Marathon for Makers

The Studio recently hosted more than thirty beadmaking experts who volunteered their time to create beads for a very special cause. Tiny sculptural works of art were made for the organization Beads of Courage. Our hardworking and creative volunteers used their time to make special creations to be gifted to children. Beads of Courage distributes beads to hospitals across the country. These beads are used as a way to mark milestones on a child’s path during treatment for severe and chronic illnesses.

During the marathon, The Studio opened the flameworking studio for the day as well as provided access to the cold shop. All glass and materials were donated by The Studio of the Corning Museum of Glass. In the flame shop, volunteers created beads by heating colored sticks of glass and winding that glass around mandrels. In the cold shop, volunteers sanded and polished glass to make chevron beads. Chevron beads are made in the hot shop from multiple layers of molded, colored glass. Once stretched in into a thin ribbon the bead stock is then cut and ground to reveal layers of color. Want to see a classic example? See this bead in the Museum’s collection from about 1600-1799. Or watch a full-length demo of how the chevron bead stock is created.

Flameworkers traveled from all over New York State to participate, some from as far as Rochester and Brooklyn. Over four hundred beads were made in house that day and some artists even brought previously made beads along with them. The Make Your Own Glass team also participated by setting aside hundreds of their nicest demonstration beads for donation. After all was said and done, The Studio was able to send 672 beads to Beads of Courage. That’s around ten pounds of hand crafted beads!

It was wonderful to have beadmakers from all over gather at The Studio to help with such a great cause. The glass community response was so amazing that The Studio is considering making this an annual event. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our talented volunteers. Without you, this event would not have been possible.

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