How Sharon Makes Glass Headpins

SharonP · #1 2011-12-07, 4:11pm

I've had a couple 'how did you make those' requests about my lampworked headpins, so here ya go! I'd love to see pictures of what you make!

I've been making Lampworked Glass Headpins since 1996, and before that did them with clay, bread dough, celluclay, resin, and Italian and Czech beads. I got the idea when I was about 12 - someone gave me a clay doll from Mexico that had dangly glass headpins hanging from the skirt, and away I went!

These are really simple - the biggest pain is cleaning out the bead holes.

Materials:

1/16" mandrels - small holes are better for this
Bead release - I like Fusion and Dip n' Go Blue Sludge
Glass of your choice
Stringers, milles, decorative elements of your choice
20g soft round sterling wire - mine comes from Thunderbird Supply
2-Part Epoxy, the kind that sets in 5 minutes
Aluminum foil
Toothpicks

Whatcha Do:

1) Make a bead on the tip of the mandrel. Make sure the glass at the top of your bead isn't too thin (don't make it with the mandrel going almost all the way thru - halfway is good enough).

2) Anneal, cool, and clean the bead. I use a dremel tool. You don't want to chip the bead edges, and you *MUST* get the bead release out of the hole - the epoxy sticks much better in a clean hole.

3) Cut a length of 20g silver wire and bend the tip back on itself. The wire is smaller than the hole, and the larger tip will hold tighter and the glue with stick to it better.

4) Using pliers, fit the wire in the hole to make sure it'll go in. If you've made a loop that's too big, mash it thinner with pliers or cut it off and try again. Remove the wire.

5) Using a toothpick mix up a little epoxy on a piece of aluminum foil. Don't do much, it hardens pretty quickly - you'll only get 3 or 4 headpins done before you have to mix up another batch.

6) Using a new toothpick, stuff some epoxy into the hole. Also dip the looped end of the wire in the glue, and push it into the hole. Sometimes I use pliers to do this, sometimes fingers.

7) The glue will goosh out of the bead hole - clean it up with another toothpick. Center the wire in the hole, and set it aside to harden. Don't use the headpun for 24 hours - it needs to be fully cured.

I sell these for $8 each, and when I make them up into pendants with a silver endcap, bead and crystal, they're $15. Customers at shows like the finished pieces better than the headpins, darn them...

Now go and be productive, and don't forget to post pictures! *sharon*

chrissij · #2 2011-12-07, 4:20pm

Very cool.

Jackson River Glass · #3 2011-12-07, 4:21pm

Thank you so much for sharing this. I saw your gorgeous headpins this afternoon and loved them! I'll be trying this soon, and will post pics if you promise not to laugh...

zen-mom · #4 2011-12-07, 4:41pm

Yay! How fun!! Thank you Sharon!

SuzyQ · #5 2011-12-07, 4:42pm

Fabulous!! This in on my to do list for tomorrow. You rock Miss Sharon

Leslie Dana · #6 2011-12-07, 4:43pm

Sharon you are a rock star

*Naos* · #7 2011-12-07, 4:44pm

Doh... I thought people were making them directly on the wire.

SilverRiverJewelry · #8 2011-12-07, 4:50pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Naos*

Doh... I thought people were making them directly on the wire.

Me too! I couldn't figure out the wire didn't melt lol!

Thanks so much for sharing these Sharon! I have a bunch of 1/16 mandrels that are feeling neglected since I switched to 3/32 mandrels.

moondanse · #9 2011-12-07, 4:54pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrissij

Very cool.

Ditto!

Elizabeth Beads · #10 2011-12-07, 4:58pm

Love them! Thanks for sharing!

cc2 · #11 2011-12-07, 5:12pm

Love it, would love to see pics of how people use them.

swamper · #12 2011-12-07, 5:12pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Naos*

Doh... I thought people were making them directly on the wire.

Me too.

Nitadee · #13 2011-12-07, 5:29pm

I've actually made some on short mandrels and left them on (no bead release) for plant stakes, but I think headpins rock also!
Thanks so much for posting this Sharon!!!

