Classy, glassy creations keep customers satisfied

Flameworker Barbara Bullock makes a glass bead in her studio. Photo/Bevan.Conley

Walking into Barbara Bullock's home studio in Springvale is like walking into a candy store.

Bright colours spill out of every corner - glass beads, glass jewellery, glass plates, glass wall hangings, as well as glass sheets and rods waiting to be used.

Mrs Bullock is a glass artist who specialises in flamework beads, although she has recently branched out into fused glass works as well.

She is one of more than 100 artists taking part in this year's Artists Open Studios Whanganui, to be held on March 22-23 and 29-30.

"It's very therapeutic to come out here and spend time making beads. I love being surrounded by all this beautiful colour."

This is the fourth year Mrs Bullock has been involved with Open Studios. The first year she was invited to take part at glass artist Claudio Borella's studio, but for the past two years she has exhibited at her own studio.

Mrs Bullock and her jewellery have been regulars at the Whanganui River Traders Market for a decade. She began making jewellery using bought beads, but was encouraged by glass artist Emma Camden to make her own beads. She studied with Wanganui bead-maker Donna Sole, then went to Whangarei to study with Annie Rose.

"I just loved it. I came home and set myself up, and it all moved pretty quickly from there."

Mrs Bullock took the training she had had and began to experiment with it.

"I was taught to make round beads, but I soon realised that glass could do all sorts of things. Sometimes I let it do what it wants and sometimes I force it to do what I want."

Mrs Bullock's studio will be a busy place during Open Studios. As well as exhibiting works, she will give flamework demonstrations, showing how beads are made from glass using heat. And during the weeks she'll give lessons.

Mrs Bullock makes most of her sales through the market, but Open Studios has been profitable too. She gets a kick out of seeing satisfied customers: "It's great when people find something they really love, and they put it on and it's perfect for them".

Find Barbara Bullock at www.beadswithflare.co.nz. And for more about Open Studios, also visit www.openstudios.co.nz