For the last couple of months or so I have been following along with the International Society of Glass Beadmakers - online learning for making blown hollow glass beads.
With 7 different modules it covered how to blow a glass bead then different ways to decorate and shape them.
I've been fascinated by hollow beads forever, but have struggled to improve mine with no real guidance.
The online course has meant I can watch the videos in my own time before attempting my own beads. I also have the option to ask Ikuyo questions too.
While I have found some techniques quite hard, for instance stretching or twisting the beads, it has definitely improved my glass handling skills, and I finally know how to add an additional hole to my beads, something I struggled with for ages.
And while my twisted beads didn't come out all lovely and round like her's, some of them have a lovely sculptural quaility to them that I really like.
I've really enjoyed the course and learning new techniques which I'm sure I will incorporate into other projects. It's also been really nice to have a focus for going down to the studio each week, even if I only made a couple of beads each time.
Maybe if I keep practicing I'll end up with something as beautiful as Ikuyo's beads.
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