Dichroic Glass Jewelry

Fun, whimsical, and colorful are just a few words that people have used to describe my work. I began fusing glass as a hobbyist 12 years ago. I started with a microwave kiln my husband purchased for me and I was hooked. Prior to my inspiration in glass art, I studied in fashion design for three years and metal smithing for a year. Through these experiences I gained a sense of color and design. further my education.

Fused Glass is a process that takes anywhere from a few hours to a few days depending on the size of the pieces. Glass is fused by placing various pieces of compatible glass inside a kiln and heating it up to 1350-1500 to bend, melt, tack and boil the glass. Many items are produced using this technique such as jewelry, dishes, beads, plates, clocks, watches, picture frames, tables and more.

I enjoy making functional art pieces for people to express their individuality.

I am a member of Glass Art Society (G.A.S.), an Associate member of Association of Clay and Glass Artist of California (ACGA), Northern California Bead Society and The Pacifica ART Guild. I continually attend courses in Oregon and Las Vegas with some of the pioneers in Glass fusing.

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The Beading Frenzy is an owner-operated beadstore situated in the heart of downtown San Mateo. Parking, both in the free lot next to the store and at inexpensive meters along the street, is usually readily available.

Our mission (in addition to paying the bills) is twofold: to promote the many fine artists that comprise the beading community and to support your development as an artist and as a designer.

To this end we offer a full schedule of classes taught by some of the premiere bead artists in the country. In these classes, you won't be learning to make jewelry -- or vessels, or purses, or spirit dolls --that you can find at the local department store. You will be creating highly original works of art. Although the projects are sophisticated, the classes are small with plenty of individual attention. Therefore most classes are appropriate for beaders of all skill levels. Whether you work primarily with lampwork beads, pearls, Bali silver, seed beads, Austrian crystal, wire, metal, polymer clay, or all these, you will find a class that interests you. You will also find a warm welcome into a community of serious beaders.

In addition to classes, we specialize in handmade lampwork focal beads, vintage Czech and German glass beads and buttons, and in Japanese seed beads. (We have all sizes, shapes, and colors of seed beads.) We also offer a fine selection of books devoted to contemporary beadwork and to the cultural and spiritual significance of beads throughout history.

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