Lola By Design operates out of a communal artist’s space in downtown Toronto, with all glass and jewellery being lovingly made by hand at the studio. Glass pieces are annealed in a digitally-controlled kiln directly after their birth in the torch flame to ensure strength and durability. Jewellery pieces are designed and crafted to showcase these handmade glass beads and often incorporate sterling silver, Swarovski crystal, freshwater pearls, select polished gemstones, and tiger ebony wood. Each piece is a one-of-a-kind work of wearable art that will provide a lifetime of enjoyment when given proper care.
Lola By Design
Fine Handmade Jewellery & Flameworked Glass
Lola By Design
Lola By Design - The Studio
Having always been fascinated by the forms, colours and process of creative art glass, I was thrilled to find a local artist teaching an 8 week beginner’s course in early 2006 while I was on a break from my regular routine. A year later, I was building my own flameworking suite so that I could continue working in glass as a part-time hobby while pursuing my full-time work as an award-winning animation director.
While I continue to thoroughly enjoy my work within the animation field, I aim to work in glass full-time once I retire from my first career choice. I find the solitary focus and mindful presence that is required to excel in glasswork to be a perfect compliment to the teamwork and minute attention to detail that is indispensable in animation. Largely self-taught in both glasswork and jewellery design, I feel blessed to have two creative outlets which I feel so passionately about and look forward to sharing my work as I continue to develop my skills and discover my voice within this remarkable and oftentimes challenging medium.
Lola By Design - The Artisan
Working primarily with soda-lime glass of Italian, German, and American origin, the glassworking suite incorporates an oxygen/propane fueled torch, an electric kiln, specialized ventilation system, and various tools for shaping the glass. Glass is heated in the torch flame to it’s melting point and then formed around a mandrel coated in a clay-based bead release. Once the bead’s design and decoration is complete, it is annealed for up to 16 hours in the kiln before being cleaned and ready to incorporate into jewellery. This method of flameworking the glass was first developed as long ago as ancient Egypt.
