Hollow Beads
Hollow Blown Lampworked Beads
The process for creating hollow beads is lampworking with a "twist". Instead of a solid mandrel, a hollow tube mandrel with a small blowhole drilled near one end is used. A release agent is applied to the tube covering the section where the hole has been drilled (making sure the hole is open) and sealing the tube end. The other end of the tube is sealed with putty.
The glass, using moretti rods, is applied in a manner so the center of the hollow bead will be over the drilled hole. The glass is bult up on both sides of the hole to form the shape of the bead and then the center is filled.
Linda removes the putty and blows through the end of the tube to force air inside the bead. This continues until the desired shape and size is achieved. The bead is annealed in a hot kiln.
