My bead journey began 15 years ago while on a trip to London I discovered the Bead Shop in Covent Garden and was mesmerised. I started out making bead jewellery before moving on to weaving seed and delica beads on and off loom and amassing a huge collection of beads.
In 2001 I came across Corina Tettingers website on the internet and was stunned and fascinated by the beads that Corina had made. I set about sourcing materials and classes in the UK, which at that time were fairly thin on the ground and eventually I found GBUK, I booked my first beadmaking class at Plowden and Thompson. I remember it really clearly, I had so much fun in that class, I was totally hooked from the minute I lit the torch.
Since then I have trained with Di East, Michael Barley, Jennifer Geldard, Loren Stump, Gail Crossman Moore & Stephanie Siersich. I have also taken a silver course with Jinks McGrath.
I still love taking classes, there is always something new to learn, technique, perspective, and new like minded bead friends, talking about glass and beads for hours on end, bliss!
I live in Brighton on the south east coast with my long suffering husband, George. I work in my garden studio on a GTT Phantom torch and OGSI oxygen generator. I mostly work with soft glass although I have been known to take the occasional foray into borosilicate too. I am best known for my floral focal beads with cubic zirconia centers but I also enjoy experimenting with the play of colour and light though the layering and masking of glass and silver. I am currently engaged with canes, butterfly and floral.
It has been a magical journey and I feel privileged to be able to follow my dream.
Website - http://www.judith-johnston.com