If you’re interested in learning more….
Buying beads online
While it is definitely more fun to go to bead shows and choose the very strand you want, I have found a few online sources I trust and enjoy. The sites I use most are these.
I especially like the copper findings at this site: https://www.limabeads.com/
This site has an excellent variety of gemstones: https://www.cherrytreebeads.com/
This site has a good selection of Roman era glass. While it’s way more fun to choose strands up close and personal, I no longer have a supplier near me so I buy most of my beads here: https://www.thebeadchest.com/
This site surprises by often having relatively hard-to-find beads on hand. An example is a favorite of mine, dendritic opal: https://www.thebeadtraders.com/
Learning about gemstones
Check out Walter Schumann’s Gemstones of the World for reliable information. It is updated periodically.
A very cool poster of common gemstones appears here.
Here is a site with good pictures of some common gemstones and descriptive information.
Many sites can be googled up that will tell you about healing and other helpful qualities of various stones. My own experience is that personal interactions with stones can be different for individuals, but it’s very easy to find this type of information if it speaks to you.
Learning about Roman-era glass
A number of sites offer information about the history of Roman glass. Here are some good sources. You can also just google “Roman-era glass” and go exploring!
- https://www.sterlingsilverjewel.com/blogs/news/the-history-of-roman-glass
- https://www.colorado.edu/classics/2018/10/11/how-glass-was-made-ancient-roman-world
- https://www.romae-vitam.com/ancient-roman-glass.html
- https://www.romadesignerjewelry.com/blogs/education/what-you-should-know-about-roman-glass
- http://www.harlequinbeads.com/ancient-roman-glass
Learning about enameling
The most beautiful and comprehensive book about enameling I know of is Linda Darty’s The Art of Enameling. The section on torch firing is very brief, though, and doesn’t address the specific approach I’m using to encourage specific enamels to change color.
An early book on enameling that caused great interest in the process starting in the 1950s is Kenneth F. Bates’s Enameling: Principles and Practice. You would probably only find this as a used book.
There are so many sites on the web that offer demonstrations of enameling and torch-fired enameling that I think you’ll do best to just search for what interests you. I have been unable to find any demos of the particular approach I’m using.
Studying enameling
I’ve benefitted from several courses on enameling at the Baltimore Jewelry Center, which I highly recommend. Kristal Romano’s course, which introduced me to torch firing with liquid enamels that change colors as you work, was a revelation.