The Spirit Shop Doug's Beads

DOUG'S HAND-MADE LAMP-WORKED BEADS

Glass is magic
Pure and Simple
Working with glass is pure delight
Molten dripping shades of yellow and orange
magically transforming into patterns of light
both opaque and transparent at the same time.
Then solidifing into miniature pieces of art
mystifiying the viewer as to how the magic happened.
I, as the artist, get to manipulate the molten and flowing glass at
the precise moment to charm the colors to their places and
freeze them in time where they will be for centuries, literally.

Doug has been working with hand-made glass beads for many years, and teaches classes in bead making in Eureka Springs. Each centerpiece bead is made from hand-drawn Italian glass rods of various colors. Some are solids. Some are opalescent, transparent or have latticino (cane twistings). These rods are heated with a gas torch that heats the glass to around 1800 degrees until it is molten and fluid. In the fluid state it is wound around a stainless steel rod or mandrel to shape the bead. Doug adds various colors of glass during the heating process to achieve whatever desired effect. Sparkling gold stone and powders and frits (crushed glass) can also be added during the heating process for effect.

The creation of one bead can take over an hour and a half while the bead-maker turns the bead continuously under the torch, shaping and designing everything from geometrics, flowers, and dots. During this process, graphite tools are also used to shape the beads and apply designs. Beads are then placed in an annealing oven to cool the glass and solidify it. These beads are, of course, one-of-a-kind.

Email Doug with any questions you may have. All bead prices include shipping and handling for the United States. For international shipping, please email

Silver matrix set (1)
This set is a special process where silver foil is laid on the bead and the gold pink dots are laid down over the foil creating the matrix effect you see. The beads are very opaque looking but, when held up to the light are quite translucent.
$105.00 Large bead 1 Ľ inches 0n silver snake chain 17inches long free shipping in the U.S.

Black Magic (2)
Named for the amazing things the cane does when this bead is heated for a long time. It gives this set a magical quality. Set with gold plated beads and Swarovski crystals. A16inch ‘choker’ style gold filled wire neck band completes the piece.
$95.00 free shipping in the U.S.

Blue Cane transparent set (3)
Large bead 1 1/8th inches long the twisted cane and transparent nature of this set gives it lots of depth with Swarovski crystals.
$95.00 on silver chain

Blue Green Dots (4)
A playful piece of concentric dots set on a chain of tubular glass beads and seed beads.
$65.00

Blue Magic (5)
Another magical cane bead with frosted edges set with dangling Swarovski crystals. On 18 inch silver chain.
$60.00

Black and White Star (6)
A striking center bead 1 inch across set with Swarovski crystals and silver beads on an 18” chain of alternating black glass barrel beads and silver seed beads.
$70.00

All heart necklaces are set with gold or silver plated beads and Swarovski crystals. They are on 2mm satin cords with metal clasps in gold or silver. You may choose a necklace cord length if you wish. Hearts are about the size of a quarter.

SOLD Ivory Heart Swirl (7)
This heart has a beautiful swirl of blacks and browns with some hints of silver that add to the intrigue.
$35.00

SOLD Ivory Heart with Green (8)
$35.00

SOLD Pink Heart (9)
Layered purple white and deep gold pink.
$35.00

White with flower (10)
Nicely detailed with aquamarine and black
$35.00

Peach Cane Heart (11)
A firey tristed cane of white, Transparent orange and yellow
$35.00

Sky Blue Cane Heart (12)
Same cane as on the left but looks different with the blue background. The yellow turns green
$35.00 sold

Red floral heart (13)
This is a deep transparent red
$35.00

Green Floral Heart (14)
This bead is etched giving it that luminescent quality
$35.00

SOLD Fire Magic Heart (15)
A striking mix of aqua, lavender and yellow on a black bead
$35.00

Cobalt Ribbon Cane Heart (16)
$35.00

Fall Cane Set (17)
A lovely cane bead set with the large bead 1 Ľ inches earring beads ľ inch long. Necklace chain is 18” long.
$95.00

Rainbow Fish Set (18)
Fun whimsical fish set Momma fish is 2” long babies are 1” long. 18 inch necklace with rainbow colored barrel beads and seed beads.
$110.00

Lavender Cane Set (19)
Twisted cane of blues and lavenders
$95.00