I just returned from the International Society of Glass Beadmakers conference

Lately I have been exploring ways to incorporate lampworked and fused glass into my leather braiding. I learned to fuse glass about two years ago and began doing serious lamp work earlier this year. Lamp working is a method of creating such things as decorative glass beads, vessels, sculpture and the like in an open torch flame. It is a very dynamic and addictive process. It's fun too.

I thought it was time I rubbed shoulders with the experts for inspiration in order to take my skills to a new level. So I went to a weeklong conference of the International Society of Glass Beadmakers in Minneapolis. They call it the Gathering and I don't mean that wimpy definition that Webster's uses. This is a group of people totally possessed by anything glass although their primary focus is on making beads. What a Gathering it is. Glass artists from around the world come and show their work, make presentations and perform live demonstrations. Equipment manufacture's sent up their equipment in a studio setting which allows you to actually try and experiment with the tools and torches before you buy them. The manufacturers technical people are right there to help and answer any questions you may have. It's a really cool setup!

But one of the most interesting thing to me were the presentations that individual artists made throughout the Gathering. Their techniques were professionally filmed earlier. When presentations were made to the group, the films were played back while the artist gave live narration. That way the audience could ask questions as the film was playing. It was done very professionally and fostered a tremendous exchange of information.

There was an entire day set aside for the Bead Bizarre. Individual artists filled an entire ballroom with their offerings. Each bead was a miniature canvas upon which a masterpiece had been created. Literally thousands of beads representsing thousands of thoughts born into reality at the fingertips of individual artists. WOW! The the variety and individual artistry was exceptional. It was like walking around with Rembrandt on your left and Michelangelo on your right. It was a bit mindboggling to try to take all in. As I spoke with each artist, I began to realize that I was in the midst of a group of ordinary people doing extraordinary work in a craft that they were passionate about. What better place could you ask to be.

I had a chance to show my braiding to about 100 people and it was very well received. I have enclosed three examples of my recent work.

Photo #1, illustrates a simple bead on a braided necklace chain. The chain is a 6 strand braid of Kangaroo leather.

Photo #2, illustrates a pendant of fused diachroic glass, silver bail on a braided leather chain. I mix my own colors and dye the lace by hand.

Photo #3, illustrates a fused glass pendant inspired by the bone carvings of the Maori's in New Zealand. Each layer of glass is cut cold, matched and then fused. The necklace chain is made from multi-colored round leather from Greece.

You may click on each photo to enlarge it. Your comments and questions are welcome. If you would like to know more about the International Society of Glass Beadmakers, see their web site: http://www.isgb.org/ Next year's Gathering will be in Oakland, CA. Man! I gotta get to work. See you there. Stay tuned for more of my adventures.