About me

My name is Philippa Hopkins, and I have been making lampwork beads for over a decade now. Lampwork is the art of making glass beads over a gas torch, using a mix of propane and oxygen. I use what is called 'soft glass' or soda lime glass, which melts at between 1,400 and 1,600 degrees Celsius - so pretty hot!

I started my lampwork journey while living in Bristol, UK, where I did a few beginner classes at a small glass studio and gallery - and then I was hooked. When I came back to NZ, the art was relatively unknown here, so I had to import all my equipment from overseas. I worked mainly from my house until I had children and decided that having glass splinters in the carpet was probably not going to be a good idea, so we turned our garden shed into a tiny studio, which I am still working out of now.  

My glass comes in slim rods in what feels like an endless variety of colours. If you see a design on my site that you like, but you would prefer a different colour, please contact me, as I probably have the exact colour you want in my glass stash, and I am happy to make to order.

If you happen to live in the Wellington region, I also sell some of my work through Goody Goodness in Jackson St, Petone (www.goodies.nz). This fabulous shop sells beautiful gifts and homeware made by local and NZ artists and artisans, carefully curated by the owner. Definitely worth a visit if you are looking for something a little bit different.