My name is Mindy Macgregor. I live just outside of Edinburgh in Scotland with my husband and 3 dogs and 2 tanks of fish and a very recent addition of 4 dumbo rats… I have always been inclined towards creating things. I paint and draw whenever I'm not making beads and also sew and make silver jewellery. We are currently working on a separate jewellery site which I will put a link to on this site… I began lampworking 3 years ago after getting a basic kit for a Christmas present from my husband as I could never find the beads I wanted to compliment the jewellery I was making at the time.  I liked the lampwork so much I quickly dropped the jewellery making. I have a workshop in a little Victorian wash house that we converted over a year ago solely for beadmaking.

 

I am self taught and learned through using books and online resources as well as advice from other lampworkers who very kindly answered lots of my newbie questions. In particular I should say that John Watt helped me greatly in understanding the safety aspects of lampworking, there is a lot to learn on this subject when beginning and I cannot over estimate the importance of this knowledge.

 

I started out with a hot head torch which is a good introduction and then when I wanted more heat, I moved up to the set up I have now of a minor torch with 2 oxy-cons which is a much hotter flame that opens up a whole new world of techniques.  Lately, I have upgraded torch again to a GTT lynx which I cannot praise enough, I absolutely love it to bits!

 

I make my beads from soft glasses such as Moretti, Vetrofond , cim and Lauscha. Lately, there have been many new glasses introduced that have expanded the colour palette available. These glasses compliment the basic colours but are most often 3 or 4 times more expensive. When I'm pricing my beads I take into account the cost of the glass that I used for them and how long they take to make which is why the prices vary not only depending on the size of the set or the bead.

 

I have a paragon kiln and put my beads in directly from the torch to anneal overnight. Annealing is vital as beads that are not annealed can crack very, very easily and can completely ruin a piece of jewellery as well as being unsafe.

 

Lampworking is my full time obsession. I originally enjoyed making organic beads but gradually drifted towards more designed patterns. I love colour and shape and the simplification of forms. I am inspired hugely by nature as well as Japanese prints and all things retro! I love art deco, art nouveau, as well as the seventies. I have vivid memories of just how crazy the colour schemes were back then and they are permanently burnt into my mind! I think having a bedroom with purple patterned walls and a bright orange carpet influenced me!!!  

 

Cheers!

Mindy x