Clare Nykolyszyn, the Winner of the Winter 2002 Bead O'the Quarter

Since I�m a gardener and a digger of the dirt, this flower bead is a natural expression, in glass, of something that brings me great joy. It is begun by wrapping Moretti clear glass around a mandrel to form a cylinder approximately 1 �� long.  Other transparent colors can also be used for the base. I then apply stringers, which have been pre-pulled in multiple color schemes, to resemble petals of individual flowers. When these are in place I apply pre-pulled green stringer to represent the sepals and stems. The final step, after annealing and cleaning, is to produce a soft matte finish by acid etching the entire bead. I use whatever brand happens to be on hand. 

If I can�t be in the garden, I can at least adorn my body with its semblance!