My Bead Odyssey

My glass journey began back in 2002, when I signed up for a one-day beadmaking class with a Perthshire glass artist – and from the moment I melted my first piece of glass, I was hooked. Although my family and graphic design job kept me busy back then, I devoured every tutorial, article and book I could find until I finally had the chance to set up my own little studio in 2016.

Using the ancient technique of lampworking, I melt colourful rods of soda-lime glass in the flame of my propane and oxygen-fuelled Bethlehem Alpha torch, forming each bead by hand on stainless steel mandrels. I have quite the collection of scars from flying molten glass when I heat the glass rods too quickly!

I’m completely self-taught and make beads in my spare time. I have always been fascinated by glass from my childhood visits to Venice and in particular Murano – the home of glassmaking and the source of some of my glass rods. I love that I get to play with this medium – there’s always something new to learn, whether it’s a new technique, trying a new colour combination or simply watching the organic patterns and colours form when using the most splendid silver-laden glass by Double Helix.

I’m based in Edinburgh, Scotland and my beads have found their way to jewellery designers and collectors around the world. I hope you’ll find something here that’s perfect for your next project, too.

Bianca x