20.7.11
Jewellery making with Tim James of Beaded Lily Via Toscanella 33r
The Gilded Bead
This photo shows the finished bead against some colourful glass rods – the key to all hand-made beads!
Tim had agreed to show us how to make beads with gold leaf inside and – furnished with protective eye glasses – we were able to watch the whole process.
These glass sticks quickly become molten under an oxy-acetylene burner and have to be molded into shape with a mix of skill, gravity and common-sense!
The molten glass is folded around the metal stick coated with graphite to prevent it sticking to the glass and pressed into shape.
The whole process was carefully watched by lovely Siesta – the Schnauzer – with her ball at the ready to toss our way should we glance in her direction!
Having watched the magic we performed simple tasks – like making our own charm bracelets as gifts to take home!
Tina selecting her hand-made glass beads
Vanessa Roberto , with her mother and sister, at her open evening in the Gardino di Gina – wearing her Beaded Lily bracelet.
Vanessa (at back) with her Beaded Lily bangle
