About Us

I have been involved with beads and glass since the late 80's when I read about the "Turquoise Trail" in an Archaeology Magazine. I was in the process of visitng every Ancient Anazazi Ruin in the US. Ancient History has always been an obsession and a dream.  It took several to get to all of the Anasazi sites. Then I read about Bead Expo happening in nearby Santa Fe and that started a new obsession.Fast forward, it was tough to get info on torch work but there was plenty of info on fusing so I started with that. The ISGB was gathering steam in the 90's but due to my day job I was never able to get to a Gathering until Lowell, Mass. Soon after the new millenium started I opened a 12 seat teaching studio in CT, Tin City Art Glass.I had a lot of help from the ISGB safety guy and a local friend who was a world class welder. Tin City was in the basement of an old Quonset Hut which sure looked to me as if it were made of tin! It was not the perfect place but the only place the city would let us set up. We invited teachers from all over the country. I also developed a 4 hours beginning bead maker course that mostly got people comfortable with the torch. We started to sell Lauscha out of the Studio. A close friend worked at the Lauscha factory and was able to get us in as a dealer. From day one we were Lauscha's biggest buyer. We get first crack at new colors and often see Odds that no one else gets. At this moment Lauscha is on hold with glass production due to world events but we still have a decent supply!  We have also expanded into other glass including CiM and Bullseye Glass Odds which we have a decent selection of. I never ditched the day job but did finally retire from it! Now our orders go out faster than ever! In 2011 we moved to Florida and now ship from Florida. FlameDame is a huge Supporter ot Beads of Courage. In 2023 we donated over $4000 of glass rods to carious ISGB organizastions to make beads for BOC.