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Bio

Hello and welcome ~ My name is April and my passion is working with glass. Making my own beads is an art I've been practicing for years. There's always a new technique to learn or new glass to try. Glass artists are passionate. Melting glass into my own beads and using them in my jewelry designs is an amazing transformation. As a child I remember seeing the glass artists along the Coney Island boardwalk. Something about those sparkling delicate sculptures caught my eye and heart. Being born and raised in Brooklyn New York gives me the style and flair unique to my jewelry. New York is all about fashion and expressing yourself. I use a technique called "lampworking" to make my glass beads. Lampwork is used to describe glass beads that are made by melting glass rods with a torch. The word "lamp" was used in ancient times when the glass was melted with the flame of an oil lamp. Today the craft is also called "flameworking" and a torch fire flame is used. Each glass bead is individually hand crafted by heating a glass rod in the flame of an oxygen and natural gas mixed gas torch. The hot glass is melted and applied to a steel rod. I'm open to whatever glass I can experiment with. Lately I'm using German Lauscha, Italian glass Effetre/Moretti, Vetrofond and Creation is Messy. I enjoy learning from and making friends with other artists. Being involved in the art world has always been a part of me that I'm most comfortable with. Creating glass beads takes time and patience. Mostly it takes practice, practice and more practice. That's what keeps me focused. Handcrafted glass beads are more expensive than mass produced beads. They have been made by an artist who had a vision and the need to create. Thank you for your support and supporting all independent artists. Peace and love, Brooklyn Bead Goddess Female, Born on March 6

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