ShebaMakeda

Private Classes:  I’m now teaching one-on-one beginner glass beadmaking classes from my home studio – just email me for details. For beginners, this is a great introduction to help you decide if you actually enjoy glass beadmaking and learn how to do it safely on your own. If you already have basic lampworking skills I can customize the class to your specific needs.  Classes are $175 for four (4) hours and include all supplies, equipment and annealing of any beads you make.

Group Classes:  I’ll also be teaching intermediate glass beadmaking classes through the City of Ottawa’s Nepean Visual Arts Centre  January 15 – March 26th, 2010 (details are on page 21 of the guide).  You can register at your local community centre or online through the city HERE. 

For additional details/updates about the course view the Facebook event listing HERE. 

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Are you an Ottawa/Outaouais/Eastern Ontario/Western Quebec area glass bead artist?  Then join our happy little yahoo group.  We’re our own little support network – we have regular meetings and even launched Ottawa’s only Glass Bead Artists show in 2008!  To join, follow the link below, and send us a bit of info about yourself. (Note: Serious bead makers only please, no email spamming of your products or services allowed!)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/beautifulglassbeads/

Our website:  http://www.ottawaglassbeadartists.com/ and blog: http://ogba.wordpress.com/

***Our 2nd Annual Glass Bead Show was November 7th & 8th, 2009 – check the site for details of our next show.***

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I first posted this information for someone on LE back in November 2007 and figured others might find it useful as well.  If you’re interested, this list should get you started in lampworking – I update it as I find new sources:

96 COE Furnace glass: I do an annual order of 96 COE glass cane, frit and powder from Olympic Colour Rods every summer (late July/August) to stock up on my fave colours from Reichenbach, Kugler, Zimmerman, etc.  It does cost an arm and a leg to get it here (hence why it’s only once a year) but so far this is the only way i’ve found to get a good selection of  the colours i want.  This is the glass usually used by glassblowers and comes in a much wider palette than what’s available in the 104 COE lines.  If you’re an Ottawa area lampworker who’d like to piggyback on this order to share shipping costs, just email me! 

Olympic’s site:  http://www.glasscolor.com/

Glass, tools and supplies:  No need to order from the US and pay exorbitant shipping and custom charges (not to mention the exchange rate!).  If you’re outside Canada (depending on the exchange rate), these suppliers might be a good deal for you as well.  There are lots of online lampwork purchasing options on this side of the border:

www.artistryinglass.on.ca
- has the widest selection and best prices of glass and supplies i’ve found online in Canada. And they seem to be the most in touch with what’s hot in the lampworking community and stock the new fun odd lots and silver glasses quickly (London, Ontario)

www.morettiglasscanada.com
- comparable prices, has a good variety of moretti, boro, some vetro and silver glasses.  Best part of their site is they have actual photos of paddles so you can really see the glass colour you’re buying.  Super helpful service and bilingual (English/French).  (Trois Rivieres, Quebec)

www.fantasyinglass.com
- mostly sells Bullseye 90COE glass.  (Toronto, Ontario)

http://www.nortelglass.com/
- extensive variety of torches, tools, soft and hard glass.  These are the people who make Nortel torches so you can even try out a torch when you visit.  The website stinks and prices aren’t always the lowest but they are super nice and accomodating if you visit the manufacturing site (don’t expect a storefront) and usually have all kinds of rare goodies you won’t find at other suppliers.  Plus, it’s so nice to touch the glass before you buy it! (Scarborough, Ontario)

http://www.lauschacanada.com/shop/ 

The online store is still being built but they assure me the shopping cart is working and they can forward any missing pictures by email upon request.  They seem to have a very varied stock as well, including boutique silver glass and oddlots.  (Edmonton, Alberta)

www.lauschalady.com
- sells mainly Lauscha glass from Germany and silver glass from Double Helix.  (Ottawa, Ontario) 

www.calienteglass.com
 - makes a 96 COE streaky glass similar to Gaffer veiled rods. I haven’t tried them yet but they are on my list.  (Mission, British Columbia)

If you’re in Ottawa, try these two stores:
http://northernartglass.com/
http://www.stainedglassstuff.com/
I bought my starter kit at SGS back in 2006 but haven’t been back to either of them in months as neither had a very extensive stock of lampworking supplies. Both seemed to focus mostly on stained glass and fusing and the few rods they carried were pricey.  If you visit and things have changed let me know.

Frit: I get most of my single colour frit from various vendors on ebay as it’s relatively cheap to ship and the US sellers seem to have a wider variety.

www.thatfritgirl.com

I’ve recently bought a LOT of frit from her!   She carries a very wide range of the intense furnace glass frits and will get a colour in if you ask even if she has to make the frit herself.  I like that i can buy just an ounce or two of each colour at a time.  Her packaging was beautiful, neat and shipping affordable.  (United States)

http://www.beadysamglass.com/

Jen M. (scoutycat) recommended this frit supplier saying even with the exchange rate and shipping, it was still good prices.  Just checked them out – wow, do they have a lot of frit!   I haven’t ordered from them yet though…  (United Kingdom)

Frit blends: (all US suppliers)
www.valcoxfrit.com
www.glassdiversions.com

Bead presses: Either google them or check the garage sale or the vendor ads on LampworkEtc – there are sooo many suppliers! I’ve purchased from zooziis, Cattwalk and a guy named coonvallyb on ebay but there are many more and each makes fairly unique products…

I’ve tried most of the sellers listed here and all have provided good service.  Feel free to add your suggestions for other suppliers and details about your experiences in the comment box below.

 Happy Torching!