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Brian Bowden | profile | all galleries >> Marble and Glass Demos >> Aki - Master Beadmaker - Demo in Japan 2007 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Aki - Master Beadmaker - Demo in Japan 2007

During our Japan trip, one evening at Akihiro Ohkama's studio, we were treated to a special treat when Aki hopped on his Japanese torch (designed to create a soft feathery flame well-suited to work with the very soft satake glass) and demonstrated the making of a couple of his different beads for us. I tried to document the process with my camera, especially the first bead.
Aki prepares cane for the lily bead, using the Japanese 'Volcano Torch', which shoots a feathery flame straight up.
Aki prepares cane for the lily bead, using the Japanese 'Volcano Torch', which shoots a feathery flame straight up.		 Tongs hold the flower milli cane over the torch, while one cane piece heats on the hot plate behind.
Tongs hold the flower milli cane over the torch, while one cane piece heats on the hot plate behind.		 The end of the cane is tweezed to a point, and then snipped off.
The end of the cane is tweezed to a point, and then snipped off.		 Here you can see the point before snipping, as well as a couple of ready to go pieces on the hot plate.
Here you can see the point before snipping, as well as a couple of ready to go pieces on the hot plate.
Five flower cane pieces are ready, and Aki begins to wrap the base color on to the mandrel.
Five flower cane pieces are ready, and Aki begins to wrap the base color on to the mandrel.		 The creamy base color is on, now to add some clear.
The creamy base color is on, now to add some clear.		 A tungsten pick is used to move the clear around and give depth to the bead.
A tungsten pick is used to move the clear around and give depth to the bead.		 A type of gold leaf was wrapped around the bead and worked in. Some of the leftover can be seen at the end of the finished bead
A type of gold leaf was wrapped around the bead and worked in. Some of the leftover can be seen at the end of the finished bead
The gold leaf is worked in and moved around.
The gold leaf is worked in and moved around.		 The first milli flower chip is jammed down into the bead, point first.
The first milli flower chip is jammed down into the bead, point first.		 More flowers are added, each one coated with clear.
More flowers are added, each one coated with clear.		 Leaves are added as well, until all 5 lilies are in place, 4 blue and 1 white, after one of the blue cracked into pieces.
Leaves are added as well, until all 5 lilies are in place, 4 blue and 1 white, after one of the blue cracked into pieces.
Melting the flowers in, getting them soft.
Melting the flowers in, getting them soft.		 I believe Aki is working on a leaf here with the pick, spreading it out.
I believe Aki is working on a leaf here with the pick, spreading it out.		 Each flower is then made to 'bloom' by slowly pressing the milli chip into the base glass and spreading it during the process.
Each flower is then made to 'bloom' by slowly pressing the milli chip into the base glass and spreading it during the process.		 Both tweezers and the pick were used.
Both tweezers and the pick were used.
Getting close, you can now see how the flowers have opened up.
Getting close, you can now see how the flowers have opened up.		 Marvering for the final shape of the bead.
Marvering for the final shape of the bead.		 A few little finishing touches.....
A few little finishing touches.....		 And voila', we're finished with a nice blurry picture, woohooo!
And voila', we're finished with a nice blurry picture, woohooo!
The finished product - how sweet it is!
The finished product - how sweet it is!		 Aki added a really neat petal to the white lily.
Aki added a really neat petal to the white lily.		 And then blessed me by letting me take it home as a gift.
And then blessed me by letting me take it home as a gift.		 I like the waves of the cream colored glass, really cool look!
I like the waves of the cream colored glass, really cool look!
Aki moved on to next make a Cherry Blossoms bead. LOTS of blossom millis ready for this one.
Aki moved on to next make a Cherry Blossoms bead. LOTS of blossom millis ready for this one.		 Base colors are ready, and crushed gold foil flakes have been applied.
Base colors are ready, and crushed gold foil flakes have been applied.		 Applying the blossoms, one by one, sometimes very close and on top of each other.
Applying the blossoms, one by one, sometimes very close and on top of each other.		 Ah, finally some good focusing to see the application of the milli chips.
Ah, finally some good focusing to see the application of the milli chips.
Beginning to marver, shoring up the ends of the bead.
Beginning to marver, shoring up the ends of the bead.		 Final marvering, working in all of those blossoms.
Final marvering, working in all of those blossoms.		 Finnisimo, and the colors will look much better after it cools.
Finnisimo, and the colors will look much better after it cools.		 Ah crap, this one's blurry too!
Ah crap, this one's blurry too!
The finished product - more utter sweetness!
The finished product - more utter sweetness!		 The colors are awesome, and I love how Aki uses brown stringer to create the 'branches' as well.
The colors are awesome, and I love how Aki uses brown stringer to create the 'branches' as well.		 Did I mention Aki is a great friend? Yeah, he let me take this one home as well....
Did I mention Aki is a great friend? Yeah, he let me take this one home as well....		 WOOOHOOOOO!!!!!
WOOOHOOOOO!!!!!

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