Harriet with baby Kate

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Featured Artist

HARRIET HARRISON

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Harriet Harrison is an artist who requires no introduction. Her watercolor style floral beads are highly popular throughout the lampwork and jewelry designer communities.

Harriet’s bead-making days began seven years ago. A retired register nurse, Harriet embarked on her artistic career with her husband’s full support. Not only does he clean most of her beads, he’s also built her a storage area for her glass. More importantly, she jokes, “While I’m working on my torch, he will also go get me a Starbucks whenever I want one – I like that in a person.”

Drawing upon her family for support, Harriet says, “My children are grown but still give me input.” Her children have also given her two grandchildren: Harrison – 2 years old and Kate – 5 months.

Prior to glass bead-making, Harriet found herself drawn to cross-stitching due to the colors of the floss. “I used to stand in front of the floss case and just get lost in all of the colors,” she recalls. Upon turning 50, Harriet took an oil painting class. Surprisingly, she found she could paint. She muses, “I had no idea, but it was such a happy discovery. Here was another medium that I could manipulate color… I was in heaven.”

Harriet's Favorite Bead

Harriet’s interest in lampworking began while attending a craft show. She stumbled upon a glass bead bracelet and realized the beads were handmade. Thinking to herself, “I can do that,” she responded to an advertisement in the local newspaper later that month and took her first class. Since then, Harriet’s taken several classes; she states Jim Smircich had the most influence on her. She began making beads in 1999 and hasn’t looked back. “I found the possibilities are endless. Glass has such a dynamic personality. It can be bright and shiny, full of sparkle and dancing light. When etched, it becomes muted and can look like a miniature painting.”

When asked who inspires her, Harriet replied, “The first beadmaker I followed on E-bay was Jampwork, and I loved her use of color. Andrea Guarino makes the most amazing glass beads.” Harriet plans on taking a class with Andrea this summer and hopes to learn more about making organic looking beads. With the God-given talent she already possesses, organic beads with her already-perfected designs is something to look forward to. Harriet prefers making watercolor style florals. She says, “the watercolor florals began when I started using frits. I was just experimenting with using them when I discovered that if you applied the colors in groups, they began to look like little gardens of flowers. I think the watercolor floral beads would probably be my signature bead, although I’m certain I wasn’t the first person to make them.”

Some of Harriet’s favorite tools were made by Whimzicalities. She uses their brass tools to manipulate the glass and claims, “They never fail me.” She also avers, “I would be lost without my presses from Cattwalk and Zooziis, my Creation Station, and my torch mounted marver.” She elaborates, “My florals require lots of detail work and the Creation Station gives me stability.”

Harriet uses a Lynxx torch with an oxygen generator. She likes the fact she can get a small flame for more detailed work. She also uses a Sludge Plus bead release, “My beads spend a lot of time in the flame as I pull or push the glass where I think it should be… Sludge Plus seems to hold up well to my demands.” Harriet uses a Sony Cybershot DSC-F717 to capture her images.

Harriet’s studio is a former sun-porch her husband and she converted when they purchased their home. It is here in her studio you will find her from 7 PM until 2:00 or 3 :00 AM seven days a week. The studio is fashioned in lavender and pale green. Though the color scheme might seem minor, it has become quite a challenge for Harriet. “I wish I had left it white,” she sighs. “If you want to be able to see the colors of anything, rods of glass, frits, etc., you need to have them against a white background. I use frits every day and often have trouble finding the ones I want.” She laughs, “This might also be because I have over 100 jars of frit.”

Her love for her craft is obvious in proclamations like, “This is the best job I ever had!”

You can see more of Harriet's bead designs at: WWW.KYBEADMAKER.COM