I first began making lampwork beads in early 1997. Over the past eleven years I have learned many techniques in glass working, my favorite being in the field of murrine or cane work. I like to use murrine to add impossibly small details to my sculptural and encased lampwork bead styles.

The pendant to the left contains several murrini: an RIP tombstone, a jack o'lantern, and the face of the witch as well as the tiny red flowers. It consists of many carefully constructed layers and is less than 1 1/2 inches across.

My tools of the trade are an oxygen/propane torch, my current favorite being the Knight Bullet Burner, various small hand tools, and glass, of course. I anneal all my work in a digitally controlled kiln to assure a lasting work of art.

Halloween is my favorite holiday season, so you will see many witches year round. I also love to make fairies, mermaids, and goddesses.

I make my own canes, known as murrine and sometimes as millefiore. The techniques are similar to the way polymer clay artists build canes, except I work with molten glass. My canes are directly assembled in the flame and can involve days of making and assembling various parts to complete a final product suitable for use in my lampwork beads and buttons.

Assorted murrini slices, nipped from lengths of cane and ready for use in my buttons and beads.