Q: You told me that since a couple of years most beads are designed by Kremena. Does each of you have his/her own tasks while making the beads?
The things in the studio really changed in the last few years – Kremena is the current leading designer at Golem Design Studio. Since I'm her teacher in carving and the other techniques, I'm really proud of my student :-). Currently I'm the one in charge for all the technical and marketing stuff: tools, equipment, supplies, orders and work schedules, website updates, everything needed for the non stop work in the studio. Also I'm the “sales person” most of the time - I'm in charge for the clients/sales in USA and EU. This doesn't mean that I'm not making beads anymore of course, it just means I'm spending now only half of my work day playing with clay.
Usually we are working in the studio side by side, splitting the tasks needed for the current project between us. We are full time working-at-home bead artists – our work day starts around 8 – 8.30 a.m. We are trying to be in the studio as early as possible and our work day ends based on how busy we are with the orders, usually between 6 and 7 p.m. Usually I'm spending the evenings at the computer, working on the website, answering emails and so, taking care for all the online activity and paper work.
Q: I understand a single bead can take anywhere between six to thirty minutes to complete, depending upon the complexity. Can you tell me a bit about the work involved in making a bead.
Below are the links to some online tutorials that I created some time ago, they show some details about each of the different stages of our producing process:
In general all of our beads, pendants and cabochons are first hand shaped:
1. Changing the world - one bead at a time (How to make simple round bead)
Next stage for most of them is the hand carving of the design:
2. Birth of a ladybug (Hand carving process – tools and techniques)
After the drying all the items go in the kiln for the first firing, also known as “Bisque fire”, after it they are ready for glazing:
3. Glazing of solid color and carved beads with opaque glazes (pictures and video tutorial)
Once the items are glazed they should be fired so the glazes melt and show their color. This second firing is known as “Glaze firing”
4. Kiln Tetris (Glaze firing of ceramic beads and pendants)