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Paperweight & Marble Making

Introduction to library resources on paperweight and marble making techniques. More information is available through the library catalog or by using the Rakow's Ask a Librarian service.

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Selected Articles (not full-text)

Remember these guides are selective. There are many useful and new articles that are not yet included. Please ask for a more comprehensive bibliography (email us at rakow@cmog.org) or search the Article Index online catalog: http://rakow.cmog.org/

  • Fritts, Drew. "Butterfly Style Marbles." The Flow, (Summer 2008), p. 60+, ill. Note: Step-by-step making instructions; excerpt from the author's book Torchworked Marbles, Vol. 1 -- Beginner to Intermediate Techniques.
  • Fritts, Drew. "Flame-Patterned Marbles." The Flow, v. 11, no. 2 (Summer 2013), pp. 32-34, ill. Note: Step-by-step making instructions.
  • Gorman, Nathan. "Sand Carved Marbles: Techniques for Cold Working Frit-Layered Glass." The Flow, v. 13, no. 2 (Summer 2015), pp. 52-54+, ill. Note: Step-by-step instructions for this two-stage project: Creating the frit-layered marble at the torch, followed by cold-working with a sandblaster.
  • Grant, Josh. "The Blooming Marble." The Flow, v. 1, no. 3, Summer 2003, pp. 29-30, ill. Note: Step-by-step guide.
  • Grant, Josh. "The Blooming Marble: Periwinkle Rose." The Flow, v. 1, no. 4, Autumn 2003, pp. 43-45, ill. Note: Step-by-step guide.
  • Hamra, Terry. "Gilded Marble." The Flow, (Summer 2008), p. 38+, ill. Note: Step-by-step making instructions.
  • James, Jesse. "Electroformed Marble Wrap." The Flow, (Autumn 2010), pp. 64-68, ill. Note: Step-by-step making instructions.
  • Keyzers, Tim. "Pacific Swell Vortex Marble." The Flow, (Summer 2011), pp. 58-60, ill. Note: Step-by-step demonstration by the author.
  • LaGrand, Sara Sally. "Great Wave Marble." The Flow, (Summer 2011), p. 44+, ill. Note: Step-by-step demonstration by the author.
  • Libby, Dolly. "Heartsong Memory Beads -- Bringing Loved Ones Close." The Flow, (Autumn 2011), p. 40, ill. Note: "Beads and marbles that are infused with cremated remains (ashes) for families who have lost a loved one."
  • Mazet, Josh. "Defining a Vortex Marble." The Flow, v. 11, no. 2 (Summer 2013), pp. 36-40+, ill. Note: Step-by-step making instructions.
  • McKinney, Don. "Have You Lost Your Marbles? -- Making Furnace Cane Marbles." The Flow, (Summer 2008), pp. 76-79, ill. Note: Step-by-step making instructions.
  • McLarnan, Peg. Making Marbles with the Pareidolic Technique." The Flow, (Summer 2011), pp. 38-39+, ill. Note: Step-by-step demonstration by the author.
  • Menzies, William "Boxfan." "Multilayered Patterned Marbles with Opal Placements." The Flow, (Autumn 2015), pp. 55-59, ill. Note: Step-by-step making instructions for a marble with a patterned section, opal placements, and back side patterning.
  • Rice, Chris. "Butterfly Marble." The Flow, Summer 2007, pp. 80-83, ill. Note: Step-by-step demonstration by the author.
  • Rice, Jacquelyn. "Elephant Marble." The Flow, v. 3, no. 4, 2006, pp. 76-77, ill. Note: Step-by-step instructions.
  • Rizzi, John. "Murrina Marble." The Flow, (Summer 2008), p. 64+, ill. Note: Step-by-step making instructions.
  • Serck, Brian. "Glow Skull Marble." The Flow, Summer 2007, pp. 68-73, ill. Note: Step-by-step demonstration by the author.
  • Sexton, John. "Hot Glass/Cold Fix." The Flow, (Winter 2008), pp. 74-76, ill. Note: Demonstration of faceting, a coldworking technique used to eliminate imperfections in marbles or paperweights.
  • Smith, Clinton. "Crystal Composition." The Flow, vol. 16, no. 2, Summer 2018, pp. 56-58. Note: Illustrates using a vacuum cup to encapsulate a paperweight (using a Steinert Industries vacuum cup).
  • Toombs, Polly. "Dichroic Image Marbles: Adding Interest to Tiny Spheres." The Flow, vol. 16, no. 2, Summer 2018, pp. 44-47. 
  • Vogelpohl, Filip. "Galaxy Marble." The Flow, (Summer 2011), p. 62+, ill. Note: Step-by-step demonstration by the author.
  • Vogelpohl, Filip. "Sea Floral Marble." The Flow, (Summer 2008), pp. 44-46, ill. Note: Step-by-step making instructions.

