Lesley Rands
Lampwork Glass Bead & Jewellery
My introduction to flame working was the icing on the cake. I signed up for a weekend course not really knowing what to expect, but as my first bead came out of the flame, I knew I was, once again, trapped by this magical material. I have since set up my own flame working studio at home and work as often as I can. I strive to reach the creativity & perfection of the experts I have since watched and promise myself that one day I shall make a magical glass bird just as beautiful as the one I watched being made as a child.
One of my most amazing times was attending an course in ‘hot’ glass (furnace) work. An absolutely fabulous time spent with like minded enthusiasts, where we made, what I know to be, very amateur pieces of art! But like all first pieces, they take pride of place on the mantel piece to be admired by anyone who in unfortunate enough to ask me what I have been making recently!!
With my quest to learn more, I took up ‘warm’ glass work (kiln working for those not in the know!). Again I was enthralled with the numerous ways that items could be created using this versatile material. Dishes, place mats, window decorations all took their turn until I became fully absorbed with making jewellery, like many others, with dichroic glass. This activity I felt was becoming over marketed and unless it was made for friends and family (who all kept me very busy) it did not hold out much future work.
From here, I tried the art of traditional glass painting. First attempts were painful & very time consuming – I am afraid this particular venture did not last very long!!
In more recent years I have spent my time experimenting in various forms of glass art. My first venture was into stained glass at a local evening school – I was hooked with this wonderful material yet again. Our dinning room suffered as the table was constantly in use with projects ranging from sky lights, wall hangings, serving hatch windows and an interior and exterior front door for our newly purchased Victorian house.
Welcome to my world of glass :) I have loved glass, ever since, as a young child, I was taken to our local fair by my parents and watched a craftsman make a wonderful glass bird using just a couple of seemingly ordinary glass rods. I still have that glass bird, although it has seen better times now, it watches over me in my studio and reminds me what can be achieved with patience & determination.
