Kay Bolden's jewelry designs are centered on her own Glass Art Beads.  Glass is melted using a torch to form the beads.  This process is called lampworking because in the olden days glass was melted over lamps to form the beads.  Using fluid, molten glass to wrap around a mandrel to form round, shaped and sculpture beads is a challenge.  Bolden's sculpture beads include trees, mermaids, fish, birds and flowers.

She likes experimenting with new ideas, techniques, and using different types of glass.  Working with hard glass (Borosilicate) is totally different from Soft Glass (Moretti).  Each type of glass has its own challenges with color variances.

Making glass beads is a continuing process of developing new skills and refining technique. Constantly turning the mandrel to keep a bead round with just enough heat or letting gravity shape the bead is a skill in itself.  

Her desire to use her own lampwork beads in jewelry led Kay to a whole new dimension to her creative side.  She quickly discovered that jewelry design is very interesting, creative, and is constantly evolving with changing fashions. 

Bolden is a member of the International Society of Glass Bead makers and is on the Board of the local chapter Lampworkers Local 757. She is also a member of the Bead Society of South Eastern Virginia.

More information about Kay Bolden can be found on her website www.liquid-sand.com