All Lampwork beads start out as cold sticks or rods of glass--sort of like long pencils. The bead artist then melts the glass, winding it around and around a special mandrel that's been dipped in bead release mixture. This mandrel is what gives the bead its hole! Beads are fired in an open flame (hence the name, "lampwork" beads, since artisans used to melt their glass in the flame of an oil lamp). Today we no longer use a lamp, we use a torch: I use a Nortel Minor torch with a surface mix of oxygen and propane) burning at around 2,000 degrees and then delivered directly into a kiln (oven) where they stabilize and harden. Note that the glass is melted, shaped, and decorated by hand; as a result, no two beads will ever be exactly the same! This uniqueness is what gives handmade glass beads their value and their charm: each bead is a small, original, work of art that can never be fully reproduced—your bead is yours alone. It’s a stunning and wonderful thing in this age of mass-produced goods.
What are your beads like?
Stylistically, most of my beads are big and bold and often sparkly—not tiny or dainty or what I would call “understated.” On the contrary, they are precisely intended to be statement pieces. Additionally, I jump between 6 or 7 patterns that I love making and that my clients repeatedly come home to when I offer them in different color schemes or with tiny variations. Almost all of these designs rest upon the sequencing of dots and spots—it’s the design element that I love the most, that's highly recognizable, and that I’m best at creating.
How do I find out more?
If you would like to join the (paper) Showroom mailing list which announces new beads, inventions, news, updates, and shows, please email me your physical mailing address—we're happy to add you in. Please understand that, with the ever-increasing cost of postage, we have been forced to limit our snail-mail list quite a bit, though an electronic mailing list is in the works, so stay tuned.
Can I meet with you about a special order?
I frequently get inquiries about visiting my glass studio, seeing how I make my beads and/or shopping my pieces in person. To arrange your visit, please call me at (601) 795-8854 or email me to set something up. Please note that the Studio is a working space for melting glass and fabricating metal designs; it is not a place for tiny children unless you can hold them while you’re in there. Additionally, my Showroom where I used to sell my beads is now closed, as all pieces have been moved to Fabulous You. You are welcome to come watch me work, but there are no longer pieces here, at the Studio, to purchase.
Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Paypal (payment address is leahholmes@hotmail.com), personal check made out to Leah Holmes Studio, mailed to 318 N. Jackson St., Poplarville, MS 39470. I heartily recommend Paypal for faster, safe and secure online shopping.
Shipping, Wait Time, Delays, and Packaging
1. Almost all orders ship via U.S. Priority Mail and include insurance and delivery confirmation. The total cost of mailing a Morpheus© Ring or Pendant Kit is approx. $8.75. This charge is added to the cost of your Kit purchase.
2. Normal wait time for a Ring or Pendant kit from scratch is 10 days – then add 2-3 days for Priority Mail to estimate the time that you’ll receive your package.
3. Delays in the studio do happen—power failures, interrupted firing cycles in the kiln, glass that cracks or otherwise fails because of manufacturing issues, and even….life!—all of these are facets of beadmaking that I do not fully control and that can affect the amount of time that it takes me to create and fulfill your order. I will notify you of any significant delays, but thank you in advance for your patience during the hand-crafting of your item(s).
4. All packages will come gorgeously wrapped, ready for gift giving. Mailings are of course carefully packaged to ensure safe arrival to their new homes.
I paid more for my Ring Kit than my friend did; how come?
The price of any piece that includes sterling silver, including Morpheus© Ring, Pendant Kits, and MoonPize Kits will naturally fluctuate as the spot market price of silver and other raw materials rises and falls. This is one reason why your final ring or necklace Kit cost might be a few dollars more or less than what your friend paid.
What's the best way to care for glass bead jewelry?
While all of my glass has been properly annealed in a digitally-controlled kiln and is therefore guaranteed to hold up to normal wear and tear, it is still glass and so requires more TLC than other types of jewelry. Thus, I don’t recommend glass beads for very young girls, though I do think that glass bead jewelry is a wonderful and fun way to introduce, say, a teenager to the responsibilities of caring for finer jewelry. I cannot be responsible for damage resulting from excessive treatment, but I do faithfully stand behind my creations: if you experience any issues with your bracelet or necklace or bead ring / bracelet, please contact me about the issue so I can make it right for you.
