Brown disc lampwork beads created by Kathy Bankston
Jewelry artist Kathy Bankston is a skilled metalsmith, weaver, and lampwork beadmaker. Lampworking is a technique that can be traced back to 14th Century Italy. Lampwork beads are created when glass is melted into a molten state using a torch and then the molten glass is shaped with tools into beads. As well as creating these glass beads for her own jewelry designs, Kathy sells these beads in her Etsy shop Kathy’s Bead Shop as beadwork supplies for you to use in your own fine art and craft designs. Each bead is annealed in a kiln in Kathy’s studio to add strength and durability to the glass.
The white large hole lampwork beads above, available in Kathy Bankston’s Etsy shop are clear glass with a white frit on top that lend themselves to many possibilities for creating jewelry such as with silver metal or black leather creations.
Kathy Bankston is an artisan and lampwork bead maker from Hitchcock, Texas, USA. She takes pride in hand-making the elements that go into her jewelry designs. Her metal jewelry is designed, sketched, sawed, shaped and soldered all by hand. Her weaving is done on a loom using only the finest silks, threads, and beads. She makes lampwork beads from Effetre and CiM soda glass and kiln anneals them in her glass studio.
Above are a pair of simple and elegant sterling silver and black onyx cabochon stud earrings from Kathy Bankston’s jewelry designs available on her website here. She makes rings, earrings, pendants, necklaces and bracelets.
Kathy hand makes each copper wrap ring in her studio from recycled copper wire, wrapped to form a beautiful ring soldered together on the back side so that the individual bands will not move.
Purple lampwork bead and antique key necklace, Kathy Bankston
Kathy Bankston also incorporates found objects, such as an antique key, combined with her handmade purple and blue lampwork beads into the beautiful necklace above. Kathy says, “I’ve strung the beads on a 35″ sterling silver cable chain. It is an endless chain that you simply slip over your head. There is no clasp. The necklace has an antique key that I found in a Galveston antique store. The bead cap is a hand wire wrapped bead cap in sterling silver. Romantic, and beautiful, you’re sure to get compliments every time you wear this beautiful necklace. All sterling has been oxidized for extra glamour.”
View many more of the wonderful creations by this artist on her website– Kathy Bankston where you will find lampwork pendants–such as this pink glass piece–and many enamel pendants such as those pictured below–
pink glass pendant, Kathy Bankston
enamel pendants, Kathy Bankston
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