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The Little Bead Shop is home to a purpose built Lampwork Studio. Our In House Artist Emma Baird can often be found at her torch creating little glassy works of art. Emma has been making these beautiful beads for years now and has trained with Sarah Hornick, Sally Carver and Mindy Macgregor. She is a member of the prestigious British Lampwork, GBUK & is also a Self Representing Artist. Her style has evolved from mainly "organic" beads to intricate patterns made up of layers and layers of minute dots. She regularly sets an afternoon aside during which you are welcome to come into her studio to watch as she works. Open Studio times and dates are always announced in our scrolling news which you can see on the right. |
Emma's beads came runner up in the National Lampwork Competition run by the magazine Beads & Beyond. She was also a finalist for her entry in the 2009 "British Bead Awards" with her stunning set of Liberty Beads.
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The process by which these beads are made is called Lampwork, or Flamework in the States. It is a type of glasswork that uses the process of melting glass rods over an open flame. The glass rods come in a huge variety of beautiful colours and the open flame comes from a special beadmaking torch (currently a minor burner in Emma's case). Once the artist is ready to to begin working the glass rod is slowly introduced into the flame. Working slowly in this way helps ensure the glass does not suffer from thermal shock and crack. The glass is heated until molten and is then would around a steel rod called a mandrel, which has been dipped in bead release to prevent the glass from sticking. The glass is heated and the mandrel rotated until gravity helps form a prefect base bead. From here various tools and techniques can be used to further shape and decorate the glass. Once completed the bead is placed directly into a hot kiln for annealing, ensuring it cools slowly and thus avoids thermal shock. This means the beads are strong and durable and with care can last a lifetime.
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Once the beads have been cooled to room temperature they are removed from their mandrels, lovingly and carefully cleaned of their bead release and put on display on the Little Bead Shop Floor. We are proud to be one of a very few bead shops in the United Kingdom where you can buy beads that were made on the premises. Buying Emma's Lampwork beads not only supports a local artist but also ensures that your beads are unique. You can make them into a very special piece of totally unique jewellery, give them as a special gift or simply keep them as they are.
Freshly baked beads are now available online here- but be quick - they don't hang around for long! |
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Welcome to our news!
Here you will find up to date news of whats going on at here The Little Bead Shop & Art Clay Scotland. Courses, Guest Artists, Events, Publications, Open Studios, even parties - its all here! Simply hold your cursor over the scrolling text to slow it down.
*****Kids Classes for Summer*****
Helen & Gil have been working hard planning a schedule of exciting classes for Kids that will take place over the summer. Starting on Thursday the 24th of June these two hour classes are a fantastic way to introduce your child to a new skill as well as keep them occupied! Suitability for each class ranges from 8 years to 13 years of age. There are a wide range of classes to choose from including - Fimo Food Making, Saftey Pin Bracelet, Bead Stringing & Macrame. Full details will be online soon, but if you cant wait that long call us for full information on 0131 228 5058.
SilverSmiting Courses
We are really excited to bring you, once again, these very popular classes in Silver Smithing Techniques. Taking place in our spacious Studio/Classroom you can choose from Level 1 for complete beginners, or Level 2 if you have already completed Level 1 or have gained experience elsewhere. Read more here.
Our New Home!
Its been a busy time recently as we moved, but we are settling nicely into our new shop. Come and visit us 120 Bruntsfield Place.
Free Metal Clay Demonstrations
Our first ever FREE metal clay demonstration proved to be very popular. Ideal for you if you are totally new to Metal Clay, these demonstrations will tell you all you need to know. We talk you though the different clays on the market and show you the basics of working with Art Clay Silver. Meet the Instructor, look at and handle the kinds of things you could expect to make in class and have the opportunity to ask the Instructor Questions. Next Date coming soon!!
Silver Metal Clay Courses
With a move to a premises with a new larger dedicated class room on site there are lots of new classes being planned. These will be launched soon, but meanwhile we have a few new classes to tempt you.. see our Art Clay Course pagehere.
Silver Fingerprint Jewellery - Express Drop in Day
Our Express Saturday Drop in Day for Silver Fingerprint Charms is proving to be really popular!. Between the hours of 2:00 - 5:00 on Saturdays you can simply "drop in" to have your own, a child's or loved ones fingerprint immortalised in pure Silver. Come along early and we'll even have your jewellery ready for you by tea time!!!! Pure Silver Fingerprint Jewellery makes an ideal gift for anyone. Find out more here
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