My interest in creating works of art goes back to my childhood when I was always making something or drawing or painting. Latent through my life was an interest in glass, which I finally explored when I moved to Maine.
I have been a hand weaver and metal smith. When I need the sterling silver or bronze clasps I use for necklaces and bracelets I make them. The beautiful palette of glass has captivated me. I use soda-lime glass rods from the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Italy, Germany and Czechoslovakia. I have glass so heavily impregnated with silver it literally blooms in the flame.
There are so many styles of bead making it could make your head swim. I love to recreate floral themes most of all. I use flower cane like roses, and tombodama cane for floral motifs. Japanese bead making is so sublime and I hope some day to be able to truly say I can make beads that way...but not probably in this life time!
I use a Cricket dual fuel torch, with propane and an oxygen concentrator. All my glass work is properly annealed in a digitally controlled Paragon kiln. I carefully clean each bead with a flexshaft using a diamond bit, and inspect each bead for cracks or imperfections. My work is guaranteed, and although I may not be able to duplicate a one of a kind bead should you have a problem with it, I will happily create another one for you, providing the bead was not damaged through reckless abandon, you know, like climbing mountains in New Hampshire, or doing the Iditerod, or sailing the Whitbread races...or just carelessly dropping your treasure on the floor!
My home is on the coast of Maine. My studio is at my house. I still keep a photo of my wonderful studio dog, William, on here, but sadly he died during the summer of 2007. Now I have Maisy the Cat lurking in a nearby window whenever she can get into the studio.
You can see and purchase many more beads at
MY ETSY
You can also keep up with my most current work on MY BLOG. I put new photos and some writing in my Blog most days.
Thank you for looking! Penny Gentle