This is an amazing bead from Beata Sasik.

XAOS Lampwork Bead - THE KISS

And Debra Bartshe Jennings has a huge collection of orphans up.

FROGSONG Lampwork Beads July Orphans 93 Beads

I hope you are all having a lovely Memorial Day. I'm taking advantage of it to catch up on some work. Here are some lovely goodies I noticed this morning.

This is a classy set by Carrie Hamilton:

Bead Tree~ Asters ~15 detailed Lampwork Glass Beads

I am totally in love with Kerri Fuhr's little bees. This one is a vessel. Oh, wow!

Kerribeads Honeybee Tapestry Lampwork Vessel! SRA

If you've been wondering how hollow beads are done, here's a video tutorial. Unfortunately it's not in English, but it doesn't seem to matter. On this one they simply adorned it with a twistie.

Hollow beads are fun, you just need to make sure you don't have any holes or it will collapse. And, yes, they are quite strong due to the spherical shape, with the added advantage of being light.

If you haven't done one before, practice with some inexpensive clear or something you don't care about because you will most likely end up with a few globs before you get the hang of it.

Oh, wow. Michou is at it again. Check these bright beauties out.

MICHOUS lampwork beads * POP FLOWERS -set (13) * SRA

Oh, and it looks like you can get a boatload of orphans from Debra Bartshe Jennings.

FROGSONG Lampwork Beads March Orphans 95 Most Lentils

Wow! These are just divine. From Sisters Beads.

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Dichro is a real pain to work with in the flame so these are pretty awesome. By Victoria Gail.

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These are so fun! By Taara Ryan

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You can make these with squeezed lampwork beads too. :)

These things are so much easier to follow in video.

Oh, my. This red set is so hot! Way to go Casey.

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And this set from Kim Neely is really great.

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This is an elegant set from Chiharu Richardson with a very cool sculptural floral focal bead.

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And here is an amazing focal from Trey Cornette appropriately called Urban Graffiti.

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Amy Caswell is at it again. These cats are too cute.

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And Priss has another lovely set up. You could make a lot of stuff out of a set like that. (Priss, chin up girl!)

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And just in case that's not enough... check out these fab, funky, get your groove on beads from Michou P. Anderson.

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I am humbled. As usual.

Two little matched bee beads are the drawing prize for March. They are etched for a realistic, fuzzy bee look and small enough to be used for earrings.

To enter for a chance to win the drawing, you will need to register. It's easy, painless, and free. If you are already a registered member of this site, you are already entered. For more on the drawing, click here. Good luck!

The first thing you notice when you see Kandice Seeber’s beads is how feminine they are. Then, after the initial surge of desire has worn off, the colors start sinking into your soul. Quality, beauty, and femininity, all found in a miniature bead of glass.

Kandice Seeber is a 34 year old lampworker from the Northwest. She is currently residing in Washington with her husband. She describes herself as a total nerd who loves science documentaries, science fiction/fantasy novels, knitting, crafts, and traveling to historical places.

Kandice was kind enough to answer a long list of questions. The following is my interview with her:

How did you discover lampworking? When did you start?

Kandice: Years ago when I was working at a fabric store in Portland, I fell in love with the totally limited supply of seed beads we had in inventory. That love grew into obsession, and for the next ten years or so I made jewelry and did bead embroidery onto anything I could. About seven or eight years ago I discovered lampwork beads online while chatting with other beaders in a Usenet newsgroup called rec.crafts.beads. I had made friends with several people in the group, and as a gift, they gave me a voucher for my first lampwork class. I had an immediate affinity for glass, even though I had never done anything like it. I realized my love for fire and melting glass - it was like coming home for me. Shortly after that class I began an apprenticeship with one of the beadmakers in the rec.crafts.beads group who lived near me. Her name is Paulette Insall - she taught me a lot in the first couple of months, while I worked in her home studio. After that I set up my own studio, and the rest is history. Paulette and I are still great friends.

Love, love, love these metallics from Vickie Lee.

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And this set from Sherry Bellamy has got the color thing down. Wow!

This auction is over but you can find similar beads here.