Denise Lindstrom

I’m Denise Lindstrom, the woman behind the torch and Denetian Glass. I work out of my mountain studio on the eastern slopes of the Cascades in Washington State.

My company name was suggested by my very smart sister-in-law, Janet, after discussing another sister-in-law’s recent trip to Venice, and hearing about all the great glass there. Janet asked if the glass in my beads was the same. Yep, most of what I use also comes from the factories in

Italy

(Effetre and Vetrofond). (I told you she was smart!). Some of my glass also comes from Germany (Lauscha) and the US (Bullseye). She said that makes my beads Denetian Glass, and the name stuck.

For me, it’s all about the color. It’s why I’ve dabbled in so many things over the years: cross stitching, knitting, stained glass, and beads. Beads have held my attention the longest. They’re easy to collect, and come in so many types and colors. Sometimes I’ll buy just what’s pretty, without any idea of what to do with them. It’s what got me started making jewelry. Beading is much easier to take with you than stained glass, so I always have a beading project (or 3, well. . . maybe more) going at all times.

Then I started to learn fusing to have more things to add to my jewelry. That led me to buying a kiln, and my husband asking if he could buy a small beadmaking torch when we were at the store picking up the kiln.

Sure, why not? It’s not very expensive, and the thought of him (the artistic one) making me beads for my jewelry was very appealing. Hah! The first hothead torch may have been cheap, and I already had the kiln. Well, his first beads were beautiful, and he talked me into trying it. After all, I'm the one that bought him a book and a beginner’s kit to get started. My first bead looked like a broken tooth, but I was hooked. Mesmerized by the flame, I spent every free evening and weekend I could learning to make beads. He’s been busy with other things, but I still have the hothead torch if he ever finds the time to try it again. Me? I've upgraded (a few times) to a bigger torch.

Living in the Northwest is a great place to learn to make beads. Not only does the weather drive us indoors during the wet months, but it has given me some great opportunities to take classes. I have been lucky enough to have studied with Larry Brickman, Kimberly Affleck, Andrea Guarino-Slemmons, Michael Barley, Larry Scott, and Jennifer Geldard (at Andrea’s studio). Are you starting to think this is becoming more of an obsession than a hobby?