Three Muses Glass · #14 2011-12-07, 5:32pm

Thanks Sharon! Yours are soooo cool!

I have been making them on the end of a wire. lol Brass and copper, not sterling.

*Naos* · #15 2011-12-07, 5:33pm

Rebecca, I thought copper might make it through the process but yeah, I figured silver would just blob.

Angie's glass · #16 2011-12-07, 5:35pm

I do make them directly on the wire. I use the longest quilt pin I can find. Burn off the plastic dot on the end. I use a pin vise to hold the wire and add the glass. I work under the flame in the ambient heat

Eileen · #17 2011-12-07, 5:57pm

Sharon, thank you so much for posting this!
Angie, you have some really cute ones too, do you cut the sharp points off, or use them as pin?

Kalera · #18 2011-12-07, 5:57pm

I've made them directly on the wire, but now I want to do it Sharon's way because I never could figure out how she got them so perfect and ornate! Now I get it.

Kalera · #19 2011-12-07, 5:58pm

I love the idea of homemade lampwork quilt pins. I have a friend who quilts, I think I should make some for her.

Bluejeangirlnc · #20 2011-12-07, 6:07pm

Brilliant! Saved it to my computer so I'll have it next time I'm out at the torch. Thanks so much!

Sheila D. · #21 2011-12-07, 6:09pm

Thank you Sharon! Ive made them directly on wire too...copper or stainless steel. But I like the look of Sharon's better.

Three Muses Glass · #22 2011-12-07, 6:26pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Naos*

Rebecca, I thought copper might make it through the process but yeah, I figured silver would just blob.

Brass is interesting. It doesn't blob, it spits and sparks if it gets too hot in direct flame. Makes me jump every time. lol

Kalera · #23 2011-12-07, 7:04pm

It's really easy to make simple ones directly on silver if you use Japanese glass, because it's so soft. I sold all mine off though.

selma_belma · #24 2011-12-07, 7:28pm

How cool! I love these Sharon. Thanks for sharing your tips!! I can't wait to make some.

Kay M · #25 2011-12-07, 7:35pm

Thanks for sharing. That's very kind of you - But that's SO you - bubbling with kindness!

SharonP · #26 2011-12-07, 8:22pm

Angie, I love your pins!

I make mine on silver wire because I wanted them to be instant earrings and charm dangles on silver bracelets and decorative beards for the Chinese Dragon beads. I started out doing copper, but when galleries got involved they asked for silver.

I'd never tried making the beads directly on the wire, just never thought of it! I think my mind always comes up first with the least convenient way to do something.

The headpins do make cool 1-piece earrings... just bend the silver into earwire shape, burr or file the end to make it smooth, and bingo! Instant earring!

*sha(what'sthatbubblingsoundIhear?)ron*

Zinci · #27 2011-12-07, 10:20pm

Thanks Sharon!!!! I was just wondering about the best way to attempt these over the weekend.
You, Ma'am, just ROCK!

FishBulb · #28 2011-12-07, 10:37pm

These are awesome, thank you!

zen-mom · #29 2011-12-07, 10:49pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzyQ

Fabulous!! This in on my to do list for tomorrow. You rock Miss Sharon

Yay! Me too! =)

Kalera · #30 2011-12-07, 10:56pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SharonP

Angie, I love your pins!

I make mine on silver wire because I wanted them to be instant earrings and charm dangles on silver bracelets and decorative beards for the Chinese Dragon beads. I started out doing copper, but when galleries got involved they asked for silver.

I'd never tried making the beads directly on the wire, just never thought of it! I think my mind always comes up first with the least convenient way to do something.

The headpins do make cool 1-piece earrings... just bend the silver into earwire shape, burr or file the end to make it smooth, and bingo! Instant earring!

*sha(what'sthatbubblingsoundIhear?)ron*

IME it's way harder to get good complex shapes or designs when you make them directly on the wire, because the wire wants to melt, is floppy, or isn't quite straight. I love just simple drops on the end of a wire too, but your way allows for much greater complexity and symmetry.