FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

ORDERING

I want to purchase more than one bead but the website opens a Paypal order summary page after I've selected only one, what do I do?
Close or minimize the Paypal order summary page and continue shopping. Each time you select "Add to Cart", your additional beads will get added to the summary page.

Do you accept Credit Cards?
No. Only personal checks, Money Orders and Paypal. Please allow 5 days for personal checks to clear the bank if you are a first time customer.

I'd rather pay by check or Money Order instead of Paypal. What do I do?
Click the "Add to Cart" button for your selected bead(s) which will take you to the Paypal order summary page. Please print the page, and mail it with your check and shipping information to:

Joe Caswell
WEBSITE ORDER
Caswell Glass Studio
173 S. Ventu Park Road
Newbury Park, CA 91320

For faster and more secure service, please send us an email so we will know to watch for your check.

How long until I receive my order?
Please allow 5 business days for the first bead, and an additional day for each additional bead.

Do you offer rush service?
Yes. There is an additional fee of $15 per item and most can ship via USPS Priority Mail within 36 hours (depending on the season). UPS 1-day shipping is available for an additional $8. Please email us for more details.

Do you do custom orders?
Yes, but we will need at least 2 clear photos of the animal you want recreated. One with the face, and one with the whole body/feet/tail. A link to a website containing a similarly colored/shaped animal is acceptable. Once we've received the pictures and a description of the pose you'd like to see, we can provide a quote. .

Do you do wholesale?
No, but depending on the season, we may include some "freebies" for single orders totaling over $400.

Do you have a mailing list?
If you would like to be notified of new Caswell Bead listings on eBay, please click here: Ebay Mailing List.

LAMPWORKING

How long does it take to make a bead?
Anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour, depending on the complexity and colors of the bead.

What kind of torch do you use?
National 8M torch running Natural Gas and an oxygen concentrator

What kind of glass do you use?
Italian Moretti / Effetre Glass, Lauscha, and Vetrofond with Moretti being the most common.

What kind of fuel do you use?
Natural Gas and oxygen derived from an oxygen concentrator

What kind of kiln do you use?
We have a digitally controlled, top of the line, Skutt GM 10F.

Why is it important to kiln anneal a bead?
When a hot glass bead begins to cool, the outside of the bead will cool at a faster rate than the glass on the inside. This causes the bead to form tiny (or not so tiny) stress fractures. When a bead is kiln annealed, it is gently placed into a kiln while it is still very hot. It "soaks" in the heat for at least 25 minutes at a constant temperature of about 950F. This helps normalize the temperature throughout the bead. The temperature of the bead is then lowered over the next 6-8 hours. This process is controlled via computer which is programmed to optimize the strength and durability of all Caswell beads.

I'd like to make and sell beads that look like yours - either from my website or on eBay. Would you mind?
We don't mind so long as you acknowledge Caswell Studios as the inspiration or originator of the design. This recognition in your listings would be beneficial for you as well because your customers would see that you are an honest and forthright artist who is simply segueing into developing your own style (which is far better than being known as "yet another knock-off bead maker"). We'd also consider it a courtesy if you'd refrain from posting your replica simultaneously with a similar bead we already have posted on ebay.

How do you sign your beads?
We use a metal hot-stamp that we press into the back or bottom of a bead while it is still molten. This indents a small "@" symbol (an "A" inside of a "C" = Amy Caswell)

Why do you sign your beads?
For a few reasons: First, because signed art helps increase its initial value and also helps it to retain it's re-sale value. Second, with so many bead-makers copying and selling knock-offs of our designs, we realized we needed to give buyers the piece of mind that they are getting an authentic and original Caswell bead. The signature is your guarantee that if your bead is found to have some sort of structural defect, we will gladly either refund your money or make an exchange. We no longer offer the service of repairing beads made by knock-off artists.

You currently have a bead on eBay that I couldn't find for sale on your website. Can I buy one direct from you now instead of waiting for the one to end on eBay?
If you make us an offer we can't refuse on the bead, we may consider pulling the bead off of ebay and selling it to you direct. However, if you want another one created, the answer to that question would depend on the bead design. We prefer to make a design a few times prior to adding it to our website for direct purchase (so we can be sure the design is easily repeatable). Also, all our beads start at only 99 cents on ebay. You may get a significantly better price by purchasing the bead on eBay rather than buying direct.

I keep trying to win your beads on eBay but I get outbid at the last second! What do I do?
We suggest you try out the services of ezsniper. It is an online bidding service that places your bid for you at the last 4 seconds. There is no software to download and the cost is only 10 cents per winning auction. Your first three winning auctions are free. If you do decide to use their services, we'd be greatly appreciative if you told them you were referred by "caswellstudios_com" (they'll give us 3 free snipes too!)

THE ARTIST

When did you start making beads?
In January of 1998 we started making round beads. Shortly thereafter, we branched out into creature beads - mostly cats.

Why did you start making beads?
Amy enjoyed making jewelry and wanted to expand her bead palette. She hurt her neck during a softball accident and needed a hobby that didn't require a lot of head movement.

Where do you get your bead inspiration?
In the beginning, we gleaned ideas from the Cindy Jenkins book "How to Make Glass Beads". There is a cute cat necklace in that book that I hoped someday to make for myself. I then saw an adorable Sharon Peters cat advertised in a bead magazine. I sketched out what I considered my favorite components of both beads while also looking at some cat sketches I used to draw as a little girl. Over time and with a lot of trial and error, we developed a style we considered unique and "our own".

We also keep our eyes open for particularly whimsical plush toys and children's books/cartoons.

Do you offer classes?
We occasionally teach one-on-one beginner courses from our home-studio. Please email for details.

What publications have Caswell Beads appeared in?
Please click the "publications" link below for a full listing.