Customer Reviews

Glass Bead Workshop: Building Skills, Exploring Techniques, Finding Inspiration

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Glass Bead Workshop by Jeri Warhaftig

Just when you thought you had aquired all the tools and goodies you would ever need again in your lampwork adventures (yeah... right... LOL) Jeri Warhaftig has authored a new lampworking book that is guaranteed to challenge you to see the world of lampwork in a new light.

This full color book is 144 pages packed with information! It dives headfirst into advanced techniques and concepts, just giving the faintest nod to basic info. Definitely a text designed with the more seasoned lampworker in mind, and it doesn't disappoint.

Advanced techniques are taught using step-by-step photos, thorough explanation, and very creative projects. Each project touches on a variety of materials, tools, and techniques which include: dichroic glass, copper and silver inclusions, enamels, cubic zirconia use, multi-stage bead assembly, fuming, etching, pressing, coldworking, hollow mandrels, disk forming, flower sculpting, vessels, and much more. The tips and appendices of the book condense a lot of great experience into an easy to access and utilize format.

Artist galleries that are included at the end of each chapter, full of inspiring examples of mixing the skills you learn with imagination and creating new, exciting pieces.

If you are looking for some fresh, new ideas and skills to spark your imagination and challenge you, this is the book for you. Tons of experience for the lampworker at the bargin price of $24.95!

http://hawleystudios.blogspot.com

Welcome to my studio...so begins the first line of Jeri Warfhatig's new book entitled, Glass Bead Workshop. I've met Jeri and talked to her a few times at bead shows. She's a friendly supportive colleague and has written a beautiful and informative book on glass beadmaking.

The table of contents includes: Welcome to my studio; The Basics; Session one - Falling Leaves Bead; Session two - Beach Bead; Session Three - Geode Bead; Session Four - Off Mandrel Galaxy Pendant; Session Five - Blown Hollow Bead; Session Six - Twistie Pendant; Session Seven - Hollow Vessel Bead; Session Eight - Wreath Bead; Session Nine - Rune Bead; Session Ten - Rose Bead; Appendix A - Sandblasting; Appendix B - Gridning and Polishing; Appendix C - Near Misses.

Jeri explains all of the "basics" such as studio set up, torches, safety, ventilation, etc. Hopefully, there's nothing new here for an intermediate beadmaker but if the beginner picks up the book, it's all important information. Once the studio set up and safety is discussed, it's on to the projects or sessions.

I really like the set up of the sessions. The header,"What Will This Session Teach?" begins each one and gives you a quick overview of the bead you'll be making. For the experienced beadmaker, it allows you to skim and look for particular techniques. The header is followed by a section listing tools, material and any special tools or materials used. Good photos of the tools, materials and finished bead.

Throughout the book, there are good, clear, close up photos of the techniques and steps. I feel as though I'm standing next to Jeri as she teaches a class. The section on making the bead is followed by "Further Explorations" where variations on the technique is described with a photo or two. Each session ends with a "Gallery" comprised of various glass art beads made with the same technique.

As an experienced beadmaker I'm sometimes jaded wondering what a new book will have to offer me. The tips and further exploration were worth the price of the book alone. The photographs are lovely and enhance the instructions.

Jeri has written a classic for the modern intermediate beadmaker. A lovely book from a fabulous beadmaker!

The book is wonderful!!
The idea of doing a book specifically for non-beginners is great! There are many good beginning lampworking books, so this a unique addition. Jeri teaches how to make specific beads to introduce many skills at once, that can then be applied in one's own designs. Instructions are clear and direct, and well described and photographed. If you have an interest in learning new and unusual techniques, for your lampworking, this is the best book I have seen.

If I could have only one book on this subject it would be this one. The instructions are easy to understand even on the most complex examples and the projects are inspiring! I couldn't put it down.
Highly recommend!

This is a great book because the chapters are organized by projects that are written clearly and concisely. It is aimed at intermediate glass bead makers, but would work for beginners almost as well. The ten new projects enable the bead maker to move to the next level. It was easy to understand and succeed with the projects presented. I'm tickled to be so successful without having to go to another class. I enjoyed the final chapter that exhibits "near misses" to the reader. This helped me to realize that even the best are not always successful in their attempts to create. I will persevere in adversity because of this chapter.

This is a great book for both technical instructions on how to accomplish a variety of techniques and dozens of beautiful pictures displaying how other skilled artists bring variations to the theme. The book is based around a variety of techniques that are useful for intermediate and advance lampwork bead artists to expand their repetoir. I have not seen any other book that collects as many diverse techniques in one place. The instructions are easy to follow and the explanation of the supplies and tools needed for each bead is straight-forward. Even if you don't want to make any particular bead, the numerous examples of other artists' creations will surely give any reader a creative burst.

This book is packed with useful info. The pics are really clear and easy to follow. It also has lots of interesting projects like making glass flowers and pendants which I found really interesting and useful. A useful addition to my library.

I really like this book! I have been making beads for over 12 years and have been looking for a book that has information for the intermediate to advanced beadmaker. This book fills the bill!! Lots of great information, excellent photos, good descriptions. The book describes a number of techniques that I have been curious about (like sandblasting!).
I wish there had been more detail on a couple of things, but overall, I would recommend this book to other intermediate beadmakers.
Thank you, Jeri, for putting this together! I love the book!

This is an amazing book, very informative for someone like me who is new to the lampworking craft. I have not advanced to the mixed gases as of yet, but this book gives the information I would need. I love this book.

This book is not for beginners or novice lampworkers. The instructions are fairly clear, pictures are good. In order to make the beads represented, you need to have a fully equipped studio and other fairly expensive equipment like a sandblaster. The book is for the more experienced and serious lampworker, not the occasional hobbyist.