About
Me

I'm Karolen Deupree, a self-representing lampwork bead artist.
I work out of my home studio in the beautiful red rock country
of Sedona, Arizona.
When
designing a bead, my first inspiration usually comes from color
combinations. The designs then tend to evolve towards organic
and abstract forms, inspired by the desert landscape and the
natural beauty of flowers, trees, water, rocks, and the dramatic
desert skies.

How
my lampworking journey began...
I started lampworking in 1997, prompted by a series of dreams
I had that spring. At the time I was fabricating silver and
gemstone jewelry, and would often see pictures of artisan lampwork
beads in Lapidary Journal. I thought the beads were beautiful,
though I never considered getting into glasswork myself. Then,
seemingly out-of-the-blue, I had four solid nights of dreaming
that I was making lampworked beads. In fact, the dreams continued
for weeks. The Universe seemed to be telling me I ought to try
lampworking! The dreams had already caused an obsession in me,
long before I ever sat down at a torch!
There
was no class in my area for six months, so I spent the entire
summer reading every book and website I could find about glass
beadmaking. In the fall of '97, I took some classes with Sally
Prasch at Snow
Farm in Massachusetts. Once I'd made my first real bead,
I was absolutely hooked and knew this was what I wanted to do.
Lampworking is a very addictive medium!
Besides
the couple of classes I took at Snow Farm, I am self-taught.
From
1997-2006, my studio was called Drawn to the Flame.
I wanted to change the name partly to reflect my own personal
evolution, and also because it kept reminding me of the moths
that do kamakazi runs into the torch flame when I make beads
at night!
My
Studio...
My
boyfriend Steve is also a part of BeadAbundant studio. Not only
is he a lampworker and a massage therapist, but he makes really
great stuff out of wood (ladies, am I lucky or what?!).
Me
at the torch:
Steve
torching:
|
Here's
the way cool glass rack engineered and constructed by Steve: |
Steve
making bead displays for the show: |
Steve
constructing the way cool
glass rack:
 |