Me & My Studio
Hello! I am Kristine Dery, mother and lampwork artist. My studio is located in beautiful Southern California. Creating beads allows me the incredible opportunity to be home with my children for which I am very grateful. I was introduced to lampwork by my mother-in-law in September of 2003. From the very first moment I made my first bead, I knew lampworking would become my passion. I have come along way since then! My obsession to create beautiful beads is my driving force. Every bead is made from my heart and soul.
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Me & Miss Madi
My 4 year old daughter.
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 My 8 year old son, Jordan.
He LOVES to play hockey.He's been skating since he was 3. |
My Studio
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Work Area
This is where the magic happens. My little studio is just off the kitchen. I spend most of my time in here. I have so much to show you, so lets look around.
I have glass lots of glass. Isn't it pretty? It's all within arms reach. I don't even have to get up. My hubby made the glass holders for me. They are PVC pipes cut to 12 inch lengths and they are inside of shoe racks. Yes, that's right! The kind you get from your local home improvement store. It works perfectly. My exhaust system above the light my hubby made for me. It has 2 exhaust fans. And is vented through the window out to the backyard. I turn off the propane and purge the line every night.
My absolute favorite glass supplier is http://stores.ebay.com/Moretti-and-MoreI've been buying all my glass from Bill & Donelle since I started. They are the BEST! Well, I think so anyway.
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The Kiln
My hubby helped me pick it out. It has not just 1, but 2 bead doors. And yes, it's the biggest one they had at the show. It runs off 240 volts and this is the reason I had to have my house rewired. Thanks again Hun!
Each and every bead is immediately placed into the kiln for annealing, soaking and gradual overnight cooling. This insures that my beads are not only beautiful, they are durable and will last a lifetime.
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My Torch
A Nortel Midrange Plus also from Arrowsprings. The top port (the skinny one on top) is for soft glass, like Moretti (almost all of my beads are made from Moretti) and the bottom port (the square one) is for hard glass, like Borosilicate. I've fired that puppy up a couple of times, it has a REALLY BIG FLAME. I've only tried Boro once. But as my hubby would say, "You never know when you're gonna need it, so buy the bigger one!" He's so funny. He cracks me up!
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My Concentrator
I use a Mobilaire V from Suncoast Beads. I've had it for about a year and it works wonderfully. No more lugging those oxygen tanks back and forth to the welding supply store. Yay!
As for what type of gas I use- it's propane. I exchange my tank at my local home improvement store. It's the same kind you use for your BBQ. I have a 17 pound tank and it lasts me about a month or so. |
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Mandrels
I buy my mandrels from my local welding supply store. They are 1/16 stainless steel welding rods. They come in 3 foot lengths. My hubby cuts them down for me. It's cheaper to buy them this way.
Here they are all dipped and ready to go on my fancy schmancy holder. Yep! that's right- it's styrofoam. I recycle anything I can.
My favorite bead separator "Fusion Bead Separator". The stuff you use to dip your mandrels in, so your beads won't stick to the mandrel.
It's from http://www.frantzartglass.com/ |
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Tools
Now this picture looks like a surgical tray...LOL
From left to right:
Marver used to roll your beads on, to make lines or indentations, rod rest that's where I set out my glass when I am making beads, blunt end tweezers for pinching off bits of glass, stamp tweezers for making pretty daisy's, hemostats for pulling stringer, Fun- Fun- Fun!, small mashers for smashing beads, murrini hemostats Used to pick up hot or cold glass rods or murrini sections and add them to others. I use them to move the beads around in the kiln. Don't use your fingers, I have done that and ouch it hurts!, sharp pointed tweezers for applying cubic zirconias, a razor knife my favorite tool for making scored petals on my flower beads, graphite paddle for rolling and shaping and finally glass nippers for nipping off the ugly bits of glass. Whew!
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CBS Tools from Corina Tettinger
The "Magic Marver" is what everything is sitting on. I use it to keep my frit warm and I roll my beads on it. It's wonderful! The "Bead Squeeze", is the one with the wooden handle sitting on top. "The Poker Set" a 3 piece set with different points, used for poking holes in beads to create a certain effect- like bubble beads. And my favorite tool of all the "Magic Wand"- the one that looks like an arrow. I use it to press down all of my petals on my flower beads. LOVE IT!
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Zoozii Tools
The Zoozzii tool line are my favorite bead presses. They are of the ones in the top row and the 2 on the left in the middle row. I really don't have that many. There are so many more I want to get. Once you have one- you'll want them all!
ZooziiTools are made by Amy Ouellette and her Dad, Carl Waterhouse who has been a machinist and engineer for 40 years. I LOVE THEM! And yes, the stand is from Zoozii too!
The long skinny tool on the middle shelf is from Christy L Designs. The one on the bottom is the "Bead Squeeze". I already talked about that one.
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Frit Frit and more Frit!
One can never have to much frit...LOL
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My Library
Corina Tettinger, "Passing the Flame" (My favorite book :) I think I've read it 20 times. I always find something new to try. And couple of "Spotlight On" books too.
Cindy Jenkins, "Beads of Glass" LOTS OF EYE CANDY! and "Making Glass Beads". My first book on lampworking. If YOU want to make beads this is a great beginners book.
James Kervin "More than you ever wanted to know about Glass Beadmaking" A must have in your studio. But I have to admit, it's a bit to technical for me. And "You can too books" on Leah Fairbanks and Sharron Peters.
Drew Fritts, A signed copy of "Torch Worked Marbles". Something else I want to learn how to do :0)
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Prep Area
This is where the beads get all prettied up for their pictures. I also do my shipping and jewelry making here. I have all my findings in little canisters. And even though everything is labeled- I still have trouble finding what I need. The little blue cup is where all the names go for my FREE BEADS drawing. Is your name in there?...heheee And lastly the Smarties. Everybody gets a Smartie. A little treat from me, as you create something really pretty with my beads :0) |
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My Desk
I do all of my listings and maintain my website right from here. Did you notice Spongebob on my mouse pad? Jordan picked it out for me. He's such a sweetie:) Is that Krissy Beads you see on my monitor? Why yes, it is! It's my favorite place to be. I hope it's yours too!
Now that my studio is all clean. I'm going to go make some beads and mess it all up again :0)
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Well that's it! I hope you enjoyed your visit. Come by and see me anytime.
Happy Beading!
Kris
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