Handmade Squares Glass Beads

After I learned how to make a decent disc bead, I experimented with squaring them. The process involves making a disk bead and letting it cool. Heat one edge (not too much, tho) and lightly press the hot edge onto a flat graphite or brass surface. This will begin to flatten the edge. If after flattening/creating four sides, a side is fatter than the others, reheat slightly and use a masher to squish the glass a little. If the side looses its flatness, reheat the side and press it onto the flat surface. (Sometimes I have to squish, then flatten a couple of times to get the desired result. You can also remove a little glass from a side(s) to even things up.

Here are the colors of the square lampwork beads pictured above.
591008 Transparent Yellow
591012 Transparent Light Topaz
591020 Transparent Light Grass Green
591040 Transparent Light Purple
591052 Transparent Light Blue
591054 Transparent Dark Blue
591080 Transparent Pale Lavender
591081 Transparent Dark Lavender
591031 Transparent Pale Emerald Green
591070 Transparent Uranium Yellow

Details -

• handmade glass beads by Elizabeth Long, aka lizlong
• properly kiln annealed
• bead measurement(s) (width x length)
  • 12mm x 3.5mm – 14mm x 4.5mm
• mandrel size
  • 1/16″
• glass used
  • Effetre (Moretti)
• artisan lampwork beads