Portraits Under Glass (P.U.G.) is a line of Lampwork Keepsakes that are produced in my home studio which is located in Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada. I have been making Glass beads for over 10 years now and have discovered my passion for producing personalized beads. The first portrait bead that I made was of my pug puppy that passed away when she was 8 months old. Her name was Mia and I wear her on my necklace so she is never far from my heart. Now I specialize in making Cremation Jewelry for Canadian Funeral Homes. Each bead is made with love and using the utmost respect for your loved one.
Lampworking is a type of glass work where a torch is used to melt glass. Once in a molten state, the glass is formed and shaped with tools and hand movements. It is also known as Flameworking. It became widely practiced in Murano, Italy in the 14th Century. Some artisans are able to produce glass beads in their home studio with specialized equipment and tools.
Each piece that is produced in my studio is unique. It is very common to see air bubbles within the glass as they are released when the cremations are heated and infused into the glass. It reminds me of tiny breaths of trapped air. The colours within the cremations can also differ from a very light grey to dark grey and can even have specs of black. Since they are handmade, each piece will vary is shape and size. I find the glass is the ultimate guide in how it with lay with the cremains and produce the final product.
