Annelyse Taylor
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I was surfing the internet and I came across Laura Sparling's website by chance. I had never heard of lampwork beads before but I found them beautiful and liked the idea of melting glass as a hobby.
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I made my first bead (blob of glass) during summer 2005, in one of the granite sheds in my garden (Aberdeen, Scotland).
I started on a Hot Head but I upgraded to a Nortel Minor and oxy-con mainly because of the cost of the canisters of Mapp gas.
I cannot believe now that I was worried to light the torch at first.
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I was hooked as soon as I slapped the glass on and turned it into a little volcano for the first time. My fear of the torch disappeared immediately.
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I took a class with Diana East in March 2006 and another one with Kimberley Affleck in June 2007.
I loved both classes and learned a lot.
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I would like to take more classes but it is difficult to leave for days with a young family.
I wish I could go to bead classes without having to fly to far away countries like Germany or England. :)
We need a well equipped teaching studio in Scotland.
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I admire most the bead makers I have taken classes with.
Diana East is amazing for her creativity and glass treatment ideas. Her beads are very unique and beautiful.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3229/2455140078_3aa4b52c3a_o.jpg)
Kimberley Affleck's organic long bicones are beautiful (and have to be seen in the flesh to be appreciated) and her seahorse beads are incredible.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2390/2455140734_e1fa735c5e_m.jpg)
I also admire all beadmakers who have managed to develop a style which is instantly recognizable as their own like for example Mindy MacGregor, Lesley McFarland...and many more.
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I experiment a lot, look at the results and try to build on them, so very often my nicest beads come out of pot luck!
Playing with glass and the unexpected results I sometimes obtain are my main motivation and the main reason I find lampworking so addictive.
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I don't think I really have a signature bead, my bead style tends to be organic but I would love to develop a more figurative, structured style.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2144/2455140268_1f0ff64c56_o.jpg)
This bead - 'Jour de vent' - is probably the bead I'm most proud of. It was quite a different style for me to do and therefore quite challenging and I was very pleased with it when I opened the kiln.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3176/2455140160_7e1aa5dec5_o.jpg)
I am a dreamy person and I loose myself in the depth of the glass when I am at the torch and that is probably why I end up making beads such as my cosmos beads or why I make organic beads.
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Recently I have found a really lovely combination of glass (Top secret) and I am working on improving the design of the bead.
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You can see more of my work on my website (http://www.annelysetaylor.co.uk/) and on (http://www.flickr.com/photos/annelysetaylor/)and I have an etsy shop (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5248491)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3291/2454314009_2a61957274_m.jpg)
I will be at the next Scottish Bead Fair in Perth, on 31 August.
http://www.scottishbeadfair.com/
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