SABOS - Barb Wolf in Jewelry Crafts!

Following is an article written by Rebekah Wills and published in the February 2007 issue of Jewelry Crafts Magazine.

Modern Glass Works by Barb Wolf

By Rebekah Wills

Finding Lampwork these days is not hard to do it's everywhere. However, I was at a Bead Show recently and found a lampwork artist whose work really stood out to me. I found lampwork beads from $1.00 and up on her table. Great sets of lampwork for $35.00 and up. These prices got my attention but looking more closely the lampwork spoke for itself. She made sets like "Monet" which looked just like Monet's Garden paintings. She had items prices so any beader could afford them and this was very refreshing to me. Although very humble about her talents, Barb Wolf has achieved her own style and mastery in the short time she has been making lampwork beads. Barb also had made unique things like a box of chocolates. Yes, that's what I said. A guilt free Box of chocolates made entirely as glass beads. Just a perfect gift for me or anyone I know.

For 25 years plus Barbara Wolf has been caring for others in her work as a nurse. This genuine caring spirit shows when you meet Barb and it is reflected in her beadwork also. Barb has been beading for 25 years also and making lampwork beads since May 2003. "I took my first class with Molly Heynis. I was a weekend only lampworker because I was working full time as a Hospice nurse. With family and work demands, it left little time for torching. Since April, 2006, I work full time at lampworking." As with most of us she saw a wonderful necklace in a store and thought to herself "I can make that!" After going home with over $100.00 in beads and signing up for a class she was hooked from then on. "I practiced everything I could find a tutorial for. I bought every book, DVD and tool I could afford. I would wear my beads to work and before long I was selling them off my neck and getting orders. In April 2005, I took a class from a Master teacher, Loren Stump, (www.stumpchuck.com). This was not only a turning point in my ability to work with glass; it was the best 5 days I have ever spent. I practice what I learn in a class as soon as it is over to try to implant the learning. It was almost a year before I took another class and I try to practice something from Loren's class every week. I have been fortunate to also take classes from Michael Barley, Tom & Sage Holland and Ann Ricketts. I am a member of several bead organizations - ISGB, La Beada Locas and SABOS - and a frequent visitor to the Fireflies in Austin, TX. There are always people sharing their beads and often nationally known bead makers doing demonstrations," she recalls. "I don't teach as such but I love to work with lampworkers that are just getting started to help they stay motivated. It is hard to keep motivated when everything turns into a droopy mess."

Her bead space is set up in the garage. "My husband was very concerned about safety for my lampworking areas. He set up ventilation and metal covered workspaces in the garage. He made it a year-round by insulating, putting in air conditioning and air filtration" she explains. Making beads is now a daily activity working several hours a day at least. Barb achieves inspiration by visiting the fabric store and clothing stores. Many times she will make beads to go with a new blouse or a favorite item of clothing. "I wear a lot of red, white, blue, and neutrals. I find I make a lot of beads to go with those colors. There are on-line lampworking network sites, www.lampworketc.com and www.wetcanvas.com. Also eBay has a huge lampwork section. I try to browse thru quickly every day. Many artists share their work and give tutorials. I am careful not to spend too much time on the computer, it seems to suck you in and then a large part of the day is gone. Currently I am using only Italian soda-lime glass (Moretti) and is easy to work with and has many colors to choose from. I also use frits, which are crushed glass in intense colors. I use a Chili Pepper toolbox style, computer controlled annealing kiln. It is cost effective and problem free. Since I retired from nursing in April 2006, I am able to spend time each day making beads. I get up very early in the morning and make beads. My grandson wakes up about 8:30am and I want to be finished by then. When he naps in the afternoon, I get more beads made."

Barb is so full of life and exuberance. Her approach to beading is just as jubilant. " It is cheaper that medication and more effective, but seriously, it does give you a feeling of calmness. I spend time each morning listening to the messages in my mind, calming them and putting priorities in order. I spend a little time each night giving thanks for my blessings and calming my mind. I have been in nursing all of my adult life. Most of that in long-term care settings, but the last 2 years were in hospice care. This work is not possible without faith. I feel I have been blessed and I know I was given a chance to truly help others thru my work. Now I bring a little fun to others with beads. My daughter and her children live with us. The fact that I am able to be part of their lives on a daily basis fills me with joy. My mother took her life when I was 4 years old, my father died at age 55 of cancer. I turned 60 in April 2006 and I am going strong. I live in a household with a loving husband & daughter, a lively 4 year old, a new baby and my art. Life is good!" she reflects.

Making Chintz lampwork beads, Monet style beads, Beautiful Grapevine beads, and more incredible sets of beads has only led Barb to create more time intensive lampwork. "The seed bead work with the delicas takes the longest. I can sit down and string a necklace to go with a new blouse in 1/2 hour and do a good job with it. I think it is more about the design, choice of colors and patterns that bring value to a piece. It brought my daughter and me closer, helped my daughter-in-law, Stacey, deal with depression and blessed me with many wonderful friendships. I saw a presentation on ancient beads by Tom Holland and it really did bring to mind that we are connected to the past, present and future by our art. My grandson is 4 years old and counting the years until he can make beads " she shares.

What does the future hold for this talented lampwork artist and beader? "Now that I am retired and have more time to spend on the torch, I am working on refining what I learned in the wonderful classes I have taken from Loren Stump, Michael Barley, Tom & Sage Holland, Ann Ricketts and Molly Heynis. I hope the future for me is to create beads that my grandchildren and great-grandchildren will value. They will never get those wonderful, time tested receipts from me (I don't cook) but I hope they will look in awe at a big glass bead and wonder, How did she do that?"

Barb has a web store, www.barbwolfbeads.com and sometimes sell on eBay. "I have started doing "The Bead Market" bead shows throughout Texas and Louisiana and have sold out at most shows. .My goal is to have a variety of styles and colors in sets and focal beads. I also have a "wonkie" bowl. This is a large bowl with beads that don't fit in a set, aren't shaped like I want or just don't go with anything else. I make a few pieces of finished jewelry to show how to incorporate lampwork in finished jewelry. My goal is to finish 20 beads each morning. Then I do something totally different like a sculpture, new style or new shape." You can reach Barb at her website above or her email address bjw@nwlink.com.