Profile of an Australian bead-maker: Diana Bloomfield

Hello dear friends,

I am continuing my chats with Australian bead makers. Today I am talking to Diana Bloomfield.

For those who do not know, glass bead making or 'lamp-working' as it is often called, began many centuries ago. The techniques that are used today are a little different, the torches are more sophisticated but essentially the techniques are not too dissimilar. Hot glass is wrapped around a metal rod. The constant rotation of the rod, shapes and keeps the bead round. Decorations are added with thinner pieces of glass and manipulation of shapes can be achieved with tools and gravity. That is it in a nutshell... though of course, the techniques are many and the combinations of colour and design only limited by the artist himself.

1. How long have you been lampworking and what led you to begin to make glass beads?

I have been making beads since 2004 when I saw it being done in New Zealand when I was recovering from Breast Cancer.

2. Please describe your workplace. Do you have a dedicated studio space?

 I have a Studio which used to be my photography Studio when I did Animal pictures

Di at her workbench. She is using a Minor Burner torch. The stainless steel mandrels in the buckets are coated with bead release  and ready for use. She is also wearing special glasses which protect the eyes from flare from the torch flame and allow the lampwork artist to see the working area more clearly.

3. Which glass is your current favourite and why? 

I love the Double Helix and Tag Silver glasses.

4.  What type of torch/es do you use? Can you tell us a little about it.

 I use a dual fuel Minor Torch

5. How would you describe your style

 I don’t think I have a particular style, I experiment a lot

6. When the ‘muse’ has left the studio, what do you draw on to re-inspire you?

Inspiration comes from Nature and animals

7. If you could have a class with any well-known lampwork artist in the world, who would you choose and why?

 Loren Stump, I have already done a class with him and he is such a giving teacher, and a great person.

I would love to do it all again.

8. Do you have any other artistic interests and what are they?

Not really glass is my passion now.

'Steele Blue'

'Gold Bullion'

One of Di's pendants.

A gorgeous  'Lucia" necklace made with Di's  hand made glass beads.

 Diana sells her beads through her website, Bloomfields by Di-zyn. She also sells at markets... see her website for further information.

Thanks Di for sharing your glass passion with us,

Until next time,

My Studio

Hello friends,

As mentioned in a previous post I had spent a good part of last weekend tidying up my studio.
The word "Studio" seems too grand for this little cedar shed under the crab apple tree at the end of my garden... however it is "my home away from home" and I love it.

It is chock- a- block with a table for my lampworking torch, an area for soldering, set of drawers for storage as well as other little roll away shelves) and a kiln with glass storage underneath. Oh yes, I forgot, there is also a small bookshelf. It's amazing what you can cram in to a 3 metre x 2 metre space!
Here are a few photos.

On the left is my glass working table, the kiln and glass rod storage (under the black cover) are close by. When I make a bead I turn around and pop it straight in to the hot kiln. Behind the kiln in the corner is my soldering/jewelry making table. This table used to be where the drawers and small table are now. That was quite a difficult job to rotate those large pieces of furniture in such a small space! Oh yes, I do have a T.V in the studio, but I use it only to watch DVD's!

Soldering and jewelry making area. The main reason for the big swap around was to move this table closer to the window.

This is a new fume extractor which I wanted to place near the window.

The glass bead making area...normally there are glass rods all over this area. On the small table is a herb/spice rack which is perfect for my frit jars.( frit is small pieces of crushed glass which is added to a bead for decoration and added colour) The grey machine under the table is an oxygen concentrator which draws oxygen from the air... this is then combined with propane gas and the two mix together to make a flame in my torch. (under the plastic bag!) The propane cylinder is kept outside the studio and comes through a hole in the wall.

A collection of pliers!! I really don't use or even need all these! My husband put the power board attached to this piece of wood (Top photo) as the cords were so messy... the end part of the board was a perfect place for these.

And I hung this poster up... I think it says it all!