Customer Reviews

Passing the Flame: A Beadmaker's Guide to Detail and Design

5 star:		(122)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I saw the price tag on this book, I almost said forget it-- I am so glad I didn't! I now find myself stalking Corina's glass (don't worry, Corina, I am not stalking you - just the beads!). She is a true inspiration and wonderful for sharing her knowledge.

The book is both fun and informative - makes you not want to put it down!

If you are like me, just trying to get started, and not really wanting to spend so much on a book, think again...this book is worth more then you would think - and you really are missing out if you try to skip this!

First, let me say that before reading this book, I had read what I happen to consider the "Bible" of Glass Beadmaking, "Making Glass Beads" by Cindy Jenkins.
That being said, Corina Tettinger's book is the perfect follow-up to Jenkins book. Still, it isn't necessary to purchase or read Jenkin's book first, as Tettinger covers many of the same numerous details that you need to know if you plan to get into this type of artwork which requires patience, dedication, and a sense of humor.
This book is wonderful for many reasons, not the least of which is that it is bound in such a way that you can leave the book open to a particular page. So, if you need to prop the book up to look at the technique you are attempting, the book does not "fight" you while doing it.
The book itself is in a large format and the photographs are very well taken (and I speak as somewhat of an expert on this, after 35 years as a photographer) so I always want photographs to "explain" the technique to me as well as the written word.
And you are able to see the technique that Tettinger is describing, step by step, just as in Jenkin's book, which, while less expensive, is also physically smaller.
I also discovered that Tettinger will have examples of her beads for sale on eBay from time to time, and it's fun to be able to contact her if you have a question about a particular bead technique. She is very friendly and humble regarding her work.
If you keep track of her auctions you will see that her beads go for a very high price with many bidders. But like the book, they are worth every penny.
The book is costly,I paid around $85.00 for mine, but I purchased it right after it was printed and I wasn't about to wait for the price to go down, that is how much I wanted her book.
You definitely get what you pay for here. And, should she ever decide to write another followup book that is as large and as informative, I would most certainly buy it.

This book provides a wealth of how-to information on soft glass beadmaking and how to achieve various effects. The step-by-step instructions and pictures are excellent -- there is a lot of information that I haven't found anywhere before in print. A lot of the stunning techniques are broken down and demystified for the beginning beadmaker. I can see why so many others have rated this book so highly. I would definitely give the how-to content 5 stars.

There are only a couple of things that prevent me from giving this book 5 stars overall. One thing is the many typos. While this might not bother some, to me they were distracting, and made the book seem that much less professional. I don't necessarily blame the author so much as the editor -- these are things that should have been caught easily during editing. Perhaps they will be corrected in later editions.

The second (and more serious) issue I had was that of safety. While the author does talk about studio safety and what others do, it seemed that she trivialized some aspects and even mentioned that she does not always follow the recommendations herself. It's true that she is just being honest about how she works; however, with so many people looking up to her as a lampwork expert/role model, and using this book in lieu of taking a class, this is a bit disquieting. More is being discovered every day about the various hazards, as well as how they can be minimized, and even if she does not plan to follow all of the recommendations, I wish she had been a bit less casual about such an important topic.

Other than this, the book really is a wonderful resource. I would recommend it to first-time lampworkers as long as they do additional research on the safety issues, gathering information from other experts as well as from this book.

This is an excellent step by step book teaching lampworking. Reading the book is like having glass bead artist Corina Tettinger standing behind you, teaching you how to make glass beads with fun, pretty and intresting designs. You can take the book and read it from cover to cover, and then go back, countless times, and read the sections you want a refresher on. I've read the book at several times, and still use it as a reference guide on a regular basis.
Passing the Flame is chock full with tips, techniques, funny comments true to Corina's style. It is an enjoyable, useful, inspirational and beautiful book with hundreds of color pictures, and step by step descriptions on glass beadmaking. I can highly recommend it.

Before I began making beads, I read everything I could get my hands on, including this book. Now that I melt glass regularly, I still refer to this more than to any other. Corina is an extremely talented beadmaker and, in this book, she freely shares all of the tips and tricks of the trade with clear, step-by-step instructions (with LOTS of color photos) that gives newbies a great start, and broadens the knowledge base of even the seasoned beadmaker. She also tells you WHY things work as they do, and encourages experimentation. Unlike many other books for beginning beadmakers, she also covers studio setup and safety. When you are working with pressurized gases and a 1700 degree flame, safety is something you need to understand thoroughly before beginning to work in this mesmerizing medium. It's the next best thing to having an instructor standing at your elbow.

Corina is a fabulous teacher!! (Super pics too!) Put this book next to your workbench and practice like mad! Sometimes I just get a cup of tea and browse through to look for something to try. Once I've got the technique I can apply it to my own work. Thanks Corina!

I wish I had known about this book before I started melting glass rods! This book has pointed out so many simple mistakes I've made. Although I have not gotten through the whole book, I am always anxious to go out to my workshop and apply what I have read thus far. :))) I feel like a learned apprentence now. Great book!

As a jewelry maker, I think it's important to know as much as possible about the materials I work with. I use a lot of hand made lampwork beads in my designs and found this to be a terrific source of information about what is involved in making those beads. And the book is a joy to read and gaze at. The photography is 1st rate and the text is very readable, even for a non-technical person. I highly recommend this book, whether you make beads, plan to make beads or just enjoy beautiful glass beads.

I think I have every book published on lampworking. This is my favorite. I wish this book was available when I started. The pages are filled with colorful beadmaking tips that everyone can attempt. The best part is how the book is written. It's as if you're "listening" to Corina vs. reading her words. It's so easy to follow. The pages are filled with color. Beads, beads and more beads! You'll learn everything from putting glass on a mandrel to pulling twisted cane. I had struggled with pulling simple stringers for months until I got this book. I have never made a crooked stringer since reading her chapter on stringers. THAT was worth the price of this book alone, not to mention everything else I've learned. If you've admired lampwork beads, I'm certain you'll see how it's made in this book. It's a must-have. Thank you Corina for inspiring us.

So good I bought it twice! I bought the first edition and the supplement and gave to a beginning beadmaking friend - so naturally I had to have the second edition for myself. And if I pass this one on, I will buy another! A great reference to have by your torch. Done as only Corina could have done, her style and talent come through on every page. Recommend to ALL beadmakers.