Flameworked Glass
Penel began working with seed beads in the 1980’s which led to a desire to make her own glass beads. After a short course in glass beadmaking in 2001, she immediately set up a home studio and started her business, Fire Bird Beads, in 2003. As well as taking workshops in order to keep learning new techniques and hone her skills, Penel also teaches flameworking for beginners.In the last few years Penel has begun to work with borosilicate glass as well as soda-lime glass, and now creates beautiful marbles, paperweights, scent bottles and small sculptural pieces while continuing to design and make glass beads and jewellery.
“My inspiration is glass itself. Colour has always been a driving force in my work, and the intriguing and often unpredictable colour reactions in glass when working with metals and reduction techniques fascinates me. Every piece I make leads me towards new ideas and the exciting exploration of the inifinite possibilities of flameworked glass.”
