My name is Karen Baildon and I live in Alderley Edge, Cheshire with my husband Mark and 3 cats - a black and white moggy called Rosie and two blue-eyed, snow-spotted Bengal sisters called Mili and Mala.

I first learned to make lampwork beads in August 2007 in Adelaide South Australia where I had my first lesson with Sharon Griffiths of Beads Indeed. I then spent a happy 3 weeks practising on a little hothead torch alongside my best friend Sally.

On returning home to England, I spent 3 months dreaming about glass and beads until I was finally able to take another lesson with the very talented Mike Poole of Tillerman Beads and to set up my own studio in a tiny rented shop close to home, taking the decision to work on a minor torch with propane and an oxycon (a former medical oxygen generator which is used to increase the heat of the torch). I also invested in a Paragon SC2 kiln which enables me to anneal my beads and ensure that, with care, they will last a lifetime.  I then upgraded my torch to a GTT Lynx and my kiln to a Maxine from UK company, Kilncare. Since our recent move to Alderley Edge, I have now established a studio/shedio in my back yard - a lovely log cabin style shed. I also now have a second workstation with a Nortel Minor torch.

I am registered as a self representing artist (No B118). Click here for more information about the SRA scheme.

I am continuing to learn my art and in 2008, I took a further lesson with Pauline Holt (JazzyLily) and a two day workshop in November with Sally Carver (Red Hot Sal) and Leigh Armstrong (Magick Minx). In 2009 I took a tutorial session with the lovely Lorna of Pixie Willow Designs and a lesson at Studio 19 in September with the amazingly colourful Michal Silberberg. I attend the annual Flame Off event at Towcester racecourse where the demonstrations of some amazing lampwork artists take place and provide excellent learning and networking opportunities. I also continue to learn a lot from my lovely and generous friends on Frit Happens! to whom I am very grateful.

I make my beads from soft glass including Effetre/Moretti (Italian), Vetrofond (Italian), Lauscha (German), CiM (Creation is Messy - Chinese), Plowden & Thompson (UK) and also some of the more expensive reactive glasses from Double Helix, TAG and Precision (USA).    

Lampworking has quickly become an obsession.  I love colour but cannot paint or draw. With glass I have found a medium that I feel comfortable with. There is nothing quite like watching glass melting in a flame - it is mesmerising! When I was small, I used to dream about discovering a new colour that no-one had ever seen before (obviously before I studied any physics!) and I love the way you can combine, swirl and layer glass to get some very interesting colour effects. 

I have also designed and made jewellery for a number of years and it was through jewellery-making that I first discovered lampworking. Having bought many beautiful artisan beads from fabulous UK and US bead makers, I realised that what I really wanted was to create my own lampwork beads to showcase within my own jewellery.