Jim has done what few others can: combine his scientific training and enginering background with the eyes and heart of an artist, and surrounded it with his passion for hot glass. Jim has a way of explaining the 'how' and 'why' things happen in a way we all can understand. His books are considered 'bibles' by some, and 'encyclopedias' by others.
You need these books in your library!
Pâte de Verre and Kiln Casting of Glass
Second Edition
Copyright 2000
ISBN 0-9651458-3-2
Paperback
190 pages
$45.00
First published in 1997, Jim and Dan Fenton together wrote what has become one of the best instructional books on kiln casting glass. Completely revised with the second edition in 2000, this books covers:
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| Pâte de Verre and Kiln Casting of Glass | $45.00 |
More than you ever wanted to know about Glass Beadmaking
Fifth edition
Copyright 2003
ISBN 0-9651458-8-3
Paperback
314 pages
$50.00
First published in 1994, Jim has kept this book up to date, revising it often. Now in its fifth edition, this book truely lives up to its name, "More than you ever wanted to know ..." This books covers:
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| More than you ever wanted to know about Glass Beadmaking | $50.00 |
Many beginning beadmakers have requested that Jim provide some step-by-step directions on making a number of glass beads to go along with his comprehensive text, "More Than You Ever Wanted To Know About Glass Beadmaking". So, Jim started a new series of booklets, working with some of the most talented glass bead artists in the country.
Each booklet contains 32 pages of step-by-step instructions on how to make some of the very same beads pictured on each book. Use these techniques as a springboard to create your own materpieces. Even if you do not make beads yourself, these booklets will give you a better appreciation for this wondrous wearable art form.
The Wild and Wonderful World of Sharon Peters and her Silly Sculptural Shapes
Copyright 2001
ISBN 0-9651458-4-0
Paperback
32 pages
$15.00
In the first book of this series, we work with the nationally-known artist, Sharon Peters, to discover some of the secrets to making her entertaining cartoony beads. Come enjoy with me her delightful sense of humor and these amazing creations. You will not believe some of the creatures that emerge from her imagination. They will keep you laughing for a long time to come. At the same time, you will learn considerable new information about how to make glass beads, because Sharon has proven herself to be a master beadmaker from which we can learn something about that craft's techniques.
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| The Wild and Wonderful World of Sharon Peters and her Silly Sculptural Shapes | $15.00 |
The Fanciful Floral Beads of Leah Fairbanks and her Garden of Glass
Copyright 2001
ISBN 0-9651458-5-9
Paperback
32 pages
$15.00
In this, the second book of this series, we work with the nationally known artist Leah Fairbanks, to discover some of the secrets she uses in making her beautiful floral beads. Come and enjoy with me these fantastic floral creations. Their detail and beauty will take your breath away. At the same time, you will be exposed to a wealth of new information on how to make and decorate glass beads, because Leah has proven herself to be a master beadmaker from whom we can all learn something about the techniques of this craft.
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| The Fanciful Floral Beads of Leah Fairbanks and her Garden of Glass | $15.00 |
The Classic Bead Shapes of Jim Smircich and his Amazing Control of Heat
Copyright 2001
ISBN 0-9651458-6-7
Paperback
32 pages
$15.00
In this, the third booklet of this series, we work with the nationally known artist Jim Smircich, to discover some of the secrets to making his classic torpedo-shaped beads. Come and be amazed by the way he can manipulate glass. You will once again see the beauty in simple classic shapes. At the same time, you will be exposed to a wealth of new information on shaping and coloring glass beads, because Jim has proven himself to be a master beadmaker from whom we can all learn something about the techniques of this craft.
You can also watch Jim work in his videos, 'Smircich Makes Beads', volumes 1 & 2, and 'Let this be a Lesson to You'.
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| The Classic Bead Shapes of Jim Smircich and his Amazing Control of Heat | $15.00 |
The Enamel and Electroform Decorated Beads of Kate Fowle Meleney
Copyright 2002
ISBN 0-9651458-7-5
Paperback
32 pages
$15.00
In this, the forth booklet of this series, we work with the nationally known artist, Kate Fowle Meleney, to learn some of the secrets that she uses in making her intriguing signature beads. Come and enjoy with me these mysterious creations. Their detail and beauty will leave you begging for more. At the same time, you will be exposed to a wealth of new information on how to make and decorate glass beads using Thompson enamels. If that is not reason enough to buy this booklet, Kate also walks us through the process of applying electroformed copper to the surface of a bead.
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| The Enamel and Electroform Decorated Beads of Kate Fowle Meleney | $15.00 |
The Brightly Colored Beads and Vessels of Heather Trimlett
Copyright 2003
ISBN 0-9651458-9-1
Paperback
32 pages
$15.00
In this, the fifth booklet in this series, we visit with the internationally-known artist, Heather Trimlett, to learn some of the secrets that she uses in making her her colorful signature beads and vessels. Come and watch with me as she demonstrates her light flameworking touch in making these delicate creations. In addition, her wild color sense and unique style will leave you wanting more. At the same time, you will be exposed to a wealth of new information on how to make thin disks and hollow glass beads. If that is not reason enough to buy this booklet, Heather also demonstrates how to use the same techniques to make hollow vessels like those pictured on the cover.
