The Torch & Studios

Angie and Jade Polonich are exceptional masters of their handmade glass beads. Produced in their kitchen studio, they are the perfect unique gift for any special occasion, birthday, bridesmaid, graduation or anniversary.

Customers are invited to watch the creation of beads and to choose from the display of bracelets, necklaces and earrings. All beads are hand made with a minor burner torch using a mixture of propane, oxygen and then kiln-annealed to prevent breakage.

By working molten glass in a process called Lampworking. That is because in the old days, glassworkers would use the flame of an oil lamp as a heat source to melt the glass.

Glass comes in rods of many different colours. These are hand pulled in Murano, Italy. The ending of the glass rod becomes molten in the high temperature flame of the torch. These days gas/oxygen torches are the most common lampworking tools.

As soon as the glass is heated enough and becomes flexible, it is wound around stainless steel wire (mandrel). The core of the bead is shaped and decorated with stringers and other techniques. Layers can be added on top of each other to achieve different effects. Precious metals can be incorporated into bead designs.

After the bead is finished, it is placed into a kiln, to soak in a high temperature heat to relieve all the possible stress inside and to prevent bead from cracking. When cooled down, the beads are taken off the mandrels and cleaned.