Every piece of jewelry I make starts with fire. Not the polished sparkle you see on my website, but the raw, glowing heat of a torch that burns at nearly 1800°F. A simple glass rod melts in the flame, and little by little, I coax it into something new, a bead full of colour, personality, and story.
That’s where Molten Glass Creations began: me, a torch, and a spark of curiosity. Back in 2008, I had never even heard of lampworking. I was online searching for a special gift for my mom, she’s a collector of frogs and blown glass figurines, when I stumbled across this art form. That little discovery led me to a local artist, and before I knew it, I was sitting at a torch for my very first lesson. Three hours later, I was smitten. I bought a starter kit, some glass, and I haven’t looked back since.
Soon after, I joined glass groups like the Pacific Pyros and the International Society of Glass Beadmakers. Surrounded by passionate artists and incredible teachers, I found my footing, discovered my style, and fell in love with the process of transforming molten glass into something meaningful.
One of the first things I learned was patience. To make a bead, you melt the end of a glass rod in the flame, touch it to a coated steel rod called a mandrel, and slowly turn the mandrel so the glass winds on evenly. If you stop turning, even for a second, the molten glass will slump or droop. (Yes, there are plenty of “dunkers” in every beadmaker’s early days; beads that go straight into water because they didn’t quite work out!)
And then came my favourite discovery: dot beads. Tiny dots of colour layered and coaxed with heat can shift, stretch, and dance into endless patterns. They look playful, but they take a steady hand and a lot of practice. For me, they’re still a source of joy and challenge all at once.
Over the years, my torch has become my place of inspiration. Sometimes I sit down with a plan — especially for custom orders — but more often, I let the glass lead me. A simple round bead might suddenly spark an idea for a pair of earrings, which leads to a new colourway, which leads to the next little series. At my workbench, I’ll often just run my hands through my bead bin, letting colours and textures inspire the next piece.
For me, every bead tells a story. Sometimes it’s the spark that inspired it, sometimes it’s how it transformed into a finished necklace or pair of earrings, and sometimes it’s the person who finds it and says, “that was made just for me.”
This post is just a first glimpse behind the curtain. In the coming weeks, I’ll share more about the process, the creative chaos of my studio, and the philosophy that keeps me coming back to the flame.
✨ Every bead tells a story… and I can’t wait to share mine with you.
