From the very unique and very asymetrical Vonna Maslanka…

Are you strictly a bead maker or do you also create sculptures or figurines?
I would say that to clarify myself as a bead maker would be correct. I cannot for the life of me make two beads that are the same. Now as far as sculptural work NO! I can manage to get a lump of glass on top of a focal that minutely resembles a frog. All kidding aside, I am a jewelry designer by nature, and a lampwork bead maker by good fortune and fun. I am very grateful that I am surrounded by a community of glass artists who love to play with fire. These artists have become my friends as well as mentors.

Do you have a favorite style of lampwork beads, such as animals, perfectly placed dots, organic, etc.?
I consider myself strictly organic. I love to play with color and I love to work the flame hot pushing the glass to its limit trying to arrive at that point where I have to stop messing around, flame polish and just stick it in the kiln.

Do you remember the first time you saw a lampwork object? What was it? Did you want to learn how to lampwork as soon as you saw it?
I do believe they were ladybugs, and I won them on Ebay back in 2004 or 2005. I do believe I still have a few. Then one day I bid on this set of beads called “Rainbow Eyes” but I lost the auction. I emailed the beadmaker and pestered her so much that we became friends. I wanted to learn all I could so I set up my first messaging account on Yahoo, and every night we would copy and past url links back and forth as I learned what a real live lampwork glass art bead was all about. She was very adamant about showing me things to look for and that chill marks are not a good thing and dirty bead holes are not a good thing. She also spoke of cracks and would point them out, as well as the scum of the clear and the sharp edges around the bead holes. We are still friends to this day. I have gone to visit her out of state and we have torched together.

What is your favorite color or color combination?
Anything that I can make with Raku. It has all the colors of the rainbow that mix into nature.

Do you have a favorite tool?
A friend of mine made me a custom graphite marver and engraved my name into it when I first started lampworking in 2005. I still use it.

If you had unlimited resources, how far on the planet would you go to get a lampwork bead or sculpture that you wanted?
If I did have tons of money I would probably email the artist and ask for a custom order.

Where do you hear about new techniques or see new beads?
I usually just take some time each week and look at beads on various selling venues. This gives me an idea of what colors and shapes people are purchasing.

Did you learn how to lampwork by teaching yourself or from a friend or from a class or book?
All of the above.

Do you ever visit lampwork forums? If so, is it for the social aspect, to see the beads being posted, or to learn a new technique?
I use the glass and jewelry forums mostly as a social place to just take a break from the day. These forums are also a wonderful marketing tool for blasting a link to a new listing or showcasing new designs to feedback from my friends.

What other activities do you enjoy doing besides lampwork?
Going to the bead store in the neighborhood and chilling with the other beaders.

What is the hardest technique you have ever attempted, i.e. florals, implosions?
Pulling my last murrini in Loren Stump’s Under the Sea Class. The murrini was so heavy that I dropped it and he had to rescue me. It was so embarrassing. But he did fix it – that guy is awesome! Nice too.

What is the next technique you would like to learn?
How to make a big hole bead.

Do you love your wonkie beads as much as your other ones?
I love all wonkie’s and happy accidents – every bead deserves a good home.

Vonna Maslanka