The Artist

My name is Laura Sparling and I've been making glass beads since May 2004.

So how did I get into beadmaking?  I've been making jewellery since I was about fourteen years old.  A few years ago I saw an advert in the back of an American beadwork magazine that showed equipment for making your own glass beads.  I was intrigued, to say the least!

I did a lot of research, bought some books and studied the subject for weeks and weeks.  Eventually I took the plunge and set myself up in the back garden with my Dad's old Black & Decker Workmate and Horace, my beloved Hot Head torch. 

Please click here for more information on how I started out beadmaking.

After many happy hours of melting I decided that beadmaking was something that I really wanted to pursue further.

I now work full-time in my studio (an extremely posh word for a converted garden shed!) on my Carlisle Mini CC torch creating beads that I sell here on my website.

I hope you like looking around my site.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.