The Beauty of Leaves in Glass

I was at a show one day and heard someone say "the leaf lady is here". I looked around to see who she was talking about and realized it was me! I love making glass leaf beads and at some point they became a signature element in most of my designs.  

One would think that I was inspired by nature, the beauty of the outdoors, and my love of gardening, but the truth of the matter is that it was inspired by my friend and talented glass artist Jerry Catania of Water Street Glassworks. Long ago I started blowing glass in their studio and Jerry would sometimes incorporate beautiful leaves in his pieces. I loved the look and of course his incredible talent always amazed me. As much as I tried my leaves never looked like his! When I began lampworking I started making little leaf beads. My first attempts did not resemble leaves at all (I recently found one and it took me a moment to realize it was a leaf!). But I kept experimenting and finally came up with a process, and leaf design, that I was happy with. Now it is my favorite bead to make and I love the look it gives to my designs. 

Each leaf is made by hand and starts with a thin disc-like bead. I then let the glass "droop" off  the rod in order to elongate the shape and the molten glass is formed into a leaf using pliers.  There are leaf molds that you can press the leaf shape into the glass, but I prefer to form them with pliers so they have a more organic and individual look to each leaf. I have learned not to attempt leaf beads after a venti coffee! The photos above are the finished leaves while they are still on the rods. No, that is not snow in the studio it is the fire blanket that I use to cool the beads. I like etching the clear glass leaves to give them a frosty glow. It reminds me of elements in Lalique. They are dipped in acid to give them a soft look. These are some of my favorite and I love combining them in my Symphony in White designs.

Symphony in White long cluster necklace

The images below are some of my early pieces and when the leaves started to become an element in my designs. My work has evolved over the years, but the leaves remain a signature in my designs. I knew my customers liked them too since they were drawn to pieces with leaves and when I do custom work I often hear "make sure there is a leaf in it!

Early work and the introduction of leaves

So as I work in my studio watching the leaves fall I am happily making leaf beads. I would rather be making leaves than being out there raking them... but I guess I am going to have to do that too one of these days. But they can wait until tomorrow.