About
the Artist - Katie Millard
My bead infatuation began only about
four years ago, living in Boston’s
Fenway, I may have been to close to
a little shop known as Beadworks.
I would stop by there on my way home
from work and just sift through the
beads in their miniature compartments.
Sometimes not buying anything and
just marveling at how relaxing these
little beads were.
I began finding unique glass beads,
Bali silver, seed beads and unusual
clasps stinging them together to make
these funky little bracelets. It was
only when I went to a glass bead open
studio in Scituate, MA that I learned
the very old and secretive technique
of lampworking. I hadn’trealized
there was this whole society of glass
beadmakers who made their living creating
these little glass beauties. It was
then I decided I’d like to create
my own beads, so my fiance signed
my up for a 2 day workshop with renowned
lampwork artist, Marj
Bates. She taught me the very
basics of lampworking glass and helps
me today, giving advice as I encounter
problems at the torch.
I felt that
while still living in an apartment
I did not want to jeopardize any
of our neighbors by bringing in
propane and oxygen into our building.
Only when we moved outside of Boston
and into a home of our own did I
feel comfortable setting up a small
workspace in our basement.
So,
fairly new to the business and with
little formal training in glass,
I have learned by trial and error
in designing these tiny creations
of glass art. Each time I sit down
at my torch I think about what will
be created and what I will learn
from that day’s session. It
is incredibly therapeutic and relaxing
to sit and watch the bead take form.
I tend to get lost in my thoughts
and the process of creation once
the first wrap of glass makes its
way around the mandrel.
