What do I do with this?

[SquareOneBeads]

I just bought a lampworking kit this weekend and recieved a bag of these in it.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4770&item=7317786419

How does one use these? They are so short I can't imagine being able to use them without scorching my fingers.

Thank you,
Heather

[Foofaraw]

Hi Heather, you probably know that these are Millefiori, you can use it as a design element in your beads. You want to preheat them and then using tweezers or the molten end of a rod attach them to your bead. This is the only example I have of beads with Millefiori, it was some from Beth Olson and looked like a turtle.

[Curly Irish Girl]

Try doing a google search on millifiori or perhaps someone here can make a tutorial....I've just played with them and have nothing that has turned out. I know enough to be dangerous with them....make a base bead....spot heat where the milifiori is to go - pick up milifiori with hot bead or tweezer and gently push into spot heated portion of base bead but don't alter the shape (that's the tricky part) then encase. The milifiori will not be flush with the base bead is my understanding but the encasement will make it all smooth and wonderful...in theory! Good luck!

[Lynn Larson]

Using millifiori is tricky! You want to warm the millifiori before you stick it into the bead, otherwise it will crack. Make your base bead. Grab a piece of millifiori with tweezers and begin to heat it slowly...flashing it in the flame until it begins to glow at the edges. Heat the spot on your bead, while keeping the millifiori warm, then gently push it into the hot spot. Slowly heat the millifiori that is now stuck in the bead. It helps to have a marver or flat bladed shaping tool to gently press to the surface of the cane. It kind of shocks it and helps it from distoring as long as you don't press too hard. When it is getting close to being melted in, put a good sized dot of clear on top to magnifiy it, melt it in a little more, and finish your bead.

It also helps to have the millifiori sliced really thin...1/16 to 1/8 inch thick. Alot of the ones that I have received are 1/4 in thick and a bear to cut in half.

[bumble_beads]

I know some folks have tricks for these such as using hot plates etc. to get them warm before attaching them.

[Kaye]

well I would say if you got those in a beginners kit, and you are just learning...and new...put them away and concentrate on making a good donut style bead...get used to your flame and glass...and not worry about using your millies quite yet