The HeART of Studio BB Designs
If there is one piece that has become synonymous with Studio BB Designs over the last twenty years, it is our handmade glass heart pendant.
While we certainly cannot take credit for inventing the heart, we like to think we have perfected our own version of the lampwork glass heart.
Our hearts have become our signature.
They are the pieces customers come back for year after year. They are collected, gifted, treasured, and passed along with meaning. They celebrate milestones, friendships, love stories, new beginnings, and memories of those we hold close.
What makes them so special is not just what they represent, but how they are made.
Every Studio BB heart begins the same way. A rod of glass enters the flame and slowly transforms into molten glass. From there, the process becomes part skill, part intuition, and part magic.
Unlike many glass hearts on the market, our hearts are not made using molds, presses, or forms. Every single heart is shaped completely freehand.
Using a brass marver, graphite paddle, gravity, patience, practice, and a whole lot of love, we carefully form each heart one at a time. There is no template or shortcut, and no way to create two hearts that are exactly alike.
Each heart develops its own personality. Some days we know exactly what we want to create. We may have a vision for a classic red heart with playful white polka dots. Maybe a timeless clear heart with soft white swirls. Sometimes we carefully select every color combination with a finished design already in mind.
And then there are the days when creativity takes over. We start pulling colors that simply feel right together. A little turquoise. A touch of silver glass. Maybe a pop of pink or a swirl of ivory. What begins as an experiment often turns into one of our favorite designs. Some of our most loved hearts were never planned at all. They were born from curiosity, creativity, and the beautiful unpredictability that happens when glass meets flame.
That is one of the reasons we continue to love lampworking after all these years.
Once each heart is completed, it is carefully placed into a kiln where it cools slowly through the annealing process. This step is essential for strength and durability and ensures your heart can be enjoyed for years to come.
After the hearts have cooled, they move into the next stage of their journey. Each pendant is thoughtfully finished by hand using sterling silver wire wrapping techniques and Swarovski crystals. Finally, every piece receives our signature BB charm, a finishing touch that has become instantly recognizable to collectors over the years.
And yes, we have collectors, and super fans. One of our favorite things to hear is when someone tells us they can spot a Studio BB heart from across a room, or in an airport, on vacation at the beach or in line at Starbucks. Our Hearts are connecting people. What more could any artist as for.
Even more amazing, many of our longtime customers can tell whether a heart was created by Angie or Jade. Although we share the same passion and techniques, we both have developed our own artistic style over the years. There are subtle differences in shape, color placement, embellishments, and finishing details that make our hearts uniquely our own. To the untrained eye they may simply look beautiful. To a true Studio BB collector, they tell a story about the artist who created them.
We love that.
It speaks to the connection that exists between artist and collector. Our hearts are available in a variety of sizes, colors, and styles. Some are simple and understated. Others are bold statement pieces. They can be worn on a short chain close to your heart or layered on a longer chain as part of your everyday look.
No matter how they are worn, they all carry the same purpose.
To connect. To celebrate. To remember. To tell a story.
Over the years we have created countless heart pendants, yet we still get excited every time a new one emerges from the flame. There is something special about knowing that each heart will eventually find the person it was meant for.
Maybe that is why the heart remains our signature piece after all these years.
Because while glass may be our medium, connection has always been our purpose.
Made by hand. Created with heart.
