The HiP giveaway for this week is sponsored by Berks County resident, Sandy, from One Bead at a Time. Please take a minute to read Sandy’s story and find out about her work. At the bottom of the post, you’ll find out what you can win this week and how to enter!
Sandy began working on lampwork glass beads over 10 years ago. Along with her husband Mark, she owned a bead shop in West Reading (they still own a fantastic drum shop!) and was inspired by a book on glass beads. She says, “When I started lampworking, I knew I had found a craft that I could explore for years and never come to the end of its challenges and possibilities.”
“Lampwork refers to working with glass in a torch. It is one of the more accessible ways to work with glass as the equipment is reasonably affordable and the space needed is not excessive,” explained Sandy.
Although she’s taken classes on new techniques and is inspired by colleagues, Sandy tends to let her creativity run wild when 
designing new pieces. Like so many brilliant artisans I’ve met, she says, “the creative spark comes from somewhere inside or perhaps from somewhere up above. Right now with my new interest in glass fusing, I do hope to take some fusing classes from Vitrum Studios in Maryland. So I am saving my pennies!!”
Speaking of fused glass, Sandy is newly enamored with fused glass. “Glass fusing is basically cutting pieces of glass from a sheet of glass; arranging and stacking the pieces and melting them together in a kiln.”
Where does Sandy get her inspiration for her beautiful pieces? “I love color. I love to find glass colors that react with each other in unpredictable ways. So often the inspiration comes directly from the glass. I am also inspired by nature. I know – everyone says that but where else can you find such stunning combinations of colors and textures – always changing but always just right? My beads tend to be organic in color and design and I love abstract patterns and textures…I do better if I go into the studio with a very vague idea of where I am headed and just let the process take over.”
I couldn’t resist sharing Sandy’s story of her Ethereal Boro Becoming Bicone Bead (above).
This is a new design for me that came out of noticing how much I liked my beads before they were finished and melted smooth. I like the extreme texture of the bead and the suggestion of angel wings. It has some really nice metallic luster too that is a feature of the borosilicate glass that I use in my beads. Borosilicate glass is a glass that melts very slowly and often has lots of metal in its chemical makeup. The colors of boro often react with each other and the glass can create many tones and shades of color in one bead.
In her Etsy listing, she adds this detail, “Thus – the “Becoming” bead name – a little bead reminder that it is all about the journey, not the destination.” Fabulous!
Sandy also teaches private lessons in her home studio. You can email her at sandree AT comcast DOT net for more information.
So what can you win this week? How about these beautiful fused glass coasters?
To win this set of 4 Sea ‘n Sand Coasters:
- You must be a resident of the United States (please note this change!)
- Leave a comment on this post with your favorite item from Sandy’s Etsy shop.
- To receive an extra entry, share this post on Twitter, Facebook, other social networking site, or your blog. Comment again with the link!
Giveaway ends Friday, February 13, at noon.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Graphic Black and White Fused Glass Pendant with Sterling Wire Wrap.
Thanks so much for this great giveaway!!
Aimee from Scranton, PA
Oh how I love the Pretty in Pink Dichroic Fused Glass Pendant with Organza Ribbon Necklace
Oooh, I love the Fuschia Glow Boro Minis Lampwork Glass Bead Set!
Beautiful! And so are the coasters.
Layered Leaves Large Boro Lentil Lampwork Glass Bead is my favorite! SO cool!
Rebecca C’s last blog post..Wii Fit twitter party!
I stumbled your giveaway
Username: wastebasketsa
Rebecca C’s last blog post..Wii Fit twitter party!
[...] This week’s giveaway sponsor, Sandy, will be showing her beads as well as new HiP readers, Louise and Joan. You can find glass, porcelain, precious metal clay, stone beads – and many, many more! The Berks Bead Bazaar takes place at the Inn at Reading. [...]
my favorite is the Fuschia Glow Boro Minis Lampwork Glass Bead Set
Hello, I love Sandy’s glasswork beads! The Earthy Organic Boro
Free Form Lampwork Bead is my favorite. Her coasters are lovely! Please enter my name in this terrific contest drawing. Many thanks,
Cindi
beautiful ! i also really like the Bonny Blue Boro Flower !
everything is gorgeous :) thanks!
i love the colors in the coasters
I love the Retro Leopard Boro Lampwork Glass Bead Set (7). The coasters are just beautiful, too. Thanks for the chance to win!
I love the BonnyBlue Boro Flower marble.
Thanks!
I like the Graphic Black and White Fused Glass Pendant with Sterling Wire Wrap.
Carolyn D’s last blog post..Got…Common Sense?
I posted to Facebook.
Carolyn D’s last blog post..Got…Common Sense?
The Boro Flower Marbles (Bonny Blue and Vibrant Orange) or gorgeous and display well. The details on the Petals Large Boro Bicone Lampwork Bead and the Dark Woods Faerie Boro Bicone Lampwork Bead are excellent!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1347643198&ref=name&pub=2915120374
The inner glow beads look really neat
My favorite item is the Pink Swirl White Core Boro Pandora Style Big Hole Lampwork Glass Bead Pair. I love these beautiful coasters as well!
wow! this work is gorgeous! i especially love the retro leopard boro lampwork glass bead set:) thanks!
christinbanda@yahoo.com
I soooo love the Bonny Blue Boro Flower Marble! So aesthetically beautiful!
Thanks so much for this fabulous give~away! : )))
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
And, I TWITTERED about this give~away…….user name: leahita.
http://twitter.com/leahita/status/1205787541
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
I really like the Graphic Black and White Fused Glass Pendant with Sterling Wire.
OOO! These are so pretty http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17656561
Lizzie’s last blog post..Works Of God Weekend
And I twittered http://twitter.com/adustyframe
Lizzie’s last blog post..Works Of God Weekend
[...] can also meet Sandy from One Bead at a Time, who was featured on HiP in February. Sandy has a new line of notecards available that feature extreme close-up photos of her [...]
I just found “handmade in PA” and added it to my fav list. Such beautiful work!! Right now I am at work but later I plan to really explore…and I too am almost right down the road in Sinking Spring!