Why should I join your e-newsletter mailing list? top

About two times a month I will be sending out our colorful and informative newsletter via e-mail.  It will be a way for me to notify you of when we put up new beads for sale on our website, new tool innovations, sales, our upcoming shows, and more.  Give it a try, you can easily unsubscribe by following a link on the newsletter if you choose to stop receiving them.

What forms of payment do you accept? top

Paypal, Visa/MC, Discover, American Express, Money Order/Cashiers Check

What is your return policy? top

Do you accept custom orders for beads? top

No, I'm sorry we do not.  Gotta go with the flow when it comes to glass. 

Do you ship outside of the US? top

Yes, we ship worldwide.  Choose Global Priority or Global Express Insured mail at checkout.  Please be prepared to pay all customs duties and taxes applicable. 

What shipping methods do you use? top

Right now we only use US Priority or Express and International Priority or Express mail.  I may be adding more options when I have time to do more research.  US Priority mail comes with free delivery confirmation, but if you want insurance, you'll need to follow the link at the top of the checkout page to add the appropriate amount to your order.  Sorry, insurance is not an option with Global Priority mail. You would have to choose Express and then add insurance.

How soon can I expect my order to be in the mail? top

Is your shopping cart secure? top

Do you have a warranty on your tools? top

The EMS is warranteed against manufacturing defects.  We feel that 90 days is a sufficient period of time to determine if your tool is working properly and is free of manufacturers defects.  We have our motors made specifically for us and they are overbuilt for this purpose and should last and last without any problems, but if your motor goes out, I'll replace it for free up to two years from time of purchase....after that it will be a small charge of $20 plus shipping to have your motor replaced.  If your tool is damaged and needs to be repaired, please contact us for assistance.  Some things are fast and easy to remedy yourself, others need more attention and would need to be sent in for service.  We try to return service orders promptly because we know how attached you have become to your new tools.  Costs vary depending on type of service required. 

What is lampwork? top

This information has been copied from The St. Louis Lampworkers Society.   

"Lampwork" is the craft of making small objects from glass that has been melted in the flame of a torch. The "lamp" in lampwork came from the oil lamps and blowpipes originally used in seventeenth century France and Italy.

The craft of glassworking began with the Syrians around 1700 BC and the Egyptians around 1450 BC. The people of Hellenistic and Roman times perfected glass technology to such a point that intricate portraits and mosaics were made into tiny beads. In medieval Europe, glass making and lampworking was a secret passed from father to son. The secrets of glass making were and still are jealously guarded in Venice, which became the glass and beadmaking center of the world during the Renaissance.

The first book on glass making was published in the 17th century by a Florentine glassmaker named Antonio Neri. Beads then became relatively cheap to produce and were carried as ballast in the trade ships of early explorers and used as currency at their destination. Glass beads were exchanged for furs, tobacco and sugar in the Americas and for slaves, ivory and gold in Africa.