Bastet's Beads

You may wonder at the name. Bastet was an ancient Egyptian cat goddess and we have a few cats. That plus my love of beads and jewelry making led me to name my business Bastet's Beads.

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My obsession for the past 20 years has been handmade glass beads, called lampwork since the process used to take place over a bunsen burner type lamp. Thankfully we have fuel driven torches for this now!

 

I make these beads with a variety of glasses such as Effetre glass from Italy, Gaffer Glass from New Zealand and American silver rich glass. They are made one bead at a time, placed directly in a hot kiln to strengthen. Then they are cooled, cleaned, photographed and kissed by our resident cat fairies before being sent to their new homes.

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Now on to some very old nitty gritty details about me. Here is a list of the professional instruction I have had over the years.

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• December 2005- Michael Barley

• May 2005 - Andrea Guarino-Slemmons

• April 2003- Leah Fairbanks

• January 2003- Larry Scott

• December 2001- Molly Heynis

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I've also been published from time to time, appeared on television on a show called Crafters Coast to Coast and won a National Bead Arts Award.

  

• Crafters Coast to Coast 2006

• Belle Armoire- Fall 2005

• Lapidary Journal-  October 2005

• Step By Step Beads- September  2005

• Lapidary Journal Bead Arts Competition- 1st Place lampwork category - 2005

• Exhibition Of Contemporary American Glass Beads, participant- traveling exhibition: Best Bead Artists

• Interview- Glass Craftsman,  October 2004.

• Double Rainbow Exhibition, ISGB Gathering July-August 2004.

• Fire Mountain Gems Annual Catalog, 2004 issue.

• Spotlight by Corina Tettinger, Hollow Beads and Vessel Issue, 2003.

• Belle Armoire, Spring 2003 Issue.

• Austin Community College Spring Art Exhibition, May-June 2002

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My entry for the 2005 Lapidary Journal Bead Arts Award- 1st Place

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