What's New & Warm Up Winter with Lampwork Beads

To see the full HTML color version with photos click http://www.mrbead.com/midnovember13.htm

Click a picture below to see one of this month's new beads. Follow Nigel at NigelHayMckay.com

For Free Shipping off anything enter LAMPWORK in the box at checkout, and click "Redeem Coupon". Use NOW - as expires Friday 22nd November 2013. No minimum order, but can only for used at MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk and cannot be used with any other discount or eBay.

Thanks to all those who visited us at our UK bead shows - we will be back in the spring.

Click a link below to see one of this month's new beads:

New Beads:
Devil Black Soft Frosted Glass Beads
Ladies Purple Gothic Victorian Bracelet & Ring
Rose PinkTurquoise 6mm or 14mm
Gleaming Venetian Murano Glass Button Beads
Passionate Pink Shiny Rice Pearls
Bright Spring-Flower Fimo Bead Bracelet
300 Delightful Ski-Blue Fimo Heishis
300 Delightful Hot-Pink Fimo Heishis
Large Sky-Blue Realistic Starfish
Large Gleaming Wavy Web Agate Beads
FAC Faceted Daring Fire-Red Agate
Large Gleaming Agate Chunky Button Beads

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To see all What's New in our US store click MrBead.com or UK MrBead.co.uk

Warm up this Winter with Lampwork Beads!

The "lamp" in lampwork came from the oil lamps and blowpipes used in seventeenth century France and Italy. Blowing by mouth or bellows into an oil lamp flame with a small pipe makes just enough heat to soften and form this type of glass. It's amazing the great work the early lampworkers were able to do with so little equipment. Hot glass-working skills originated from the Syrians around 1700 BC, the Egyptians 1450 BC, the Chinese around 550 BC, the Romans at the turn of the first millennium. Today lampworkers usually use an oxygen torch, but the technique to form and decorate the glass hasn’t changed much for thousands of years.

Choosing Lampwork Beads

As usual with handcrafted items, the quality is equal to the expertise of its maker. Choose beaded jewelry in a style you like, but remember that style isn't the only thing you must consider when buying handcrafted glass beads. Air bubbles should not normally be visible in the bead – although some beadmakers use these as design elements, but they are normally round or positioned in specific areas. The bead hole should be free of nicks or burrs. Jagged edges around the hole produce a wobbly bead that can eventually cut through beading wire. Check that the shapes of beads. They're handcrafted, so expect some variations, that’s part of their charm, but the overall look should be attractive.

How are Lampwork Beads actually Make?

Lampworkers use a torch to melt the tips of glass rods, and then wind the molten glass around a mandrel, a narrow stainless steel rod. Later, when the bead is removed, the space occupied by the mandrel becomes the hole used to string the bead. Glass cools from the outside in and the outer layers shrink as they cool. Bringing a bead out of the flame and leaving it in the open air allows the outside of the bead to cool rapidly around its molten interior. However, a stress point develops between the cool shrinking glass and the hot center, which can cause a bead to crack immediately or at a later time. To prevent cracks, the beads are soaked in a kiln to make sure that all glass within them is the same temperature. After soaking the artist reduces the kiln’s heat over several hours to bring the beads to room temperature.

Order Easy for Christmas!

Christmas creeps up faster than you expect. Beaded jewelry makes great lasting presents. Get your order in early to allow plenty of time to arrive and make up.

For Free Shipping off anything enter LAMPWORK in the box at checkout, and click "Redeem Coupon". Use NOW - as expires Friday 22nd November 2013. No minimum order, but can only for used at MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk and cannot be used with any other discount or eBay.

NigelHayMckay.com

Read about the man behind MrBead and watch him make a fool of himself at NigelHayMckay.com and his resent trip to Burma and what he eats in China! Much from these newsletters on beads is already on the site + a lot more with photos, and there will be a even more in the future.

Nigel's blog is now fully functional - so please join in at NigelHayMckay.com/blog!

To see all What's New in our US store click MrBead.com or UK MrBead.co.uk

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