Glass Bead Factory

Yesterday E/S Stoker went with us and we visited the Glass Bead Shop.  The owner gave us a tour and explained the processes.   There are two different kinds of beads they make.  One is made by breaking the used bottles (green, brown or clear) into small pieces and putting the pieces into different sizes of molds and then they go into the oven until they melt.  It is then brought out and while hot they pierce a hole in the centre and work the glass around in the mold to form the shape they want.   They are then cooled and cleaned.  They can mix colors of glass in the molds but only have the three colors.  

The second process he showed us was where they take the glass bottles and break them in a heavy container and then grind them with a metal rod until they are turned to a white powder.  It is put through a sieve to get the fine powder and then the powder is put into the same type of molds and melted at a lower heat than the other ones.  Those beads are then put on a small twig (from the cassava plant) and they are painted different colors and designs.

They have a thriving business and receive lots of orders for their beads.   I bought two necklaces and I'm sure we will be going back there a few more times!  :)

The last picture is Sister Stoker and myself - what we really wanted was a picture of the mango fruit that is just coming into season here!  Interesting how it hangs from a rope type stem.  We are all looking forward to Mango season.  Yummy!