The first thing you notice when you see Kandice Seeber’s beads is how feminine they are. Then, after the initial surge of desire has worn off, the colors start sinking into your soul. Quality, beauty, and femininity, all found in a miniature bead of glass.

Kandice Seeber is a 34 year old lampworker from the Northwest. She is currently residing in Washington with her husband. She describes herself as a total nerd who loves science documentaries, science fiction/fantasy novels, knitting, crafts, and traveling to historical places.

Kandice was kind enough to answer a long list of questions. The following is my interview with her:

How did you discover lampworking? When did you start?

Kandice: Years ago when I was working at a fabric store in Portland, I fell in love with the totally limited supply of seed beads we had in inventory. That love grew into obsession, and for the next ten years or so I made jewelry and did bead embroidery onto anything I could. About seven or eight years ago I discovered lampwork beads online while chatting with other beaders in a Usenet newsgroup called rec.crafts.beads. I had made friends with several people in the group, and as a gift, they gave me a voucher for my first lampwork class. I had an immediate affinity for glass, even though I had never done anything like it. I realized my love for fire and melting glass - it was like coming home for me. Shortly after that class I began an apprenticeship with one of the beadmakers in the rec.crafts.beads group who lived near me. Her name is Paulette Insall - she taught me a lot in the first couple of months, while I worked in her home studio. After that I set up my own studio, and the rest is history. Paulette and I are still great friends.