.

5. the key goes into the kiln to for the bead to slowly anneal. This "Key Bead" will rest in the kiln overnight.

6. Cleaning the key, and tr… Continue

Old Skeleton Keys intrigue me, as each one has a history, a story, and so the mind wanders.
But about the process of renewal.
In the heat of the torch, I melt glass rods and very carefully shape a bead around the shaft of the key.
When the bead is finished, the "key bead" is moved to the kiln to anneal overnight.
The next day, begins the cleaning process. Hopfully, I've put the right amount of bead release on the key to loosen the bead so that it will slide and spin on the key shaft.
There have… Continue

These are by far the best "deal"in my shop.
Here's what happens,
I'm in a bead-making frenzy at the torch, kiln fired up behind me waiting,,,and I just keep adding glass, and I am not thinking about the end product,,and the bead sometimes gets too big and funky for a classic tasteful salable pendant,,
but I'm in the moment,,
So, $11.99, for a unique, one-of-a-kind, handmade, key chain is pretty good and makes a great Gift!
Please enable my madness
and check out my key chains
Thanks,
Renee