Aja Vaz

Incredibly excited to share my online class for learning how to blow off mandrel hollows is available for signups! It’s on the isgbeducation.org

www.beadesignerintl.org/event/the-46...

Verdigris obsession still ongoing, blown off mandrel and tumble etched. Similar work will be at the Bead Affaire show this Saturday 10-4.

Classes are up on the Glasscraft website, I have two 1 day classes on puffy mandrels Wednesday and Thursday. April will be here in a jiffy!

www.glasscraftexpo.com/classes.php

Recent work, sold. Blown off mandrel and tumble etched. A lot of Hag Stone inspiration.
#lampworking #flameworking #blownbeads #blowpipebeads #lampwork #flamework #ajavazglass #blownglassbeads

So in love with this bead (sold) that I didn’t even rinse my hand after removing it from the tumbler before taking a photo. Blown off mandrel and tumble etched. Inspired by Hag Stones/Witch Stones which are said to be protective.
#flameworking #blownhollows #ajavazglass

Verdigris base with coordinating stripe variations. These are all sold. Beads are off mandrel blown hollows that have been tumble etched for a matte appearance. Since they’re hollow, they’re light for their size.

Verdigris, always ❤️
Blown hollows, tumble etched.
#ajavazglass #blownhollows #lampworking #blownglassbeads #flameworking #flameworkbeads

Glass Craft & Bead Expo | Home | April 2 - April 6, 2025 in Las Vegas, NV The Glass Craft and Bead Expo is the largest educational conference and trade show for art glass enthusiasts and professionals held annually in Las Vegas, Nevada.

www.glasscraftexpo.com

Down to the wire, flying out for Vegas tomorrow for Glasscraft Bead Expo, I’ll be table C8. Come see what I manage to stuff in my suitcases 😆
#ajavazglass #lampworking #glasscraftbeadexpo #flameworking #blownbeads

A close up of the first 100 of the 2018 Commemorative Bead for Bead & Button (RIP). This was a 200+ bead commission made in 2017 and what a great exercise for my mind that wasn’t used to thinking mathematically about making. The base color took 5 pounds or so of glass for the order.
#lampworking

Made on puffy mandrels and tumble etched. Inspired by local colors while stationed in San Antonio, TX between 2012-16. Tempus fugit. IFC and Glasscraft draw nigh, hope to see lots of glass people!
#lampworking #flameworking #blownbeads #ajavazglass

When you need a little color, one from yesterday’s trunk show. 🔥
#blownbeads #lampwork #flameworking #ajavazglass

Thanks! 🥰

An ode to the memory of doodling in the spaces of a student’s worksheet while we were grading each other’s work in the 4th grade. Who knew I would never get over repeating this design 😆 Blown off mandrel, tumble etched glass beads in a flattened tab shape with off set holes. The surface is decorated in varying stringer colors of acid green, orange, taupe, brown and greenish black in grid/netting designs.

Blown off mandrel hollow glass beads, tumble etched. The middle one makes me *swoon* 😍
Going up this week on FB Glass Open Market and similar ones will be at Glasscraft Bead Expo this April in Vegas.
#lampworking #blownbeads #flameworking #ajavazglass #handblownglass

Excellent, I’ll see you soon! 🙌🏽

Glass Craft & Bead Expo | Home | April 2 - April 6, 2025 in Las Vegas, NV The Glass Craft and Bead Expo is the largest educational conference and trade show for art glass enthusiasts and professionals held annually in Las Vegas, Nevada.

www.glasscraftexpo.com

Hand blown and tumble etched glass beads in a flat tab shape. The grid stringer work recalls an old design redone off mandrel. Reminiscent of fish nets or darning, eventually everything frays and needs repair. The base color is a sort of mineral green that reminds me of cactus and the two flat drop shaped beads on either side evoke cactus paddle shapes. I’ve been building up inventory for Glasscraft Bead Expo this coming April 2-6th in Las Vegas, my first time back since 2019! Give a shout out if you’ll be there, too- it’ll be great to meet more glass art people. The background shows the glass rods that get melted to eventually become beads. 🔥 #ajavazglass #offmandrelbeads #blownbeads #flameworking #lampworking #tumbleetchedbeads

In the thick of working on inventory for April’s show in Vegas, Glasscraft Bead Expo. I’ll be table C8, will I see you there?
This trio reminds me of a gridded cactus. Inspired by darning and fish nets, everything eventually frays and needs repair. ❤️
#blownbeads #lampwork #ajavazglass

2022-23, had a black and white moment. Handblown glass necklace, sold. Tumble etched.
#lampworking #blownbeads #flameworking #glassjewelry

That time in 2017 I was on TV! “Beads, Baubles and Jewels” hosted by Katie Hacker available on PBS and recorded in Cleveland by KS Productions. What a whirlwind and blessing 2017-18 was for my work. 🔥

Blown glass bead necklace in earthy colors inspired by the succulents around me while stationed in TX a couple times. First El Paso, then San Antonio. I didn’t realize how colorful these desert plants could be. These were blown off mandrel, then tumble etched. This is more of a reminder to myself that I need to make some replacement beads since a few were broken during one of our PCS moves. I’ll probably try to match seed beads to the silk sari for more longevity.

Made in 2016, blown glass necklace inspired by the plant life in the Southwest. Tumble etched, then strung on silk sari. Really need to revisit this style.
#lampwork #blownglass #blownbeads #flamework #ajavazglass

Thanks! 😊

25” necklace of blown glass beads which nestle into each other with variegated stripe patterns that coordinate pleasingly in an ocean/coastal inspired color way. The blown glass disc is used as a button clasp and there are six strands of Czech glass seed beads to comfortably rest on the back of the neck or can be turned asymmetrical. Beads have been tumble etched to take away shine. All glass beads are made in my home studio and properly kiln annealed.

Hand blown glass bead necklace, finally strung 🔥
Love how I married my obsession with stripes into this marine inspired necklace.

www.ajavazglass.com/shop/p/green...

Yes! So excited to see the gang 🔥

Hi, Kim!! 👋🏽 you’ll be at IFC again this year, yes?

2017, half way thru my commission of 200+ beads for the 2018 Bead & Button Commemorative Bead- what a year of growth! Never made so many of the same bead in such a short amount of time. Happy there is this photo of us for posterity’s sake. Blown hollows, tumble etched.
#lampworking #flameworking

Thanks, they were so fun to make!

Thanks, Joan! And I’m so glad I had the foresight to keep a hold of it instead of letting it sell.

The bead I demoed as one of the presenters at the 2014 Houston ISGB Gathering. How has it been over a decade?! Really miss seeing my bead people 🔥
Made on a puffy mandrel, tumble etched, copper clay bead caps made by me, as well.

Thanks! 😊

No, that’s the great thing- since they’re blown I can go bigger and not have it be nearly as heavy as a solid bead would be at this size. 💪🏼