Selected marble articles from various magazines:

  • Alé,, Bashi. “Reticello Marble.” Glass Line, v. 20, no. 5, Feb./March 2007, pp. 40-42, ill. Note: Making instructions. PER TP859 .G55
  • Bearer, Ron, Jr. “The Cane Marble. Glass Line,” v. 25, no. 6 (Apr./May 2012), pp. 44-49, ill. Note: Step-by-step making instructions.  PER TP859 .G55
  • Brandolino, Brad. “Matrix Marble Step by Step: Evolution of a Good Idea.” Glass Line, v. 20, no. 5, Feb./March 2007, pp. 55-60+, ill. Note: Making instructions, pp. 58-60+. PER TP859 .G55
  • Breslow, Bruce. “Frying Pan Marble.” Glass Line, v. 20, no. 2, Aug./Sept. 2006, pp. 41-43, ill. Note: Instructions for making paperweight-style marbles. PER TP859 .G55
  • Dunham, Bandhu. “Introduction to Marble Runs.” Glass Art, v. 25, no. 4 (May/June 2010), pp. 18-23, ill. Note: Making instructions; excerpt from the author's book Contemporary Lampworking, Volume III. PER TP859.G54
  • Dunham, Bandhu. “W. Brad Pearson's Marble Process.” Glass Line, v. 21, no. 4 (Dec./Jan. 2007/2008), pp. 30-32, ill. Note: Includes illustrations of the making process. PER TP859 .G55
  • Eckes, Jeff. “Making a Dichroic Marble.” Glass Craftsman, no. 145, Dec. 1997/Jan. 1998, pp. 12-17, ill. PER TT298 .G545
  • Erni, Marianne. “Copper Storm -- Marble.” Glass Line, v. 22, no. 6 (Apr./May 2009), pp. 24-29, ill. Note: Step-by-step instructions for the making of the marble. PER TP859 .G55
  • Kerkvliet, Brian. “Marbvelous Marbles.” Glass Art, v. 11, no. 3, March/April 1996, pp. 18-24. Note: Overview of marble-making techniques. PER TP859 .G54
  • Kravet, Harry. “Skull Marble.” Glass Line, v. 21, no. 6 (Apr./May 2008), pp. 45-48, ill. Note: Step-by-step making instructions. PER TP859 .G55
  • Lazenby, Andrew. “Fumed Mandala Marble with Opal.” Glass Line, v. 27, no. 5 (Feb./Mar. 2014), pp. 4-9, ill. Note: Step-by-step making instructions. PER TP859 .G55
  • “Matrix Marble Step by Step: Evolution of a Good Idea.” Bead Unique, v. 5 (2008), pp. 74-80, ill. Note: Step-by-step making instructions.  PER TT860 .B37
  • Morrison, Rob. “Dichroic Filagrano Marble.”Glass Line,” v. 23, no. 4 (Dec. 2009/Jan. 2010), pp. 42-46, ill. Note: Step-by-step making instructions. PER TP859 .G55
  • Parsons, Jake. “Implosion Marble.” Glass Line, v. 27, no. 1 (June/July 2013), pp. 4-9, ill. Note: Step-by-step making instructions. PER TP859 .G55
  • Schnapper, Marni. “The Evolution from Hollow to Solid.” Glass Line, v. 27, no. 2 (Aug./Sept. 2013), pp. 30-35, ill. Note: Step-by-step instructions for making a marble or pendant from a hollow tube. PER TP859 .G55
  • Skipper, Stan. “Golden Blossom.” Glass Line, v. 24, no. 1 (June/July 2010), pp. 4-10, ill. Note: "How to make a marble consisting of an implosion flower on clear tubing." Includes step-by-step making instructions. PER TP859.G55
  • Thompson, Scott. “Making a Vortex Marble.” Glass Line, v. 26, no. 4 (Dec. 2012/Jan. 2013), pp. 4-13, ill. Note: Step-by-step making instructions. PER TP859 .G55