Karen Baildon
Cheeky Cherub Designs
I first learned to make lampwork beads in August 2007 on holiday in Adelaide. On returning home to England, I spent 3 months dreaming about glass and beads until I was finally able to set up my own studio. I am registered as a self representing artist (No B118). I am continuing to learn my art and have taken lessons with Sharon Griffiths, Mike Poole, Pauline Holt, Sally Carver, Lorna Prime and Michal Silberberg. I have also benefitted from the knowledge of the friends I have met through Frit Happens! the on-line forum for glass lovers everywhere and was recently delighted to be asked to be a moderator on the forum and now enjoy running some of the challenges.
Lampworking has quickly become an obsession. I love colour but cannot paint or draw. With glass I have found a medium that I feel totally comfortable with. There is nothing quite like watching glass melting in a flame - it is mesmerising! When I was small, I used to dream about discovering a new colour that no-one had ever seen before (obviously well before I studied any physics!) and I love the way you can combine, swirl and layer glass to get some really exciting colour effects.
I have also designed and made jewellery for a number of years and it was through jewellery-making that I first discovered lampworking. Having bought many beautiful artisan beads from fabulous UK and US bead makers, I realised that what I really wanted was to create my own lampwork beads to showcase within my own jewellery.