Glass artist, Sihaya Hopkins, describes her process:

It’s been 10 years since I began working with glass. My tools and techniques are now well-worn and very familiar. My day at the studio begins with starting the kiln. It will hold finished beads at 950 degrees as I work and then slowly cool them overnight. I dip steel rods in a clay slip and select the colors of glass I plan to use. I open my fuel valves, start the exhaust fan, and light my torch.

The glass I use begins to melt at 1,000 degrees. Working at a much higher temperature the glass quickly turns molten, glows orange, and becomes the consistency of molasses. I wind this around one of the prepared steel rods, creating the core of the bead and the hole. I build the bead in layers, sometimes using small steel tools to manipulate the glass.

When done, I carefully allow the bead to cool till hard then place it in the kiln. The next day will start with unloading the kiln, taking the beads off of the steel rods, and grinding the clay out of the holes with a diamond burr and finally. Once washed and dried the bead is done.