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<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=190 BGCOLOR="#262626" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Patricia Miller Art jewelry and Glasswor"><U>Home</U></A>     <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="patricias beads"><U>patricia's beads</U></A>     <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="jewelry boutique"><U>jewelry boutique</U></A>     <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="dichroic fusions"><U>dichroic fusions</U></A>      <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="trunk shows"><U>trunk shows</U></A> </div> <div> <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="gallerie"><U>gallerie</U></A>    <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="tutorials"><U>tutorials</U></A>     <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="about"><U>about</U></A>     <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="links"><U>links</U></A>      <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="order"><U>order</U></A>    <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="faorite poetry"><U>favorite poetry</U></A>   </div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> <U>about </U></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=290 BGCOLOR="#444444" TEXT="#080000"> <div>  </div> <div> Check out my My Space page:   <A HREF="http://www.myspace.com/pattysjewelrybox" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.myspace.com/pattysjewelrybox"><U>patty's jewelry  box</U></A></div> <bR> <div> Hi - My name is  Patricia Miller and  I love beads.  </div> <div> I create lampwork beads and fused glass pieces to design jewelry with but I also sell them for others to design with.  Working with glass is about the colors and the constant challenge of the glass in the flame and then the kiln - getting  it to do what you want and loving what it does on it's own - that keeps me from ever getting bored with this wonderful medium.  I had been designing jewelry for several years  when a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to learn lampworking which she had just learned.  I said no!  Lucky for me she asked me again and I said yes that time.  It has been true love ever since.  I also like to play a bit  in  precious metal clay and  silversmithing.  In 2004 I attended Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN  where I studied high temperature glass kiln-fusing under glass master Brad Walker. My  beads and fused glass pieces become the focals in my own jewelry. I use wire wrapping  and fiber arts in my jewelry designs, too. </div> <bR> <div>  I use an oxygen-propane surface mix torch to make the glass beads. The tip of a rod of glass is heated in the flame then a portion of the molten glass is wound around a steel mandrel. Glass lampwork beads take anywhere from one step (for simple beads) to six or many more steps for complicated designs with several layers. There is often a lot of prep work necessary for certain design effects. Working on one focal bead with many layers and intricate designs can take more than an hour on the torch. The bead is then put in the kiln and fired overnight which anneals the glass to assure it will not crack in the future. </div> <bR> <div>  Fused glass designs made in the kiln can be very tiny or very large - very simple or very intricate and complex. After I design a piece it is put in the kiln and fired through a 4 phase cycle and the glass is  annealed in the process. The firing temperatures and holding times can vary causing different results in appearance and shape which is used as part of the design process. </div> <bR> <div> I can see why beads were once valued so highly that they were used as money.  I think  there is just something about the feel of smooth, cool beads against your skin that soothes the spirit and the sparkle of light dancing off glittering glass beads that pleases the eye. Please browse around the website and see if something here pleases your eye!  </div> <bR> <div> My beads are handcrafted one-by-one in my home studio in Knoxville, Tennesee, are always carefully cleaned, and kiln annealed to ensure a long life.  Unless otherwise noted in my item description, my beads are all created on 3/32" mandrels. </div> <bR> <div> My jewelry incorporates only the finest components: my unique handmade glass beads, sterling silver, ornate Bali and Thai silver, genuine gemstones and Swarovski crystals, freshwater pearls. </div> <bR> <div> Custom orders for beads or finished jewelry are always welcome.  If you would like to make a request just send me an e-mail. </div> <bR> <div> I am  published in The Annealer Magazine.com - September 2006 - featured jewelry designer.  </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.theannealermagazine.com/SeptemberJewelryDesigner.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.theannealermagazine.com/Septe"><U>Patricia Miller September 2006 Featured Jewelry Designer</U></A></div> <bR> <div> I am a current member of the online artist communities  Lampwork Etc., Wet Canvas, Society of International Jewelry Artisans, The Bead Hive  and The Art of Beads. </div> <bR> <div> You can contact me with questions and comments at <A HREF="mailto:firebeads@comcast.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:firebeads@comcast.net"><U>firebeads@comcast.net</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>