Hi All!

My name is Tara Matlock and I make beads.  Each of my beads are made one by one in my home

studio using my Carlisle Mini CC and mostly Moretti glass. I discovered lampworking through a friend

and have been torching ever since.  I have never considered myself the "artsy" type, but this is something

 that I am truly passionate about.

What are lampwork beads you ask. 

An artist starts with a rod of glass.....                           

A Torch.....

A Flame..... And a mandrel coated with bead release.....

The rod of glass is gently heated in the flame and the glass is wound around  the mandrel.  After the base bead is applied to

the mandrel the fun begins.  The choices are endless.... do I add dots?  Which colors do I add?  Do I use frit?  Do I squash

the bead?  What shape do I want?  When the bead is finished it is off to the kiln to cool slowly.  This is the annealing process

that ensures the little beauties will be nice and strong.  If you cool them too quickly internal stress is created that can crack the bead

or make them fragile.