These disc beads were hand blown off mandrel by using a 12″ stainless steel tube. (just like in glass blowing, but smaller) The base glass is from a white wine bottle. The color is pigment that has been permanently fired on at the torch.
I first make a gather at the end of the blow pipe, Then blow a bubble into the glass. Add more glass, and then some pigment. Once this is all melted in, I blow the bubble to approx. 1 to 1.25 inches in diameter. Pop a hole in the end, and heat the bubble and spin it out into a disc.
This is a very cool and fun technique.
Bead one (on the left) is 1.8″ x 2.1″, Center bead is 1.9″ x 2.1″ and bead 3 (on the right) is 1.8″ x 1.9″
The holes are approx. 3.5mm
All of these beads have been digitally annealed.
