Frequently Asked Questions

Where and how can I buy your beads?

My beads are available to buy directly from me here on my website on a first come, first served basis. They're to be found on the Freshly Baked Beads page.  I also do the occasional eBay auction.

When do you put your beads up for sale?

Normally I add beads in the evenings.  Keep an eye on the Bead Forecast on my homepage and that will give you some idea of when new beads are in the pipeline.  Alternatively, if you'd like to receive an email each time I add new beads, please click here to sign up to my mailing list.

I've just seen new beads for sale on your site.  I'm on your mailing list but I never received an email to say they were there.  Why?

I only send an email out to my mailing list subscribers if I have four or more sets of beads for sale at a time.

How do I buy your beads?

Each item for sale on my website has a code number.  Just email me with the code/s of the item/s you'd like to buy and I will email you back to confirm your purchase.  Payment is required within three days of ordering.  I accept payment by PayPal or personal cheque.  I only accept PayPal payments from overseas customers.  Please note that I do not take payment in the form of a PayPal eCheque.

How much is postage and packing?

All prices stated include postage worldwide.

How are the beads presented?

My beads are all presented in gift boxes or fabric bags and they are safely packed in Jiffy bags.  Delivery is by Royal Mail.

Do you take commissions or special orders?

Sorry but no - I find commissions too restrictive.  It's an arty-farty thing!  When I've taken commissions and special orders in the past I've felt pressured to make the beads - not pressure from the customer, but pressure from myself.  This doesn't bode well with the bead 'mojo' and I find myself not enjoying the whole beadmaking process as much as I normally do.  I work much better if I sit at the torch and just go with the flow and experiment with my own ideas rather than try to work to someone else's brief.  I know that this probably sounds a bit odd but I am sure that some other lampworkers will understand what I mean!

There's a set of beads in your gallery that I love.  Can you re-make them for me?

Again, it's a no.  What I love about lampwork is that the beads are one-offs.  If I were to re-make them they would lose a bit of their charm and originality.

Are you really self-taught?

Yep.  Totally so.  I've never had a beadmaking lesson in my life.  All I know I have learned from books, websites and through practice.  Please click here for information on how I started out beadmaking.

Who does your website?

Yours truly.  I built it and I maintain it myself.

I want to learn lampwork.  Do you teach?

No, I don't teach.  I used to, but I don't any longer.

Can I come and see what beads you have for sale?

I get asked this one a lot.  I am very lucky in that my beads sell very quickly.  I don't have any bead stock.  What beads I do have are here for sale on my website.

Please can I come and watch you at work in your studio?

When I was in art lessons at school I hated it when the teacher came and stood next to me and peered over my shoulder at what I was drawing or painting.  (My apologies if you're reading this Mr Barker or Mr Smith!)  Similarly I don't like people peering over my shoulder at me making beads.  It kind of puts me off.  Plus we all know that sod's law dictates that when we want something to go right it'll go wrong.  I'd be trying to act all professional beadmaker and I'd make some terrible schoolgirl error and you'd leave thinking I was rubbish, so again, it's a no I'm afraid.