 I guess I could
start out with saying something like “molten
glass fascinates Julie and has become an
obsession in her life” as you will find on what
seems like most artist’s about pages, and it
certainly would be true. What may be more true
is that finding glasswork was a happy accident.
I began
lampworking in 2002. In late 2001, in a very
stressful period of my life, I was advised to
“get a hobby”. I began to try beadwork, making
jewelry and bracelets and earrings. It was very
enjoyable, but one fine day in early 2002 I
happened across lampwork beads on eBay, and my
mind was boggled. How did people do this? Was
it some sort of magical mystical miracle?
Living in Fargo,
ND at the time, the web became my sole resource
for information. I felt like I was flying blind,
but I purchased a beginner’s kit from Arrow
Springs with a Hot Head torch. Being an
absolute beginner, I took my favorite color out
of the sample pack (now known to me as the
exceedingly expensive and volatile Ruby Gold)
and made extremely ugly sooty beads entirely out
of that glass. I cringe now to think of that
waste, but I still have those beads today.
Soon I was off
buying glass rods and learning what mandrels
were and what COE and CFM and a whole new set of
terminology meant...and in the middle of all of
it, found out there is a part of me that is a
taken with the honey-like quality of molten
glass...and entranced by the mystery of a deeply
swirled bead.
A move to Seattle
WA in 2003 meant being very close to many
“glassie” people, and enabled me to take a class
from a master, Michael Barley. I practiced,
learned and practiced more. I met, and continue
to meet, great people in the glass art world,
primarily through WetCanvas.
Finally in 2004,
we moved to the Boise, Idaho area. There are
not as many glass folks here, near as I can
tell, but there are a few. I am looking forward
to moving into a new home in the next year or
two that will have a glass studio made
especially for me. That is my vision.
I hope you enjoy
your GlassJules. I know I enjoyed making them. |