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| The Brightly Colored Beads and Vessels of Heather Trimlett | $15.00 |
The Aquarium and Landscape Beads of Pati Walton and her Intricate Murrine
Copyright 2004
ISBN 0-9742621-0-2
Paperback
32 pages
$15.00
In this, the sixth booklet of this series, we work with the nationally known artist, Pati Walton, to learn some of the secrets that she uses in making her intriguing signature beads. Come and enjoy with me these mysterious creations. Their detail and beauty will leave you begging for more. At the same time, you will be exposed to a wealth of new information on how to make murrine. If that is not reason enough to buy this booklet, Pati also walks us through the process of using these murrine to decorate beads.
You can also watch Pati work in her video, The Aquarium Bead.
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| The Aquarium and Landscape Beads of Pati Walton and her Intricate Murrine | $15.00 |
The Painted and Faceted Fused Beads of Bruce St. John Maher
Copyright 2004
ISBN 0-9742621-1-0
Paperback
32 pages
$15.00
In this, the seventh booklet of this series, we work with the nationally known artist, Bruce St. John Maher, to learn some of the secrets that he uses in making his intriguing fused beads. Come and enjoy with me these mysterious creations. Their detail and beauty will leave you begging for more. At the same time, you will be exposed to a wealth of new information on how to make fused beads and decorate them using traditional glass painting techniques. If that is not reason enough to buy this booklet, Bruce also walks us through the process of coldworking facets into a bead.
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| The Painted and Faceted Fused Beads of Bruce St. John Maher | $15.00 |
The Enameled and Etched Beads of Diana East and their Intricate Images
Copyright 2005
ISBN 0-9742621-2-9
Paperback
32 pages
$15.00
In this, the eighth booklet of this series, we work with British glass bead artist, Diana East, to learn some of the secrets that she uses in making her beads with their fantastic sandblasted images. Come and see how these mystical creations are made. Their detail and beauty will leave you begging for more. At the same time, you will be exposed to a wealth of new information on fuming and how to decorate beads using enamels. If that is not reason enough to buy this booklet, Diana also teaches us how to make ancient looking glass beads.
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| The Enameled and Etched Beads of Diana East and their Intricate Images | $15.00 |
Bronwen Heilman
Vitreous Painting Techniques for Glass Beadmaking
Copyright 2005
ISBN 978-0-9742621-3-0
Paperback
32 pages
$15.00
In this, the ninth booklet of this series, we work with the nationally known bead artist, Bronwen Heilman, to learn some of the secrets that she uses in making her intriguing beads. Come and enjoy with me these wonderful creations. The detail that she can paint on them will leave you wanting more. At the same time, you will be exposed to a wealth of new information on how to use glass paints to decorate beads. Watch her apply these paints both to the front and back side of the glass. If that is not reason enough to buy this booklet, Bronwen also walks us through the process of capping the ends of beads.
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| Bronwen Heilman Vitreous Painting Techniques for Glass Beadmaking |
$15.00 |
Akihiro Ohkama Introduction to Japanese Beadmaking Techniques
Copyright 2005
ISBN 978-0-9742621-4-7
Paperback
32 pages
$15.00
In this, the tenth booklet of this series, we work with Japanese bead artist Akihiro Ohkama to learn some of the secrets that he uses in making his beads. Come and enjoy these wonderful creations. His intricate decorating techniques will leave you wanting more. At the same time, you will be exposed to a wealth of new information on how to use Satake glass and Japanese lampworking equipment to make beads. Watch him build complex millefiora and floral cane with which he will decorate his beads.
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| Akihiro Ohkama Introduction to Japanese Beadmaking Techniques |
$15.00 |
Gail Crosman Moore's Borosilicate Beads of Nature
Copyright 2006
ISBN-10: 0-9742621-5-3
ISBN-13: 978-0-9742621-5-4
Paperback
32 pages
$15.00
In this, the eleventh booklet of this series, we work with the nationally known bead artist, Gail Crosman Moore, to learn some of the techniques that she uses in making her beads. Many of the shapes and color schemes that she uses in her work are inspired by nature. In this booklet we also provide an introduction into the use of colored borosilicate glass. See how its properties differ from the soda-lime glass colors which most beadmakers use. Gain an appreciation for the rich earth tones that they provide.
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| Gail Crosman Moore's Borosilicate Beads of Nature | $15.00 |
The Lampworked, Fused and Carved Dichroic Beads of Carol Fonda and Monty Clark
Copyright 2007
ISBN-10: 0-9742621-6-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-9742621-6-1
Paperback
32 pages
$15.00
In this, the twelth booklet of this series, I present the work of the bead duo of Carol Fonda and Monty Clark. They walk us through a number of different dichroic bead styles, types, and techniques. We start with learning how they form their extensively fanned sculptural lampworked pieces from the more viscous Schott and Bullseye glasses. The greater viscosities of these two glasses lead themselves to the sculptural effects demonstrated here. After you read this booklet you will gain an appreciation for how versatile a tool tweezers can be. Then they will share with us how to deep carve fused dichroic pieces to give them more pizzazz. In this booklet Carol and Monty show us a number of ways to etch images into the dichroic coating. These can then be used in lampworked or fused beads to make them more interesting.
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| The Lampworked, Fused and Carved Dichroic Beads of Carol Fonda and Monty Clark | $15.00 |