Kevins work at Stourbridge Crafts

A few days ago, I was in between jobs and looking around for the next posting on this blog. It's a bit daunting trying to get information on here for people to read about just what goes on here at the Ruskin Glass Center. I'm trying to let you know what any typical day might be like...

So as I take ten minutes out to see who's next on the list (and there isn't a real list) I'm just wondering around seeing who's in. A quick chat with others, and they're not ready for me, my camera and pad, so I take a walk around the other studios to see who's actually working on something.

And it's now that I find out that I can't just stop and do this sort of thing when it suits me, I will have to plan when I'm going to stop by..and that's where Kevin Townsend at Stourbridgecrafts came in to help out..

Stourbridgecrafts is located at the other end of the corridor from me, and on the back corner of the building, you can tell where it is by the card stand just outside the workshop doors. Kevin was set up to do some glass lampwork...I'm new to this, and so it made sense that this post would be about just that..

The studio is packed with beads, miniatures, jewellery and all sorts of things that it's easier for you to come and look, than me tell you everything that they do..

This work is done just under the window at the back and it's really well set out. So I sat myself down and Kevin took me through the basics..

At the bench, this is where it all takes place..

and this little beauty is going to be providing all he heat to create some beads..

Now, I'm not going to pretend that I know all of the correct terminology and know the complete process,  but when you go through it with Kevin, you know he knows quite a lot about it, and get the feeling that he could tell you a whole lot more... so here we go...

The rod on the right has been dipped into a liquid and had time to dry off. It's water soluble ans helps with the removal of the bead when they have cooled down later, and on the left is a glass rod being heated up to melting point...

When it's hot enough, the two pieces are worked around each other, 

creating a ring around the end of the rod, and I was quite surprised just how quick it was, 

this is pretty cool stuff...

So here Kevin is managing the molten glass around the rod to make the bead as even as possible..

Now he's happy with the shape, he moves it further away from the heat to start the cooling down process..

A few seconds later and you can see it's changing colour and only just in the flame..

Another few seconds later and the rod and bead are put into this container.

These beads help insulate the glass and stop it cooling down too quickly.

If the outside of the bead gets to cool too quick then it could crack..

So the first one is done, and Kevin makes another bead, a square one this time..

 

and then some cane...

So with the cane, the two glass rods all heated. The molten glass set either side of the base colour, kept hot, then with some tongs the glass is pulled and twisted at the same time making a beautiful candy cane..

 

Here you can see the white either side of the base colour, and the twisting

in the correct part of the flame..

 

 

and here's the cane.. this will be used as decoration on other beads

 

So, here are the beads after cooling..

 

 

Some more from previous lampwork..

 

and here are some beads made into a bangle.

 

Well, there you have it. From sixty photos down to a dozen, It would be great to put them all on here but I don't think the system would take it..but I hope this gives an insight into lampwork, just one of the crafts going on in Kevin's studio.

 

All the best

 

Jamie