I made this huge, hollow glass bead a long time ago. The diameter is about 2.5 inches, and I made it on a hothead torch. I wrapped molten glass around a core of kiln- washed extra fine steel wool, decorated it with more glass, and after cooling I removed the steel threads from the interior with tweezers.

Yesterday I realized that I could get this thick felted cord through 
the hole of the bead, and the color matched perfectly!

I made these glass beads and then earrings at Haystack, 
and the glass necklace was also made recently.

Some new glass beads I made in the class I recently took 

at Haystack with Kristina Logan!

Didymium lenses

When flameworking, eyewear can protect one's vision by shielding from projectiles of thermally shocked glass. More uniquely, didymium lenses filter out the wavelength of light in the sodium flare of torched molten glass, thus altering the wearer's perception of certain colors. When people try my safety glasses on at demos, they usually think this is really cool. 

I popped the plastic lenses out of my contemporary safety glasses and used a jeweler's saw to cut the lenses to fit these vintage frames. They're not totally finished yet, but it makes me really happy to customize my safety gear like this.

Some new work, and new pictures of some other pieces. I flameworked all of this glass.
Photos by Graham Wheeler, hand by Jess Richards

A variation on the bubblecloud collar posted 

last month, this plays with those proportions

The tiniest seed beads in this are 24°, which 

are the smallest seed beads ever made, and

a very rare example of using beads that I did

not make myself.

I always love playing with gradients of color and size.

Glass chains for Calvin Klein

My brother finally persuaded me to start tweeting, as I made the glass chains that were worn as necklaces and belts in Calvin Klein Collection's FW2014 runway show today. The New York Times  covers it here!

Also, I put a few glass chain necklaces in my etsy shop. They do match everything.

A glass menorah!

My first try at making a glass flower menorah

A weekend show

 

Some glass rain and lasercut textile plant forms hang at the "Nature Contained" show this past weekend in Providence.

Earrings

I made a simple and lightweight birthday gift for my friend.

I liked these so much that I made a heavier and more complicated version for me to test drive. These are of lampworked glass, steel, and silver.

A new video is in the works!

Yesterday Graham Wheeler and I recorded a new tutorial video: How to Make Glass Chains! We may need a few more shots and editing will take a little while, but check out this funny image of the back of my head.

2 mic packs hang on my back as the wires snake through my hair to microphones clipped on the arms of my glasses.

New Glass

I have never owned a car, but for a while between 2011 and 2012 I was borrowing a car from my family to help dear hearts in different states. For six months I drove 500 miles a week, to New York and back, and to Boston and back. I enjoyed seeing my relatives frequently & being present with loved ones, and I wrote a lot of songs in the car. I used the car to get to my glass studio in Central Falls, where I would also sing a lot. I was not home often. (note bene- Central Falls is the smallest city in the smallest state in the US!)

Exactly a year ago I was hit by a drunk driver just 2 blocks from my house in Providence. The other driver hit me and ran, but she "luckily" left her license plate in the intersection. I was not hurt, but it was the end of the car.

It was a relief to not drive so much anymore. Providence parking regulation enforcers are relentless, gas is expensive, traffic can sometimes be frustrating. Providence is so small and bikable anyway (for the most part.) 

Last week my extraordinary sweetheart of a friend was kind enough to help me move my glass studio back to Olneyville, and as a result I've done more lampwork in the past week than I had in the last year. Today was the application deadline for some RISCA Fellowships, one of which I won a few years ago. Here are some new pieces from today's grant application.

A lampworked glass and leather cuff

Floral gradient earrings in blues

A new studio to work in! This one is for animation and collaboration

Flameworked glass and lasercut textiles,
some glass bees, eyes, and beaks for birds

Arrowheads

Jed Shepler of Houston, Texas found lots of beautiful old glass in various archaeological digs, and knapped these splendid arrowheads. I think this is definitely one of the most wonderful things I have ever received in the mail. 

Jed, thank you!

Holiday gifts

I like making special orders for holiday gifts. Here are some flameworked glass and silver earrings , and a "Pollination" brooch.

When the pieces are worn, the glass bees seem to hover around the floral forms.

Glass Rain

Last year I began flameworking thin pieces of borosilicate glass to sculpt raindrops. I assembled lots of pieces to construct these "Glass Rain" installations.

I installed a Glass Rain chandelier at the offices of the Rhode Island State House over the summer. It was on display in the Atrium Gallery for August and September.

This piece was about ten feet high, five feet deep, and four feet wide. The glass drops look so realistically watery when they're full of light!

Glass Ikura Sushi Bead Tutorial

I demonstrate how I lampwork this type of simple form.

Ring of Fire

I and Lindsay MiŚ with Christopher McElroy's Ring of Fire

Jar Schepers models Ring of Fire

Mister McElroy and his marvelous ring--

I am at Haystack, surrounded by geniuses. Follow those links!

Bigger Glass Chains

I've been flameworking larger glass chains. I plan to do some Pyrex padlocks for the thickest chains.

Maker Faire in San Mateo

Hello from California!

It seems colder here than in Rhode Island right now, but I'm very much looking forward to the Maker Faire in San Mateo next weekend! I'll be demonstrating glass torchwork, as usual. It's open to the public May 21st and 22nd, and I think it will be the biggest Maker Faire yet, the largest contemporary DIY convergence in the world!

Please come out and say hi!

http://makerfaire.com/pub/e/5024